During previous class reunions, it was usually Jeffrey who flaunted his wealth, relishing in the praise and envy of his classmates. But today, at this very moment, all the attention was focused on Martin.
Both Michael and his father, Jeffrey, felt a heavy weight on their hearts. Knowing Sophia well, Michael was certain she couldn’t afford a villa at Cloud Dream Mountain. His gaze shifted to Leo.
After a moment of contemplation, Michael quickly dismissed the thought. A man known for living off women couldn’t possibly buy a villa at Cloud Dream Mountain. If that were the case, it would defy all logic in the world.
Could it be that Villa No. 9 was just a temporary façade put up by Sophia, designed to show off and humiliate them?
Michael wasn’t the only one with such thoughts; Fanny shared them too. Regardless, Fanny couldn’t bring herself to believe that Sophia had the financial means to live there.
Ever since Sophia had married Leo, Fanny’s confidence had grown. In the family, she saw herself as a shining pearl, second only to Sophia in terms of beauty. While she used to perceive Sophia as a threat, that feeling had dissipated after Sophia’s marriage. She believed she had the upper hand.
But if Sophia had truly moved into Cloud Dream Mountain, Fanny knew that she’d remain inferior when facing Sophia. Fanny despised being overshadowed by others.
She couldn’t accept living in a regular residential area while Sophia resided in a luxurious villa at Cloud Dream Mountain.
Observing Sophia’s key, Fanny’s eyes harbored resentment. She couldn’t hold back her words and spoke with a tone that seemed to say, “Stop pretending, Sophia. The key in your hand won’t open this door.”
Fanny’s statement drew everyone’s attention to the key Sophia held. Except for Leo, Jessica, and Martin, everyone became nervous, hoping that Sophia’s key would fail to open the door. As long as the door remained locked, Sophia’s lie would unravel on its own, allowing them to vent their suppressed emotions.
Although everyone knew that the odds of their desired outcome were slim, they refused to accept the harsh truth until it was absolutely necessary.
*Click!*
With a slight twist of Sophia’s right hand, the lock made a soft sound, and the villa’s front door swung open. At that moment, Fanny felt as though she were about to cry without tears. Although she didn’t want to admit it, the harsh reality had dealt her a heavy blow, shattering all her pride.
Martin suddenly spoke up, directing his words at Sean, “Sean, do you remember we wanted to invite Mom over yesterday, but you refused on her behalf? Do you remember?”
Sean’s face turned as red as a beet. Besides elevating the Henley family to the status of a first-class family, the old Mrs. Henley’s lifelong dream was to live at Cloud Dream Mountain. Yet, just yesterday, when Jessica and Martin extended an invitation, Sean had rejected it on behalf of Teresa.
Seeing the expressions on the faces of the Henley family’s relatives, Jessica couldn’t have been happier. She didn’t care about how the villa had been acquired; she only knew that she would be living here, and that today, she finally gained some face in front of the Henley family’s relatives and Jeffrey.
With a radiant smile on her face, Jessica raised her right hand triumphantly and exclaimed, “Hello, dear friends and family! Don’t just stand there; this is my new home. Come on in!”
Given the circumstances, Jeffrey felt gloomy but decided to take a look at the villa worth 200 million. He walked in with a heavy heart, followed by his former classmates, who displayed various expressions of amazement.
The Henley family’s relatives had long yearned for Cloud Dream Mountain villas. Despite their shock and disbelief, they were eager to see the villa, temporarily setting aside any other thoughts.
Bruno and Fanny entered the villa last. Fanny was filled with reluctance and whispered to Bruno, “Bruno, this situation is just too strange. There’s no way Sophia could afford this villa. Unless she sold Sophia Cosmetics, she couldn’t possibly have enough money.”
Since Sophia had used a key to unlock the door, Bruno had maintained a grim expression. If Sophia had purchased an ordinary apartment, he could understand, but this was Cloud Dream Mountain, and the price was astronomical.
Bruno shook his head. “This situation is indeed abnormal. Sophia couldn’t possibly afford this villa.”
“Could she be renting it just to show off in front of us?” Fanny guessed.
“That’s unlikely. Cloud Dream Mountain villas are never available for rent,” Bruno replied, dismissing the idea.
Fanny pondered for a moment and then asked, “Could Leo have bought it?”
Bruno chuckled, a trace of disdain in his smile. “After four years of Leo mooching off the Henley family, you should know what kind of person he is. If that freeloader could buy a Cloud Dream Mountain villa, the world would have gone mad.”
Fanny agreed with Bruno’s statement, her tone light and playful.
The villa’s interior was elegantly decorated, devoid of the gaudiness often seen in extravagant homes. Inside, it felt like stepping into a medieval noble castle, a sensation of time travel, as if they had transformed into aristocrats.
“Martin, this villa is incredible. It truly lives up to its reputation as a Cloud Dream Mountain villa. It’s refined and elegant. If I lived here, I’d wake up from dreams with a smile.”
“I think after spending time here, we’ll certainly acquire a noble air. No wonder rich people want to live in Cloud Dream Mountain villas.”
“Martin, you’re really not considerate at all. You secretly bought a Cloud Dream Mountain villa, and you never told us. We’ve been friends for so many years; this is unacceptable.”
Martin’s old classmates began lavishing praise upon him.
As he stood aside, Jeffrey was feeling quite downcast and didn’t say a word. While the villa he lived in was also luxurious, it paled in comparison to the Cloud Dream Mountain villa. He regretted the time he had invited Martin over to his place to flaunt, but now he felt humbled.
Similarly, Michael had prepared an arsenal of sarcastic comments to use on Leo and Sophia, hoping to find a sense of superiority. But reality had forced him to swallow those words, and his sense of superiority had crumbled to dust.