“Wow, this unit’s layout is really nice!” Lucas looked around, then he frowned.

“But I feel a negative energy here. This won’t be ideal for you as a family.”

He then said, like he was an expert, “Miles, you might not understand this, but having both the right energy and layout is very important in a house.

“We’re men, after all. Our career is very important to us. That’s why we need the right energy in our home.”

Before I could speak, Joy immediately chimed in from the side, “That’s right! That’s a good point, Lucas.”

“Mr. Wallace, do you have any other units in the building? I want a unit with better energy.”

Mr. Wallace promptly began to introduce other units to them enthusiastically.

I watched their coordinated act and felt nothing but disgust.

I had felt this irritation many times over the years. Today, however, it was particularly intense.

As if oblivious to my increasingly cold expression, Lucas walked around the room enthusiastically.

He paused at the doorway of a secondary bedroom and peered inside. Then, he turned to Joy with a serious face.

“Joy, I think this room could be my music studio.

“We should paint the walls premium gray. It’ll really help spark creativity. And if we knock down this wall for a full-height window, the natural light would be amazing! It would give me a wide-open view for when I’m writing songs or working on projects.”

He said all that while waving his hands around, as if the apartment already belonged to him.

I held back long enough. I could do it no more.

“Mr. Julian, if I recall correctly, I will buy this house for my future father-in-law to retire in.”

Everyone in the unit turned to look at me.

I kept my eyes on Lucas. He was visibly taken aback.

Then, I smirked and said scornfully, “So, how exactly does your workspace fit in this floor plan? Aren’t you getting a bit carried away?”

The tension in the room became palpable.

In a heartbeat, Lucas looked crestfallen and wounded.

“Miles… I… That’s not what I meant…”

His voice dropped to a mumble.

“I was only… I was just trying to help Patrick create a nicer home… I…”

He left the sentence hanging, then looked at Joy with hurt in his eyes. “Joy… did I say something wrong?

“We grew up together. I’ve always considered Patrick as my family. I just wanted to contribute more to this family. How could Miles think of me like that…”

Joy immediately stepped in front of him to shield him. She comforted him, all the while glaring at me reproachfully.

“Miles Sterling! That’s enough! You know Lucas means well. He was only trying to help! How could you twist his compassion into something so ugly?”

Her other family members also piled on me.

“That’s right, Miles. Don’t be so insecure.”

“Lucas and Joy grew up together. He’s practically family to us! Why’re you drawing such a hard line?”

“Be the bigger man. We’re all going to be family soon! Don’t let something this small ruin things.”

I looked at them. They were playing judge and jury, lecturing me as if I were petty or unreasonable.

Meanwhile, the one who started it all was hiding behind Joy as he shot me a smug, provoking glance.

I took a deep breath. I was ready to drop all pretense and settle this once and for all.

Then, an authoritative voice sounded from behind the crowd.

“Enough, all of you! Quiet!”

Patrick walked over slowly.

He first gave Lucas an approving pat on the shoulder. Then, he looked at me with a thorough and evaluating gaze.

“What Lucas said stands for me, too.

“I’ve watched him grow up. He’s like a son to me, and Joy sees him as her own brother.

“You’re going to marry Joy, which makes Lucas your future brother-in-law.

“It’s only natural for you to set aside a room for Lucas.”

His twisted logic made me laugh in disbelief.

“Patrick,” I said, emphasizing the title deliberately, “I’m not married to Joy yet. Even if I were, Mr. Julian is only her childhood friend. He’s not, in any way, related to the Wren family.

“So please, tell me, how exactly is he my future brother-in-law?”

“You!” Patrick’s expression darkened instantly. He was taken aback that I had the nerve to talk back to him.

Lucas instantly started playing the victim again. “Patrick, it’s all my fault! Miles doesn’t like me. Maybe I should just go. I don’t want to cause any trouble in your family.”

