บททั้งหมดของ A Million Dollar Deal : บทที่ 11 - บทที่ 20

CHAPTER 11Sophia Bloodhounds On Espresso The morning sun filtered through the strawberry patch.I crouched low, fingers brushing the warm, dusty leaves, plucking the biggest, juiciest reds—deep crimson, still sun-kissed, smelling sweet-tart and like summer in a single inhale.Noah was going to lose his mind over these.Kid had a strawberry obsession that bordered on clinical.A shadow fell across the row.I glanced up, and there was Tommy—blond hair flopping over his forehead, that too-wide grin he always wore like it was glued on—carrying a plastic grocery bag that looked suspiciously heavy.“Hey, Sophie,” he said, rocking on his heels.I straightened up, my lower back giving a small, protesting pop.Oh shit.“Tommy,” I said, wiping dirt onto my Levi's.“Is that a peace offering, or are you finally delivering that homemade bomb you’ve been threatening the HOA with?” He laughed—too loud, too eager.“Nah, it's a gift. From Chase. He just got back from the coast. Thought you’d like

CHAPTER 13: A Castle Made Of Ice Sophia Isaac carried the last of the suitcase through the wide front doors while Summer stood rooted on the flagstone path, head tilted back, staring up at the house with eyes the size of saucers.The limestone facade gleamed in the late-afternoon sun, windows flashing like they knew they were expensive.It wasn't just a house, it was a statement that the world was beneath you.Summer tugged my hand, voice small and awed. “Sophie… is this where we’re gonna live?”I looked down at her, smiling. “Yes, baby. This is home now. Do you like it?” She nodded vigorously, pigtails bouncing. “It's like a really big, pretty castle made of ice.” My chest squeezed. “Come on, castle explorer. Let's go inside.” I took her hand and led her through the double doors.Cool air washed over us, carrying the faint scent of lemon polish and fresh lilies from the massive arrangement on the console table.Summer froze, mouth open in a perfect little O as she stared up at t

CHAPTER 15: Red Room Of Pain Vibes?Sophia Andrew's bedroom wasn't just a place to sleep, it was a cathedral dedicated to the gods of luxury and quiet wealth.It literally swallowed me whole the moment I stepped inside.The space was massive, dominated by a gigantic floor-to-ceiling window that curved gently like the hull of a yacht, overlooking the infinity-edge pool below, water glowing turquoise under the security lights.The color palette was a sophisticated blend of crisp, endless whites and deep grays with tactical splashes of navy-blue on the pillows and the single navy throw draped over the armchair.But the pièce de résistance was the vaulted ceiling—a solid, seamless expanse of flawless mirrors.The bed dominated everything, king… no, emperor-size, crisp white linens stretched tight, flanked by nightstands that probably cost more than my old truck.I'd called it a night after Mary fetched Andrew for Noah. Lessons could wait till tomorrow, my brain was requesting reprieve fr

CHAPTER 17: “Actually… Congrats Go Both Ways”Sophia".... next up are the children."I muttered the words like a prayer as I tossed another flashcard into the pool.It floated for a second—Simon Ashford, CEO, Noah’s father, Married to Pamela—before the chlorine soaked through and it sank to the bottom. Two weeks.Fourteen days of relentless cramming that felt less like a lifestyle change and my brain was officially beginning to leak.Sharon had turned Andrew’s family tree into a military-grade dossier. I'd spent my mornings memorizing the “Manor Dwellers”, the siblings still orbiting the central jewel of Ashford Hill like moons around a very wealthy, very cold planet. Lionel the doctor, Zara, Patrick, Miles, Freya… and Julian, the ‘affair baby.’I looked heavenward. “Robert's siblings next,” I whispered, closing my eyes.“Elijah, Lawrence, Lucy and Tatiana.” I picked up another flashcard. “Here goes. Elijah married to Valerie… kids are Robyn, Karina, Dalton. Lawrence and Meredi

CHAPTER 19: A Botanical Invasion And A G-Rated MysterySophiaI was still vibrating from the shock of the package in the foyer.Calling it a bouquet was like calling the Amazon rainforest a window box.It was a literal mountain of flora—a botanical invasion that had claimed half the entryway.Towers of cherry blossoms in pale pink and white, orchids in creamy lavender and deep violet, tulips in every shade from white to blood-red, all arranged in massive crystal vases.The fragrance was so thick it felt like I was breathing in a perfume factory that had just exploded.Mary and Esmé had appeared from the hallway, both frozen in identical wide-eyed awe.Even the usually stoic Esmé looked impressed.“Lord have mercy,” Mary whispered. “It's like spring decided to move in.” Esmé pressed a hand to her chest. “I've never seen so many flowers in one place outside a royal wedding.” “They're… staggering,” I whispered, reaching out to brush a petal. It felt like cool silk against my fingertips