Chapter 16

Cynthia grasped Jenny's meaning. “You’re saying Miranda bought the villa?”

“Yes,” Jenny sighed. “She’s really done well for herself! Unlike Quincey, stuck with a dead-end job at the power plant…”

“How could a young woman like Miranda afford that much money?” Cynthia asked.

Jenny covered her mouth, hiding a knowing smile. “That, I don’t know. As you said, she’s young. Young women are quite clever these days. They might not be able to afford designer clothes or luxury bags, but that doesn’t mean someone isn’t willing to help them out.”

Cynthia frowned.

“Oh dear, I shouldn’t have said that. Right, I’ll let you get back to your business. I’ll hang up now,” Jenny said, ending the call promptly.

Cynthia remained thoughtful, holding the silent phone.

Immediately after, Jenny called Rena. “Rena, it’s me, Jenny…”

Rena answered, “What a coincidence! I received gifts from a client—cigarettes, liquor, and local delicacies. I’ve split them into two portions, one for your family and one for Lionel’s. You can pick them up whenever you’re free.”

In previous years, Rena had always shared her gifts with Jenny. This was the first time she’d included Lionel’s family.

Jenny’s heart sank. “Why are you including Lionel’s family this year?”

Rena replied, “We didn’t get many gifts in past years, so I only shared them with you. This year, there’s more to go around.”

Jenny thought wryly, I could have taken them all. Aloud, she said, “Oh, I’m truly grateful you’re always thinking of us. However, I’m afraid Lionel’s family might not appreciate these things.”

Rena frowned. “Not appreciate them?”

“Exactly,” Jenny said. “They’re wealthy now, moving into Lakeview Villa. They wouldn’t be impressed with cigarettes, liquor, or local delicacies.”

Rena knew about Lakeview Villa; she’d even visited. Her son, Jack, was of marriageable age, and she was looking for a marital home for him.

Jack was a desirable catch—handsome and running his own business. He would likely marry into another wealthy family, requiring a suitable home.

The house needed to be convenient, in a desirable neighborhood with good social connections—ideally, an affluent area.

After careful consideration, Rena chose Lakeside Jewel. A high-rise apartment wouldn't do; if they bought, it had to be a villa. She’d visited the sales office twice: once for asset verification, and again to view the property.

She was extremely pleased. The villas had excellent layouts and interiors, among the best in Lumberville. But the price… the cheapest villa cost around four million dollars.

A loan was out of the question; it would reflect poorly on them. Besides, no one took out a loan for a villa; they were always purchased outright.

Rena discussed it with her husband, Leonard.

He said hesitantly, “Although we’re better off than before, you know how the building material business is. Developers often delay payments. Last year alone, we had nearly two million dollars in unpaid invoices. The company’s cash flow is tight, and we simply can’t afford a four-million-dollar villa right now. Don’t worry, we’ll definitely buy a marital home for Jack, but there’s no rush. He doesn’t even have a girlfriend yet.”

Rena paused her ironing. “But that development project is selling quickly. If we don’t buy now, we might not get one later.”