“Jeffrey, when did you become so wealthy, buying a villa in Golden Coast?” Martin chuckled.
Jeffrey pretended to sigh and said, “It’s all thanks to my son. He’s now an executive in a publicly listed company. To ensure I have a good life, he bought a villa. Our family will rely on him in the future.”
As Jeffrey spoke, he intentionally or unintentionally glanced at Leo.
Jeffrey knew his son had a crush on Sophia. If it weren’t for this sudden son-in-law who married Sophia, he and Martin might have been in-laws by now.
Some old classmates overheard their conversation and began teasing them in a clichéd manner.
“Martin, are you regretting it now? If Jeffrey’s son had become your son-in-law back then, you might have owned a villa in Golden Coast by now.”
“I don’t blame Martin for this. He has no say in marriage matters. It’s just a pity for Sophia, such a good girl.”
“I heard Sophia and her son-in-law have been married for four years now. Martin, isn’t he still at home doing chores without a real job?”
The classmates’ teasing had already turned Martin’s face beet red. Jessica, who was behind him, couldn’t help but pinch his waist, making him wince in pain.
Just as the couple was about to say something to ease the awkwardness, Leo spoke up, “Uncle Jeffrey, our family is also buying a new villa. We’re currently processing the paperwork, and when we move in, we’d like to invite you all over.”
Martin and Jessica were taken aback by Leo’s unexpected statement. Sophia was also a bit puzzled.
Could it be that Leo, provoked by the comments earlier, had made a rash promise? After all, boasting was enjoyable, but making good on those boasts could be challenging.
Even if Leo was currently earning a million annually, buying a multi-million-dollar villa would still take years of savings. Yet he claimed they were in the process of doing so.
Furthermore, even if he could afford it, the villa would have to be better than Jeffrey’s, or he would lose face.
Jessica, not happy with Leo’s comment, shot him an angry look and said, “Leo, why are you butting in when your dad and his classmates are chatting? Go play somewhere else.”
“Mom, in a month at the latest, we’ll be able to move into a better villa. When the time comes, we’ll invite Uncle Jeffrey and his family,” Leo replied, unfazed by Jessica’s expression.
Jeffrey couldn’t help but chuckle. Judging by Martin and Jessica’s reactions, he knew that Leo, the Henley family’s freeloading son-in-law, was just making empty boasts.
But this was good; it allowed them to make a big joke out of it for everyone’s amusement. Jeffrey said with a smile, “Leo, I accept your invitation. Don’t forget to notify me when your luxurious villa is ready.”
Leo replied with a smile, “I’ll make sure to notify Uncle Jeffrey first.”
If it weren’t for the fact that they were at Jeffrey’s house, Jessica would have wanted to strangle Leo. This worthless son-in-law of hers seemed to be losing touch with reality lately.
Next, Jeffrey invited everyone to the luxurious dining room in the villa for dinner.
The atmosphere during dinner was quite awkward, especially for Jessica and Martin, as Leo’s presence had made them the butt of jokes.
After finishing their meal, Jessica couldn’t wait to leave the place. The family said their goodbyes.
As Martin’s family departed in their car, Jeffrey couldn’t help but sneer, “Martin’s son-in-law must have suffered some kind of psychological shock from living as an in-law, making him say such nonsense in front of me. It’s quite amusing. Did you see the expressions on Martin and Jessica’s faces? If I were them, I’d want to crawl into a hole.”
“I actually feel a bit sorry for that son-in-law who married into the Henley family. Besides doing housework, he doesn’t seem to have any skills. He’s just drifting through life.”
“In fact, I can’t help but feel sorry for that son-in-law named Leo. Living as an in-law in the Henley family, his life seems to revolve around doing household chores, and he appears to be drifting through life.”
“I noticed that son-in-law’s expression; he seemed quite serious. Do you think their family might have really bought a luxurious villa?”
“It’s impossible. I know Martin’s wife’s temperament. If they had indeed bought a bigger villa, they would have definitely informed us!”
In the car on the way back home, Jessica’s face seemed as if it were covered in ice. “Leo, did you take the wrong medicine today? How could you say such things? If your father’s old classmates come to our house in a month to make fun of us, just wait and see what I’ll do to you!”
“Mom, the villa is second-handed. Even though I haven’t bought it yet, that villa is definitely going to be mine. Don’t worry,” Leo replied calmly.
Upon hearing this, Jessica felt like she was about to faint. What did he mean by ‘even though I haven’t bought it yet’?
She sighed in frustration, realizing that she had hoped for Leo to change, but he was still the same.
Sophia, on the other hand, looked at Leo with a different kind of gaze. She knew that Leo wasn’t the type to boast recklessly. He must really be planning to buy a villa.
And there was that time when her company faced financial difficulties, and Leo had provided eighty million to help resolve the crisis.
This man, Sophia thought, was becoming increasingly inscrutable.
Martin sighed, “Leo, you’ve made me a joke this time. I’ve told you countless times to be down-to-earth. You shouldn’t aim too high or make empty boasts. When will you ever grow up?”
“No way!” Jessica suddenly exclaimed. “I can’t let them see me as a laughingstock. We’ll rent a villa for a month, even if it’s just to save face.”
“In case Jeffrey and the others decide to visit, that’s the only option,” Martin said with a wry smile.
Once they returned home, Jessica and Martin began discussing which villa to rent to save face.
In Sophia’s bedroom, Leo had finished his nightly routine and lay on the floor.
“Leo, aren’t you going to tell me about the villa?” Sophia looked at Leo, who was staring at the ceiling, and asked.
Leo pretended to be mysterious, “It’s a surprise for you, so it’s a secret for now.”
Sophia pouted, “Hmph, fine, if you won’t tell me.”
Sophia pulled the blanket over herself, turned off the lights, and prepared to sleep.
“By the way, Sophia, tomorrow is Saturday. Do you have any plans?” Leo’s voice came from the darkness.
“I have plans to meet Karen for shopping and dinner,” Sophia replied.
“Oh, would you and Karen like to take me with you?”
Sophia snorted, “Don’t do anything to upset her, and don’t remind her of the piano man. You caused her enough pain. You know I’ll have to make it up to her.”
Leo found himself at a loss for words. Karen really was quite stubborn, still not over what had happened.