Three years ago, my brother Rick Cooper fell head over heels for a girl from his college class—the campus beauty, no less.

But things took a turn for the worse when that despicable woman cheated on him, publicly humiliating him in front of everyone.

With his fiery temperament, he chose to end it all by jumping off a building.

After waiting three long years, I felt the time was finally right to execute my revenge.

The girl's name was Michelle Fox.

But beneath that charming exterior lay a gold-digging schemer.

It was precisely this knowledge that fueled my meticulously crafted plan for revenge.

Over the years, I'd kept a close eye on her and discovered she lived in a garden community by Lake Tahoe.

So, I rented two properties in her neighborhood—one right next door and another, a lavish villa just a short distance away.

To top it off, I managed to forge some ownership documents in just one day, making it look like both places belonged to me.

On a Friday afternoon, around five o'clock, I officially began my move.

I strategically picked this time because that conniving woman would be getting off work.

Sure enough, just as I was heading downstairs for my second load, I spotted Michelle.

She was strutting down the street in a fitted purple sundress, cozied up to a balding man who looked to be in his forties.

Seeing them approach, I quickly lifted my arms, pretending to be busy, and jumped into the elevator just ahead of them.

They followed right in, and as the doors slid shut, I caught a glimpse of Michelle's surprised expression when she noticed the seventh-floor button lit up.

The seventh floor was home to only two units, and they lived in one of them.

When the elevator doors opened, I held my pile of belongings to let them exit first.

I stepped out right after them, making my way toward the unit on the left.

In my haste to unlock the door, I fumbled and dropped several items.

As I bent down to pick them up, a rough hand reached out to help me gather my things.

"Thanks," I said, smiling up at the balding man.

He waved it off nonchalantly, then casually asked, "You live here? This place has been empty for years."

"Yeah, I'm just temporarily staying here. I live in Building Eight, but I'm planning some renovations, so I thought I'd crash here for a bit."

"You live in Building Eight?" His expression shifted, surprise flooding his face. The community's buildings were all standalone villas, each worth at least 30 million dollars!

As he asked his questions, he didn't notice that Michelle, still clinging to his arm, was now staring at me with intense interest.

Feigning ignorance, I smiled and added, "I bought it years ago when prices were lower. I had a little extra cash, so I thought I'd invest in another property. I never expected I'd actually end up living here! I just moved in today, so it's a bit of a mess. I won't invite you in just yet, but once I get settled, I'd love to have you over for dinner!"

With that, I unlocked the door and stepped inside, closing it behind me.

Once inside, I set my things down and immediately peered through the peephole to see what they were up to outside.

Sure enough, the man smacked his lips in clear envy as he turned to walk toward the door on the other side. What he didn't notice, however, was the woman beside him frequently glancing back this way.

Apparently, the scoundrel couldn't change her stripes!

I let out a silent, sardonic chuckle and, deciding enough was enough, turned back to my own affairs. Today, my proactive efforts had already gone far beyond the norm.

Now, it was Michelle's turn to take the stage.

After dropping off my belongings, I made two more trips downstairs. On my final trip, just as I was heading out, I spotted Michelle emerging from her apartment!

She was holding a garbage bag, likely on her way to toss it out, but judging by its size, it looked like she'd hastily stuffed in a few things to make it seem fuller.

As soon as she saw me, Michelle dashed toward the elevator, her heels clicking on the floor.

The doors were about to close, but I quickly pressed the button to reopen them just in time for her to slip inside.

"Thanks! I almost missed it!" she panted, her cheeks flushed from the sprint while she playfully patted her chest, proudly showing off her figure.

I couldn't help but glance at her, then grinned and replied, "No need to thank me; we're neighbors after all. If anything, I owe you a thank you!"

"Oh, if you really want to thank me, how about you take me out for dinner next time?" she said with a sweet smile.

I was taken aback by her directness.

Wow, she doesn't beat around the bush, does she?

But I still managed to smile and nod. "Deal!"

"Deal!"

Her face lit up with joy just as the elevator doors opened. With a little wiggle, she stepped out and hurried over to the nearby trash can. I shrugged it off and headed toward the parking area.

2

The trunk of a Maybach opened slowly, and I leaned in to grab two boxes before shutting it and making my way back to the elevator.

This luxurious ride wasn't mine, of course; I'd rented it for a month, shelling out a cool 20 grand for the privilege.

When I returned, I noticed Michelle strolling back from the trash can, moving leisurely. I was certain she had seen me open the car door earlier, but oddly enough, she didn't mention it. Instead, she smiled brightly and walked over to the elevator, holding the door open for me.

"Thanks!" I said, returning her smile.

