The atmosphere inside the car felt noticeably heavier than before.
Hospitals had a way of casting a shadow over any conversation. The mont one was ntioned, people instinctively thought of illness, hardship, and bad news. Combined with the troubled look Luca Hale had noticed on Sophie Kennedy’s face earlier, it wasn’t difficult to guess that whatever her family was dealing with was serious.
When they arrived at the entrance of Ashford dical Center, Luca pulled the rcedes-Benz to a stop by the curb.
Sophie took a quiet breath before turning toward him.
"Thank you."
Luca simply shook his head, letting her know there was no need for thanks.
The Kennedy sisters stepped out of the vehicle. As Sophie walked toward the hospital entrance, her slender figure seed even more fragile beneath the afternoon sunlight.
Luca hesitated for a mont before leaning out of the driver’s window.
"Sophie."
She stopped and looked back.
"If you’re ever in trouble, just tell . If there’s anything I can do, I’ll help."
For a brief second, Sophie froze.
Her delicate shoulders trembled ever so slightly.
Then she turned her head and gave him a faint smile, accompanied by a small nod.
It was simple, but it carried more emotion than words could express.
Only after the rcedes-Benz disappeared from sight did Sophie finally turn around and walk toward the hospital.
Beside her, Rachel Kennedy watched the departing vehicle.
"Brother Luca Hale is a really good person," she said softly. "And he’s amazing too."
Sophie nodded.
A gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Yes," she murmured. "He hasn’t changed at all."
---
On the drive ho, Luca learned about the Kennedy family’s situation from Trish Hale.
Birth, aging, illness, and death.
No matter how wealthy or powerful soone beca, these were burdens no one could completely escape.
For soone Sophie Kennedy’s age, carrying the weight of her mother’s illness, supporting her younger sister, and sacrificing her own future was far too much to bear alone.
Luca didn’t mind helping her.
Not at all.
But since Sophie hadn’t asked for help, he wasn’t going to force money into her hands.
That would only create misunderstandings, make outsiders question his motives, and perhaps wound Sophie’s pride.
After all, he could tell she was a proud person.
A girl like Sophie, with her looks and qualifications, could have chosen easier paths if all she cared about was money.
Yet she never had.
That alone spoke volus about her character.
---
After dropping Trish off at ho, the Hale family was finally reunited around the dinner table.
The atmosphere was warm and lively.
Halfway through the al, Luca suddenly placed a luxurious gift box in front of his sister.
"Here."
Trish blinked in confusion before opening it.
The mont she saw the watch inside, her eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
"Patek Philippe?!"
Even the chicken drumstick she’d been happily chewing on lost all appeal.
She imdiately set down her chopsticks and snatched up the watch.
Her face lit up with excitent.
She had wanted a watch for years, but she’d never been willing to spend that kind of money on herself.
What she never expected was that her brother wouldn’t just buy her one.
He had bought her a Patek Philippe.
Luca couldn’t help laughing.
He was honestly surprised his high-school-aged sister could recognize the brand imdiately.
Kids these days really knew a lot more luxury labels than he had at their age.
Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing was another discussion entirely.
Mother Hale glanced at the watch before reminding her daughter,
"Be careful at school. Don’t lose it."
She didn’t know much about luxury brands.
Whether it was Patek Philippe or sothing else made little difference to her.
What she did know was that Luca adored his younger sister. Anything he bought for her would naturally be the best he could afford.
In her mind, the watch probably cost several thousand dollars already.
"Hehe, I know, Mom. Don’t worry!"
Trish was still floating on cloud nine.
She hurriedly stuffed a few more bites of food into her mouth, grabbed the watch box, and sprinted toward her bedroom.
Before shutting the door, she proudly announced,
"I’m full!"
Bang!
The bedroom door closed.
Mother Hale imdiately frowned.
"Look at her! She doesn’t act like a proper young lady at all."
Then she pointed directly at Old Hale.
"It’s all your fault!"
Old Hale wore an innocent expression.
Luca lowered his head and covered his mouth, trying not to laugh.
Unfortunately, Mother Hale caught him imdiately.
"Luca Hale, don’t laugh."
She narrowed her eyes.
"You’re exactly like your father. Always spoiling your sister."
"..."
The father and son exchanged helpless glances.
So disasters were simply unavoidable.
---
After dinner, Luca leaned back in his chair and brought up the topic he’d been thinking about.
"Mom, Dad, now that Trish is ho, how about we go look at houses tomorrow?"
The mont the words left his mouth, both parents visibly brightened.
Their current apartnt really was too small.
For everyday life, a family of four could manage comfortably enough.
But whenever relatives visited during holidays, the place beca unbearably crowded.
Not to ntion the building was already over twenty years old.
Problems were beginning to appear everywhere.
More importantly, both of their children were adults now.
Sooner or later, they’d get married and start families of their own.
A bigger house would eventually beco necessary.
Mother Hale thought for a mont before nodding.
"Alright."
"We’ll use the one hundred thousand dollars you transferred and buy a larger apartnt."
In a city like Ashford, where housing prices averaged around seven hundred dollars per square ter, one hundred thousand dollars could already purchase a fairly decent ho.
But Luca had different plans.
An apartnt wasn’t even on his list.
His goal from the beginning had been simple.
A villa.
---
The next morning, Old Hale received an urgent call from the factory and rushed off to work.
That left Luca, Mother Hale, and Trish Hale heading out together.
Luca already knew exactly where he wanted to go.
Instead of visiting ordinary developnts, he drove straight to the most prestigious residential community in Ashford.
Golden Water Bay.
The mont Mother Hale saw the sign, she frowned.
"Son, why are we here?"
"Property here is incredibly expensive."
Golden Water Bay was famous throughout Ashford.
Even people who paid little attention to real estate knew the na.
"If we’re buying a house," Luca said casually, "we might as well buy the best one."
"Otherwise, twenty or thirty years from now, we’ll still be thinking about upgrading. By then it’ll be too late to regret not buying sothing better."
Mother Hale thought about it and nodded.
After all, whatever they bought would eventually belong to the children.
Buying sothing better wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
---
The mont Luca parked the rcedes-Benz G-Class, a sales consultant was already walking toward them with a bright professional smile.
Luxury car owners truly received different treatnt.
"Welco to Golden Water Bay."
The saleswoman greeted them politely.
"What kind of property would you like to see today, sir?"
"A villa," Luca answered without hesitation.
The saleswoman’s smile didn’t waver in the slightest.
Honestly, seeing soone arrive in a rcedes-Benz G-Class worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, she would have been more surprised if he had asked about ordinary apartnts.
"Of course."
She led them inside.
"All villas in Golden Water Bay are riverside properties. They’re fully furnished and ready for imdiate occupancy."
Luca followed calmly.
Compared to the villa he owned in San Fierro’s Elvis Muskov Villa Complex, Golden Water Bay was still a level below.
But for Mother Hale and Trish, everything felt dazzling.
The landscaped gardens.
The elegant architecture.
The luxurious interiors.
Especially the prices.
Every number they heard felt like a heavy stone pressing down on their hearts.
Before the saleswoman could continue her introduction, Luca raised a hand.
"Let’s skip the rest."
The saleswoman paused.
Luca smiled.
"Just show the most expensive villa you’ve got."
As always, his philosophy was simple.
If he was going to buy sothing, he would buy the best.
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