Chapter 2
After hanging up. Dad approached me. “Emma, something urgent came up at work I need to head over there right away!
Mom quickly added. “Don’t worry, I’ll take you to Grandpa’s house.“]]
1 just nodded.
When we arrived at Grandpa’s, he pulled me into a hug. “Emma’s here! Come in quickly, it’s freezing outside!“[]
His palms were soft and smooth.
Strange. According to my parents, Grandpa used to be a coal miner
Looking at his plump, well fed appearance, he didn’t look anything like it.]
Grandma handed me a small piggy bank as a Christmas gift with a few dollars already inside. “Thank you, Grandma,” I said immediately stuffing it into my pocket.
Mom looked started Usually, whenever I received money from my grandparents, I’d immediately hand it over to her.
She would always say. “Emma is so thoughtful“]
My behavior today broke the pattern, and even Grandma seemed surprised before smiling “Our Emuna is learning to save money
1 raised my eyebrows and smiled. “Tes Grandma. I’m an adult now–it’s time keep some spending money for myself.
“That’s right! Emma is so responsible. She even works to pay for her own and living expensest Mom chimed in
Of course I did. Every time tuition was due, my parents would act so financially stressed that I’d end up working three part time jobs while studying
All this time they were loaded, yet they kept squeezing me dry. I couldn’t understand why was this “poverty education” only aimed at me? What was the point?
Grandma said nothing more and busied herself in the kitchen. When the food came out, I lost my appetite after just two bites[]
Because the dishes were identical to what I’d seen at that fancy restaurant last night.
Now I was certain–the entire family was wealthy. My parents were pretending to be poor, and my grandparents were in on the acc
After dinner, Mom got a phone call and rushed off with a work excuse
Grandpa and Grandma yawned dramatically, looking exhausted. Taking the hint, I said my goodbyes
But I didn’t go far. I hid around the corner, watching
Sure enough, less than 20 minutes after I left, a stretched Lincoln pulled up. Grandma and Grandpa, surrounded by an entourage, climbed in without a backward glance and drove away
Taking a deep breath, I pulled my mask up and approached the house. A few cleaning Laties were tidying up
Due of them sighed, “I don’t understand this family. They come to live here just one day a year, cook one meal, and leave!“]
“Aiea they pay well for cleaning,” another replied
“You don’t know the half of it. They’ve been doing this for over 20 years. I heard they have a mansion somewhere. These rich folks just ‘experiencing‘ normal life!”
Hearing this, my heart completely froze over
The Thompson family–Miami’s wealthiest had their mansion on Indian Creek Island. I biked over to check
The gleaming palace sat on the beautiful island protected by security guards. This neighborhood was beyond anything I could have imagined.]
When a guard spotted me, be immediately barked, “Who are you? Get lost!||
I took a d
deep breath, about to leave when a motorcycle roared past me
I recognized it from online–a $2 million custom bike. The rider was none other than Jason Thompson.
He spotted me too, clearly surprised. He stopped, looking me up and down with a smirk.]
“Notas dumb as they said–you actually found us
1 frore. So he knew about me all along