As we rode up, we each headed to our respective apartments. Just before I closed my door, I caught a glimpse of Michelle casting a flirtatious look my way, and I nodded back with a smile.

The moment my door shut, my expression darkened.

That shameless Michelle! I felt a wave of anger wash over me as I thought of my late brother.

With no desire to unpack, I dropped my things on the floor and grabbed a can of beer, chugging it down in frustration.

For the next three days, I didn't find any opportunities to get close to her.

Michelle was always with that older man, going to and from work, and I had no clue what they were up to—until this Friday.

I was getting ready to head out when I noticed some movement across the way. I quickly paused and peered through the peephole, spotting the balding man leaving with a briefcase, but Michelle was nowhere in sight.

This was my chance!

After thirty minutes, I finally knocked on her door.

There was no response, which didn't surprise me; I knew Michelle was inside.

Sure enough, on the third knock, the door swung open, revealing Michelle in a simple white tank top and loose shorts, her legs on full display.

She looked genuinely surprised to see me. "Oh, it's you! What's up? Are you here to take me out for dinner?"

Her playful tone and inviting smile made it hard to keep my composure.

If it weren't for my premeditated act of vengeance, Michelle might have outsmarted me for good.

I forced a smile and nodded. "Yeah, I finally managed to free up some time to invite you and your husband over for dinner. It's important we get to know each other; after all, neighbors are often closer than distant relatives."

Michelle erupted into a fit of giggles, her hands covering her mouth as she laughed so hard her voluptuous chest heaved.

Michelle was definitely doing that on purpose!

I couldn't help but wonder if Michelle had rushed to change clothes after I knocked.

After exchanging a few smiles, she blinked at me and said, "Well, isn't this just my luck? Logan just stepped out to meet with a client and probably won't be back anytime soon!"

"Oh really?" I feigned disappointment. "That's too bad! I guess we can save it for another time, then."

With that, I turned to leave, but Michelle rolled her eyes playfully and protested, "Hey, I'm still here! You could just take me out to eat—you think I want to starve while he's off wining and dining clients? Come on!"

Her words sent a chill down my spine, but I forced myself to nod. "Sure, if you insist. But next time, we'll have to include Logan. So where do you want to go this time?"

"How about Skyline Terrace Bistro?" she suggested with a hopeful expression.

Skyline Terrace Bistro was a new restaurant nearby. It wasn't dirt cheap, but it wasn't exorbitant either—about five hundred dollars per person.

I thought about it for a moment. Looks like she's testing me, I mused. She wanted to see if I'd be casual about dining at a place like this. If I played it cool, she'd probably think I was genuinely wealthy. On the flip side, if I hesitated, it might reveal I was just some stingy guy without the dough to keep up. This was a smart play on her part!

Putting on a smile, I nodded without hesitation. "Sounds great! Why don't you change into something fancier? I can wait for you down here."

"No need! It's not far, and I'm fine like this!" With that, Michelle grinned as she swung open her door and stepped outside, even rushing ahead to press the elevator button—almost like she was afraid I'd change my mind.

But I had planned this; the car key was already in my pocket.

Once downstairs, I strolled over to the parking lot and hit the unlock button.

Suddenly, the headlights of a nearby Maybach blinked twice, announcing its presence.

Michelle turned, her eyes wide with surprise. "Wait, this is your car? You drive a Maybach?!"

I chuckled silently, not bothering to explain. Instead, I stepped over and opened the door to the passenger seat for her. Once she hopped in, I slid into the driver's seat and closed the door behind me.

"Uh…" I caught a glance at her, and she seemed to finally realize what was happening.

With a playful grin, she stuck out her tongue and said, "I'm Michelle, but you can call me Miche!"

"Alright, Miche, let's hit the road!" I declared, flooring the accelerator as the Maybach glided smoothly onto the road.

In the passenger seat, Michelle spent some time gazing at the scenery outside before her eyes flitted back inside the car, finally landing on me.

"It's so quiet in here!" she marveled.

"Yeah, I bought this beauty for the peace and comfort it offers," I replied with a grin.

For a moment, she fell silent, but I could sense her pondering.

I knew she was likely comparing my luxurious ride to that old Buick Logan drove, which couldn't have been worth more than 200 thousand dollars.

Skyline Terrace Bistro was just a short ten-minute drive from our apartment complex.

After parking, we took the elevator straight to the top floor.

From the look on her face, it was clear that this was her first visit; she was wide-eyed with curiosity, scanning the surroundings like a kid in a candy store.

Meanwhile, I followed the server with confidence, keeping my gaze locked ahead.

Before long, Michelle looked away from the view, stealing glances at me. As she noticed my calm demeanor, she seemed to go deep in thought, realizing I was no stranger to places like this.