My Husband Is An International Idol

Chapter 36: Leaving The Village

The decision was made.

And surprisingly, it wasn’t Chris who convinced the Sterlings.

It was the danger.

After Chris explained everything about the photographs, the anonymous sender, and the possibility that someone had been watching Liliana, nobody could remain calm.

Not even Grandma Lucia.

The entire family gathered inside the ancestral house that evening.

For once, nobody was laughing. Nobody was joking. The situation had become too serious.

"So someone has been investigating Lily?" Uncle Robert asked.

Chris nodded.

"We don’t know who. But they know too much."

The room became silent. Aunt Melanie immediately looked worried. Uncle Gideon had a frown on his face. Even Grandma Lucia’s expression hardened.

Chris continued. "I don’t want to scare everyone, but I can’t guarantee her safety anymore."

The words settled heavily in the room. Because everyone knew Chris wasn’t the type to exaggerate.

If he was worried, then the situation was very serious.

Grandma Lucia eventually sighed. "Then she should go."

Liliana was surprised. "Grandma?"

The old woman smiled softly. "I don’t like it. But I’d rather have you safe. And if anyone should protect you, it would be best if it’s your husband,"

The others slowly nodded. One by one. Reluctantly, they agreed.

There was only one condition.

"They stay together," Grandma Lucia declared.

Everyone immediately nodded. "Agreed."

Chris answered without hesitation. The cousins would stay together. The girls and the boys. Everyone. No exceptions.

Even then, the family still looked unconvinced.

Chris ended up promising multiple times.

"I’ll protect her."

Silence.

"I mean it."

Still they looked unconvinced.

"I would never let anything happen to her."

The elders stayed silent.

Finally, Nathan spoke. "We’ll protect her too."

Chris looked toward him.

Nathan crossed his arms. "Even from you."

The room immediately burst into laughter.

Chris looked offended. "Why me?"

Emily pointed dramatically. "Because you’re the most suspicious one."

"How am I suspicious?"

"You keep looking at her."

Chris almost choked. The cousins laughed even harder. Liliana buried her face in her hands.

Grandma Lucia simply sipped her tea. The atmosphere changed, but she still couldn’t stop worrying about Liliana.

Three days later, the moving day arrived.

A large company van stopped outside the ancestral house. The entire village seemed to gather nearby. Some came to help. Others came to gossip. Most came because they were curious.

The cousins carried luggage outside while relatives continued giving advice.

Uncle Robert looked unusually pleased, surprising both Nathan and Emily.

"You look happy."

"I am."

Nathan frowned "Why?"

His father smiled. "Because both of you finally have proper jobs."

Nathan looked offended. "I already have a job."

"You play video games."

"I’m a professional gamer."

"You play video games professionally."

Nathan sighed. This argument would never end. Nearby, Emily was experiencing the same problem.

"Try not to quit this one," Uncle Robert warned.

Emily gasped. "I have commitment."

The entire family stared at her.

Emily sighed. "Fine. That’s fair."

On the other side of the yard, Uncle Gideon and Aunt Theresa were busy lecturing the twins for what felt like the hundredth time.

"Don’t skip meals."

"Sleep properly."

"Study."

"Don’t trust strangers."

"Call us every day."

"Twice a day."

Nicolo and Nicole just nodded obediently. But neither was actually listening.

Their parents knew that. Still, the lecture continued.

Meanwhile, Aunt Melanie looked ready to cry.

Mary immediately hugged her.

"Mom..."

Aunt Melanie wiped her eyes. "I’m fine."

Nobody believed her.

Mary smiled gently. "You can visit anytime."

"I know."

"The company said we can come home twice a week."

"I know."

"You can call us every day."

"I know."

Mary laughed. "Then why are you crying?"

Aunt Melanie pointed dramatically at her daughters.

"Because my babies are leaving."

Rose immediately protested. "Mom, Mary is twenty two and I just turned twenty."

"You’ll always be my babies."

Nobody could argue with that.

By noon, everything was packed. Everyone gathered outside the ancestral house.

Looking at the village they had called home for years, for a moment, reality finally sank in.

They were leaving. Not forever. But things would never be exactly the same again.

Meanwhile, St. Claire Entertainment moved much faster than anyone expected.

The day after the Sterlings agreed, the company officially announced a press conference.

The internet exploded immediately. Fans assumed it was related to Pulse. Others believed it was about the villa photographs. Some even predicted dating scandals.

Nobody knew the truth. Yet.

Several hours later, the company van finally entered the city. Towering buildings surrounded them. Massive advertisements covered skyscrapers. Traffic filled every road.

Nicole pressed her face against the window. "This is insane."

Emily looked equally impressed. "It’s so big."

Eventually, the van entered a private underground parking area.

The group followed staff members into a private elevator. Then the elevator continued upward. And upward.

Nicolo became concerned. "Are we moving into the clouds?"

The elevator doors opened. Everyone froze.

The penthouse was enormous. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooked the city skyline. The living room alone was larger than Grandma Lucia’s entire house. A grand staircase connected multiple levels. Modern chandeliers hung overhead. A private movie theater occupied one section..A game room occupied another.

There was even an indoor garden. The kitchen looked large enough to feed a small army. The terrace wrapped around the entire floor, offering breathtaking views of the city.

For several seconds, nobody uttered a single word.

Then Emily screamed.

"We’re rich again!"

Robin immediately appeared. "No."

Emily pointed around them. "Look at this!"

Robin already looked tired. "I look at it every day."

"Exactly!"

The cousins spent the next fifteen minutes exploring every corner.

Only then did they discover another surprise. A very unexpected surprise.

Chris.

Leo.

Aaron.

River.

Standing in the living room. Waiting.

The Sterlings froze again. The members of Pulse smiled.

Nicole immediately pointed at River.

"You live here?!"

River grinned. "Surprise."

Nicole looked ready to faint.

Robin clapped his hands.

"Everyone, listen carefully."

Robin sighed. Then spoke louder.

"The penthouse has three floors. The first residential floor is for the boys."

Nathan nodded. Reasonable.

"Chris, Leo, Aaron, River, Nathan, and Nicolo."

The boys exchanged looks. Then nodded.

Robin continued. "The second residential floor is for the girls."

"Liliana, Nicole, Rose, Mary, Emily"

Everyone nodded.

"Good." Robin smiled.

Then immediately crushed Chris’s dreams.

"Separate floors."

Chris looked betrayed. "Robin."

"No."

"I didn’t even say anything."

"You were thinking it."

The room exploded with laughter.

Liliana’s face turned bright red.

Meanwhile, Leo slowly looked between Chris and Liliana, suspiciously.

Because somehow, Chris seemed far more disappointed by the room assignments than he should have been.

And Leo was becoming increasingly convinced that something was very, very wrong.

Or perhaps... Very, very right.