“Huh? What?”The realtor named Lizzy was astonished. She looked at Samantha and Adrian, who were scrutinizing the houses, in astoundment.‘Who the heck are these people? With just one call, the richest man yielded his house.’Tiffany was extremely shocked as well. Her little mouth hung agape in a daze and her expression was as unpleasant as it could be. Her boyfriend, Kai, appeared embarrassed too.Samantha said, “What did you say you were going to do? Go ahead and do whatever it is you want to do.”‘It’s just a coincidence… It has to be!‘How could Samantha possibly make Donald yield to her?’Tiffany refused to believe it and said coldly, “It’s just a coincidence. I’d like to see if you can actually afford a house on Jewel Road, and the grandest one nonetheless. Don’t be bluffing when you can’t afford the price.”Samantha ignored Tiffany once again.Adrian stood up and passed a card to Lizzy the salesgirl. “We’ll make full payment. Swipe this card. It doesn’t have a pin. I ju

They sat in awkward silence for a long time before Tiffany asked Kai, “Tell me. How could Samantha possibly afford One Jewel Road huh? That’s a villa that is worth millions of dollars!”“I don’t know. I can’t figure it out either...” Kai shook his head.“Dear, do you think that the salesgirl is just playing along with her to put on an act?” Tiffany asked after a spark of realization.“Put on an act?”Tiffany nodded. “Look. I heard that Samantha was disowned by her grandmother so how can she afford such a luxurious villa? Is it possible that the salesgirl is Samantha’s friend and she sent the salesgirl a text, telling her to put on an act?”Kai thought about it and was instantly enlightened. He slapped his thigh and said in a fury, “F*ck. We gave Samantha the opportunity to feel like she’s some hot sh*t when we should’ve exposed her in public. That must be the case. Did you notice how the salesgirl was winking at Adrian from time to time? It’s obvious that they already contacted ea

After Lizzy left, Adrian and Samantha walked into the villa.Samantha was absolutely floored. The design of One Jewel Road was surely the best in all of Swallowston. There was a garden in the yard that boasted an outdoor swimming pool and seasonal flowers. The yard was filled with the scent of flowers.Samantha never imagined that she would get to stay in such a fine house one day.“What do you think? Do you like it?” Adrian asked.“I love it.” Samantha nodded.She pulled out her phone to take a few photos before she dragged Adrian through the place. She was joyous like a child, and Adrian was elated to see her so happy.The villa consisted of three levels. A sky garden with a man-made beach and an outdoor pool was located on the roof of the third floor.The floor plan was well-designed—with a built-in gym, entertainment facilities, and many other amenities. Most importantly, the Jewel Road was inhabited by influential figures of Swallowston.***Samantha looked around the vil

Rue deduced that Samantha had high hopes for the new house.Upon hearing how excited her daughter-in-law was, Rue did not wish to dampen her spirits. She hastily dried her hands and said, “Okay, okay. I’ll go pack up now. Ada is at home today. Go get her to pack up too.”“Okay!” Samantha answered and said to Adrian, “Dear, please reach out to the moving company and have them send over a truck, will you?”Adrian nodded and dialed the number of the moving company.Samantha walked into the house and called out to Adaline to pack up and prepare to move.Adaline suddenly felt unwilling to part with the house that she had stayed in for a few years. However, the house was a rental so it was not hers anyhow. She hastily went to pack up as well.Juno was still at school so Adaline helped pack Juno’s things in her stead.The mover arrived at two in the afternoon and parked their truck in the yard. Rue and Adaline were already done with their packing and were loading their things onto the

Upon hearing Samantha’s remark, Adaline threw open her arms in excitement and ran toward the garden. She became fully immersed in the beautiful scenery of blooming flowers.Rue was watching everything with tears of emotions in her eyes. In the eight years since Henry had passed, she never expected her life to reach a new height once again. She quietly observed the villa and was relieved beyond comparison.“Mother, you’re going to live out the rest of your life here. What do you think about that?” Samantha asked Rue with a smile.Rue wiped away her tears. “Sam, our family lacks for nothing now. The only missing thing in our lives is those that have passed.“Since our lives are improving, you and Adrian should have children soon too. If you don’t hurry, I’ll become too old to babysit for you,” Rue said emotionally.Samantha blushed. “This again, Mother? You got to give me some time. I have to muster the courage to bear children. I fear the pain!”Rue said smilingly, “You won’t find

