America 1919

At this time, it was impossible for Nucky to leave Atlantic City with any fanfare, so the next day, Nucky's backup driver intercepted everyone who wanted to visit him.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Nucky is sick and currently recuperating. It's inconvenient for him to receive any guests!"

"Nucky is sick?"

Donnie, who had been keeping an eye on Nucky, soon learned of this.

"That's right, this is the news released by the Ritz Hotel, and there have even been sightings of a doctor entering the Ritz Hotel. It seems that Nucky is indeed exhausted from the recent disputes with the Colonel!"

Robert said without much concern.

However, Donnie showed a hint of doubt, although he wasn't familiar with Nucky's illness, he understood people like Nucky.

For someone like Nucky, although having an opponent could be a headache, deep down, he was actually thrilled. A good opponent could even be more exciting to him than a good friend.

If the Colonel hadn't been completely defeated, if he were Nucky, he definitely wouldn't fall ill at this time!

"Has the Colonel made any moves?"

Donnie asked Robert.

Robert shook his head and said with a helpless smile, "I have no idea about that. However, from the messages currently coming in from the outside, the Colonel hasn't made any moves in Atlantic City, and even his old friends haven't visited his villa during this time."

Donnie sat there, tapping the tabletop lightly, then asked, "If you were the Colonel, having planned for so long to take back control of Atlantic City, would you choose to back down now?"

After thinking for a moment, Robert replied, "Impossible! Even though Nucky is currently holding the advantage, if I were the Colonel, after investing so much effort in the early stages, I wouldn't give up so easily!"

Donnie nodded slightly, then said, "That means, there must be some secret confrontations between Nucky and the Colonel that we don't know about!"

Robert nodded and said, "That seems to be the case."

But then Robert spoke with some resignation, "However, the information we can obtain is too scarce; it's impossible to know the details of their secret confrontations!"

Donnie stood up and said to Robert, "I have to step out for a bit, keep an eye on the house for me!"

"Sure!"

Robert nodded his head.

Leaving the tavern, Donnie went straight back to the West District.

Dennis, who was taken away by AJ, never came back, and Donnie officially moved in with Margaret.

"How come you're back so early today?"

Margaret took Donnie's coat and laid it on the sofa.

"I need your help with something!" Donnie sat on the sofa and pulled Margaret into his embrace.

"Just tell me what it is!" Margaret said sweetly, enjoying Donnie's embrace.

Donnie said, "There's a customer at your clothing store named Lucy Danzig, you know her, right?"

Margaret thought briefly and immediately replied, "I know her. She's a regular at our store, visits every two or three days and always takes some clothes back with her!"

Donnie nodded, already aware of these facts. Lucy Danzig was no ordinary person; she was Nucky's mistress, and even last year had moved into the Ritz Hotel to live with him.

"That's where I need your help. I need you to invite her to The Fuli Tavern for drinks tonight!"

In that era, American women were already transitioning from conservatism to openness.

In the past, American women generally had long hair, wore ankle-length dresses, spent their days taking care of the family's needs at home, while also dealing with their husbands' drunken and often violent fists.

But as women gained the right to vote and more job opportunities became available, traditional American womanhood began to change.

They cut their long hair into bobbed styles that reached their ears, the hemlines of their dresses no longer covered their ankles but stopped at the calves.

It wasn't just about a change in outward appearance, but also in behavior. They started wearing makeup, smoking cigarettes, and frequenting taverns.

Of course, such women were still in the minority during that time, but Lucy was definitely at the forefront of this new era of women.

If Lucy represented the new era of women, then Margaret was a representative of the old era.

Now, hearing Donnie ask her to invite Lucy to The Fuli Tavern for drinks made Margaret, who was sitting in Donnie's arms, a bit unsure of how to respond.

"Things are different now. Your WCTU has always advocated for women's independence, right? To be independent, you should understand the thoughts of the new era's women. Plus, I hope you can break free from your past life and embrace a new one!"

Donnie comforted Margaret.

Margaret had long regarded Donnie as her everything. Although still somewhat apprehensive in her heart, she was used to complying with Donnie's words.

"Alright, but I'm not very familiar with Lucy. I'm worried she might refuse if I just invite her out of the blue!"

Donnie laughed, "It's okay, you always have to try!"

"Right, I'll go to the costume shop now; I should be able to see her!"

Struggling to get up from Donnie's embrace, Margaret went to change her clothes!

