Chapter Three
After leaving the apartment, I went straight to the villa on Long Island.
This sprawling old villa on Long Island is located on a sparsely populated hillside.
To speed things up, I specifically hired two construction teams. One team was responsible for thickening the exterior walls and the villa as a whole, while the other team was responsible for laying the electric grid and replacing the bulletproof glass. All the doors were also replaced with the most robust ones available on the market.
Meanwhile, my parents were not idle either.
The mother took care of all the logistical supplies , and she bought tons of rice, canned food, military-grade compressed rations , nuts and snacks , and purified water .
To avoid running out of money, the mother also prepared rainwater purification equipment.
They also bought soil , vegetable seeds , and chicks and ducklings. These things will be harvested continuously, becoming our safety net for survival in this apocalyptic world where we don't know when it will end.
The father was in charge of preparing the freezer and frozen food. He contacted the slaughterhouse directly and brought back dozens of freshly slaughtered cattle and sheep.
In addition, the father used his secret channels to obtain not only two industrial-grade high-power diesel generators and a complete solar array, but also a considerable amount of firearms and ammunition, and even two purebred German Shepherds that were taller than a person when they stood up.
In an apocalyptic world devoid of any laws or moral constraints, this is the core of self-preservation .
To avoid causing panic and attracting attention, our family used dozens of different fake identities and registered addresses to make purchases in different locations. Finally, we used a van to transport the goods to the villa, filling the warehouse to the brim.
In the midst of my busy schedule, I also prepared various medications.
By the time I remembered to check my phone, it was already the third day.
Ashley made dozens of phone calls and sent hundreds of messages.
I randomly clicked on one of the messages, and it was asking me for money.
“Honey, you must be tired from your business trip to Texas. Has the money in your account been unfrozen yet? My rich friend is pressuring me to pay back the money!” This was followed by several pitiful emojis.
I glanced at it and let out a cold laugh.
Calculating the time, there are less than five hours left before the betting deadline for that game .
She wasn't being pressured by some rich woman for debt; she was clearly insatiable and eager to gamble away those three million !
Half an hour later , outside a luxury apartment in Midtown Manhattan.
As soon as I pushed open the door, a nauseating panting sound came from the master bedroom.
I kicked open the half-closed door and, sure enough, "caught" Ashley and her lover Brad in their shameful
entanglement on my wedding bed . Seeing my sudden appearance, Richard frantically grabbed his trousers, while Ashley only hesitated for a second before giving Brad a wink, then tears streamed down her face as she stumbled to her knees on the carpet.
" Darling ! Let me explain!" Ashley cried, tears streaming down her face, her hands gripping my trouser leg tightly. " Luke has a high fever, he's very sick, but I can't reach you anywhere! I... I was desperate, he forced me to do this stupid thing! Please forgive me!"
She cried hoarsely, like a truly desperate and helpless mother. But
in my mind, the thought clearly flashed through my mind:
"Why is this idiot back at this time! Luckily I reacted quickly. This moron falls for this trick the most; as long as I bring up my son, he'll definitely soften." " If it weren't for those three million , who would bother with this good-for-nothing? Only Brad can give me real happiness. Victor, that trash, isn't even worthy of shining his shoes!"
I forced back the churning in my stomach, feigning pain as I closed my eyes and sighed deeply.
"Don't cry, Ashley ." I held her shoulders, my face full of self-reproach. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have let you bear all this alone." A glint of wild joy flashed in
Ashley's eyes as she took advantage of the situation, grabbing my hand: "Darling , has the money in your account been unfrozen?"
"Sorry, I ran into some trouble. The IRS completely locked my account, and I can't transfer a single penny out." I helplessly spread my hands.
Ashley 's face instantly changed.
"What?! Not a single penny? This good-for-nothing! The betting is about to close and settle, and I'm still short of the final five hundred thousand dollars in bets! Once I get the money, you'll be the first one I kill!" She
bit her lip, feigning concern, and suggested, "Victor, since that's the case... how about we sell the house?"
"No way!" I refused decisively, looking at her tenderly. "This house holds so many wonderful memories for us , how could I bear to sell it?"
Ashley's eyes reddened, and she hugged me tightly. "Victor, you're so good to me..."
But inwardly, she was cursing: [What a hopeless, pure-blooded idiot! What bullshit memories, I want the money! ]
She glanced at me, then softly advised, "Darling, how about we borrow some of your parents' retirement savings to tide us over? After all, Luke is their grandson."
