Chapter 275

Chapter 275

At the clubhouse, Adeline met Paxton, the CEO Zephyr had mentioned. He looked to be in his forties, with a kind face and a gentle demeanor.

"You're the one who wants to buy back the villa?" Paxton asked, sizing her up.

"Yes."

"Can you give me a reason?" Paxton was curious. "It's a big, valuable villa. You're so young, spending so much money on a place someone else has lived in… you could just buy a new one."

Adeline lowered her gaze, thinking for a moment. "I won't hide it from you. I used to live in that villa."

"Is that so?" Paxton's interest was piqued.

"The previous owner of the villa was also named Brown," Adeline said. "Same last name as me."

"He's your father?"

"Yes."

"As far as I know, he's in prison now. His company went bankrupt, and the villa was auctioned off… So you want to buy it back to live in?" Since it was her father's house, Adeline must have grown up there. Paxton could understand.

"Yes." What Adeline didn't say was that she wasn't buying it back to live in herself. But there was no need to explain that to him.

"Then let's talk price," Paxton said, a straightforward man. He held up a hand. "Five million dollars."

Five million was a lot for Adeline, but she could manage it. "Okay, five million."

"So quick. Did I ask for too little?"

"Sir, please don't joke with me." Adeline said, a little exasperated.

Paxton shrugged. "The atmosphere was a little tense. I thought I'd lighten it up with a joke. Shall we sign now?"

"Yes." Adeline was eager. The longer they waited, the more likely something could go wrong. Paxton was straightforward, and Adeline was anxious to sign. They were a perfect match. After signing the contract, she even offered to treat him to a meal, surprised at how smoothly everything had gone.

"No, thanks," Paxton said. "I don't eat with girls who are already taken."

Adeline was stunned.

Paxton touched his face. "What, I can't date?"

"No." Adeline said, surprised. "You just look… a little old." A man in his forties should have a wife and kids, right?

"I'm only thirty-two." Paxton said, his expression even stranger.

Adeline was taken aback. "But you look…"

"A little old, right?" Paxton rolled his eyes. "You don't get it. This is called maturity. Anyway, I don't want to eat with you. You're not very pleasant to talk to."

After Paxton left, Adeline was still in disbelief.

Zephyr couldn't help but laugh. "My fault. I should have told you."

Adeline shook her head.

"I haven't asked you before. Are you really buying this villa to live in?"

Adeline was silent for a moment. "No." She already had a place. She had rented a small apartment when she first came back, and later bought it from the landlord. It wasn't big, and it wasn't expensive, but it was just right for her and her child. And this villa…

She took out her phone. A message had come in from that number.

[You really bought it back?]

[Yes.]

Seeing Elisa again felt like a lifetime ago. How long had it been? They had seen each other once, shortly after she had returned, when she had gone to visit Cara's grave and had seen Elisa and Jason there. They hadn't seen each other since.

"You're rich now." Elisa said, her expression complicated. "To be able to spend five million on that villa… I guess I don't need to worry about your life anymore."

Adeline smiled faintly and pushed the property deed across the table. "Whenever you're free, we can handle the transfer."

"Why?" Elisa didn't understand. She hadn't been good to Adeline. Since Cara's death and Jeremy's imprisonment, she had been drifting with Jason, resenting her daughter for years.

"Consider it my debt to you." Adeline said softly.

Elisa looked down. "Tomorrow. We'll handle the transfer tomorrow. You can go see the place before Jason and I go back." It was clear she didn't intend to live with Adeline. Once a rift was formed, they were still family, but they were no longer suited to live under the same roof. And that was just fine with Adeline.

"Thank you." She stood up to leave. The mother she could once run to for comfort was now a stranger. Adeline felt a pang of sadness, but also a sense of release. This meeting had gone much better than she had expected. No arguments, no curses. A calm conversation was a rare gift.

"Adeline." Elisa called out from behind her. She stopped, but didn't turn back. "Your brother is at Pine Court Academy."

Adeline paused, then walked away without a word. Perhaps they would never reconcile, but as long as there was no resentment, that was enough.

Adeline went to Pine Court Academy, but didn't go in. She watched from the gate and saw Jason playing with his classmates. He wasn't wearing designer clothes, but his clothes were clean. It seemed Elisa was taking good care of him.

It was a hot day, and Jason was sweating after running around on the field. Everyone else had water, but he didn't. Adeline turned and went into a nearby store.

Jason was sitting on the steps when a classmate offered him a bottle of water. Just as he was about to take it, a girl ran out of the store and thrust a bottle into his hand. "Here."

After she left, his classmates started whistling. "Is that girl from the store into you?"

"Why else would she give you water, and only you?"

"Maybe you should ask her out."

Jason ignored their teasing, staring at the bottle in his hand. He didn't know the girl from the store, but he knew this water. Before Jeremy went to prison, this was his favorite. Back then, they had money to burn. He was the golden boy. Gambling, skipping class. He did whatever he wanted. But then Jeremy went to prison, the family went bankrupt, and he fell from grace. At first, he couldn't accept it, but eventually, he had to.

It had been a long, long time since he had had this brand of water. It was expensive.

He suddenly stood up and ran to the gate. He had only been at this school for a little over a year. No one knew him, no one knew about his family's past. No one knew he liked this water. And no one would have bought it for him. Except… his family.

But at the school gate, there was just a crowd of people, cars passing by. He didn't see a familiar face.

He unscrewed the cap and took a sip. It was the same taste, yet it wasn't.

Adeline went back to the villa. It was so familiar. She had grown up here. It had been so many years since she had been back. The house had been cleaned. There was no dust. All the furniture was still in its original place. Adeline remembered clearly, in the dining room, Jason had once thrown a tantrum because he didn't like his food. As his older sister, she had comforted him.

Back then, Jason hadn't been a bad kid. He was just a cute boy who listened to her, even when he didn't listen to his parents. She would hold him in her arms, and Cara would scold him for being a little brat, because she was the one who had raised him. Jason would bury his face in her chest, his nose running. "Adeline is the best." he would say.

Jeremy, tall and strong, would lift him onto his shoulders. "You're so heavy, and you're making your sister carry you. Aren't you afraid of tiring her out?" Jason would pout, but he would quickly be happy again.

Adeline went up to the second floor. Their family's rooms. Her parents' room, her and Jason's room, Cara's room. It had been a happy time. She had moved freely between the rooms, a happy little bird.

At the end of the hall was Jeremy's study. The place where the accident had happened. Adeline stood at the door, her courage failing her. She was afraid to go in.

She had stood in this very spot, years ago, after a date with Edward. She had run to find Jeremy, to ask him to help Edward. She had pushed open the door, and Jeremy had said, "I killed someone."

Adeline would never forget the shock of that moment. Everything after that was a blur. She found out she was pregnant. Edward went to prison. And Jeremy had broken his promise to help Edward. She had run around, desperately trying to find connections, to find help. And then had come that dark night.