Chapter 128 Trained by the Ex-Girlfriend?
Calling this villa "magnificent" would actually be an insult.
Every detail of its unique design screamed money.
Everywhere Thalia looked, she felt like she was standing in a house built entirely from cash.
The Smith Villa's luxury already surpassed many wealthy families in Emerald City, plus Hayden had always enjoyed collecting antiques.
Those antiques added even more value to the house. But this mansion was different - the Smith Villa looked almost tacky in comparison.
The understated Italian luxury design, the carved details on the walls - every element revealed its high price tag.
Even Thalia, who grew up wealthy, felt overwhelmed.
William stood beside her, watching her expression, then put his arm around her shoulders and led her inside.
"Mr. Brown, Mrs. Brown, good evening."
The sudden chorus of greetings made Thalia jump.
Coming to her senses, Thalia grabbed William's arm.
What was all this?
"If you don't like the design, you can change it later."
Change it?
That extravagant?
Thalia could clearly tell this house had just been renovated.
"First tell me how much one floor tile costs? I want to know how long I'd have to work to pay for all the tiles in this house."
"Not expensive."
William said casually, "About what you make for one TV episode."
Thalia: ......... Her appearance fee wasn't exactly sky-high, but William's comment stung a little.
"Mrs. Brown, your slippers."
William changed into slippers and entered the house. Seeing Thalia still standing in the entryway, a servant reminded her.
Thalia put on the slippers and went in, following closely behind William. He led her from the first floor to the second, introducing everything along the way.
Then, upstairs, he pushed open a hidden door.
"This is the master bedroom sitting room."
Through the small living room was the master bedroom. To the right of the master bedroom was a huge walk-in closet and bathroom.
Just the walk-in closet alone was as big as the bedroom in Thalia's villa.
Thalia suddenly remembered what Angelina had said: "William has plenty of money, just no one to help him spend it."
"Want to go in and look?" Thalia stood frozen in place, not daring to move. Hayden had taught her from childhood not to accept handouts. This from William... it scared her a bit.
She'd thought she'd found a man who had less than her, and had been planning how to lure him to her villa so she could enjoy keeping a man.
But instead—
"You know what? This morning I was thinking about tricking you into coming to my villa, then keeping you."
Thalia's stiff neck slowly turned as she looked at William.
William rubbed a cigarette between his fingers, lips curling slightly: "And now?"
"Can't afford it," Thalia slowly shook her head.
"Who has more money, you or my dad?"
William walked over and pushed open the hidden door to the walk-in closet, his tone playful: "Depends on what kind of money."
"Money has types?" Thalia walked to William's side, looking at the closet layout.
William didn't answer Thalia's question directly, pointing at the walk-in closet: "Three and three-quarters of the space is yours, just leave a little for me."
"Pretty self-aware."
William made a sound of agreement. Thalia's fingertip hooked his finger, playing with it: "Did an ex-girlfriend train you?"
William pulled out his pinky, rubbing it with his thumb, pressing down the tingling sensation.
"Amara taught me."
"Amara taught you this too?"
"There's no room for me at the Brown Villa anymore. The day after I moved out, she took over my closet."
"Wouldn't have guessed," Thalia followed William to the bathroom: "Don't doctors usually just wear white coats?"
"Exactly because she can't wear them, she loves buying clothes."
Thalia: ........ Totally get it - buying them to admire at home makes you happy.
William had been holding the cigarette for a while but hadn't lit it. Taking advantage of Thalia going into the bathroom, he pressed the intercom and had someone bring up a lighter.
Fallon came up, looking at William uncertainly: "Mr. Brown, there are no lighters in the house."
William waved his hand irritably, signaling her to go down.
"Weren't you a good student when you were in school? How come you're such a heavy smoker now?"
Every time Thalia saw him, he was smoking in one form or another.
Thalia crossed her arms and leaned against the bathroom doorframe, looking at him.
William casually tossed the cigarette in the trash: "Would a good student date you?"
"Would a good student dump you?"
Thalia was speechless. Can't have a conversation anymore?
"Come with me."
Thalia obediently followed him. To the right of the bedroom was a study.
In the middle of William's study was a wooden desk nearly three meters long. Behind the desk was a whole wall of bookshelves, and on the wall in front hung dozens of monitors.
"You trade stocks?"
William glanced at her: "Market operations."
Thalia was stunned.
Before she could ask anything, William spoke: "This study will normally have a password. You can't come in when I'm not here."
Thalia understood and nodded.
All capitalists have some business secrets. She wasn't interested in these things, and besides, William had already brought her in to look around. This was clearly a real workspace. He didn't have to show her, but by doing so today, he was trying to satisfy her curiosity so she wouldn't wonder about it.
"Don't worry, I understand."
"It's late, get some rest early. If you're interested in the other areas tomorrow, have Fallon show you around."
Thalia agreed: "So should I go home?"
William's expression darkened as he looked at Thalia: "Say that again."
"There's nothing here! Not even toiletries," she spread her hands.
William walked to the walk-in closet, opened a cabinet door, pulled out a bag and handed it to her.
Thalia looked at him, surprised: "Mr. Brown really knows how to surprise me."
"Use these for now, we'll get whatever's missing tomorrow."
He just wouldn't let her leave.
William didn't have many toiletries here either. The huge house didn't feel very lived-in.
If it weren't for the servants downstairs, Thalia might have suspected William was trying to lure her here to chop her up.
At three in the morning, they lay in bed.
Thalia wrapped herself in the blanket and curled up, drowsy and about to fall asleep, when she thought of something: "When is Mr. Brown planning to go see Chase?"
"Is your dad dead?"
"Well, isn't he about to die?"
"Guess why it's called an inheritance?" William lay flat on the bed, responding to Thalia casually.
Thalia choked: "What if you trick me into this and then my dad turns out to be fine?"
"Been filming too many TV dramas?" William's expression didn't change as he responded, but in his mind he was thinking: I don't care if your dad lives or dies, I just need to trick you into being mine.