Chapter 84
The whole family knew.
Chloe Sullivan felt a sour jealousy in her heart.
Among the three Sullivan brothers, the eldest was the most successful.
That was undeniable.
He was a big boss and had long since left them behind.
Her family was next.
Charles Sullivan wasn't the best, but he was better than the worst.
Thanks to his in-laws' connections, he became manager at an inspection company.
His job was easy, with an annual salary of three hundred thousand.
She herself had a secure job at the power bureau.
Their daughter, Grace, also worked at the power bureau.
They could be considered a comfortable, well-off family.
The worst off was the third brother's family.
So what if he got into a top university?
He ended up back here as a poor teacher.
Stubborn, no idea how to make extra money.
Isabella was even worse.
A so-called full-time writer, but really just unemployed.
All these years, she never produced any masterpiece.
How many books has she published? Sold any rights?
Not even a book signing.
What kind of writer is that?
More like a professional sitter!
It was fine when things were like this.
But the third brother's family suddenly moved into a villa?!
And in the best development in the neighboring city.
Her parents spent their life savings just to afford a regular high-rise apartment.
The smallest unit at that.
How did the third brother's family manage it?
"Charles, what has your third brother been up to lately? Anything unusual?"
"How should I know?"
"Aren't you his second brother?"
"Our families don't usually interact. Weren't you the one who told me to keep my distance?"
Chloe Sullivan had no retort.
She really didn't like associating with the third brother's family.
Who wants to hang out with people worse off than themselves?
She was afraid Isabella would ask to borrow money!
Charles asked, "Why are you suddenly asking about this?"
"The third brother's family quietly bought a villa. Don't you think that's strange?"
Charles fell silent.
Of course it was strange.
Like a beggar suddenly becoming wealthy.
Who wouldn't be curious about the reason?
"His wife said it was Sophia who bought it…"
"Ha! How would Sophia Sullivan get that kind of money? Selling herself?"
"What nonsense are you talking?!"
Wait…
Money from selling herself.
Why hadn't she thought of that?
Chloe Sullivan's eyes lit up.
Her face showed disdain and disgust, but underneath lay jealousy and resentment.
She took out her phone and dialed.
"Hello, Victoria? Are you busy?"
"Something up, second sister-in-law?"
"I went to look at apartments at Lakeside Pearl today. Guess who I saw?"
Victoria Sullivan wasn't very interested. "Who?"
"Your third sister-in-law and Sophia!"
"They were at the sales office?"
"Not just that. They bought a villa!"
"…What?" Victoria thought she misheard.
She never imagined a villa could be connected to her third brother's family.
"Are you sure it was her? Not the eldest brother and his wife?"
Chloe Sullivan's mouth twitched. "I'm not so old and blind that I'd mistake someone."
Besides…
The difference between Sophia Sullivan and Isabella was too big to confuse.
Victoria swallowed. "They bought a villa? You're not mistaken?"
"I saw the sales contract myself. How could it be fake?"
"How is that possible?!"
Chloe Sullivan sighed. "I had the same reaction at first. But who made the third brother's daughter so capable? Gone for years, made a fortune, comes home and buys her parents a villa. We can only envy that…"
Victoria seized the key point. "You said Sophia bought it?"
"Yes, that child is really something! Not like our Grace, only able to get a dead-end job at the power bureau…"
"How does a young girl get that much money?"
Chloe Sullivan covered her mouth, smiling meaningfully. "How would I know? But you said it yourself, she's a young girl. Young girls these days have great skills. Designer clothes, luxury bags… can't afford them themselves, but that doesn't mean no one will give them…"
Victoria frowned deeply.
"Oh my, listen to me run off at the mouth. I shouldn't say things I shouldn't. Well, you must be busy. I'll hang up now."
Chloe Sullivan knew when to stop.
Victoria held the ended call, lost in thought.
Right after hanging up on Victoria, Chloe Sullivan called the eldest sister-in-law, Sophia Sullivan.
"Eldest sister-in-law, it's Chloe Sullivan…"
"Perfect timing. A client sent some cigarettes, alcohol, and local specialties for the New Year. I divided them into two portions, one for your family and one for the third brother's. Come get them when you have time."
In previous years, Sophia Sullivan would give some things to Chloe Sullivan.
This was the first year she included the third brother's family.
Chloe Sullivan's heart sank, sour like pickles.
"Why is there a portion for the third brother this year?"
Sophia said, "In previous years, there wasn't much, so I only gave to you. This year there's extra."
Chloe Sullivan thought, no matter how much, I could take it all.
"Sigh, eldest sister-in-law always thinks of us. I'm naturally very grateful. But the third brother's family… I'm afraid they might look down on these things."
"Look down on them?" Sophia frowned.
"Of course. They're wealthy people about to live in a Lakeside villa. What good cigarettes, alcohol, or local specialties don't they have?"
"Lakeside villa?" Sophia had naturally heard of this development.
Not only heard of it but had been in contact.
Her son was of marriageable age, and she was preparing a wedding home.
Ryan Sullivan was handsome and had started his own company.
He would marry a girl from a family of equal status.
The wedding home couldn't be casual.
It needed to be comfortable with convenient transportation, but also consider the community environment and social connections.
Best if it was an area where wealthy people gathered.
After looking around, she settled on Lakeside Pearl.
A high-rise wouldn't do; it had to be a villa.
She went to the sales office twice.
The first time to prepare the funds verification fee.
The second time to formally view the property.
She was very satisfied with the villa.
The structure and design were top-notch in the neighboring city.
But the price…
The cheapest started at four million.
A mortgage was out of the question; it would make the女方's family look down on them.
Besides, who gets a mortgage for a villa? It's always paid in full.
She discussed it with William Sullivan, but he hesitated.
"…Although life is better now than before, in the building materials industry, you know, developers often delay payments. Last year alone, nearly two million in receivables weren't collected. The company's cash flow is tight. We really can't spare four million for a villa."
"Don't worry, we'll definitely buy a wedding home for our son. But there's no hurry. He doesn't even have a girlfriend yet. It's too early to think about this."
Sophia paused while ironing clothes. "But that development is very popular. If we don't buy now, we might not get the chance later."