Chapter 123


    The video showed my dad grinning like a Cheshire cat, refusing to answer. My mom, on the other


    hand, was all smugness.


    She snatched my dad''s phone, leaned in close to the camera and whispered to me, "Your dad, he''s


    always been quite the visionary. A few years back, the old town was going through a rough patch,


    especially our little Oldtown Avenue. So many people were moving out. No one wanted to stay in this


    old street, especially the young folks. They all wanted fancy high-rises and penthouses. The old-timers


    were all leaving, heading off to the new districts."


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    I nodded in agreement, "Oldtown Avenue was way too run-down. If I were there, I would have packed


    up and left too!"


    Mom pouted at this, "And that''s why this ce turned into a forgotten backwater. It was once dubbed


    ''Ghost Street''."


    I chuckled along, "You''re absolutely right, mom. If young folks were to live in Oldtown Avenue now,


    they''d probably die single. No one would want to marry into a life in a t!"


    "Few people ever visit Oldtown Avenue anymore, let alone rent a ce here. Fortunately, we had some


    extra money at the time, so your dad bought up a bunch of these properties."


    As mom said this, I noticed Jan peeking over my shoulder, his eyes were lighting up.


    "You mean dad bought properties on Oldtown Avenue?"


    Mom nodded, "I wasn''t too happy about it at the time. Your dad and I had quite a few arguments over it.


    But he just wouldn''t give up the idea. Bought up half the street in one go. Once word got around that


    your dad was buying, people were lining up to sell...”


    I was shocked, "You mean, half of the Oldtown Avenue...?"


    Mom looked smug as she chuckled, "If we hadn’t invested in Medsafe Liyah Inc. back then, your dad


    would have bought the entire street. But if he had, then... Oh well!"


    Mom had a regretful look on her face. Jan''s expression stiffened, probably thinking what a missed


    opportunity!


    I was staring at my mom on the screen, dumbfounded. Was she for real?


    If they really bought Oldtown Avenue, holy moly, I can''t even imagine the profit right now.


    But then, my dad snatched the phone back and said sternly, "Don''t listen to your mom’s nonsense.


    We''re still in negotiations. You said you''d bring the kids to Silverdale City during the summer holidays,


    right?"


    He promptly changed the subject and I couldn’t help but chuckle. Such a sly old fox.


    Before I could respond to my dad, Jan jumped in, "Of course, dad. We told the kids and they''re


    thrilled. They''re counting down the days! As soon as their exams are over, we''ll head over!"


    "That''s good. We haven''t seen them for two years. Monique must have grown taller, hasn''t she?" Mom


    asked.


    "She sure has!" Jan grinned widely.


    The conversation then turned to family matters, and my dad didn’t bring up the property issue again.


    After hanging up the video call, I was still in a daze. Was what mom said true?


    Jan seemed pretty pleased, asking Helga to bring me a bowl of soup, "Allie, have this while it''s hot."


    I silently took it and after finishing the soup, I told Helga, "I need to leave for a bit. Could you pick up


    Carl tonight? I''ll pick up Probert on my way back."


    "Don''t worry about it! Nothing urgent at the office. I''ll head home early and pick up the kids. You don''t


    need to worry about it." Jan was overly eager, picking up the task of fetching the kids.


    I nced at him, not responding, and headed upstairs.


    Jan, I''ll make sure your hopes remain just that. So, nothing urgent at the office, huh? Well, that''s


    about to change.