Chapter 3

When the white sedan purred smoothly into the gated community, the contrast hit Ethan like a brick wall. Unlike the loud, congested, gritty neighborhood he had just left, this place was draped in quiet, luxurious serenity.

A private fitness center, a boutique resident market, manicured courtyards, reflecting pools...

It was an entirely different universe from the cramped rooming houses and chaotic flatshares of his past.

Vivienne parked in front of an end-unit townhouse with crisp white walls and slate-gray accents. It featured an intimate private yard bordered by low wrought-iron fences, filled with neat, thriving flowerbeds.

"We're here," Vivienne said, killing the engine with an effortless breeze.

Ethan stepped out like a man walking in a dream. He watched her unlock the gate, then open the heavy front door with another key.

The door swung inward, greeting them with a faint fragrance mingled with the cool, crisp air of an unoccupied home.

The living room opened up before them with nearly thirteen-foot ceilings and expansive floor-to-ceiling windows. The decor followed a sleek, modern minimalist aesthetic, dominated by cool grays and crisp whites.

A plush leather sectional, a designer glass coffee table, an ultra-thin smart TV mounted on the wall, and an open-concept kitchen fitted with gleaming, high-end stainless steel appliances...

Everything looked brand new, exquisite, and wildly expensive.

"Well? What do you think?"

"It's... amazing. Truly incredible," Ethan stammered, his eyes darting around. "Vivienne... are you absolutely sure this is only twenty-five hundred?"

He had to hear it again.

Vivienne leaned against the kitchen island, watching him with an amused glint in her eyes.

"We signed the paperwork and I handed you the keys. Why would I lie? Like I said, I like your vibe. An empty house just gathers dust anyway. You living here brings some life to it."

She gave him a brief rundown of the layout.

"Upstairs is the primary bedroom and a home office. The bedroom has a walk-in closet and an en-suite bath. Downstairs is the living area, kitchen, and a powder room. The appliances are straightforward, and the manuals are in the media console drawer.

Wi-Fi is already active; I'll text you the password. Don't worry about HOA fees or utilities; I'll cover all of that."

She paused, then added, "I might drop by on occasion to grab some personal items I left behind, but I'll give you a heads-up first. Otherwise, the place is entirely yours."

Everything sounded reasonable, even extraordinarily generous. The lingering unease in Ethan's chest subsided considerably.

Maybe she really was just an eccentric, wealthy heiress who didn't care about money. Who could understand the logic of the ultra-rich anyway?

"Thank you so much, Vivienne. I swear I'll take great care of the place."

"Good." She nodded, satisfied. She picked up her designer handbag.

"Take your time getting settled. I've got errands to run, so I'll take off. If anything comes up, just message me."

Ethan walked her to the gate. Watching the white sedan vanish down the lane, he finally let out a long, slow breath.

He turned back and stared at the stunning property that, legally speaking, was his for the near future.

A wave of delayed euphoria crashed over him, washing away his final shred of doubt.

He walked over to the fridge and opened it. Aside from a few glass bottles of premium artisan water with elegant branding, it was empty.

If he remembered correctly, each bottle of that water cost around seventy dollars.

He ran his fingers over the sleek glass, then snapped a picture to keep.

Bounding up to the second floor, he stood by the hallway window, pulled out his phone, snapped several pictures of the interior and the yard, and fired them off to his group chat with his closest buddies.

Predictably, the chat blew up instantly.

"Bro, did you hit the lottery?!"

"Is that a townhouse? You rented that? How much?!"

"Spill it, did you land yourself a sugar mommy? How sweet is that sugar, huh?"

"Dude, are you sure this isn't some new kind of scam? Watch your back!"