Chapter 2

After hanging up the phone, Dad came over to me. "Alex, something urgent came up at work. I need to go in for a bit!"

Mom tried to reassure me. "It's fine, sweetie, I'll go with you."

I nodded, got ready with Mom, and we headed to Grandpa George and Grandma Martha's place.

When we arrived, Grandpa George saw me, pulled me in close. "Alex, you're here! Come in, it's cold outside!"

His hands were soft and smooth, not at all calloused like a man who'd spent his life doing physical labor.

This old apartment complex was part of a former industrial site; they said Grandpa George was a retired blue-collar worker from the plant.

But looking at how pampered he seemed, it didn't add up.

Grandma Martha saw me and immediately pressed some money into my hand. I took it. "Thanks, Grandma."

Then I put it straight into my pocket. My mom looked a little taken aback. Usually, I'd hand the money straight to her.

Back then, Mom would always say, "Alex is such a thoughtful boy."

But today, I acted completely out of character. Even Grandma Martha paused, then chuckled. "Our Alex is learning to keep his pocket money now!"

I raised an eyebrow and smiled. "It's not really 'keeping' it. I just want some pocket money for myself."

"That's right, Alex is so responsible! He earns all his tuition and living expenses himself!"

I didn't need them to say it. I knew Grandma Martha would give me maybe seventy bucks at most. Compared to my tuition, that amount was nothing!

They were clearly so wealthy, yet they squeezed every penny out of me. I didn't understand this ‘hardship training'—why was it only for me? What was their game?

Grandma Martha didn't say anything else, just went into the kitchen and started bustling around. When the dishes were served, I took two bites and lost my appetite completely.

The food was identical to what I'd seen last night at the five-star restaurant.

Now I was absolutely sure: my entire family was loaded. My parents, despite their immense wealth, were putting on an act of poverty.

Even Grandpa George and Grandma Martha were playing along.

After dinner, my mom took a call, made an excuse about work, and rushed off.

Grandpa George and Grandma Martha started yawning, looking sleepy. I felt awkward staying any longer, so I left.

But I didn't go far. I hid around the corner, watching.

Sure enough, less than twenty minutes after I left, a stretched limousine pulled up. Grandpa George and Grandma Martha, surrounded by a group of people, got into the car and drove off without a backward glance.

I took a deep breath, pulled my mask up, and walked over. I saw a few cleaning ladies tidying up.

One of them sighed. "I don't know what these people are thinking. They come here just one day a year, cook a meal, and then leave!"

"But they do pay a hefty cleaning fee every time!"

"You don't know? This family has been doing this every year for over twenty years now. They have a huge mansion in the Hillside Estates. These are rich folks who come to slum it for a day!"

Hearing that, my heart turned utterly cold.

The Davidsons, the wealthiest family in the south of the city, had a mansion in the Hillside Estates. I rode my bike over there.

I saw the magnificent villa perched on the hillside, with bodyguards outside. This kind of place was beyond anything I could imagine.

When the bodyguard saw me approaching, he immediately barked, "Who are you? Get lost!"

I took a deep breath. Just as I was about to turn and leave, a motorcycle roared past, pulling up from outside.

I'd seen it online; that bike was worth almost three hundred thousand dollars. The rider was Leo.