Chapter 17

Walter and Melissa hurried to the Bureau of Land Management, clinging to a desperate sliver of hope that they could salvage the property at Stonefield before it officially changed hands. That land wasn’t just prime real estate; it was the future lifeline of both the Edwards and Foster families.

The moment Walter stepped out of the car, he barked, “Zachary, who’s behind this? Who snatched our land?”

Zachary, who had arrived moments earlier, looked utterly defeated. “Eric won’t tell me who the buyer is. I’ve been camping out here to find out.”

Walter’s jaw tightened, his words seething through clenched teeth. “Whoever it is, we’ll take the land back—no matter what.”

“Dad… we don’t have enough money,” Sandra, standing timidly behind Zachary, reminded him in a low voice.

The new buyer had paid an eye-watering $300 million in cash upfront. Even if they managed to block the sale, they couldn’t come close to matching that sum.

“How much can your family pull together right now?” Walter asked, his mind racing. He was prepared to beg, borrow, or bleed to make this work. “In three months, that land will be worth ten times this. Three hundred million becomes three billion.”

“$120 million—at most,” Zachary replied, frustration and rage written all over his face.

Walter fell silent at the mention of the figure. He knew all too well the gravity of the situation. He was aware that if he emptied every account, sold every asset, and squeezed every resource he could muster, the Edwards family might come up with $90 million. Originally, his plan was to sell Debra’s inheritance for $60 million and have the Edwards and Foster families each contribute $150 million.

But now, with this unforeseen setback, he considered letting the Foster family shoulder more of the burden to secure the deal.

Instead, the Foster family could only stretch to $120 million, leaving a glaring $90 million-dollar gap. Walter was left scrambling for a solution, but the money just wasn’t there. There was no way he could raise that much money in such a short time.

“Zachary, talk to your father,” Melissa interjected, her tone dripping with urgency. “See if he can stretch it further. We’ll cover 30%, and you guys can take 70%. Future profits will be split three to seven.”

Even a 30% share would mean $1 billion for the Edwards family—a windfall that would ensure their future comfort and prestige.

“I already asked. He said no. There’s no more money to give,” Zachary said, shaking his head wearily.

The value of the property at Stonefield was no secret to the Foster family. Thanks to multiple insider connections in Lunova, they knew the land’s price would skyrocket in just three months.

Zachary had been counting on this deal, believing it was all but guaranteed. All he needed was the money. That was why he had tried to expedite his marriage to Amelia—to tap into Debra’s inheritance and secure the funds.

"Who would’ve thought Amelia would escape, and now the land is gone, too? If my father finds out, he’ll punish me for sure—maybe even strip me of my inheritance," Zachary thought, panic washing over him, feeling more cornered and powerless than ever.

“Mrs. Kingsley, this way, please,” a polite voice suddenly called.

Walter spun around, startled. It was Aaron. He was standing by a sleek black car, respectfully holding the door open as Amelia stepped out. She was composed and expressionless, her petite frame radiating an unshakable determination. Together, she and Aaron made their way toward the Bureau of Land Management.

Walter’s stomach sank. A terrible realization dawned on him, and he bolted toward them, blocking their path. “Amy? What are you doing here?”

“Buying land,” Amelia replied flatly, her icy voice devoid of warmth or hesitation.

“Buying what land?” Sandra demanded, rushing over with wide eyes, her tone frantic.

Just then, the owner of the property, Eric Brown, arrived, his cheerful demeanor lighting up the tension in the air. He greeted Aaron with a friendly smile. “Mr. Hall, it seems you’ve beaten me here.”

Aaron nodded with the poised confidence of someone who always had the upper hand. “Mr. Brown, allow me to introduce Mrs. Amelia Kingsley. You can proceed with the handover directly with her.”

Eric froze momentarily, his eyebrows shooting up in surprise. However, he quickly recovered, his expression shifting to one of courteous warmth. “Mrs. Kingsley, a pleasure.”

“Mr. Brown, the pleasure is mine.” Amelia’s frosty facade melted into a polite smile as she stepped forward with Eric, her composure like a shield as she prepared to finalize the transaction.

“Wait a minute.” Sandra suddenly grabbed Amelia’s arm, her voice trembling with barely contained outrage. “Was it you? Did you steal our land?”

“Steal?” Amelia’s cold laugh sent a chill through the air as she brushed Sandra’s hand away. “It’s called a transaction. My deal with Mr. Brown is none of your concern.”

“That was our land. We negotiated for months.” Sandra’s voice grew shrill, her finger jabbing accusingly at Amelia. “Cancel this deal immediately. Do you hear me?”

Eric, startled by Sandra’s audacity, immediately interjected in a panicked tone, “Ms. Edwards, Kingsley Group has already paid in full. This transaction is final.”

Sandra’s indignation…