Chapter 41 - 40: Climbing a Wall in the Middle of the Night
’Oh, right.’ She recalled that there was indeed a homeowner from Kingsland at Tidalview. She just didn’t know which specific villa it was, and she hadn’t looked at the resident’s profile back then.
’Who would have thought it’d be such a coincidence? Right across the street, and it just had to be him.’
’He must be referring to the day she and Caleb Lowell had arranged to go to the hospital for a paternity test. After that, she moved directly into the Lowell family home and hadn’t been back to her own place since.’
’Still, living across the street is perfect. It’ll make it that much easier to invite myself in. Looks like I’ll have to find an opportunity to move back to Tidalview.’
’Maybe I’ll even climb over the wall in the middle of the night... hehe.’
"What a coincidence. It seems I’ll have to find time to pay my neighbor a visit."
"You’re welcome anytime. Though I must say, I never imagined Director Lowell’s business empire was so vast as to include the real estate industry," Leo Grant teased.
"It’s decent, I suppose. But let me be clear—as good as our relationship is, there’s no way I’m giving you a refund. And don’t even think about using your good looks on me; it won’t work. However, I can waive your property management fees for life. You’re welcome."
"Alright. In that case, my thanks to Director Lowell."
Because Tidalview’s management was top-notch in every respect, the annual property management fee was around 300,000. This expense was pocket change for Leo Grant, but ’hey, it’s basically a gift from Yvonne Lowell, right? I have to take it!’
I did the research—annual property management fees in a villa district can be well over 100,000, or even more. So if I say it’s 300,000, then it’s 300,000!!
The two of them made idle small talk. Leo Grant didn’t ask her about Leon and Henry Lynch, and Yvonne Lowell didn’t ask him how he had ended up opening such a large club in Country A.
...
「In a private room at the restaurant.」
Nolan Crawford and Leon rushed over, finally making it in time.
’Hilarious. If I hadn’t deliberately driven slowly to wait for you two, you would have starved to death on the road.’
After they ordered, only the four of them remained in the private room.
Unable to get anything out of Leon and not daring to ask her directly, Nolan Crawford could only resort to stealing glances at Yvonne Lowell, thinking he was being subtle.
Just as he was about to look away for the last time, Yvonne Lowell glanced up at him. "Have something to say to me?"
"Ahem, Little White—ah, no, Yvonne. Um..." The words caught in his throat, and Nolan Crawford faltered.
"Just spit it out. You’re a grown man, stop being so wishy-washy."
"It’s just... do the Lowells know you’re in Country A?" Nolan Crawford asked, taken aback by her retort.
’What he really wanted to ask was why the Mercenary Corps was at her beck and call, but he didn’t dare.’
Yvonne Lowell leaned back in her chair and asked nonchalantly, "Well, does the Crawford Family know you’re in Country A?"
"Ahem, I’m here on a business trip. That’s different," Nolan Crawford said, rubbing his nose in embarrassment.
"Oh, and I’m just here catching up with old friends. No difference," Yvonne Lowell said with a shrug.
’Right, right. The kind of "catching up" that involves stabbing someone, I see?’
"Fine, fine, fine. Then you don’t talk, and I won’t talk. We’re both just here having fun. We can keep each other’s secrets, right?"
Nolan Crawford was out of options. His family only knew he was working with Leo Grant, but they weren’t clear on the specifics, only that they were business partners. It was better to keep them in the dark if possible.
Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow. "Deal. A pleasure working with you."
’Hmph. This kid isn’t as smart as Leo Grant, nor is he as tactful. And he thought he could use this to threaten me?’
And just like that, the two parties reached a verbal, and not entirely pleasant, confidentiality agreement.
Recalling Henry Lynch’s miserable state, Nolan Crawford couldn’t help but shudder.
He usually considered himself a fairly ruthless person, but compared to Yvonne Lowell, he was an amateur meeting a grandmaster.
It wasn’t that he thought she was too cruel—after all, you can’t judge without knowing the full story.
Besides, Nolan Crawford had seen far more ruthless methods, and they had come from the very man sitting beside her.
But just like Leo Grant, he was incredibly curious. What on earth had Yvonne Lowell gone through all these years?
At nineteen, most kids from ordinary families were still growing up under their parents’ care, their daily worries limited to homework, exams, grades, what to eat, and running out of allowance.
But she had grown up without a family’s protection, wandering alone for over a decade. Yet at her age, she was already a lifetime honorary professor at a top international university and possessed the world’s number one financial group.
Her achievements, status, and wealth—each one represented a level that countless people might never reach in their entire lives.
Even though he had been hiding behind Leo earlier, he hadn’t missed the moment Yvonne Lowell walked out of that room. She had been twirling a dagger with a roguish air, a chilling smile on her face that only subsided slightly after she saw them.
’It seemed that was the real her.’
Nolan Crawford even suspected that if they hadn’t gone up, or if someone else had, she very likely would have killed that man on the spot.
’Congratulations, you guessed right. Too bad there’s no prize.’
Nolan Crawford asked, "By the way, Yvonne, the Leogryph you mentioned just now is...?"
"Yup. A little pet I’m raising."
"Is it the Leogryph I’m thinking of?" Nolan Crawford swallowed hard.
Yvonne Lowell propped her chin on her hand and watched him with amusement. "If the Leogryph you’re thinking of also happens to be a full-grown African lion, then that’s the one."
’Holy crap! A full-grown African lion equals a ’little pet’?!’ Nolan Crawford’s jaw nearly hit the floor.
Even the unflappable Leo Grant was somewhat taken aback. He asked, "You raised it from a cub?"
"Yup. I found him before he was even weaned. He’s over two years old now."
Leo Grant raised an eyebrow. "You ’found’ him?"
’African lions aren’t exactly something you just find lying around.’
"That’s right. The mother died, and he was the only one left, so I figured I’d just bring him back and raise him," Yvonne Lowell said with a shrug.
It was an answer that revealed almost nothing. But everyone had their secrets, so Leo Grant didn’t press the issue. ’Maybe one day she’ll tell me on her own?’
A waiter knocked on the door and entered with their food. After setting out the dishes, he departed just as quietly.
=================
Bonus Scene:
Yvonne: ’Stay strong. Don’t let his handsome face get to you. It’s just losing out on 300,000 a year, which is way better than refunding him hundreds of millions for the villa.’
Leo: ’Who can relate? We aren’t even officially together, and I’m already getting pocket money from my wifey. Every cent is a token of her love, hehe.’