Chapter 148

Chapter 0148

Agleaming red Porsche rolled to a halt at the community's threshold.

Given the age of the neighborhood, the roads were tight. Alexander narrowed his eyes at the last available parking spot and, with

a steady hand, guided the car ever

closer.

“Huh? That's not Cirroc.”

Carmela, steadying Missus Thompson, eyed the Porsche from afar. Her excitement quickly soured into annoyance, and she

spun on her heel to head back.

“Happy birthday, Grandma!”

Amber, with Olivia in tow, stepped out from the passenger side, beaming.” Remember her, Olivia? This is your great-grandma,

and over there is your aunt.”

Olivia, ever so polite, began to greet the family, but the response was muted.

The Braine family’s kin and comrades, who trailed after Carmela with hopes of ogling her son’s new wheels, then found their

gazes glued to the Porsche that had just upstaged the anticipated arrival.

The bright red Porsche HBLY-GT stood out with its sleek curves and the gentle purr of its engine, exuding an aura of luxury that

was hard to miss.

Most of the relatives gathered were from the countryside, not quite accustomed to the finer things in life. They could not name

the make of the car, but they knew it was a cut above the usual Audis, Toyotas, and Volkswagens that dotted their streets.

“Amber.”

Arelative with a stutter approached, grinning ear to ear. “Nice ride! Haha. When did you guys get this? Must’ve cost a pretty

penny, huh? What was it, seven or eight

thousand dollars?”

To those people, that kind of money was a fortune, more than enough to buy the most common van back in their village.

+ 15 BONUS

“Seven or eight thousand dollars? Try nine at most!”

Carmela snorted before Amber could even reply. “Don’t think you can fool me. I’ve

seen these cars online. It’s just electric, all show and no go, nothing compared to my

Cirroc’s ride!”

Amber just smiled and shook her head, not bothering to correct her. She cradled

Olivia in one arm. With the other, she gently led her grandmother, whose face was

etched with wrinkles, toward the courtyard.

“Hey, I’m talking to you!” Carmela called out, following them for a few steps before

something else caught her attention. She pointed at the lone parking spot and

barked at Alexander, who was in the car, “You, the good—for—nothing son-in-law!

Think you can park here?”

“Move your car. That spot is reserved for Cirroc. We don’t need your thirty-thousand-

dollar joke of a car here!”

5A

Alexander, sitting behind the wheel of the Porsche, frowned ever so slightly. His

aunt's biting words confirmed why Amber preferred to keep her distance.

“Is this Alex?”

The grandmother peered into the Porsche with narrowed eyes, then shook her head

with a tinge of regret.

It was her first time laying eyes on Alexander, and she had to admit, the guy was. easy on the eyes. However, how on earth did

he end up as a live-in son-in-law? Amber, such a sweetheart, married to a deadbeat-it was a real shame.

“Hey there, Grandma!”

No more sitting in the car for him. Alexander swung the door open, stepped out, and gave Missus Thompson a deep bow, his

face beaming with affection. “Grandma, it’s your big eight-oh today. Happy birthday!”

Before the elderly lady could even respond, Carmela’s voice cut through with a sneer. “Aren’t you the charmer? However, pretty

words don’t pay the bills! Let's see some solid, hard cash, not like that good—for—nothing Patrick, who couldn’t cough up

a dime!”

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+15 BONUS

Alexander’s expression turned a shade darker, and he was about to retort when the blare of a car horn echoed from down the

street.

Asleek white GAC Trumpchi GS$9 rolled in, its large frame and top-of-the-line features making it look like a beast of steel and

power, rumbled into the

neighborhood.

“Cirroc!”

Carmela’s eyes sparkled at the sight of the car, and she could not help but show off to the relatives nearby. “You see that? That’s

Cirroc’s brand-new ride, courtesy of Gavin. Cost a pretty penny, over forty thousand dollars!”

“Sweet ride, sweet ride!”

The less fortunate relatives could not hide their awe, heaping on the praise. “Cirroc’s the one who studied abroad, right? Only the

best for someone like him! Great car, great guy, just perfect!”

Carmela, puffing up with pride, turned to Alexander with hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with you? Got wax in your ears or just

plain blind? Didn’t you notice Cirroc’s here? Move your clunker out of the way, and make space for Cirroc’s wheels!”