On the road, Kael noticed Lila’s SUV heading deeper and deeper into the city center. A sense of unease crept over him.
“Hey, where are we looking at places?” he asked. “I can’t afford anything too expensive.”
Lila just laughed. “Don’t worry, it won’t bankrupt you.”
After that, she fell silent, focusing on the road.
Half an hour later, the car pulled up to the sales office for “Cypress Point Estates.” The development was located in the heart of Austin, right on the banks of the Colorado River—one of the most exclusive pieces of real estate in the city.
Cypress Point comprised four phases. The East, West, and North sections sold out years ago, with resales now topping $10 million. The newly opened South phase, where they stood, priced condos at $3,000 per square foot and waterfront villas at over $6,000. Sizes were massive—ranging from 5,000-square-foot starter units to flagship residences exceeding 10,000.
In other words, the absolute cheapest property here would set you back at least three million dollars.
Kael thought about his bank balance, then looked at the opulent building before them. He couldn't help but swallow hard. Lila noticed his expression and giggled, covering her mouth.
They got out of the car, but just as they were about to enter the showroom, Lila’s phone rang. She glanced at the caller ID, her brow furrowing, and answered it right in front of Kael.
“Hey, Dad.”
…
“What does him being sick have to do with me?”
…
“I’m not going.”
…
“…”
…
“Fine. I’ll stop by for a minute, and then I’m leaving.”
Lila hung up and looked at Kael, a clear apology in her eyes.
Kael just waved a hand. “Go, do what you need to do. Don’t worry about me.”
She hesitated for a moment. “That man is in the hospital. I’ll be right back.”
“‘That man’?” Kael repeated, then it clicked. She meant her fiancé, Caleb Mordant. He immediately recalled the look of agony on Caleb’s face in the Blackheart Catacombs and understood.
Kael cleared his throat. “Um, there’s something I probably should tell you.”
“What is it?” Lila asked, distracted.
“Yesterday, in some treasure vault, I wiped out Caleb Mordant’s party of about a thousand guys. I think… I think he got sick from the rage.”
“What?” Lila’s head snapped toward him. Her stormy expression melted away, replaced by pure delight. “Hee hee, so it was you who did it? Serves him right!”
Kael didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Lila thought for a second. “Go wait in the main hall. I’ll have the general manager of the sales department meet you there.”
“But I…”
She held up a hand, cutting him off. “Don’t worry. The Whitmore family developed this whole community. I’ve already got a place set aside for you. It’s yours.”
“But what about…”
“Relax. You don’t have to do anything. It’s fully furnished.”
With that, Lila turned, hopped back in her car, and sped off.
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Kael watched her disappear, sighed, and walked into the massive sales center. The place was buzzing with activity—clients asking questions, agents giving presentations, and people signing contracts. Despite the crowd, the atmosphere was hushed and professional.
He had barely stepped inside when a young, attractive saleswoman hurried over, a bright smile on her face. “Welcome to Cypress Point!”
Kael nodded at her.
“Sir, are you here to… Kael?” The woman’s professional smile faltered as she recognized him.
Kael blinked, taking a closer look. He realized it was one of his old high school classmates. “Jenna? You work here?”
Her face lit up with a genuine grin. “Yeah, I just started. What have you been up to?”
“Me? Oh, I’m freelance.”
“Freelance? So you’re your own boss, huh?”
“Uh, something like that.”
“You got even more handsome, you know,” she said with a giggle.
“I’ve always been this handsome,” he joked. “You’re the one who’s changed a lot.”
“Yeah, I turned into a hag.”
“No way. You went from a cute girl to a total knockout.”
“Are you saying I was an ugly duckling before?” she teased.
“Definitely not…”
They hadn’t seen each other in five or six years, and they fell into easy conversation. But as they were laughing, a sharp voice cut through the air.
“Jenna, who are you letting in off the street?”
A man in an immaculate suit, his hair slicked back with too much gel, strode toward them.
Jenna’s expression soured. “Mr. Hudson, this is my classmate. He’s here to look at a property.” She shot Kael a look, pleading with him to play along. This manager had repeatedly tried to hit on her, and since she’d turned him down, he took every opportunity to make her life difficult.
