Grand Estate

Preston hung up the phone. His hand shook so hard he nearly dropped the device onto his mahogany desk. The screen faded to black, but the images of Cedric and Nolan being shoved into police cruisers burned into his retinas. A heavy, lingering chill of absolute fear settled over his bones, creeping up his spine and wrapping around his throat. The elusive VIP from the Celestial Private Room was not merely a wealthy man. He was a force of nature. He wielded a ruthless, untouchable power, a force easily capable of wiping out the entire Sterling family without breaking a single sweat.

Preston sank into his leather chair, the air in his office growing thin and cold. Even the influential, deep-pocketed backers of Oakhaven General Hospital had been warned to stay put. The raid had been clinical. Precise. Devastating. Destroying the Sterling family would be a piece of cake for this titan.

For a brief, foolish moment, Preston had intended to dig deeper. He had wanted to find out exactly who made the first move against the hospital. But now, terror paralyzed his ambition. Based on the swift, brutal retaliation he had just witnessed, he knew the big shot would find out right away if he began probing. The retaliation would not be aimed at a hospital this time; it would be aimed at him.

He shivered, wrapping his arms around himself. An old saying echoed in the quiet of his office: when you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back. Preston understood that much now. Knowing that probing too deep into the titan's identity would only invite utter destruction, he abandoned his investigation. He deleted the text drafts he had prepared for his private investigators and wiped his recent search history. He would stay quiet. He would stay hidden. He prayed the abyss had not already noticed him.

Meanwhile, back at the newly reformed, pristine Oakhaven General Hospital, the chaotic energy of the morning had vanished. The corrupt staff was gone, replaced by an eerie, sterile calm. Vance sat quietly by the bed in the VIP ward. The room smelled of fresh linen and faint antiseptic. He gently held his sleeping grandfather’s frail, wrinkled hands. The steady beep of the heart monitor provided a comforting rhythm. Vance watched the old man's chest rise and fall, grateful for the peace that had finally arrived. He stayed like that for a long time, soaking in the quiet triumph of keeping his only family safe.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed in his pocket. The vibration felt jarring against the stillness of the room. Vance frowned, carefully releasing his grandfather's hand, and stepped out into the pristine hallway to answer. The caller ID flashed the name Toby.

Toby was an old high school friend. They had not kept in touch much over the past few years, but Toby was the first person Vance had contacted upon arriving in Oakhaven. Toby was a struggling, desperate real estate agent, and his life had taken a dark turn. He had married into the Cole family, tying the knot with a rather plump, dominant woman named Rita. It was a suffocating, abusive marriage. Toby did not have a fancy career. He sold second-hand houses and barely scraped by on a meager six thousand a month. His blunt, honest nature made him terrible at the cutthroat game of real estate sales.

"Hello, Toby," Vance answered, his voice low to avoid disturbing the patients.

"Vance, hey man," Toby said. His voice sounded thick, strained with pleading and a forced cheerfulness that made Vance's chest tighten. "Would you like to come to our high school gathering at noon?"

"No, I am not going," Vance rejected the invitation flatly. He had no interest in seeing the faces of people he had left in the past.

"That won't do. Come! Please, Vance, come for my sake," Toby begged, the desperation bleeding through the speaker. "Even the popular girl in our class is going. Warren Ford will be there too. He contacted me a few days ago. He said he has his sights set on one of the houses in Oakhaven Estates. It's a massive sale, Vance. I am so worried I can't close the deal, but you have a way with words. You always know what to say. I really want to ask for your help. I need this commission, Vance. I really need it."

Vance leaned against the cool wall of the corridor and sank into deep thought. Oakhaven Estates. A flash of recognition crossed his mind. The entire estate was actually developed by his own subordinate, Winston Rutherford. The current market rate there was staggering—almost three hundred thousand per square meter. Given that the basic houses were all at least three hundred square meters, a single property would be worth more than a hundred million.

Then, he remembered the crown jewel of the area. There was an enormous mansion, sitting on three thousand square meters of land, nestled deep within Oakhaven Estates. The renovation alone had been completed last year. It was a mind-boggling 1.3 billion-dollar property, making it the most expensive real estate in Oakhaven. It was the white whale for every housing agent in the city. If anyone could close a deal like that, the commission could easily reach ten million.

"Sure," Vance agreed, sensing the crushing weight on his friend's shoulders. "I'll be there."

