?Chapter 97:


    “What the hell do you mean by that?”


    Jerry folded his arms, his voiceced with a t, impatient tone.


    “Are youing to check it out or not? If you’re not interested, I can just go.”


    Reluctantly, the trio stifled their objections and trailed after him.


    As they moved deeper, an unsettling feeling crept up on them.


    Joyce edged closer to Katrina, her voice a nervous whisper.


    “Mom, what is this ce? Why are we wandering through a parking garage?” Katrina’s face grew troubled, her anxiety palpable.


    They were supposed to be shown the 18th to 20th floors, yet here they were, in the basement.


    As they progressed, Caiden’s prior cockiness had vanished entirely, his face clouding over with each step they took.


    Suddenly, Joyce perked up, her voice slicing through the tension.


    “Mom, look! There are shops over there!”


    Their gazes collectively turned to where Joyce directed, and sure enough, a series of storefronts came into view.


    Joyce gestured towards a shop in the middle.


    “If it’s a spot like that, I could definitely see us there.”


    However, Katrina’s response was less than enthusiastic. Her experience of the opulent upper levels had set a high bar that this basement level couldn’t meet.


    Your favorite stories are on g?lnσνe??s?c?m


    Disdainfully, she waved a dismissive hand, her nose wrinkling at the pervasive, musty odor that filled the air.


    Undeterred, Jerry maintained his brisk pace, guiding them deeper into the busier part of the basement. They navigated a corner and halted abruptly at the end of the corridor.


    Joyce looked around, bewildered.


    “Seriously? You brought us to a damn restroom? We don’t need to use it!”


    Jerry pointed to a dimly lit area near the bathroom and announced, “Over there is the space for your shop.” He then proceeded to unlock the door.


    Once the door was opened, the room was engulfed in darkness, an eerie silence pervading the air. Joyce paused, using her phone’s shlight to pierce the gloom.


    The sight that greeted her elicited a sharp gasp.


    “It’s full of trash!”


    Chaos exploded, their screams echoing off the walls of the tight hallway.


    Jerry, unimpressed, merely rolled his eyes.


    “This is just where we store restroom supplies. It’s dusty, and, unfortunately, roughly 100 square meters. The final offer stands, and you’ll have to make your decision today, or it’s off the table.”


    They were left dumbfounded, struggling to process the situation. Katrina’s forced smile faded as she stood frozen, her expression one of sheer outrage.


    “Don’t you see? She’s trying to make us look like fools, isn’t she?”


    Katrina broke down, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed uncontrobly.


    Joyce’s friends had discreetly vanished, and a few bystanders observed the unfolding drama. Joyce’s lips trembled as she clutched her stomach, her eyes wide with despair.


    “Dad, I’ve never been so humiliated. How can I possibly face my friends after this?”


    “She’s obsessed with tearing me down,” Joyce whispered, her voice shaky with emotion. Around them, some bystanders took photos, quick to capture the family’s distress, pushing their way into the crowd.


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