Hudson gave Kael a disdainful once-over. “Did you sleep through your training, Jenna? We’re selling luxury homes, not making small talk with old friends. And look at him. Dressed like that? Do you really think he has the money to buy a multi-million-dollar estate?”
Jenna paled. “Mr. Hudson, he’s just…”
“Jenna!” Hudson interrupted, his face severe. “You’ve been here less than a month and you’re already breaking the rules. Don’t bother coming in tomorrow.”
Jenna’s eyes turned red. The commission on a single sale here was more than a hundred thousand dollars, and now she was being fired on a whim. Tears welled up and spilled down her cheeks.
Hudson ignored her completely and turned to Kael, grabbing the front of his shirt and shoving him. “Get out. Don’t dirty up our showroom.”
The commotion attracted the attention of other clients, who began to gather around. At first, they seemed put off by the manager's rudeness, but after seeing Kael’s simple, worn clothes, their expressions changed.
“Why are there vagrants in here?” a middle-aged woman complained. “I’m very disappointed in your standards!”
“Exactly,” another man added. “We come to Cypress Point for its elite quality. We can’t have this kind of person lowering the tone.”
Soon, a chorus of voices joined in. “Get him out of here!”
“Throw him out!”
Kael’s clothes weren’t designer, but they were clean and neat, just old. Being humiliated like this was more than he could take. He slapped Hudson’s hand away and, in the same motion, swung his own.
CRACK!
The sharp sound echoed through the hall.
Hudson stumbled back and fell to the floor, clutching his face, his eyes wide with disbelief. “You… you hit me!”
Kael flexed his hand, a cold smirk on his face. “You’re allowed to put your hands on me, but I’m not allowed to fight back?”
“Fine! Fine!” Hudson scrambled to his feet. “Security!”
In moments, four guards had surrounded Kael.
Kael didn’t flinch. He stared straight at Hudson. “Before you do anything stupid, I suggest you confirm this with your general manager. Otherwise, you won’t be able to afford the consequences.”
“Pah!” Hudson spat, his cheek already swelling. “Don’t try that crap with me, you bum. I wasn’t born yesterday! Well? What are you waiting for? Get him!”
“Yes, sir!” The guards moved to grab Kael, but a voice from across the hall stopped them dead.
“Wait!”
A calm, distinguished middle-aged man walked toward them.
Hudson immediately rushed over, fawning. “Mr. Sterling! Just a vagrant causing trouble. I was trying to ask him to leave, and he got violent. Don’t worry, I’ll have him removed immediately.”
Mr. Sterling didn’t even glance at him. He walked directly to Kael. “Are you Kael, sir?”
Kael nodded. “I am.”
At his confirmation, Sterling stood up straight and extended his hand. “My sincerest apologies! I am so sorry you had to experience this!”
Kael’s expression remained neutral. “It’s fine. I just don’t appreciate his arrogant attitude.”
A flash of anger crossed Sterling’s face. He shot a glare at Hudson, who immediately panicked.
“Mr. Sterling, you can’t let him fool you!” Hudson pleaded, grabbing the GM’s arm. “He’s just an old classmate of Jenna’s! There’s no way he can afford a place at Cypress Point!”
Mr. Sterling violently shook his arm free. “You worthless bastard. Still spouting nonsense when your career is over. Kael is the owner of Villa 8!”
Hearing this, Hudson’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor. “The… the owner… of Villa 8?”
Whispers erupted among the clients nearby.
“Did he say Villa 8?” one man asked his companion, disbelieving.
“Yes, Villa 8. The crown jewel of the entire development.”
“But I thought Villa 8 wasn’t for sale.”
“It isn’t! I was here with a CEO’s son last week. He specifically asked for Villa 8 and they told him it was off the market, period.”
“Who is this kid, that he could get Villa 8?”
“Must be the son of someone huge from D.C. or New York…”
“Shh, don’t speculate.”
The people who could afford to buy here were rich, powerful, or both. They knew what lines not to cross. In an instant, Kael’s identity became the biggest mystery in the room.
Kael himself was just as stunned. The “place” Lila mentioned… was a thirty-million-dollar villa?
