Chapter 62: Our Doors Are Always Open For You
As the boat glided over the last stretch of the city’s outskirts, the landscape beneath them changed dramatically.
The hustle and noise melted away, replaced by thick forests that sprawled endlessly in every direction and the terrain looked untouched, serene, like something out of a postcard.
Below them, nestled in the middle of this vast wilderness, was a massive, gated property.
It had sprawling green lawns, immaculately trimmed hedges, stone paths that meandered through flowering gardens, and even a glistening pond reflecting the early evening light.
From above, it looked less like a home and more like a secluded paradise, or the estate of someone outrageously wealthy.
As they passed overhead, Mika let out a long whistle.
"Damn...we’re way out from the city, huh?" He said, leaning forward to get a better view of the forested sprawl beneath them. "But it must be a pain in the ass to go back and forth all the time. Just getting groceries must feel like a damn road trip."
Charlotte grunted beside him, resting her chin on her palm.
"You don’t even understand, Mika." She muttered. "It takes me more than an hour to get to the city. That’s with no traffic. If I take a car, that’s it, half my day’s gone. And there’s nothing out here."
"...No cafés, no shops, no arcades, no fun. Just trees, birds, and bugs."
Mika chuckled, but before he could say anything, Charlotte turned and jabbed a thumb toward Yelena, who was seated gracefully beside them, hands folded neatly on her lap like she was on a royal procession.
"It’s all Mama’s fault." Charlotte declared. "She’s the one who decided we needed to build our house in the middle of nowhere. She said we needed peace. Peace! As if we’re eighty-year-olds trying to retire early."