saac could see him reclining on the sofa, his long legs stretched out, idly petting the green-eyed cat in his lap. He exuded an aura of both laziness and aloofness.
“Sic” Matthew said, his gaze fixed on Isaac, his voice calm and commanding Under Matthew’s scrutinizing gaze, Isaac felt like a lamb being watched by a well-fed leopard-safe for the moment, but aware that the leopard could pounce at any time. Instinctively, Isaac wiped his forehead, though there was no swe. “Thank you, Mr. Graham”
He sat down on the sofa opposite Matthew. A spotlight above illuminated Isaac, not too brightly, but enough for Matthew to see him clearly.
Matthew spoke again. I have a few questions for you. If you answer truthfully and in detail, without hiding anything. I might grant you a reasonable request”
Isaac was taken aback. Wasn’t Mr. Graham supposed to discuss a collaboration with him? Despite his thoughts, he cautiously replied. “Go ahead”
Matthew’s eyes were sharp enough to pierce the darkness. “Six years ago, did Vission Group approach the Kennedy family for a partnership, or was it the other way around”
The Kennedy family claimed that Vission Group had approached them, but Matthew had his doubts.
Isaac hesitated, “My wife and I tried to reach out to Vission Group’s manager to express our interest in a partnership. We didn’t have high hopes, but after talking with Harry Freeman, he agreed to give us the exclusive agency rights.”
“What did you discuss?” Mathew asked.
“Just some ordinary questions, nothing special…”
Matthew’s tone turned cold. “Be specific. The more information you provide, the more I’ll reward you
Isaac obediently answered, “Well…
Six years ago, the Kennedy family was merely moderately wealthy, far from their current status. During the meeting with Harry, Isaac was extremely nervous, feeling as if each question was like a major exam question that could determine his future.
Matthew listened intently, though he was disappointed. The meeting seemed perfunctory, with Harry lecturing like a professor, not even glancing at Isaac, who took notes like a struggling student.
Matthew smirked, cutting to the chase. “Did you ever ask Vission Group why they really chose you?”
Although the Kennedy family profited greatly from representing Vission Group’s products, it was widely acknowledged that they hadn’t performed well. A more capable agent could have increased the profits several times over.
There had to be an undisclosed reason for Vission Group’s choice.
The room’s temperature was comfortable, yet IChapter 26
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That night had started with a clear sky and a bright moon. But by the early hours, strong winds had picked up, and a torrential downpour began, continuing intermittently until dawn.
Athena opened her window, finding the morning breeze refreshingly cool-perfect for going out
After leisurely finishing her breakfast, she received a message from Claire: [Athena, there will likely be many homeowners picking up their keys at Bard Garden today. Since we’re closer, we’ll head over to get in line. Take your time getting here.]
She smiled and replied: [Okay.]
Then she went into her studio, retrieved a prepared gift from a drawer, placed it in her bag, and left.
An hour later, she arrived at Bard Garden. The entrance was bustling with people, filled with laughter, music, and the sound of drums, as if a grand celebration were underway.
Today, four buildings were being handed over, with five to six hundred units in total. Many owners had brought their families, and several media outlets were there to cover the event, making it lively and festive.
However, Bard Property had organized everything well, with dedicated staff at each building entrance to ensure order and minimize wait times for the owners.
Athena quickly found her family The Donovans were dressed in new clothes, looking as cheerful as if they were celebrating a holiday. They had completed the registration process and were ready to go upstairs with the welcoming staff to receive their unit, with Athena joining them.
In the elevator, the staff member enthusiastically explained the future plans for the community, leaving the Donovans full of anticipation, as if they could already see their happy life ahead.
However, when the staff member opened the door and led them into the entryway, everyone stopped smiling.
The interior was filled with puddles of water. Water was still dripping steadily from the ceiling.
What
happened? The
The Donovans were stunned. “How did our home end up
like this?”
The staff member was also shocked and stammered. “We inspected every unit beforehand to ensure there were no issues before notifying the owners. I don’t know how this unit ended up like this…”
She took out her phone. “Il report this to the maintenance department right away and have them send someone to take a look. Rest assured, if there’s a quality issue with the house, we’ll take responsibility for the repairs.”
The Donovans exchanged glances, their faces filled with disappointment, How long would it take for the property management to fix the house?
They had already waited three years, and their high hopes had been dashed, leaving them feeling disheartened….
Fortunately, the property management was efficient. The maintenance team quickly arrived on-site, inspecting and documenting the damage. Before long, they had a preliminary conclusion: “It seems there’s a crack in the roof, causing the leak in your unit.
Claire couldn’t help but ask, “What about the other units? Are they leaking too?”
The maintenance team replied, “So far, it seems only your unit has a leak:
The Donovans could only manage a wry smile. It seemed their lock was unfortunate,
encountering: such a rare issue.
The maintenance team was apologetic. “We’ll report your situation to the company immediately and develop a repair plan
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Chapter 26
We aim to start repairs within a day or two. Rest assured, we’ll fix it thoroughly and ensure there are no lingering issues.”
