Chapter 140:Sister-in-law?!

Chapter 140: 140:Sister-in-law?!

Nova stepped out of her room and descended the grand staircase. At the bottom, she found Zara, the blonde-haired woman, sitting rigidly in a chair, lost in thought. Hearing footsteps, Zara snapped out of her daze and stood up immediately.

?"Sis... sister-in-law," Zara called out, her voice trembling slightly.

?Nova paused on the bottom step, turning her piercing gaze onto her. "Yes?" she replied, her tone perfectly neutral—neither warm nor cold.

?Zara clenched her fists, staring intently into Nova’s eyes, bracing for a harsh reprimand. To her surprise, Nova seemed entirely unbothered by the title. Letting out a quiet breath of relief, Zara pressed on. "May... may I know where you are going? It’s not safe to be alone outside in an unfamiliar city."

?Nova tilted her head, a faint, strange smile touching her lips. "Why do you want to know? Do you want to tag along?" she asked, her unblinking stare pinning Zara in place.

?Zara swallowed hard, subconsciously taking a step back. "I... I was just worried about you."

?Nova said nothing. The silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

?Unable to hold the intense eye contact, Zara looked away. "I just need to figure out if she prefers Lucian or his brother," she thought. Forcing a harmless, innocent smile, she looked back up. "It’s your first time in Australia, isn’t it? I just didn’t want you to get lost or injured out there."

?Nova’s smile widened slightly, though her eyes remained devoid of warmth. "I will be perfectly fine. Stay here with your boyfriend; there is no need to worry about me." She turned toward the door. "Besides, I am not coming back here. I am buying my own house." With that, she walked to the entrance and opened the heavy front doors and vanished into the daylight.

?Zara stood frozen, staring blankly at the closed door. "She’s leaving of her own free will. She doesn’t love Lucian at all... and she keeps calling him my boyfriend!" A faint blush crept up her cheeks.

?Meanwhile, hidden in the shadows of the upper-floor landing, Lucian had witnessed the entire exchange. His brows were knitted in fierce anger, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were stark white. His gaze turned lethally cold as it dropped to Zara one last time before he spun and entered back into his room.

?Below, Zara looked up at the empty stairs and let out a soft sigh, tears welling in her eyes. "It doesn’t matter," she told herself. "She doesn’t love him. That’s enough for me."

....

?Nova pushed through the glass doors of Sydney’s most elite real estate agency. Instantly, a sharply dressed receptionist stepped forward, offering a deep, respectful bow.

?"Welcome to our firm, Madam. What kind of property are you looking to purchase today?" she asked with polished grace.

?Nova raised an elegant eyebrow, amused by the immediate deference. "Quite polite," she murmured with a nod of satisfaction. "I want your largest estate. Something unique. Not overly flashy, and definitely not girly."

?The receptionist bowed even lower. "Right this way, please." She guided Nova to a private, glass-walled VIP lounge on the upper floor, offering her a seat before hurrying off to fetch the branch manager.

?Nova sat down, crossing one long leg over the other, radiating a quiet, dangerous authority.

?Moments later, the manager hurried in. He was a young, striking man with smooth dark hair, clutching a leather portfolio. The moment his eyes landed on Nova, he froze, visibly captivated by her breathtaking features. "What a stunning beauty," he thought, finding it impossible to tear his gaze away as he sat across from her.

?Nova noticed his stare. A dark, wicked smirk curled her lips. "Do you believe I could gouge your eyes out right here, right now, and walk away without a scratch?" she asked smoothly.

?The manager flinched violently, blinking rapidly as a cold sweat broke out on his neck. "M-my deepest apologies, Miss... I—"

?"Do not address me as Miss," Nova cut in, her voice slicing through the air like a blade. "I am a Mrs. I am married."

?The manager was instantly tongue-tied. He stole a quick, nervous glance at her. "Married so young? It must be an arranged marriage," he rationalized, plastering on a highly apologetic smile.

?"My sincerest apologies, Young Mrs.," he said, hastily sliding the leather portfolio across the glass table. "My staff informed me of your preferences. These are our most exclusive properties. Please, take your time."

?Nova opened the file, her sharp eyes scanning the high-end listings. "Is there nothing larger than these?"

?"I apologize, but the only property larger than these was purchased just two days ago. These are the absolute best currently on the market," he explained nervously.

?Nova closed the file with a dismissive tap. "I’ll take number one."

?The manager blinked, looking down at the listing. It was a sprawling, ultra-modern fortress—the most expensive estate in their entire catalog. "Um... Young Mrs., you should know that this particular property is exceptionally expensive..."

?Nova didn’t blink. She calmly reached into her pocket, withdrew a sleek, matte-black limitless card, and tossed it onto the glass table. "Swipe it. Then hand over the deed."

?The manager gasped, recognizing the ultra-rare card instantly. His demeanor shifted from polite to utterly subservient. "R-right away, Madam!" he stammered, scrambling up to process the transaction. He returned moments later, bowing deeply as he handed the card back.

?Shortly after, the receptionist hurried back into the lounge with a stack of thick legal documents. Nova picked up a gold fountain pen and swiftly signed the necessary paperwork, finalizing the transfer of ownership.

?"Would you like her to escort you to your new mansion, Ma’am?" the manager asked eagerly.

?"She will do," Nova replied, standing up to leave.

?Before she could take a single step, the glass doors to the VIP lounge swung open violently.

?"Hold it. That mansion she just bought—I want it," an arrogant voice demanded in fluent English.

?A young woman strutted into the room, exuding an air of unbearable entitlement. She wore a designer mini-skirt and a cropped top, her long brown hair bouncing with every step. She didn’t even bother looking at Nova, acting as though everyone else in the room was entirely beneath her notice.

?The manager turned pale, glancing nervously between Nova and the newcomer. "My deepest apologies, Princess Liora, but the payment for this property has already cleared."

?Liora glared at him, her brown eyes flashing with spoiled fury. "So what if it’s paid for? She hasn’t even left the building yet! Refund her money, or make her pick something else. I want that specific house, and I am taking it."

?The manager was completely trapped. Thinking Nova might not understand English, he turned to her, sweating profusely. "Young Mrs., there... there seems to be a complication. Could you possibly select another property?"

?Nova simply smiled—a chilling, dead-eyed expression—and sat back down in her chair. "So, is she the daughter of the company’s owner?" she asked coolly.

?"No... she’s—"

?"I insist on taking this house. What exactly are you going to do to stop me?" Nova interrupted, locking her freezing gaze onto the manager.

?Panic set in. The manager wiped his forehead, turning back to the arrogant girl. "Princess Liora, I beg of you, please just let her have it. The transaction is already complete—"

?Irritated by the defiance, Liora finally turned her head to look at the woman daring to challenge her.

?The moment her brown eyes locked onto Nova’s face, all the arrogant color drained from Liora’s cheeks. Her jaw dropped in absolute, unadulterated shock.

?"You... you..." Liora gasped, stumbling a step back. "Sister-in-law?!"