?Chapter 1264:


    Jerome crossed his arms, waiting. Jesse and Nina watched too, curious now.


    “You know your mom’s struggling, right?” Kevin began, clearly aiming for a soft spot. “If you two kids move in with me, I’ll set your mom up in a vi near my ce. And I’ll give her fifty million dors.”


    Jerome hesitated. Over the years, their mom had done everything she could to take care of him and Jasper—holding down a full-time job while juggling side gigs just to make ends meet.


    She’d stay upte working, then get up at the crack of dawn to do it all over again.


    “She can visit you anytime,” Kevin added.<fnaeb5> N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on F?ndNovel</fnaeb5>


    “Don’t agree to it!” Nina suddenly said, her sweet voice cutting through the tension like a de. “He’s lying!”


    Kevin frowned. “I’m not lying.”


    “A vi near your ce would cost a fortune just to maintain—probably thousands, maybe even tens of thousands a month,” Nina pointed out, her voice calm but sharp. It was clear she knew what she was talking about. “Even with fifty million, the money would dry up fast.”


    Some viplexes did have monthly fees. And the ones near Kevin’s home? Those could be quite expensive.


    The more upscale the neighborhood, the higher the costs—everything from security to amenities came with a price.


    Kevin stayed calm. “She could just sell the ce and buy a regr apartment.”


    “She wouldn’t be able to,” Jesse cut in, his tone razor-sharp.


    If Jerome agreed to his father’s proposal, that house wouldn’t be a gift. It would be a trap—just one more thing for Donna to worry about.


    If it were just a vi Donna had bought herself, selling it wouldn’t be a big deal. Alerith had no shortage of rich buyers. Buting from Kevin? With his controlling personality, there was no way he’d make that process simple.


    “Mr. Wilson,” Jesse said casually, his eyes sharp, “instead of giving her a house, why not just give her straight cash?” Jesse was luring him in. “If you give Donna two hundred million, Jerome can go live with you.”


    Jerome’s head snapped toward Jesse. What was he saying? Why would he have to move in with Kevin?


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    Kevin squinted at Jesse. “You have the authority to say that?”


    “If you agree,” Jesse replied,pletely calm, “I can help convince Jerome.” There was something in his tone—quiet, assured, and oddlymanding. Like Ellis.


    Jerome frowned, about to speak, but Nina gave his hand a gentle squeeze and smiled at him.


    “And Jasper goes with me too,” Kevin added coldly, his expression unreadable.


    “Sure,” Jesse said with a shrug. “Then make it double—four hundred million.”


    “Not a problem,” Kevin replied.


    “Get your assistant to draft an agreement,” Jesse said, as if it were the most normal thing in the world to do at his age.


    Kevin stared at him, uncertain whether to be impressed or suspicious. “You really think you can make this call?”


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