Lucas studied the location of the villa on the scale model for a few seconds. The villa sat in the very center of the lakeside district, occupying the most desirable position in the entire development.

To the front was a clear river view. To the back was a green mountainside. It was quiet, private, and completely separated from the noise of the city.

Just from the model alone, he could tell why it was considered the crown jewel of Willow Residences. He nodded in satisfaction.

"Let’s go see it."

Mason immediately smiled. "No problem." He quickly made a call. A few minutes later, a luxury business van pulled up outside the sales office.

Before getting in, Lucas turned toward Debbie and Daisy.

"Aren’t you two coming with me?"

There was a hint of excitement in his voice. After all, this was the first villa he had ever purchased for himself; the other one was for his parents. Naturally, he wanted someone to share the moment with.

The sisters exchanged glances before shaking their heads. "It’s already getting late." Debbie smiled apologetically. "We still have to visit Mom at the hospital." Daisy nodded as well. "We promised we’d go tonight."

Lucas understood immediately. Family came first.

"Alright." He wasn’t disappointed. "There will be plenty of opportunities later."

A smile appeared on his face. "After all, we’ll practically be neighbors now. If you have time, just come over."

The sisters laughed awkwardly. Neighbors? That word still felt unreal to them. Only a few hours ago they had been worried about rent and hospital bills.

Now they owned a luxury apartment in one of the most expensive communities in Silvermont. Sometimes life really changed overnight.

Then Lucas suddenly remembered something. "Oh, right. The apartment is fully furnished. You can move in tonight."

Debbie blinked. "Tonight?" Lucas nodded. "There’s no reason to stay in that old neighborhood anymore." Thinking about the gunshots from earlier, his expression became serious. "Wait until tomorrow to pack your belongings. Tonight just bring the essentials. The sooner you move, the better."

Neither sister failed to understand what he meant. He was worried about their safety. A warm feeling quietly spread through their hearts.

"Be careful on the way to the hospital." Lucas looked at them seriously. "If anything happens, call me immediately."

Debbie and Daisy both nodded. For a moment, neither knew what to say. They could only silently remember this kindness.

Soon afterward, the two sides separated. The sisters headed toward the hospital. Lucas followed Mason into the business van.

Ten minutes later, the vehicle slowly drove into the villa district. Even before getting out, Lucas could already see why the place cost over two hundred million dollars.

The roads were spotless. Decorative lights illuminated the landscape. Every villa sat on an enormous plot of land, separated from the others by carefully designed gardens and greenery. Privacy was absolute.

The business van finally stopped. Mason opened the door with a smile. "We’re here."

Lucas stepped out. The first thing he saw was the private courtyard. The courtyard alone was larger than the entire apartment he had rented during college.

Mason walked forward and opened the gate. Click. The elegant metal gates slowly swung open. A marble pathway stretched toward the villa entrance. Soft golden lights lined both sides. Beautiful landscaping surrounded the path. The air carried the faint scent of flowers.

Lucas couldn’t help feeling slightly emotional. A few months ago, he had worried about next month’s rent. Now he was standing in front of a mansion worth hundreds of millions. Life was truly unpredictable.

Mason noticed the look in his eyes and smiled. "What do you think?" Lucas looked around. "So far? I like it."

The two walked deeper into the property. The moment the villa doors opened, Lucas paused.

The interior was stunning. The living room ceiling rose nearly two stories high. A gigantic crystal chandelier hung above like a piece of artwork. Thousands of crystal pieces reflected the light, making the entire room sparkle. Everything felt grand.

The floor beneath his feet was covered by an imported handmade wool carpet. Each step felt soft. It was so comfortable that Lucas suddenly understood why rich people hated walking on cold tiles.

Mason continued introducing the property. "The management company provides regular cleaning services. Landscaping maintenance is included." Lucas nodded repeatedly. Good. The less trouble, the better.

The open-concept kitchen was connected directly to the dining area. Expensive kitchen appliances filled every corner. In the center stood a massive marble island. The dining table alone could easily seat more than a dozen people. Crystal glasses and decorative pieces reflected the chandelier’s light beautifully.

On the opposite side of the villa, a floor-to-ceiling glass wall overlooked the river. Lucas walked over instinctively. The second floor contained several guest rooms, a private study, and entertainment areas. Every bedroom had its own bathroom and walk-in closet. The level of detail was ridiculous.

By the time they reached the third floor, Lucas was already impressed. Then Mason opened the master bedroom. And Lucas froze.

The room was enormous. Calling it a bedroom almost felt inaccurate. It was more like a luxury suite. The king-size bed sat in the center like a throne. Behind it was an entire wall of glass overlooking the river. The night view was spectacular.

Lucas walked over to the bed. Then he stood beside it. Then he walked to the other side. Then back again.

After a few seconds, he looked at Mason seriously. "This bed is absurdly big."

Mason laughed. Lucas shook his head. "No, seriously. If I rolled around all night, I still wouldn’t fall off." He estimated silently. Forget two people. This thing could probably fit ten people without any trouble. Lucas felt genuinely excited.

Lucas, the private garage alone can accommodate up to ten vehicles." Mason smiled as he led the way. "If your friends ever come over to visit, parking won’t be an issue."

