Chapter 64: The First Phone Call
"Mommy sold those things because we don’t need them anymore. We can sell them to get things we do need. It’s important to be thrifty, whether we have a lot of money or not. And being thrifty doesn’t mean we can’t buy anything expensive. It just means we need to think about whether we truly need to buy it, okay?"
Ian Monroe listened intently, his big, dark eyes fixed on his mother as he nodded emphatically.
"It’s okay to buy toys for Ian. Mommy heard these kinds of toys can help develop your brain and make you smarter. How about you try putting it together in a little while?"
"Okay," Ian nodded immediately. He believed everything his mom said.
"Also, Ian must always listen to Mommy. You can’t do anything to hurt other people, okay? But if someone tries to bully you, you’re allowed to fight back. You should be kind, but not weak."
Ian obediently nodded again, as if trying to etch his mother’s words into his heart.
"And there’s one more very, very important thing Ian must remember. And that is, Mommy will always, always love you."
"Ian loves Mommy, too. I love Mommy the most!" Melody Monroe hugged the little guy and kissed his cheek. "Alright, let’s go make dinner. Tonight, we’re having sweet and sour pork ribs, steamed fish, and seaweed egg drop soup!"
After they made and ate dinner, Melody Monroe helped Ian Monroe open the box of building blocks.
A glance at the complex blueprints inside made her head spin.
’Ian is only three years old. Did I buy a set that’s too difficult for him?’
Ian Monroe had already started putting the pieces together.
"Ian, why don’t you play with this for a bit? Mommy is going to put away the things we bought today. It’s okay if you can’t assemble it, don’t worry."
"Mhm," Ian Monroe nodded.
Melody Monroe turned to put their things away. About an hour had passed by the time she finished organizing everything. She sat down on Ian’s little bed, took out her phone, and scrolled to a certain number.
’Rent is due in a few days. This landlord is awfully calm... isn’t he in a hurry to collect it?’
Melody Monroe was genuinely afraid the new landlord might try to break the lease. After all, the apartment was his now. Even though they had a contract, it wasn’t impossible for him to simply break it and pay the penalty fee.
But finding another suitable place on such short notice wouldn’t be easy for her.
Besides, she really didn’t want to drag Ian through the stress of constantly moving.
Melody Monroe took the initiative and dialed the number.
...
It was already nine o’clock at night, but Evan Fairchild was still at the office.
No one in the entire office, from top to bottom, dared to leave before him. They could only stay and keep the big boss company. Tommy was organizing documents nearby when a phone suddenly started ringing.
He lifted his head and snuck a peek.
’That’s the big boss’s personal phone. The only people who have that number are President Fairchild’s family.’
Evan Fairchild glanced at the number, a flicker of emotion flashing through his eyes before he placed the phone down in front of Tommy.
"President Fairchild?"
"Take this call for me."
"Huh? You want me to take it?" Tommy asked, but seeing the dark expression on Evan Fairchild’s face, he hurriedly picked up the phone.
"Hello? Hi, I’m the tenant in Unit 10, Building 19 of the Golden Garden Community. I’m so sorry to bother you. Are you the new landlord who just bought this apartment?"
Ummmm...
’A wrong number!?’
’On President Fairchild’s personal phone?’
However, his seven years of experience at President Fairchild’s side told him something.
This was no simple matter.
This was no wrong number.
"Yes, that’s right," Tommy replied, steeling himself.
"May I ask your name, then?"