Chapter 7

Kelsey, who was still in Levi's arms, heard every word his mother said.

She was so angry she pinched his waist hard.

Levi grunted in pain and pushed her away.

Then he stepped aside and said into the phone, "Mom, don't worry. Vicky and I didn't break up. Relax, I'll bring her to dinner tomorrow night."

With that, he hurried to hang up.

Kelsey glared at him furiously. "Why didn't you just tell your mom you broke up with Vicky?"

Levi frowned helplessly. "You know my mom has a bad heart. She really likes Vicky. I'm afraid that if I suddenly tell her we broke up, it'll trigger a heart attack..."

Kelsey put her hands on her hips. "So you're never going to tell her? You promised you'd marry me as soon as I graduate next year..."

"Don't rush me. I'll find the right moment to explain it to my family..." Levi glanced at his watch. "I really have to get back to the office for a meeting now."

Seeing him about to leave, Kelsey grabbed his arm again. "Tomorrow's your mom's birthday, so I'm coming to dinner too."

She wanted to use the chance to win over her future mother-in-law.

Her sister wasn't the only one who knew how to win people over. She could sweet-talk too. She was sure she could make her future in-laws like her.

Levi was exasperated. "What would you go for?"

In the past, Kelsey had occasionally tagged along with the two of them to eat with the Hawkes, but if he brought her now, Victoria probably wouldn't agree to go.

Kelsey swung his arm and pouted. "Levi, just take me, please? I promise I'll make your parents like me..."

Levi couldn't resist her pleading and tapped the tip of her round nose. "Fine, I'll take you."

If his parents really came to like Kelsey, they probably wouldn't come down so hard on him for breaking up with Victoria.

He turned and walked to his car, about to open the door, when he spotted a Rolls-Royce parked across the street.

The passenger door opened, and Victoria stepped out.

She smiled and waved at the person inside, and only after the Rolls-Royce slowly pulled away did she walk toward the complex entrance.

Kelsey saw it too, of course.

"That fancy car must belong to my sister's blind date. Look how happy she is. I told you, she just wants to marry rich. And you were worried she'd get a raw deal marrying an old man."

She kept chattering on, completely failing to notice that Levi's face had long since gone pitch-black.

As Victoria reached the complex entrance, she saw the two of them glued together.

As if she'd seen something filthy, she veered off to the other side, trying to avoid them.

But Kelsey walked right up to her. "Vicky, looks like you really like that guy Mom set you up with. When are you two getting married? I want to be a bridesmaid!"

Victoria's lips curved in a faint smile. "Sure. Soon."

She kept walking, but Levi grabbed her arm. He said through gritted teeth, "Victoria, do you really have so little self-respect? You'd go for a man that old?"

At that moment, Victoria felt like a stranger to him.

When they were together, she'd flat-out refused to spend his money.

He'd once offered to buy her family a house, and she'd turned that down too.

Could it be like Kelsey said, that Victoria's lack of interest in money while they were together had all been an act?

Victoria's face went cold. "What does it have to do with you? We broke up."

Then, glancing at Kelsey's sour expression, she smiled. "Levi, don't tell me you're still not over me and you're jealous?"

Levi dropped her arm as if he'd been burned. "I'm not jealous. I love Kels. I just can't stand watching you throw yourself at an old man for money..."

Remembering her radiant smile a moment ago, he felt a deep sting.

She'd actually smiled that brightly at another man.

Victoria laughed coldly. "Can't stand it? Then suck it up."

Seeing her about to leave again, Levi said hurriedly, "Vicky, tomorrow's my mom's birthday. She misses you. Could you spend her birthday with her?"

At the mention of his mother, some of the chill faded from Victoria's face. "You didn't tell her we broke up?"

"My mom has a bad heart, and she just had surgery not long ago. If she hears we broke up, the shock could set her off." Levi's voice carried a rare note of pleading.

"Can you just celebrate her birthday with her for now? I'll find a chance to break the news to her gradually..."

Scumbag or not, he was a good son.

And to be fair, Victoria could tell that Levi's parents were genuinely good to her. They didn't put on airs like most rich parents. They'd always cared about her.

You could say it was through Sandra that Victoria had finally learned what a mother's love felt like. It was something her own mother had never given her.

"Fine. I'll go tomorrow."

With that, Victoria turned and walked into the complex without looking back.

She was wearing a dusty-rose knit dress that hugged her tiny waist, and below the hem were long, pale, straight legs.

Levi's gaze stayed locked on her graceful figure, his throat bobbing slightly.

Behind her, in the distance, Victoria heard Kelsey making a relentless scene.

"You're still looking at her... You're not over her, are you?!"

...

Inside the Rolls-Royce.

Jax called his assistant.

"Buy me a unit in your complex. One I can move into right away."

Brett was speechless.

What class was he, that the CEO wanted to live in the same kind of place as him?

He couldn't make sense of it, but he didn't dare say much.

"Got it, Mr. Merritt, I'll take care of it right away."

"Wait." Jax added, "Buy the unit next door to yours."

Living near his assistant would make work more convenient.

Brett felt like the sky had fallen.

Who wanted to live next door to their boss?

It meant he'd become a twenty-four-hour workhorse.

Evil capitalist.

He hesitated. "Mr. Merritt, actually, the environment in our complex isn't that great..."

Jax raised an eyebrow. "Didn't you tell me before that your complex was really nice and comfortable to live in?"

"Uh, once you've lived there a while, it's just so-so. And the unit next to mine is a small three-bedroom. You wouldn't be used to it..."

The CEO had always lived in villas or luxury penthouses.

"That's fine. A small unit is exactly what I need."

Brett made one last-ditch attempt. "Um, Mr. Merritt, I think the unit next to mine has already been sold."

"No matter. Tell the owner I'll pay double."

Brett was speechless.

He'd pay double just to move in next door and exploit him?

He'd never realized his boss was such a heartless capitalist.

Looking as though he might cry, Brett reluctantly agreed. "Okay, Mr. Merritt."

In fact, the unit next door was still empty and unsold.