Juno had painted it recently.At night, the family had dinner in the dining room downstairs after Rue finished cooking.Juno, Adaline, and Rue would be staying on the first floor while Adrian and Samantha would take the room on the second floor.After dinner, the night was warm and the sky was lit up by bright moonlight. Samantha and Adaline changed into their bikinis and headed to the outdoor pool on the third floor’s sky garden for a dip.Adrian and Juno followed them as Rue stayed downstairs to clean up. The old woman felt her heart flood with happiness as she listened to the sound of laughter radiating from the rooftop garden.A mother’s biggest joy was to see her children happy.In the sky garden, Samantha and Adaline were soaking in the outdoor pool in their bikinis. There was no better way to cool down on a hot summer evening.The sky was already dark. However, the sky garden was brightly lit.Juno sat on the man-made beach and watched Samantha and Adaline swimming like

The few of them stayed in the pool for a long time.Adrian helped Juno to train her leg coordination. The training was effective, of course, and her legs steadily grew stronger.By the time they got out of the pool, it was already very late at night. They dried themselves off and changed into their pajamas.Adaline and Juno returned to their room to hit the hay.After sending Juno back to her room, Samantha and Adrian made their way to the room upstairs.Samantha was exhausted from the long swimming session on top of the move today. She planned on engaging in some pillow talk with Adrian but she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed.After she was sound asleep, Adrian walked out of the room and headed to the viewing deck in the sky garden.Swallowston was a busy city, especially at night. It was brightly lit by dazzling lights. He could see the whole of Swallowston from the viewing deck.Adrian lit a cigarette and thought about many things as he stood there quietly. He thought

Adrian smiled at her. “The problem doesn’t lie in buying the house but in me. I can’t sleep because every time things grow quiet, my mind fills with scenes of the battlefield and my comrades covered in blood.“I abandoned them,” he said forlornly.“Is it because you’ve retired from military service?” Samantha asked.Adrian did not answer.Samantha said, “There’s a saying that one will bear responsibility as huge as one’s capability. Men aspire to travel far and make their mark. Are you only this way because of me?”Adrian lowered his head and looked at Samantha. “Why would you think that?”Samantha replied, “Even though we haven’t been together for a long time, I figured that we’re bound as husband and wife. You don’t want to disappoint me, yet you don’t want to leave the battlefield.“You feel torn that you’ll have to choose to disappoint me or your comrades if a war breaks out in the future, am I right? You can tell me the truth,” Samantha said softly. Adrian had not expecte

Adrian and Samantha returned to their room.The next morning, Samantha woke up early. After having breakfast prepared by Rue, she hastily left for work due to some pressing company matters.Adrian sent Adaline and Juno to school.Samantha received a call on her way to work. It came from Tiffany.There was no telling how Tiffany got her number, but Tiffany said as soon as the call was picked up. “Hello! It’s Samantha, right? I’m Tiffany. Do you recognize my voice?”Samantha recognized Tiffany’s voice from the start. However, she did not understand Tiffany’s personality at all.“Hey, Samantha. You’ve been doing well in life and can even afford One Jewel Road. Our university alumni are organizing a gathering today and would like to extend an invitation to you.“You won’t decline us, will you?” Tiffany pouted.Samantha knew Tiffany’s character well. There was no telling what Tiffany’s plan was but Samantha was eighty percent certain that the gathering was a trap. She answered, “I’m

Hence, Samantha felt more at ease now that Adrian was here.“Let’s go inside,” Adrian said to Samantha.She nodded and both of them walked into the hotel.Meanwhile, Tiffany and Kai were already in the hotel lobby and chatting with a few fellow alumni.“Tiffany, you’re doing very well these days huh? You’re dating Kai now.”“That’s right, Tiffany. You and Kai are doing very well in life. I really envy you guys!”“I’m so jealous of you, Tiffany.”The crowd chattered away as they surrounded Tiffany and Kai.Tiffany was delighted and was happy to bask in the alumni’s envious gazes. She enjoyed being the object of others’ envy. Today was an alumni gathering, but in truth, Tiffany was just finding an opportunity to show off and bring Samantha down while she was at it.This was not hard to deduce because the alumni Tiffany invited today were the ones that did poorly in life. She had not invited any who were well off because they would just dim her light.Tiffany smiled and humbly s