The welcoming staff member added sincerely, “As soon as the repairs are complete, we’ll notify you right away.”
With such a positive attitude, what more could the Donovans say: Wesley politely replied, “Thank you for your efforts. We’ll head back for now.
He touched the cold, rough concrete wall with a sense of reluctance before leaving
The family frequently looked back, as if bidding farewell to a beloved home.
At the entrance of the community, seeing his family’s low spirits Wesley waved his hand cheerfully. “It’s just a few more days’ wait. We’ve already waited three years; what’s a few more days?”
“Let’s go grab a bite. Dad’s treating”
Athena smiled as well. “Even though there are issues with the house, Bard Property is taking it seriously. They’ll inspect it thoroughly, which means they’re helping us eliminate potential problems. In that sense, it’s not all bad.”
Hearing this comfort, the others felt a bit better and began to smile again.
Josic, although eager for the new house, didn’t feel more at home in an empty, cold concrete space than small house. So, she wasn’t too concerned about the leak.
What she cared about more was Athena’s promise to her.
their current
Once the mood lifted, she tugged on Athena’s sleeve and asked, “Athena, where’s your little black cat?” If Athena didn’t bring the little black cat, Josie would be disappointed.
Athena patted her head and smiled gently. “The little black cat is here, playing hide and seek with you. I’ll introduce you after dinner.
“Yay!” Josie beamed, shaking her Hello Kitty toy. “Let’s go eat, so can meet the little black cat afterward.”
They walked to a nearby restaurant, booked a private room, and ordered several dishes, Josie eagerly sat next to Athena, -absentmindedly eating while her big eyes kept scanning Athena, searching for the little black cat.
Athena chuckled to herself, pretending not to notice Josie’s curiosity.
Once everyone had eaten and the empty plates were cleared, Athena took a small box from her bag and said with a smile, Josie, your little black cat friend is here.”
Everyone turned to look at her.
The box must contain a toy, right?
Josie, however, looked worried. “Isn’t the little black cat cramped in such a small box? Won’t it have trouble breathing?”
“Not at all,” Athena reassured her with a smile. “It knows magic and can hide anywhere without worry.”
“Magic?” Josie’s eyes lit up. “What kind of magic does it know?”
Athena opened the box, revealing a small green-eyed black cat inside.
Everyone marveled at how lifelike the toy cat appeared. Except for its strall size, it looked almost real.
Just as they thought this, Athena gently touched the linle black cat, and it blinked, letting out an adorable meow. “Meow, meow, hello, Jose, Can I be your friend?”
2/3saac still felt a bit warm, wiping cold sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. “I asked Harry about it, and he jokingly said I was lucky, like I had saved the world in a past life.
Harry’s response did seem like a joke. Matthew, however, wasn’t amused. “What do you think?”
Under the dim spotlight, Isaac’s well-maintained face looked pitable, like a student called out by a teacher, unable to answer.
“I-I honestly don’t understand, he stammered. “I thought it was because of my good character.”
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Chapter 21
Matthew gave a mocking smile. “Why did Vission Group suddenly terminate their contract with the Kennedy family this
Isaac remained silent, unwilling to answer, at least not truthfully
Matthew said casually, “That plot of land in the east looks promising. I’m considering buying it.”
Isaac’s expression changed drastically. Til tell you.”
The Kennedy Group had already signed a letter of intent to purchase the land and pair a deposit. Normally, anyone trying to outbid them would have to pay a hefty compensation to the Kennedy Group.
But for the Graham Group, money was never an issue. Having lost Vission Group, Isaac couldn’t afford to lose this land too, He hoped to use it to turn things around.
So, he covered his eyes with his hand, embarrassed, and confessed, “Harry said he’d had enough of the Kennedy family. He said we were incompetent and didn’t deserve the exclusive rights. They wanted to drop us for a while, but we were just lucky”
In truth, the F
Freeman brothers’ words were harsher, but Isaac chose not to repeat them all.
Matthew continued petting the green-eyed cat in his lap and, after a few seconds, asked, “What do you really think? Be honest, or you’ll get nothing.
Isaac felt paralyzed under Matthew’s gaze, unable to think of a tactful way to respond. He had no choice but to speak
“Yesterday, when I went to see Harry, I saw my former foster daughter getting along well with him. I suspect she used her charm to persuade Harry to take revenge on the Kennedy family”
He thought he might have heard a faint scoff from Mr. Graham in the darkness, though he couldn’t tell if it was directed at him, Athena, or Harry,
In the dim light, Matthew asked with a probing tone, “Did you do something to wrong your foster daughter?”
-Isaac nearly jumped out of his seat. “No! Absolutely not! My wife and I treated Athena very well and never mistreated her. If there’s any blame to be had, it would be on her side.”
Matthew seemed amused. “How do you plan to win back Vission Group?”
A truly vexing question…
Isaac had enjoyed smooth sailing for so many years that he hadn’t had to think critically in a long time.
After pondering for a while, he finally said, “I thought about approaching my foster daughter to see if she could help persuade Harry. I’m willing to accept any conditions to make that happen.”
2/2