Lucas nodded. Truthfully, he didn’t even own a car yet. Yet somehow he already owned a garage that could fit ten of them.

Thinking about it made him laugh inwardly. His life had changed so quickly that even now it sometimes felt unreal.

Mason continued. "Come on. There’s one more place you should see."

He pressed the elevator button. "The basement."

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding. A few moments later, they arrived underground.

The moment Lucas stepped out, his eyes widened slightly. The basement wasn’t a basement at all. It was practically an entertainment center.

The first thing he saw was a private cinema. Several rows of luxurious reclining seats faced an enormous projection screen. The sound system alone probably cost more than most people’s annual salaries.

Beside it was a fully equipped gym. Rows of professional equipment lined the room. Treadmills. Bench presses. Free weights. Everything looked brand new.

Further ahead was a billiards room furnished with imported tables. There was even a dedicated game room complete with arcade machines, racing simulators, and a high-end gaming setup.

Lucas couldn’t help but whistle. "This is ridiculous." Mason laughed. "The previous owner spent a lot of money customizing the villa."

Then he led Lucas toward a thick wooden door. When the door opened, a faint aroma drifted into the air.

Wine.

Rows upon rows of wine racks filled the room. Hundreds of bottles rested quietly under soft lighting. The atmosphere felt elegant and expensive.

Mason walked toward one of the racks. "The previous owner left all of these behind."

Lucas raised an eyebrow. "All of them?" Mason nodded. "She said they’re a gift to whoever purchases the villa."

Lucas looked at the collection again. Even though he wasn’t particularly knowledgeable about wine, he could tell these bottles weren’t cheap. Several labels looked familiar even to him. This gift alone was probably worth a small fortune.

Suddenly, curiosity appeared in his eyes. "Actually..." He looked around the wine cellar. "The villa is amazing. The location is excellent. The interior is perfect. So why did the owner decide to sell it?"

Lucas wasn’t stupid. Luxury villas like this rarely entered the market. And when they did, there was usually a reason.

Seeing Lucas’s cautious expression, Mason immediately understood what he was thinking. A smile appeared on his face. "Don’t worry. It isn’t a haunted house."

Lucas coughed awkwardly. His thoughts had been exposed.

Mason continued. "To be honest, this involves some of the owner’s private affairs. But since you’re seriously interested in buying, there’s no harm in telling you." He paused briefly. "The owner is a fairly famous actress."

Lucas blinked. An actress?

Mason nodded. "She spent very little time in Silvermont City these past few years. Most of the time she was traveling, filming, or living abroad. And recently she decided not to settle here anymore.

So rather than leave such a large property sitting empty, she entrusted Empire Group to help sell it."

Lucas suddenly understood. "That explains it. The villa has been listed for six months. The price is simply too high for most buyers. People who can afford it usually already own similar properties. So it remained unsold."

Lucas nodded thoughtfully. The explanation sounded reasonable. At least there weren’t any hidden problems.

Looking around the luxurious wine cellar again, he couldn’t help feeling amazed. "I didn’t expect celebrities lived like this."

Mason smiled politely. But inwardly he couldn’t help rolling his eyes. Compared to the young man standing beside him, most celebrities were probably poor.

After all, how many people casually spent twenty-five million dollars on an apartment for someone else? How many people decided to buy a two-hundred-million-dollar villa after seeing it for less than an hour? Lucas was the truly terrifying one.

After another round of inspection, Lucas finally returned to the living room. He looked around one last time. The entertainment facilities. Everything exceeded his expectations. Most importantly, this place felt like home.

Lucas nodded. "I’m satisfied."

Mason’s eyes brightened. "Then—"

"I’ll take it." His tone was casual, as though he were ordering dinner, not purchasing one of the most expensive villas in Silvermont City. "Bring me the contract. I’ll sign it now."

Mason took a deep breath. Even though he had already guessed the outcome, hearing those words still shocked him. This villa was worth two hundred and twenty million dollars. Yet Lucas didn’t hesitate for even a second.

"Lucas. Will you be paying in installments or—"

"Full payment." Lucas interrupted him directly. Then he casually pulled a bank card from his wallet and handed it over.

The movement was so natural that Mason nearly choked. Full payment? Two hundred and twenty million dollars? Just like that?

A drop of cold sweat slid down Mason’s forehead. As the future heir of Empire Group, he knew exactly how difficult it was to maintain large amounts of liquid capital.

Many wealthy people possessed billions in assets, but very few could instantly produce hundreds of millions in cash. Yet Lucas seemed completely unconcerned. It was as if the money meant nothing to him.

Mason looked at the bank card in his hand and secretly swallowed. Just what kind of family had produced this monster?

His determination to build a friendship with Lucas grew even stronger. A person capable of casually spending hundreds of millions in cash definitely possessed connections and resources beyond ordinary imagination.

Perhaps one day, that friendship could help Empire Group reach an entirely new level.

Just as Mason was preparing the payment machine, Lucas’s phone suddenly rang.

Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.

The sharp vibration broke the atmosphere. Lucas glanced at the screen. The moment he saw the caller’s name, his relaxed expression disappeared.

It was Xavier.