"Oh, and if you can go, give me a call!"

"Sure!"

After Margaret left, Donnie sat on the sofa and began to meditate. If Margaret could meet Lucy, then the possibility of the latter accepting Margaret's invitation was quite high.

This was Donnie's understanding of women like Lucy.

As Nucky's mistress, Lucy seemed to have status in Atlantic City through Nucky's influence, but in reality, such women were very inner-empty.

Moreover, Donnie had Robert investigate Lucy. This woman had once been a stripper at an Atlantic City strip club and her family wasn't from Atlantic City either.

In other words, besides Nucky, she had no other connections in Atlantic City.

The people who fawned over her with smiles prioritized the Nucky behind her. Without Nucky, these people wouldn't give her the time of day... unless they coveted her beauty.

So, women like Lucy needed friends, a friend they could look down on and occasionally show off!

Time ticked away, until past five in the afternoon, when the phone rang at home. It was Margaret calling.

"Darling, I won't be coming home for dinner tonight. I'm going to see The Fuli Tavern with my new friend!"

"Okay!" Donnie smiled, "Remember to bring some extra money, and don't be stingy with treating your friend to a drink at the tavern!"

"Got it!"

After Margaret hung up the phone, Donnie became more contemplative about Nucky's illness. If Nucky was truly sick, Margaret should be at the Ritz Hotel, taking good care of Nucky, to assert her presence.

Even if Nucky wasn't sick, at night, Lucy should be the one by Nucky's side!

Feeling great, Donnie cooked himself something to eat and even had a drink. When eight o'clock came around, Donnie picked up his coat and left. He drove to The Fuli Tavern, the best tavern in Atlantic City!

It was Donnie's first visit to The Fuli Tavern. As soon as he walked in, he felt the difference from Block Tavern.

The entire Fuli Tavern was also divided into two floors, but these floors were not only full of tables; they were also at least three times larger than Block Tavern.

With European-style decor, there was a staircase wide enough for six or seven people to walk side by side in the middle of the hall, with white marble handrails on both sides, and two suspended platforms beside the handrails, where scantily clad women danced to the jazz music in the tavern.

The tavern's patrons were men in suits and shoes, and women in fashionable long dresses.

"Sir, may I help you with anything?"

A waistcoated waiter politely inquired of Donnie.

Donnie answered, "I'm here to find a friend!"

After speaking, Donnie scanned the entire hall and quickly spotted an uneasy Margaret and a comfortable Lucy at a table near the center.

Additionally, at their table, there were two 'gentlemen' in suits hitting on them. Margaret was uneasy, not knowing how to respond, while Lucy was holding a glass and chatting vivaciously with the men.

"Ah, those are my friends!" Donnie pointed to where Margaret was sitting and took out a $10 tip from his coat pocket to hand to the waiter.

"Please follow me, sir!" The waiter's smile became even brighter.

"My lovely lady, your beautiful appearance should not be buried in Atlantic City. I am Richard Siff from Los Angeles, you can call me Richard. I'm a producer for a film company, and you are the perfect leading lady I've been searching for. Trust me, come back to Los Angeles with me, and I'll make you a famous actress known across the United States!"

Richard eagerly pitched himself to Margaret.

"Wow, are you really a producer?"

Before Margaret knew how to respond to this annoying 'fly,' Lucy had already asked excitedly.

"Of course, you may doubt my gender, but you cannot doubt my taste!" Richard said with a very serious look.

"Margaret, this is a fantastic opportunity. I think you should accept his invitation!" Lucy first excitedly persuaded Margaret, then turned to ask Richard, "So, do you think I could be a film star in Hollywood?"

"Of course. Haven't you both realized that it's your presence that has dimmed the brilliance of the entire Fuli Tavern?"

Richard exaggeratedly claimed, then continued to persuade Margaret. Meanwhile, Margaret was awkwardly uncertain how to refuse, and Lucy was full of zest.

Just then, Donnie appeared behind Richard, patted him on the shoulder, and said with a smile, "Sir, that's not how you hit on a woman!"

Richard turned around in surprise, and upon seeing Donnie, Margaret immediately smiled, while Lucy simply looked on with pure curiosity, and the men beside Lucy rolled up their sleeves.

"Let me tell you how to hit on a girl successfully!"

Without minding the gazes of everyone around, Donnie lifted Margaret's chin with his hand after speaking and leaned in, pressing his lips against Margaret's...