<b>Chapter </b><b>184 </b>


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    <b>20 </b>


    Joshua gently straightened Shermaine’s hair, then stealthily nted a tender kiss on her eyelids before taking her hand and leading her down from the helicopter.


    “Come with me,” Joshua said gently, taking Shermaine by the hand.


    Three years ago, he bought this ind with the dream of creating his own private paradise. Now, with most of it nearlypleted, he wanted to present this dream world to Shermaine as a gift.


    The stars twinkled overhead.


    A gentle evening breeze drifted through the air.


    Joshua led Shermaine to the peach blossom grove behind the vi.


    While most people nted fruit trees, Joshua cultivated an entire grove of peach blossoms.


    It was March, when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, their sweet fragrance permeating the air.


    In the midst of the peach blossom grove stood a pavilion.


    Shermaine instantly envisioned a carefree, idyllic life in a fairy–tale paradise.


    With <b>a </b>sudden crash, a thunderous boom echoed across the sky.


    Shermaine looked up just as a dazzling firework exploded overhead.


    Then, one after another, countless fireworks erupted across the night sky.


    Joshua had never been one for romance, but upon learning it was Shermaine’s birthday, he began making meticulous preparations. Besides, with his grandfather’s high expectations weighing on him, he couldn’t possibly let him down.


    Joshua embraced Shermaine from behind, lowered his head, and softly whispered in her ear, “Sheary, may we share this day forever, year after year.” He paused, then added, “Happy birthday.”


    Shermaine gazed at the dazzling fireworks, her eyes curving into gentle crescents. “Thank you,” she murmured.


    He then said, “From now on, you’re the queen of this ind.”


    Shermaine was speechless. ‘Wait, what? I thought the fireworks were the gift<b>, </b>but the real present is an entire ind?‘ She looked up and teased, “Are your gifts just going to keep getting more and more extravagant, aren’t they?”


    She was a big shot, but strapped for cash–barely had a penny to her name.


    Ever sincepleting those two SSS–level missions, she hadn’t taken on any other jobs. Plus, she’d effortlessly scored 750 million dors from Kingston. For her, money was the least of her worries.


    ‘Butpared to Joshua, I realized one really can never have too much money,‘ Shermaine mused.


    ‘At least now, I’ll never have to worry about what to buy for the holidays,‘ she thought with relief<b>. </b>


    Joshua said with a teasing smile, “It’s not about the price. Now you have me too–and believe me, I’m worth far more than this ind.”


    <b>When </b>he put it like that, Shermaine epted the ind without a second thought.


    Shermaine mused, ‘Well, if Joshua’s worth more than the ind and now he’s mine–what’s one little ind anyway?


    18:13 Fri, 13 Jun


    ‘With my skills, if I really put my mind to making money, I could easily afford this myself,‘ she thought with confidence.


    If she’d just focused on making money from the start instead of getting into academic research, she might even be richer than Joshua now.


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    After the fireworks, it was well past midnight. With thete hour making it unwise to linger in the peach grove, the two of them headed back to the vi.


    Looks like they were staying the night there after all.


    They were still sharing a home, and from time to time, Shermaine would stay over with Joshua at a different ce. For them, switching where they slept was perfectly natural.


    Riverswood Vi had been decorated in a traditional style, and this ind retreat followed the same aesthetic.


    Shermaine saw that the ind was only half–finished, with the rest still untouched. Eager to explore the possibilities, she asked Joshua for the full set of blueprints for the entire ind.


    Wow that the ind is mine, I can do whatever I want with the remaining half, right?‘ Shermaine thought.


    The vi was brightly lit.


    Shermaine slipped off her jacket and settled onto the plush wool carpet, the crimson hem of her dress fanning out around her.


    With her wless skin and that innocent–yet–alluring charm, she casually popped cashews into her mouth, a bottle of red wine by her side, utterly engrossed in blueprints.


    Joshua was in the shower.


    The alcohol’s háze had lifted. He stepped out of the bathroom, towel–drying his hair, only to freeze at the sight of Shermaine crouched on the carpet, her focusser–locked on blueprints. His throat went parched–suddenly, it felt like his veins had been pumped full of kerosene and lit.


    He called out, “Sheary, your turn to shower.”


    “Got it,” Shermaine responded absentmindedly, still focused on the blueprints. “What should I wear?”


    “I’ve got some clothes ready for you in the closet–just pick whatever you like.”


    Shermaine nodded. “Which room am I sleeping in tonight?”


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