"Seraphina Sterling, the company has a fixed budget for every project. The demolition compensation is also capped—you can’t just name your price!" Hughes said, clutching a laptop, his expression a professional poker face.

"But the demolition notice has been out for a week, and still, no one is willing to sign the contract to move. Your work has ground to a halt! If my family makes a very public show of signing with The Grant Group right now, what do you think the surrounding neighbors will do?"

Although Seraphina was answering Hughes, her eyes were locked on Terrence Grant. He was the one who could actually make the decision. But as long as she watched him, she couldn’t find the slightest hint of agreement or opposition. ’I’ve been reborn,’ she thought. ’By all rights, Terrence Grant should be nothing more than a little brat to me. How can he hide his thoughts so deeply?’

’Mr. Grant of Aethelgard... His reputation is well-earned.’ 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

A man who could dominate Aethelgard couldn’t possibly be just some arrogant tyrant who ran wild. Seraphina repeatedly reminded herself not to be deceived by Terrence Grant’s outward appearance, not to think of him as just another reckless heir from a wealthy family. ’This man might be more deeply hidden than anyone else!’

"Like what you see? Do you find me handsome, sharp, and brilliant? Utterly captivated by me?" A corner of Terrence Grant’s mouth lifted, and an impossibly arrogant smile spread across his handsome face.

Seraphina desperately wanted to roll her eyes. ’Was I wrong about him? He’s just an arrogant, narcissistic egomaniac!’ She suppressed the urge, forcing a faint, warm smile. "So, does our handsome, sharp, and brilliant Teacher Grant agree to my proposal?"

"I agree! Of course I agree! After all, I’m your teacher—practically your elder. It’s a teacher’s duty to satisfy his student’s little requests! At this point, I’m so poor all I have left is money! Hughes, increase the Sterling family’s demolition compensation by another five hundred thousand, for a total of two million!"

Seraphina ground her teeth with envy at Terrence Grant’s lordly demeanor. ’Some people have all the luck,’ she fumed inwardly. If she had that kind of capital, she wouldn’t be so constrained now!

The government had discovered the jade mine in Tollan Town and was holding a public gem auction in its name. She remembered it clearly—the event had caused a huge sensation back in the day, drawing major jewelers from all over the country. Many exquisite, top-grade jades were cut and revealed at that auction. It was this event that launched Tollan’s reputation as a tourist destination, causing its economy to boom practically overnight.

This was a golden opportunity, and she had to seize it! The Hale Family was a massive enterprise; to fight them, she had to build her own empire!

Hughes would execute Terrence Grant’s orders unconditionally, but Seraphina wasn’t about to relax just yet. ’Terrence Grant is rotten to the core. There’s no way he’d part with an extra five hundred thousand so easily.’

"We haven’t tested your marksmanship in a few days. I’ve prepared plenty of high-end toys. If you can survive a round with me, I’ll make good on my promise immediately!" As he spoke, the two of them entered the shooting range again, much to Hughes’s worried expression.

Originally, Terrence Grant had only been teaching Seraphina hand-to-hand combat. But ever since their last shooting competition ended in a draw, he had pushed combat aside. Every time Seraphina came over now, they had to start with a marksmanship duel. Although the result was always a tie, he never seemed to get tired of it. Shooting first, combat later—which left Hughes idle, able to do little more than help out on the sidelines.

An afternoon of dueling, and the result was no surprise: another tie.

With an extra five hundred thousand, Seraphina felt much more secure. Ever since Kimberly Jennings had seen Seraphina’s grades skyrocket, she would instantly agree to any family matter her daughter brought up. They might not have their former affluent lifestyle, but her daughter was becoming more sensible and her grades were getting better and better. Their life finally had promise again!

Seraphina had only just broached the subject of moving when Kimberly Jennings immediately agreed. Seraphina was deeply touched by her mother’s trust and unconditional support.

On a bright and pleasantly warm Sunday, Seraphina’s family made a big show of signing the contract. The Grant Group’s project team was incredibly thorough, even having a convoy of moving trucks at the ready. Seraphina and Kimberly Jennings didn’t have many things, but The Grant Group insisted on loading their belongings into two separate trucks and moving them with great fanfare into a newly built residential complex in town.

The trucks drove extremely slowly the whole way, as if they wanted every resident who had not yet agreed to move to see just how considerate the company’s services were. They were just short of hanging up a banner urging everyone to sign the contracts!

The only downside to the new complex was its remote location. It consisted of just a few isolated apartment buildings. It was quiet, to be sure, but also a little creepy—especially since Seraphina’s family was now the only one living in the entire building.

The only upside was that they got to choose the best apartment.

In reality, the terms offered by The Grant Group were already excellent. It was just that people’s mindsets were too conservative; this was the first time something like this had happened, and they didn’t really believe the company would actually pay that much money. Seraphina had seen this hesitation and capitalized on it to get her extra five hundred thousand. With the Sterling family taking the lead, many of the people who had been watching from the sidelines also signed their contracts, and the resort project officially launched.

Everything was proceeding according to Seraphina’s plan. But, as always, the unexpected happens.

One day, while Seraphina was in study hall, her homeroom teacher, Dana Lowell, pulled her out of the room. "Hurry home! Something’s happened with your family!"