America: The neighbor's wife is so incredibly hospitable!

"Where's that old bastard?"

Jessica threw her backpack on the ground, plopped down on the sofa, and crossed her legs in a very unseemly manner.

"I meant Tom. Is he dead?"

"Jessica! How can you talk like that!" Sarah came over with a glass of water and scolded, "No matter what, he's still you..."

"He's a bastard," Jessica interrupted her mother, her eyes cold.

"If it weren't for him, I wouldn't be at school... never mind. So where is he? Still drunk at the bar?"

Sarah paused for a moment and glanced at Chen An.

"He's in jail."

Chen An answered for her, sitting in the single chair opposite her, fiddling with a lighter in his hand.

"He stole explosives, possessed contraband, and had huge gambling debts."

"If nothing unexpected happens, you may only see him again in the visiting room for the rest of your life."

"Go to jail?"

Jessica paused for a moment, then a very complex expression appeared on her face.

There was shock, but more than that, there was a sense of relief and even a touch of... schadenfreude.

"Ha! God really does have eyes!" Jessica laughed.

"This might be the best news I've heard all year. Well then..."

She abruptly changed the subject, her eyes, painted with black eyeshadow, fixed intently on Chen An.

"Now that the old bastard is in jail, what role do you... Mr. Chen, play in this family?"

Her gaze was direct, even carrying a hint of interrogation.

"Has the mortgage been paid off? Who pays the heating bill?"

"And that Porsche by the door... don't tell me my mom earned that money growing potatoes."

Sarah was about to explain when Chen An raised his hand to stop her.

Chen An leaned forward, crossed his hands on his knees, a faint smile on his lips, and looked directly at Jessica.

"I am the creditor here."

Chen An said slowly, "Your father owes me a lot. Including pushing this family to the brink of bankruptcy."

"I paid off the bank loan and saved this house. I'm also the one who now takes care of all the household expenses."

"So?" Jessica narrowed her eyes. "You mean, you're a philanthropist?"

"No. I'm a businessman."

Chen An stood up, walked up to Jessica, and looked down at the rebellious girl.

"Since I'm investing, I need to get something in return."

"Your mother is now my business partner and also my...personal housekeeper. As for you, Miss Jessica."

Chen An's gaze swept unabashedly over her snow-white waist and thighs, which were exposed due to her sitting posture.

"Now that you're back, you have to abide by the rules here."

"This place no longer belongs to Miller or White. This is my sphere of influence, Chen An's territory."

"Rule number one: I don't like people interrupting me when I'm speaking."

"Second rule: If you want to continue living in this warm house where you have food and drink."

"Instead of going to that trailer park where it's below zero, just be polite to your creditors."

These words were spoken with extreme force and were very oppressive.

Jessica was a troublemaker from a young age, and she often clashed with teachers at school.

But at this moment, facing Chen An's powerful aura, a mixture of money, force, and masculine hormones, she felt a sudden pang of panic.

She subconsciously put down her crossed legs and sat up straight.

"You..." She opened her mouth, wanting to refute, but didn't know what to say.

After all, that Porsche cost over ten thousand US dollars, and the two hundred thousand loan that was paid off were real assets.

"Okay, peace."

Seeing the atmosphere was too tense, Sarah quickly came over to smooth things over, gently tugging at Chen An's sleeve.

With a pleading look in his eyes, he said, "Jessica just got back, she's still young and doesn't understand... don't scare her."

Chen An turned his head and looked at Sarah's gentle appearance; the coldness on his face instantly melted away.

He reached out and pinched Sarah's cheek: "For your sake."

Then, he turned and walked towards the door.

"I have something to take care of tonight. You two, mother and daughter, should have a good talk."

He stopped at the door, his back to them, and said, "Oh, right, Jessica. Change out of those clothes you look like you picked them out of a garbage dump tomorrow."

"I don't like that cheap streetwear vibe in my house. If you want to buy something new, get your mom's card."

After saying that, he pushed open the door and left.

Watching that dashing figure leave.

Jessica bit her lip, her face flushing red and then turning pale.

"Mom! Who is this guy? Why is he so arrogant?!" Jessica scratched her head in frustration.

"And...and he even cares about my clothing style? Does he think he's my dad?!"

Sarah couldn't help but laugh at her daughter's exasperated expression.

She walked over, sat down next to her daughter, and gently stroked her hair.

He's not your dad.

Sarah's eyes became dreamy and tender, the expression unique to a woman in love.

"But he... is the true king of this land. Jessica, listen to your mother's advice."

"Don't mess with him. If you knew what he'd done for this family, you... might end up like me."

"Like you what?" Jessica pressed.

"Like me... I can't live without him."

Sarah said softly.

Jessica looked at her mother's face with an expression she had never seen before, as if she had returned to her teenage years, and a strong sense of absurdity rose in her heart.

my mom.

It seems they are more than just neighbors.

This is like selling yourself out, body and soul!

And... Jessica lowered her head, looking at her chest rising and falling slightly beneath her tight-fitting tank top.

The man's gaze, though cold, softened as it swept over my body.

That sense of aggression hidden deep in his eyes, like a wild beast eyeing its prey, actually made her feel a strange... tremor and heat.

"interesting."

Jessica's lips curled into a rebellious smile.

"Then I'll see if you, this so-called king, can tame this wild horse that came back from Seattle."

………………

It was nighttime in Miller's living room.

The pine wood in the fireplace was burning, occasionally crackling and popping.

Sarah brought over a plate of reheated beef stew with potatoes and placed it on the coffee table.

Jessica was clearly starving; she didn't even bother to grab a fork and just grabbed the bread with her hands, dipping it in the soup and gobbling it down.

She doesn't resemble the "refined girl" image she usually projects on Instagram at all.

Sarah sat opposite her daughter, looking at her daughter's starving appearance, feeling both heartache and doubt.

"Eat slowly, no one's going to take it from you." Sarah handed her a tissue.

"Jessica, can you tell the truth now? Why did you suddenly drop out of school? Is it really because you miss home?"

Jessica stopped chewing her beef.

She lowered her head, avoiding her mother's gaze, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the loose threads on her ripped jeans.

"It's just... I find it boring. I don't like that major," Jessica said vaguely.