Chapter 99
“I knew you’d forget, so I thought I’d give you a heads–up!” Hilda said with a teasing smile.
“Got it, Mom. I’ve got to go now, but I’ll call you when I can, okay?” Carlisle quickly ended the call and made his way downstairs.
In his previous life, Carlisle used to spend his birthdays at his grandfather’s place. On that particular night, Riverland TV Station aired a major news report.
The wealthiest person in Riverland, Yuriel, spent 80 thousand dollars in a local antique shop in Rainville. He snagged an original Galloping Horses painting by Harold Delacruz. Later, he flipped it for a staggering 3.86 million dollars.
Carlisle hailed a cab. “To Rainville, please!”
“Rainville?” The cab driver raised an eyebrow. “I don’t usually do long–distance trips…”
Carlisle grinned. “How about three hundred dollars?” he asked.
After a moment’s hesitation, the cab driver shook his head. “It’s not about the money. My wife is about to give birth in the hospital, and I’m afraid I won’t make it back in time!”
Carlisle got down from the cab. Just then, another cab pulled over by the roadside.
Wanda stepped out of the cab. “Carlisle…”
Her eyes lit up when she saw Carlisle.
“Is your family dinner over already?” Carlisle asked with a light chuckle.
“I left early, Are you heading back to your studio? Mind if I tag along?” Wanda suggested with a smile.
“I need to make a quick trip to Rainville,” Carlisle said.
“At this hour? What’s going on in Rainville?” Wanda inquired.
“I’ve got some things to take care of. You should head back to school,” Carlisle explained.
“I’ll come with you!”
“This…” Carlisle hesitated.
Wanda immediately put on a pitiful expression.
Carlisle sighed and said, “Okay, get in the car.”
When the driver heard that both of them were going to Rainville, he chimed in, “Rainville’s quite a distance, you know. The fare won’t be cheap.”
Carlisle responded, “Three hundred dollars. Deal?”
The driver pondered for a moment. “Will you be coming back? If I return empty, three hundred dollars. won’t be much profit.”
Chapte 99
22
Wanda chimed in, “Of course, we’ll come back. How about six hundred dollars for the round trip?”
The driver grinned broadly. “Deal! Let’s hit the road!”
Carlisle and Wanda sat in the backseat.
Wanda kept her head down, her heart inexplicably racing.
Carlisle leaned back with a slight frown.
The painting was priced at 80 thousand dollars, but Carlisle had less than 20 thousand dollars on him. He pondered whether he should ask Wanda for money.
“Carlisle…”
“Wanda…”
At that moment, both of them spoke simultaneously, locking eyes with each other.
“You go first…”
Again, they spoke up at the same time. Blushing, Wanda whispered, “I was just wondering what you’re planning for tomorrow?”
Carlisle smiled gently. “How about I show you around Rainville tomorrow?”
Wanda pouted and replied, “I’ve spent three years in Rainville. I’ve seen all there is to see.”
Carlisle took Wanda’s hand and said, “But you haven’t explored it with me.”
Wanda glanced at their joined hands, her cheeks flushing uncontrollably as her heart pounded against her
chest.
Realizing they were in a taxi, she quickly withdrew her hand.
Carlisle’s expression faltered for a moment, and he looked out the window with a hint of disappointment.
Seeing this, Wanda felt a pang of regret and immediately grabbed Carlisle’s hand again.
This time, Carlisle was taken aback. Had she just willingly taken his hand?
Blushing deeply, Wanda asked, “You called me earlier. What did you want to say?”
Carlisle squeezed Wanda’s soft, delicate hand and grinned. “I wanted to borrow some money from you,”
he said.
Wanda’s hand was incredibly soft, like a handful of cotton.