"Thank you, Vance! Thank you so much! I'll text you the details," Toby breathed out, sounding like a drowning man who had just been thrown a life preserver.

After the call ended, Vance scrolled through his contacts and swiftly made a separate call. Winston picked up on the first ring.

"Lord Kensington," Winston's respectful voice echoed through the earpiece.

"Hey, Win," Vance said, his tone shifting from casual friend to authoritative leader. "Have you sold the Grand Estate of Oakhaven?"

"Not yet, Lord Kensington," Winston replied smoothly. "It remains entirely unsold. The grand renovation we did last year cost over one hundred million just to ensure it met your standards. Mr. Croft has informed me that the transfer of ownership paperwork is fully prepared. It is simply waiting for your final command. We can finalize the transfer the moment you return."

"All right. Keep it that way. Wait for my call," Vance responded, confirming that the 1.3 billion-dollar palace was securely his.

A while later, Toby sent another text, followed by a quick call. "Vance, do you have time now? Could you come directly to Oakhaven Estates? Warren is heading over to look at the house now."

Vance confirmed his arrival. He left the hospital, hailed a taxi, and headed directly to the sweeping gates of Oakhaven Estates.

The taxi dropped him off at the entrance. The security gates of Oakhaven Estates were imposing, constructed of wrought iron and polished stone, guarded by uniformed men who looked more like private military contractors than standard security. Vance spotted Toby pacing nervously near the registration desk. Toby wore a cheap, ill-fitting professional suit that looked one size too big in the shoulders and too tight around the waist. A plastic name tag hung crookedly from his lapel. Sweat beaded on his forehead, catching the midday sun.

As Vance approached, Toby's face lit up with a strained smile. "Hi, Vance. Man, I'm glad you made it. Let's wait a while. Warren said he will be here in ten minutes." Toby reached out and patted Vance's shoulder. "By the way, have you gathered enough money for your grandpa's medical fees?"

"Yes, it's enough," Vance replied, pleased to see his friend despite the grim circumstances.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help you there," Toby apologized, dropping his gaze to the pavement.

Vance looked closer. His sharp eyes immediately caught sight of something disturbing. Deep, angry, bleeding scratch marks were violently carved into Toby's neck, just above the collar of his cheap white shirt. The skin was raw, the cuts fresh enough that tiny beads of crimson still clung to the edges. Vance frowned deeply. The puzzle pieces snapped together. He immediately realized the severe physical toll his recent request for a loan had caused Toby. Toby had likely gone to his vicious wife, Rita, to ask for money to help Vance's grandfather, and she had responded with her nails.

"Is that what happened because I asked you for a loan?" Vance asked, his voice hardening with quiet fury on his friend's behalf.

Toby flinched. He looked away, his hand instinctively reaching up to cover the angry red scratches. He offered a painful, awkward chuckle that sounded like glass breaking. "Conflicts between husband and wife are perfectly normal," he lied through his teeth, refusing to meet Vance's eyes.

Vance stopped talking. He stayed silent, absorbing the quiet tragedy standing right in front of him. Toby was suffering severe domestic abuse directly because he tried to help Vance, yet he was still standing here, trying to close a deal to survive, trying to keep a brave face. Vance made a silent vow. He would not let Toby leave today empty-handed.

Their quiet, tragic moment was violently shattered by the blare of an aggressive car horn. The sheer volume of it made Toby jump. They looked up to see a gleaming luxury BMW pulling up to the curb, kicking up a small cloud of dust. The vehicle gleamed in the sunlight, practically screaming wealth. The driver’s side door swung open, and Warren Ford stepped out.

Warren radiated pure arrogance. He wore a tailored, branded tuxedo that looked ridiculous for a midday house viewing, but he wore it like a king's robes. He deliberately rolled up his sleeve as he adjusted his collar, making sure to flash a heavy, solid gold Rolex to the world. Every single movement of his screamed superiority.

He was not alone. The rear doors opened, and two stunning, heavily made-up women stepped onto the pavement.

One of the women wore a long, sleek black dress paired with designer high heels. She had a slim figure, fair skin, and carried herself with an exquisite, graceful aura that felt highly calculated. She was Nadine Fisher, the high school's former most popular girl. Her eyes scanned the area and landed on Vance. She looked him up and down with extreme prejudice, taking in his basic, inexpensive clothes. Her expression remained completely calm and indifferent.

