Chapter 119

“A million dollars! Wow!” Isabel said without hesitation, handing Jack a card. “I’m always spending my money. This year, with my shares in the gang company and my salary, I’ve earned quite a bit!”

“I’ll take it,” Jack replied, as Isabel pushed the card into his hand. “A small token of support. Starting a company requires money at every turn, which you can regard as my investment. Why be so formal?”

Holding the card, Jack felt a wave of confidence. “Isabel, don’t worry. I won’t let you down. I’ll work hard and make the Galvez family proud.”

Jack knew that despite earning a considerable amount this year, he only had just over a million dollars in his account. This amount might be insufficient, and securing funding had been a recent headache; Isabel’s help resolved his worries unexpectedly.

Aurelia stood nearby, observing their warm interaction with a tinge of jealousy. Jack had never smiled at her with such happiness. In this household, only Hannah treated her kindly; the rest looked down on her, Amelia thought. But what could she do? She had nowhere else to go.

That night, in her room, Amelia felt bored and checked the photos she’d taken that day. She quickly began posting them on Instagram and TikTok. She captioned one, “Moved to a new house again, and I’m getting lost in all this, but that’s annoying!”

All the pictures were taken at Golden Villa, each one showcasing its majestic grandeur. This display of wealth quickly garnered attention on social media. Amelia, however, was self-conscious about her arms, so she only posted pictures from the neck down.

Someone commented, “Wow, this place is massive! Amazing!” Another wrote, “How can you have money and still worry? If I lived in a house like that, I’d wake up smiling every day!” Yet another, “Which rich family does this stunning woman belong to? She seems to have four mice figures!”

Seeing everyone’s admiration, Amelia was overjoyed. Posting flashy photos daily brought her immense satisfaction. She felt like a legitimate heiress, as if everything belonged to her. Many people sent her private messages, which she eagerly opened.

One message read, “Hey, beauty, wanna be friends?” Amelia opened the profile, saw a handsome guy, and accepted his request, sending a shy emoji. Another said, “Hey, pretty lady, can we get to know each other?” Amelia opened the profile and saw a scruffy, unappealing older man who didn't seem affluent, so she declined. A third message read, “Hi there, I’m in the wine business, nice to meet you?” This was a businessman, and Amelia quickly accepted. Showing off her wealth was keeping her entertained.

The next day, except for Hannah, everyone in the Galvez family was busy. As long as Amelia remained inconspicuous, they wouldn’t bother her. Taking advantage of their absence, she quietly slipped into Isabel’s closet.

Amelia found numerous brand-name clothes with tags still attached; they were unworn. She knew each Galvez family member had a room full of expensive clothes. Roy occasionally wore some, keeping a low profile. Isabel, however, was different; her closet seemed untouched, as if she disliked the clothes.

Amelia figured taking a few pieces secretly wouldn’t be noticed. Gazing at the rows of clothes, a greedy look filled her eyes. She quietly took two items, stuffed them into her pocket, and snuck out.

“Amelia, what are you doing here?” Hannah happened to walk by and saw her.

“Oh, nothing. I was checking if any dirty clothes needed washing. I wanted to help out,” Amelia said, hiding the clothes.

“No need. The clothes are taken care of by someone else. You should avoid Isabel’s room. She doesn’t like others touching her things,” Hannah warned. “And if you do, I won’t be able to protect you.”

“I understand. Don’t worry, I won’t do it again,” Amelia replied.

After leaving, Amelia returned to her room, put on the dress, and admired herself in the mirror. It looked amazing on her; she looked far better in it than Isabel, she thought. It seemed wasteful for Isabel to own such a beautiful dress and never wear it, preferring jeans and casual pants instead.

Once dressed, she took some pictures and prepared to meet an internet friend. Last night, she’d chatted with a man whose family owned a winery. He seemed handsome and successful. Finding a good match would alleviate her fear of being kicked out by the Galvez family.

Jack stepped out, carrying the card Isabel had given him. He planned to start his own business and needed to assess his initial funding. He checked the card's balance: thirty million dollars. He'd assumed Isabel might contribute a few hundred thousand, but this was overwhelming. He immediately called Isabel.

“Hey, Jack, what’s going on?” Isabel asked.

“Isabel, why is there so much money on the card? You didn’t clarify this with me!” Jack thought, I wouldn’t have accepted it if I’d known earlier. Taking such a large amount from Isabel makes me feel quite embarrassed.

“Oh, you’re talking about that card? It’s not much, just twenty million. Use it to start your business. You’ll need money everywhere,” Isabel said. That was the card with the lowest balance she had.

“But…” Jack protested.

“Stop worrying! I have faith in you. Focus on achieving great things. That’s what’s important. Don’t worry about money, and if you need more, just tell me,” Isabel reassured him.

“But how do you have so much money?” Jack asked.

“Don’t worry about it. I can’t explain right now, but believe me, it’s all legal,” Isabel replied.

Jack didn’t protest further. He accepted her kindness, intending to repay Isabel once he started earning.

After hanging up, Isabel arrived at Star Electronics, the company managed by Samuel. Fritz was in the finance department, and Isabel needed to handle some handovers. Finding Fritz already there, reviewing documents, Isabel knocked on the door. “Isabel, you’re here,” Fritz said, rising.

“Yes, I’m here to do some handovers with Mr. Travers,” Isabel replied. She also wanted to assess his reliability; an unreliable employee could jeopardize her father’s company. The finance department was crucial. When Isabel had taken over previously, she’d removed some of David’s supporters, finally clearing up the department.

“There’s an issue with this account!” Fritz exclaimed, pointing to a report. “These figures don’t match.”