Free Web NovelChapter 90: Chapter 90: Lynn Preston Went to Azure Studio?
"Get lost! I’m not selling the house to people like you! Your house is the murder house! Your whole family’s a murder house!"
"One-point-eight million? Why don’t you just go rob someone? Isn’t robbing a bank more profitable than trying to steal my house?"
"Not for sale! Absolutely not! First of all, my house is not a murder house. Second, anything less than three-point-five million is off the table! Now get lost!"
After telling them off, Lynn Preston abruptly ended the call and flung her phone a good distance away.
"Another call from one of those people who specifically buy murder houses?" Sonia Quincy asked, munching on some fruit from her seat opposite Lynn.
Lynn Preston’s brow furrowed in frustration. "Who else would it be? They’re all nuts, passing up perfectly good houses to try and buy a murder house. In just three days, I’ve received at least eighty calls, and every single one of them asked about selling the murder house!"
"Sell, my ass! My house is not a murder house! If they’re so desperate to buy a murder house, why don’t they just go off themselves in their own homes and make one?"
"They’re not buying murder houses because they have some weird fetish. They’re looking to run a shady business," Evan Yates said mockingly as he peeled a loquat. "Everyone knows murder houses are cheap, but what people don’t consider is whether the place they’re renting is a former murder house. These types, they specifically hunt for murder houses to buy. After a few minor renovations and a change to the floor plan, they can rent them out to unsuspecting young people who don’t know any better."
SMACK! Lynn Preston tore off a piece of loquat peel and slammed it viciously onto a napkin. "But my house isn’t a murder house. They should go bother someone else."
"Sigh..." Sonia Quincy let out a breath. "But in their eyes, our house *is* a murder house. The police issued an official report clarifying everything, but people online won’t stop making up and spreading rumors. Now, more than half of Aethelburg believes our house is a murder house."
Lynn Preston pouted. "But that still means the other half doesn’t think so..."
Sonia Quincy said, "...That other half just isn’t online, so they have no idea any of this even happened."
"..." Lynn Preston instantly deflated.
"Hmph..." Felix Preston, who was sitting nearby, snickered.
"What are you laughing at?" Lynn Preston glared at him resentfully.
He adjusted his glasses, his gaze practically glued to Sonia Quincy. "I’m laughing at your sister-in-law. She’s always so honest and lucid."
"It’s not funny." Sonia Quincy couldn’t manage a smile. "The house’s reputation is completely ruined. Our agent, Lawrence, messages Mom every day, saying that if we don’t lower the price, we’ll be stuck with it for good."
"We’re not," Felix Preston’s gaze snapped back to his computer screen, his eyes turning cold and grim. "Mom poured her heart and soul into that house. No matter how desperate I am for money, I won’t let anyone tarnish her work."
"Mm," Sonia Quincy nodded in complete agreement.
BZZZ—BZZZ—
BZZZ—
The phone Lynn Preston had flung away suddenly started vibrating in the corner. She dropped the loquat she had just finished peeling, shot up from her chair, and ran over to retrieve it.
BZZZ—
It kept vibrating without pause. Someone was calling.
...
She rolled her eyes in disgust when she saw the caller’s name.
Sonia Quincy seemed to guess who it was and asked tentatively, "Liam Joyce?"
Lynn Preston’s lip curled in contempt, her voice ice-cold. "Yeah. It’s him."
"Hello, Mr. Joyce," she said after answering, her voice instantly switching to a soft, sweet tone.
"Lynn, are you still at your brother’s place?"
Lynn had put the call on speaker. When Liam Joyce’s voice filled the studio, the other three all turned to look at her.
With a stony expression, Lynn replied, "I am. What’s wrong, Mr. Joyce?"
Liam Joyce chuckled. "Oh, nothing. I just remembered you saying this morning that you were visiting your brother, and since I happen to be passing by his complex right now, I thought I’d see if you were still here."
Lynn Preston: "I’m still here."
Liam Joyce: "How much longer are you staying? When are you planning to leave?"
Lynn Preston understood his unsubtle hint. "What a coincidence you ask, Mr. Joyce. I was just getting ready to leave."
Liam Joyce: "Perfect. My car just pulled up to the complex gate. Come out now and I’ll give you a ride home."
Lynn forced a laugh. "Okay, then. I’d appreciate that, Mr. Joyce."
Liam Joyce: "It’s no trouble at all. It’s my honor to give a beautiful woman like you a ride home."
"Mm," Lynn acknowledged. "I’m heading down now."
GAG! GAG! The second she hung up, Lynn Preston couldn’t hold it in and dry-heaved several times.
Sonia Quincy got up from her chair and patted Lynn on the back, unsure whether to laugh or cry. "Good grief. Even my morning sickness isn’t this dramatic."
"I can’t stand him!" Lynn Preston leaned on Sonia Quincy’s shoulder, gagging with disgust. "I hate him so much, but I have to play along to get what I need. I think I’m actually going to be sick!"
Sonia Quincy caressed her face, her own heart aching. "If you really can’t stand it, you know, you could always try a different approach."
"No!" Lynn Preston flipped her hair back, pulling away from Sonia Quincy’s embrace with the grim determination of someone walking to their own execution. She snatched her bag from the table and turned to leave.
"This is the fastest and most reliable way! Even if it makes me sick to my stomach, I will make Liam Joyce pay!"
The residential complex wasn’t large. The trip from the studio, down the elevator to the ground floor, and out of the building to the main gate took five minutes at most.
Lynn used those five minutes to compose her emotions and her expression. By the time she reached Liam Joyce’s car, she was able to get in with a shy smile.
"What a lovely scent," Liam Joyce said, wrinkling his nose as he sniffed the air near Lynn. He sounded surprised. "A very fresh, sweet, fruity smell. Lynn, were you just eating fruit?"
"Oh..." Lynn Preston fastened her seatbelt, feigning embarrassment. "My brother’s friend brought over some loquats. I might have had a few too many."
"Loquats." Liam Joyce started the car, pulling away from the gate. "I love loquats."
"..." Lynn hesitated for a moment. "I could bring you some tomorrow, if you’d like? My brother still has plenty."
Liam Joyce didn’t bother with pleasantries, accepting almost instantly. "Great. Thanks in advance, Lynn."
Lynn: "It’s nothing."
The Maybach sped down the road, but it wasn’t taking Lynn home. Instead, it carried her to a place she had never seen before.
"Where are we?" Lynn Preston asked, looking out the window at a small, white wooden house. Her face was a mixture of confusion and nervousness. "Mr. Joyce, I thought you were taking me home."
Liam Joyce unbuckled his seatbelt, got out, and walked briskly over to the passenger side to open Lynn Preston’s door for her.
"I am taking you home, but I have to take care of something here first."
"Oh..." Lynn got out of the car with her bag, her eyes scanning the small wooden house with a vacant look. "Mr. Joyce, where is this? What is this place? It looks... very exclusive."
Liam Joyce replied, "This is a studio my friend opened. It’s called Azure. They design niche accessories."