"I haven't seen you in a long time, Vance," Nadine said, her tone cool and detached, faintly recalling their past, quiet high school scandal. There was no warmth in her greeting, only the icy distance of someone who believed she had moved up in the world.

The other woman stood tall, easily one point seven five meters. She had shoulder-length hair, a striking, sexy figure, and a beautiful, sharply contoured face. She was Sylvia Clark, an overly ambitious aspiring actress who was rumored to be signing a contract with Apex Pictures soon. Sylvia offered a dismissive nod to Vance and Toby, but her eyes dripped with open, venomous contempt as she surveyed their cheap attire. After a split second, she turned her gaze back to the man in the tuxedo, clinging to his orbit.

Vance noticed the sheer disgust in Sylvia's eyes when she looked at Toby, but he merely smiled dismissively, refusing to let her venom affect him.

"Hey, Vance! You're here too! I haven't seen you in a long while," Warren called out, strutting over. He looked like a man eager for an audience.

"It's been a while, Warren," Vance greeted cheerfully, keeping his tone even.

Warren gave a brief nod, dismissing Vance instantly, and shifted his full attention to the sweating real estate agent. "Toby, have you contacted the owner of the mansion?"

Toby swallowed hard. He seemed a little nervous, his fingers gripping his plastic folder tight, but he tried to remain steady. He opened the folder, referencing his notes. "Yes, we have spoken. The prospective mansion you are interested in is three hundred square meters in size, featuring top-tier amenities. The total worth is ninety-seven million dollars."

Gulp.

The sound was audible. Both Nadine and Sylvia gasped loudly in sheer admiration. They each took a deep breath, their eyes wide with awe. In this country, there were very few people who could buy a luxury mansion worth nearly a hundred million without a second thought. The two women practically gravitated toward Warren, clinging tightly to his arms.

"Warren, what business are you currently doing? How could you afford a mansion worth a hundred million?" Nadine whispered, her eyes filled with raw admiration and a hint of calculated greed.

Warren smirked. He tried to project a humble, indifferent facade, but he could not hide the smug, punchable look on his face. He shrugged, waving a dismissive hand. "Just a small business." He eagerly soaked in the attention, clearly relishing his vast, sudden wealth being on full display.

Sylvia leaned in, offering excessive, sickening flattery. "That's amazing! I think you're the most capable in our circle, Mr. Ford!" She practically purred the words. Then, intentionally casting a mocking, disgusted sneer at Toby and Vance, she added, "I still require your support, Mr. Ford. Unlike somebody who is still a housing agent till this day..."

She rolled her eyes violently at Toby, making sure her venom hit its mark. Toby's strained smile stiffened further. To be frank, Toby was unwilling to endure this torment. He hated dealing with Warren. Warren was heavily condescending, superficial, and lived to show off his wealth by stepping on others. But Toby was desperate. If the deal was successful, the commission would be his lifeline out of the hell Rita put him through.

Warren took the lead, puffing out his chest. "Come, let's have a look at the house," he commanded.

Toby nodded quickly, swiping his access card to lead the group past the towering security gates and into the lush, heavily guarded residential area of Oakhaven Estates.

The group walked down the wide, pristine avenues. The air here felt different—cleaner, richer. But as they passed through the beautifully manicured grounds, their casual conversation died instantly. Their attention was abruptly stolen by a staggering, breathtaking sight.

They stopped dead in their tracks on the pavement. Even Warren, who had just spent the last ten minutes bragging about his ninety-seven million dollar purchase, fell silent.

Looming right in front of their eyes was a massive, three-thousand-square-meter palatial property. It made the other mansions in the estate look like guest houses. The property boasted a flowing, crystal-clear fountain in the center of a circular driveway. Towering, masterful statues stood guard near the entrance, flanked by pristine, hedge-lined gardens that looked like they belonged to royalty. It was a complete, flawless package of god-like wealth. The sheer scale and architectural majesty of the building demanded absolute reverence.

Nadine and Sylvia stared in absolute, paralyzing wonder. Their mouths hung open, all pretense of cool composure shattered by the sheer display of power in front of them.

"So, this is the famous Grand Estate of Oakhaven?" Nadine whispered, her voice trembling, completely mesmerized by the untouchable palace.