“Leave? Nonsense!” Patrick grabbed his arm to stop him. He then glared at me and said firmly, “Alright, look. If you’re really so bothered by Lucas living with me, and if you can’t stand the sight of him, then just buy him his own place!

“Buy the one next door! That way he can have his own space, and I can have some peace and quiet.”

Everyone was stunned upon hearing this.

Even Mr. Wallace was looking at them in disbelief.

Did he really want to get another apartment worth eight million dollars?

Joy’s eyes lit up. She clapped her hands together in excitement. “That’s a brilliant idea, Dad! Yeah! Miles, you’re rich anyway. What’s one more apartment?

“If a problem can be solved with money, then it’s not a problem at all! It’s settled then!”

She looked at me like she was entitled to everything I owned. It was as if she were just asking me to run downstairs for a bottle of soda, when in reality she was asking me to spend another eight million dollars.

Lucas stopped pretending. He looked at me with a mix of hopeful expectation and feigned embarrassment.

“Miles… are you sure? Wouldn’t it be too much trouble for you?”

I looked at the three people moving together like a perfectly choreographed family unit. Their behavior was absurd, to say the least.

I did not answer immediately. Instead, I turned to Patrick and slowly asked, “Patrick, your idea is worth considering.

“But I’d like to ask, given all I’m contributing to the Wren family, what exactly is Joy prepared to contribute toward me and our future home?”

Everyone’s gaze shifted to Joy.

Joy clearly had not expected me to ask that. She was caught off guard. She paused for a second, then puffed out her chest and said in a patronizing tone, “Marrying you is the biggest contribution I can make.

“Miles, you should know that many men wanted to marry me, and I refused them all. Choosing you is my commitment to you.”

She said it with absolute conviction, as if marrying her was the jackpot I had spent my whole life trying to win.

Patrick immediately took over the conversation. He said with his voice dripping with disdain and contempt, “Contribute? You’re a man! How dare you ask a woman to contribute?”

He sneered and said loudly, “Joy is my precious treasure. She should be treated like a queen!

“A man’s job is to hustle, build a career, and provide for his family. Your duty is to make sure your wife lives a happy and comfortable life.”

He looked around the room as if he were leading a family intervention.

“It’s exhausting enough for a woman to maintain her looks and style!

“When she comes home, you must make her feel comfortable and relaxed! If she’s tired, you must be considerate of her. If she’s upset, you must console her!”

He paused deliberately to shoot a profound glance at Lucas. Then he continued, enunciating each word slowly, “Even if she occasionally gets a little carried away outside and makes a minor mistake, you should be tolerant and understanding!

“She’d only be making a mistake any woman could make. Sometimes situations are beyond her control. A real man must see the big picture and not be petty. That’s our family principle!”

As soon as he finished speaking, Mary started clapping.

“Well said, Patrick! You’re a man of great principle! With values like these, Joy is sure to have a happy future!”

Bill joined in with the flattery.

“Exactly! They say a man’s happiness lies in marrying well, and a man is blessed for generations by marrying a good woman like Joy. Miles here is one lucky man. You can’t buy that kind of luck anywhere, Miles!”

Patrick was glowing with pride from the praise. He was on cloud nine.

Growing increasingly carried away, he grabbed my hand and boasted to the crowd, “And let me tell you, Miles is very sensible!

“Joy said he’s offering a $143-million gift! Tell me, where else could you possibly find such a good son-in-law these days?”

“What? A $143-million gift?!

“Good heavens! Joy is so lucky to be marrying Miles!”

I pulled my hand free from Patrick’s tight grasp. “Patrick, Bill, Mary, you really are too kind.

“Hearing you speak so kindly warms my heart. It makes me think that just buying a place for Patrick and Lucas might actually be thinking too small.”

I looked around at the crowd, which had fallen silent at my words.

“Since we’re all going to be family, we should do this equally. Here’s my proposal…”

I clapped my hands and said with emphasis, “I’ll buy one apartment for every elder present here today.”