Chapter 896
When Lena arrived and took in the sight before her, she uttered three simple words: “You’re insane.” To anyone else, Keira probably did look insane—spending a million dollars on a dilapidated courtyard. The walls were crumbling, the roof had gaping holes, and the yard was overrun with weeds.
“This is what people mean by ‘carrying water to the sea.’ I’ve finally seen it with my own eyes,” Lena grumbled, scanning the mess with a look of utter disappointment. “If you’ve got money to burn, why not donate it to someone who actually needs it?”
Keira didn’t bother defending herself. She just smiled and said, “Give me a month. You won’t even recognize this place.”
Lena sighed heavily. “Sure, you can fix it up, but why not just buy a new property and build from scratch? Why insist on renovating this pile of rubble?”
“Sure, it’s a mess now, but it’s got character. Renovating something old brings out a charm you can’t recreate with something new. Just wait—you’ll witness a miracle,” Keira said, brimming with confidence.
Lena knew there was no point arguing. Once Keira had set her mind on something, even ten oxen couldn’t drag her away. She gave Keira a pointed look, her gaze dropping to her belly. “Let me warn you, though—your baby’s delicate. Don’t overdo it.”
“I know, Dr. Lane,” Keira said teasingly, linking her arm with hers. “Now, tell me how things are going with you living at your uncle’s place. Any funny or embarrassing stories you want to share?”
“What’s this? Can’t have meat yourself, so you’re sniffing around for a whiff?” Lena shot back with her usual thick-skinned humor.
“Exactly! So, is there any ‘meat’ or even the smell of it?” Keira asked, her curiosity piqued.
“Get lost! That’s my uncle you’re talking about. What kind of person do you think I am? A degenerate?” Lena shot Keira a glare.
Keira was only joking. Even though Lena and Aaron weren’t related by blood, the odds of them ever being together were slim to none. The judgment of society was no small matter, and no one could entirely ignore it. Not to mention, their family would never approve. Lena’s grandparents, having no biological sons, adopted Aaron to continue the family lineage. They were eagerly waiting for him to marry and have children. If they found out the person he liked was their granddaughter, they’d probably faint from sheer rage.
So, as far as Keira could see, there was no chance of anything happening. Luckily, Lena didn’t seem to have any romantic feelings for Aaron, so she didn’t have to worry about her getting hurt. But Aaron… he had clearly fallen for her. Keira sighed quietly, feeling a pang of sympathy for him.
Meanwhile, Lena had turned her attention back to Keira’s rundown courtyard. “This ginkgo tree must be over a hundred years old. Honestly, your million dollars probably just went into buying this tree.”
Keira didn’t argue. She had her plans, and one day, she’d make Lena eat her words when she saw the results. “Kiki,” she said, addressing Keira by her nickname, “you’d better make good use of this tree. Put a bench underneath or maybe a swing. Add a tea table. Picture yourself sipping tea while autumn leaves scatter all around—it sounds perfect.”
Keira smiled and nodded. “I’ll add a lounge chair for you, too. After a long surgery or on your day off, you can come here and take a nap.”
Lena didn’t hesitate, giving Keira a thumbs-up and an enthusiastic “Okay!”
Keira hired workers to help with the heavy lifting, but she was hands-on with the design and on-site supervision. She wanted to turn this place into the courtyard of her dreams—a haven for herself and anyone else who loved such spaces. Hayden was fully supportive, unlike Lena, who couldn’t stop criticizing her at first. Not only that, but he even came to help—sometimes doing the work himself.
“Your husband used to work in construction, didn’t he? He’s a total pro,” one of the workers whispered to her, watching Hayden at work.
Honestly, Keira was just as baffled. Somehow, Hayden knew how to do everything—carpentry, masonry, construction. If it weren’t for the tight deadline, Keira felt like she wouldn’t have needed to hire anyone else. Hayden could have handled the entire renovation by himself.
“How do you know all this stuff? The workers are starting to feel intimidated,” Keira asked him.
Wearing a camouflage work uniform, Hayden was sanding down a large slab of wood he’d somehow procured. He said he planned to turn it into a tea table. In that moment, he looked like a true craftsman—a carpenter, but the kind of carpenter you’d see in a magazine. Rugged, focused, and effortlessly handsome.