novellhall Chapter 646 - 617: Reunion
Chapter 646 - 617: Reunion
Following the address sent by Quentin Thorne, Sienna Thornton found Henry Linton’s new home in a seemingly brand new neighborhood on the outskirts of Wrayhaven County.The neighborhood appeared to have been completed recently, with a low occupancy rate. Many parking spaces on the ground were empty, and Sienna Thornton parked the car in the nearest spot to the apartment building.
Stepping out of the car, Sienna Thornton opened the trunk and found four bags of gift boxes in the nearly full space, passing two bags to Quentin Thorne and carrying the remaining two herself into the apartment.
The family of three stood on the first floor waiting for the elevator. Melinda Linton glanced around, her face that had been gloomy all morning finally showing a smile.
She had actually already spoken to her parents over the phone a few days ago. Initially, her mood was very low, but after reconciling with her parents, she felt considerably better.
Yet today, departing from Brimfield, probably thinking about her most beloved brother who had suffered over twenty years in prison, her mood worsened again. And now, seeing that her brother’s house was bought in such a new and upscale neighborhood, she felt a bit better.
"The environment looks quite nice," Melinda Linton said with a smile. "Quentin, how much do you think this place costs per square meter?"
"It has to be around ten thousand bucks."
Melinda Linton turned around to ask her daughter standing behind her, "Annie, how much per square meter is the house we’re living in now?"
The Springs Residences were bought for over a hundred thousand per square meter initially, and it’s presumably worth even more now. Sienna Thornton was unsure whether she should say or not, and secretly glanced at Quentin Thorne.
Quentin Thorne happened to be looking at her, shook his head with closed eyes, indicating not to let Melinda Linton know.
Who would have thought, the usually indifferent Melinda Linton was particularly interested today. Seeing that the father and daughter duo remained silent, she pursued, "Why are you two so quiet? Is it very expensive?"
Sienna Thornton played deaf and mute, so Melinda Linton turned to ask Quentin Thorne softly, "Quentin..."
What Quentin Thorne couldn’t stand most was Melinda Linton speaking to him like this. Awkwardly, he glanced at Sienna Thornton, saying, "Annie purchased The Springs Residences for about a hundred thousand per square meter back then."
Melinda Linton was taken aback. "Was it really that expensive? Where did Annie get so much money to buy the house back then?"
Although the daughter became a lawyer after graduation and earned a decent income, she had student loans to repay. Additionally, eighty thousand was given to Felix Raines, and alongside the cost of two heart surgeries, nearly a million was spent. Hence, Melinda Linton believed her daughter shouldn’t have had much money a few years ago.
At this moment, the elevator arrived, and the family of three entered one after another.
Quentin Thorne pressed the floor button.
Sienna Thornton glanced at the numbers constantly changing over the elevator doors and casually remarked, "Over three million for the down payment came from selling the old apartment, then about seven million was borrowed from the bank."
Quentin Thorne asked, "For how many years?"
Sienna Thornton replied, "Thirty years."
Quentin Thorne said, "Wouldn’t the monthly payment be over thirty thousand?"
"A nearly forty thousand monthly mortgage for the house, Auntie King’s salary is over twenty thousand, monthly expenses for groceries, utilities, and other miscellaneous costs, maybe ten thousand. Including Chandler the driver’s salary of fifteen thousand, calculate, how much would it be monthly?"
Sienna Thornton looked back at Melinda Linton, "Adding it all up, it’s ninety thousand a month. So Mom, please take good care of yourself, don’t faint at the drop of a hat, end up in the hospital for a week-long stay, and all sorts of tests, costing tens of thousands. If you faint again, think of me, how much is my hardworking salary in a month?"
Melinda Linton stayed silent, and Quentin Thorne patted her arm, "Alright Annie, don’t talk about this anymore."
What he said made things worse; Sienna Thornton’s heavy gaze immediately moved from Melinda Linton to Quentin, "And Dad, could you stop getting on my husband’s back all the time? All those expenses I mentioned, he is paying them. It’s over a hundred thousand a year, not counting the gifts and supplements he buys for you both! He already has a lot of work pressure and still has to take care of the kids when he gets home; there are elders to care for at the old residence too. Please understand us young folks, it’s really not easy for us..."
The elevator coincidentally stopped at this time, Quentin Thorne urged her, "Alright, alright, the elevator’s here, stop complaining."
Only then did Sienna Thornton retract her gaze slowly, stepping out of the elevator wearing flat long boots.
Melinda Linton softly asked Quentin from behind, "Do we really spend that much a month?"
Quentin Thorne sucked his teeth, "Don’t worry about that. I’ll have a proper chat with Annie later."
Sienna Thornton walked in front and clearly overheard her parents’ conversation but was too lazy to dispute it further.
The three of them turned a corner, arriving at a bronze security door adorned with festive spring couplets. Sienna Thornton looked up at the door number, "This is it," she said as she peered through the ornamental gaps of the door.
The door directly faced the dining room, where steam was rising from the center of the round table, suggestive of a ready hotpot. A plump woman in her thirties was bustling about, placing freshly washed vegetables on the table.
That person should be the wife Henry Linton found after being released from prison.
Melinda Linton and Quentin Thorne also came over.
Sienna Thornton looked back at Melinda Linton. Seeing her expression was fine, she asked, "Shall I ring the bell?"
Melinda Linton nodded.
Sienna Thornton pressed the doorbell.
Soon, a robust man appearing about Quentin Thorne’s age, sporting a buzz cut, came over.
The man cautiously examined Sienna Thornton standing in front through the decorated door, "Who are you looking for?"
Sienna Thornton hadn’t spoken yet when Melinda Linton at the back suddenly began to cry, incoherently calling out, "Brother."
The man tilted his head slightly, and upon recognizing Melinda Linton standing in the dark, his eyes suddenly reddened. He opened the door and then turned around, shouting inside, "Dad, Mom, big sister’s back! Wife, come out! My big sister’s back!"
Sienna Thornton stepped aside, moving over to stand next to Quentin Thorne.
Melinda Linton stood at the doorway with her face full of tears, not stepping inside, just standing there like that.
After a while, a woman with honest features and high cheekbones came over, untying her apron as she ran over. Flustered, she stood beside her husband, repeatedly saying "Happy New Year, Happy New Year."
The elderly couple came out supporting each other, and upon seeing their daughter and family, they fell to their knees on the spot.
Melinda Linton cried as she walked forward a few steps, supporting her parents, the three of them embracing and crying.
Sienna Thornton went to look at Quentin Thorne and found his eyes were red too, staring contemplatively at the wall.
Henry Linton exchanged looks with his wife, and the woman quickly walked over to Sienna Thornton, her roughly-hewn hands reaching out, but upon noticing the quality of her cashmere coat, she pulled back, with a blushing face said, "You must be Annie, please come in."
Sienna Thornton smiled and called out, "Aunt, Happy New Year."
The woman’s face reddened even more, lowering her head, "Yes, Happy New Year."
Just at this time, there was suddenly another elevator arrival sound from the corner, followed by the friction sound of the elevator doors opening, finally, the sound of a few assured men’s footsteps.
Sienna Thornton turned instinctively.
Two middle-aged men wearing glasses walked over slowly, reached Quentin Thorne’s side, and bowed in unison, calling out, "Uncle."
The elderly couple clinging to Melinda Linton was astonished, trembling as they walked over, lifting bodies bent by farm work close to a 90° angle, straining eyes to look at these two men in front.