Chapter 4

A villa on Nimbus Highlands? That was one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in Hibiscus City, where prices started in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Every villa there was worth hundreds of millions.

No one had expected Dylan to secretly prepare such an extravagant wedding gift!

"I don't agree!" Lulu suddenly burst out.

"Grandpa, aren't I the one you love the most?" she said, grabbing his hand and batting her eyelashes. "This was supposed to be my wedding gift. How can you just give it to those two?"

This was her usual trick. No matter what trouble she got into, all she had to do was act a little sweet, and Dylan would stop being mad.

After all, it was a villa worth half a billion. It would be a huge loss if she let it go so easily.

"That's right. The villa was meant to be your wedding gift," Dylan said, his face turning cold as he shook her hand off. "But since you refuse to marry Noel, it belongs to Yvette."

Dylan was completely disappointed with Lulu. She had snuck around behind his back with someone else and broken off the engagement with Noel without a second thought.

There was no way she deserved the villa.

"This isn't fair, Grandpa!" Lulu's face darkened, but she still wasn't ready to give up on the fortune that was rightfully hers. After all, she was the Quinton family's golden child. That luxury villa should belong to her.

"No more arguments. This is final," Dylan declared firmly. "Noel and Yvette, go get your marriage registered right away. We will hold a family dinner tonight, and I will announce your marriage to everyone!"

Dylan waved his hand, unwavering in his decision.

His previous favoritism toward Lulu wasn't just because she was the eldest daughter. It was because she was betrothed to Noel. Now that Noel was marrying Yvette, that favor was gone.

At that moment, it wasn't just Lulu who looked like she'd lost everything. Even her parents looked defeated. Dylan was still alive, so the position of family head was still out of reach.

And now, even the extravagant wedding gift they had their eyes on was slipping right through their fingers.

They really had lost everything.

While everyone else looked defeated, Yvette felt a mix of excitement and worry. She was glad she'd bet on Noel. Dylan clearly valued him more than she had expected.

But that also meant she was going to marry Noel and become his wife.

She had only known this man for two days. Was she really going to spend her life with him?

The thought left her feeling confused and uncertain.

-

That night, the Quinton family held a grand celebration. The house was decorated with bright lights, and nearly every relative was there.

Though Dylan had just recovered from a serious illness, he was in high spirits. He even shared a few celebratory drinks with Noel.

"Noel, from today on, this is your home," Dylan said. He held their official marriage papers and couldn't help getting emotional. "If anyone dares to give you a hard time, they'll have to answer to me."

"Mr. Dylan, I—"

"Just call me Grandpa," Dylan interrupted with a warm smile.

Noel felt a rush of warmth. Dylan hadn't just saved his life, he'd treated him like his own. All these years, no one else had ever shown him that kind of kindness.

Lulu sneered from the side. "He's just a live-in son-in-law. At the end of the day, he's still an outsider. Grandpa, don't be fooled by him."

Noel's expression darkened, but before he could say anything, Yvette shot back with a cold glare.

"Lulu, Noel not only saved Grandpa's life, he's also a hero to our family. And now, he's my husband. How can you say something like that?"

Yvette had put up with Lulu's bullying for too long. This time, she wasn't about to let it slide.

"Yvette, you actually think you can lecture me?" Lulu's eyes flared with shock and anger. She couldn't believe that quiet, obedient Yvette dared talk back like this.

"Don't forget," Lulu sneered. "This guy is just trash I threw away. You really think you found a treasure? Just because someone puts on a crown doesn't make them royalty.

"When I become the wife of the Warren family's heir, your whole family will be begging me for favors."

Lulu looked down on Yvette with pure contempt. She was about to be the Warren family's future lady, and their billion-dollar investment meant more than some measly mountain villa.

"Noel is not trash," Yvette shot back, eyes burning with anger. Then, she suddenly changed the subject and said, "How about we make a bet?"

Lulu raised an eyebrow. "A bet? What could you possibly bet with me?"

Yvette glanced at Noel and said, "I bet you've made a huge mistake underestimating him."

"In one month, I bet that Noel can earn a hundred million to prove his worth. When that happens, you'll personally have to apologize to him."

All the Quinton family members present gasped. A hundred million wasn't much to them, but did Noel even have the ability to pull that off?

Yvette knew Noel couldn't do it alone, but since she ran a branch company, making that bet a reality wasn't out of the question.

Lulu burst out laughing. "Yvette, have you lost your mind? You want a country bumpkin to earn a hundred million?"

Her face was dripping with mockery, and many of the Quinton family members agreed Yvette was way overreaching.

"A hundred million? What's the point? Why don't we raise the stakes to ten billion? Do you have the guts to accept that, Ms. Lulu?"

The voice floated casually through the room, but it hit like a bomb.

It was Noel who had spoken, and his words stunned everyone into silence.

Everyone stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless.

Jacob and his wife nearly dropped their wine glasses.

Ten billion?

That was enough to buy out the entire Quinton Pharmaceutical Company.

This guy really had some nerve!

"What nonsense are you spouting? Do you even know how much that is?!"

Yvette shot Noel a warning glance, silently telling him to stop messing around.

Ten billion?

How many people in all of Hibiscus City could even dream of that?

"Don't worry," Noel said, gently patting the back of Yvette with a small smile. "That kind of money is nothing for your husband."

Yvette just rolled her eyes.

Of course he had to try to charm her even now.

“What a joke!”

Lulu burst out laughing.

Ten billion?

Even if she married into the Warren family, the most she would get was a billion in investment.

She smirked. "If you can pull it off, I'll get down on my knees and apologize to both of you in person. Also, I promise to stop making things hard for Yvette in the future."

Then, she added, "But what if you fail?"

Noel seemed to see right through her little scheme and smiled calmly.

"You want the Nimbus Highlands villa, don't you? If I fail, the villa is yours."

"What?"

Noel's words sent shockwaves through the entire room.