Jack was puzzled. âWhat is it?â
Linda hesitated, her lips pursing. âThe day Elizabeth returned, I overheard Dad and Mom talking about donating a building to the schoolâ¦â
Her voice trailed off, doubting her own words.
âBut Sunny Heights High School is renowned for its integrity. They would never accept such donations.â
âAre you sure?â
Jackâs gaze deepened, lost in thought.
âI donât know. I canât be certain,â Linda said with regret. âJack, donât mention this to Dad and Mom. I donât want them to think Iâm trying to stir up trouble or something. â
Jack had initially found the whole thing strange, but hearing Lindaâs words, he dismissed the idea that she was tattling.
After all, Linda was too well-behaved to do such a thing.
âDonât worry. I wonât tell them,â Jack assured her, his eyebrows furrowing deeply.
Considering Dad and Momâs extreme fondness for Elizabeth, donating a building wasnât out of the realm of possibility.
However, on that day, Dad and Mom seemed genuinely surprised that Elizabeth got into Sunny Heights.
Did they only learn then that Sunny Heights accepted Elizabeth because of their generous donation?
There were rumors about a newly built laboratory building at Sunny Heights High School, apparently built specifically for an individual of significant status. Such an extravagant gesture was truly jaw-dropping.
Jack felt an emotional roller coaster as these thoughts swirled in his head. He didnât say anything more to Linda and headed upstairs.
Linda watched Jackâs retreating figure, a sly smirk tugging at her lips.
She was determined not to let Elizabeth steal her Jack away.
Upon reaching the upper floor, Jack hesitated briefly before knocking on Elizabethâs door.
Elizabeth cracked the door open just enough to reveal her face. Gazing at Jack, whom she hadnât seen in a while, she asked indifferently, âWhat do you want?â
âMay I come in?â Jack responded, nodding. âI need to talk to you.â Their eyes met. Elizabethâs demeanor remained aloof.
After a brief pause, Elizabeth stepped aside, saying slowly, âI also have something to discuss with you.â
Jack raised an eyebrow in surprise. It was almost miraculous for Elizabeth to want to speak with him.
Once inside, Jack scanned the room. It was predominantly pink and very tidy, with minimal belongings.
It looked more like a temporary stay than a permanent residence.
This thought unsettled Jack.
Elizabeth sat in a computer chair and motioned for Jack to sit on a nearby stool. âTake a seat.â
A twitch of a smile crossed Jackâs face. Despite her grown-up demeanor, there was a hint of cuteness about her.
His eyes then landed on her computer screen where he saw a large sphere consuming a series of strange codes.
He couldnât understand and thought it was some obscure game.
âYouâre gaming again?â Jack asked with a stern tone. Elizabeth corrected him, âIâm making money.â Jack was speechless.
âVirtual gold? How much have you made?â
Elizabeth blinked, hesitated for a moment, but decided not to lie, âBillions of dollars, I guess.â
âYou find the game so entertaining just for those billions of virtual dollars?â Jack was almost speechless. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âIf youâre short on cash, I can give you some. How about fifty thousand dollars to start? Youâre still a student, so you shouldnât have too much.â Elizabeth just stared at him and didnât know what to say.
âNot enough? How about one hundred thousand dollars?â
To Jackâs astonishment, it looked like Elizabeth just rolled her eyes at him.
âItâs not virtual,â she said, furrowing her brows.
He had clearly seen the game, but Elizabeth continued to argue. Jack felt an indescribable disappointment. It seemed the rumor about the school building might indeed be half-true.
Elizabeth tapped the desk, trying to shift the topic, âI want to discuss Linda with you.â
Jack looked puzzled, unsure of what to say next..