Ethan looked at each of the members of his family. As of now, everyone was happily enjoying their dinner.

While he was struggling to contain the excitement of the big news he was about to share.

Jessica had texted him about the progress of his house purchase. Everything was completed, and they could move in anytime soon.

He wanted them to move to a better and more secure home. That would surely be the greatest reward he could give them for now and would put his mind at ease.

"Mom. Dad," Ethan said, his voice cutting gently through the quiet. "I need to talk to both of you." He paused, then continued, "Actually, I need to talk to every one of you."

The effect was immediate. All four of them turned to Ethan, their curiosity piqued.

"Mom, Dad," he said with a pause while looking at his parents. "I want you both to leave work tomorrow."

Aaron blinked, frowning slightly. "Leave work? Ethan, what on earth are you—"

But Ethan pressed on before his father could finish. "Actually," he said with a sudden smile, "I think it's time you started thinking about quitting altogether. Jacob and Lily, too. You guys should be ready."

The room fell silent. Elise stopped mid-bite, Aaron froze with his spoon halfway to his mouth, and Jacob and Lily exchanged wide-eyed glances.

"What?" Aaron said, at last, leaning forward. His voice was calm but tinged with disbelief. "Take a day off? Quit our jobs? And what's this about Jacob and Lily?"

"Oh, right," Ethan said, glancing at his younger siblings. "You two are going to transfer schools soon."

This time, it was Jacob who broke the silence. "Hold on—you're serious? We're switching schools? Why?" His spoon clattered into the plate, forgotten.

Lily frowned at Ethan, her worry clear in her voice. "You've been acting so different lately. What's going on, Ethan? Is something wrong?"

"Yeah," Jacob added, his curiosity sharpening into concern. "You told us to be extra careful before. Are you hiding something? Is someone after us?"

Ethan chuckled. "No. You guys' imagination was too wild." He gave everyone a beaming smile. "I have no such problem. Everything is good. It's just that..."

Everyone was waiting for Ethan to continue.

"I bought a house," he said.

The silence that followed was almost funny. Lily's hand dropped, and she forgot the dinner. Jacob's mouth opened and closed a few times. He was trying his best to find the right words to respond to Ethan.

Aaron and Elise looked at Ethan before exchanging looks. What was on their minds right now was that they hoped Ethan was going to laugh and say it was all a joke.

But Ethan was serious.

"What… what do you mean you bought a house?" Elise finally asked, her voice trembling with disbelief. "You've just started your company. And you haven't even finished that project with your faculty, have you?"

Aaron remained silent, his expression unreadable, but his eyes were full of questions.

"I mean what I said," Ethan replied calmly.

He picked up his phone, which was placed next to him on the dining table, and swiped through the photo gallery. "Wait a minute. I'm going to show you guys our new house. "

"Alright. Have a look." Ethan passed the phone to his father. "It's in Crescent Ridge Estate."

"Crescent Ridge?" Jacob asked quietly. He and Lily quickly ran behind their father to have a look, too. They had heard of it. Everyone had.

It was a neighborhood that belonged in fancy magazines, not in their everyday lives.

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Aaron blinked a few times. All of them, actually. No one expected that Ethan was going to show such a grand house. It was a combination of a modern and sleek design.

"Look at that. The lawns look more like a park," said Lily.

"That large windows would let a lot of light to get in. Not like here. It's too dark in here, even during the day," said Jacob.

"That's… that's one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Novan City," Aaron said slowly, only now he was able to mutter a word. "Ethan, how on earth did you—?"

"Let's say I worked hard," Ethan replied with a faint smile. "And maybe I got a little lucky. Everything's arranged. We're moving in tomorrow."

Ethan's family tried to process his words. For a moment, there was nothing but stunned silence until Jacob spoke, his voice trembling between disbelief and hope.

"You're serious?" he asked, though the spark of excitement in his eyes betrayed the doubt in his voice.

Ethan nodded. "I am. And not just about the house. You and Lily are going to Crescent International Academy."

Jacob's jaw dropped, words failing him entirely. Crescent International—just saying the name felt like stepping into another world.

With its gleaming facilities, world-class teachers, and an unmatched reputation for sending students to the top universities, it was the sort of place Jacob had only dreamed about.

"Crescent International?" Jacob finally whispered as if afraid to say it too loudly. "You're… you're really getting me into Crescent International?"

Ethan smiled. "It's done," he said simply. "You and Lily are both enrolled. The paperwork's already handled."

That part was true enough—though Ethan knew the credit wasn't entirely his. Charles, ever efficient and resourceful, handled enrollment in record time.

With Charles's connections, what should have been a mountain of red tape had been reduced to little more than a formality.

Ethan had merely told him what he wanted, and Charles had made it happen as if it were the simplest task in the world.

Jacob fell silent, his astonishment rendering him momentarily speechless. Lily, though younger, seemed just as stunned. But as the realization dawned, her face lit up with uncontainable joy.

Aaron cleared his throat. "Ethan," he said carefully, "this is amazing. But with choices like this, you should have talked to us first."

"I know, Dad," Ethan said softly. "But I'm not a kid anymore. I believe my decision will give us all a better life. You and Mom have worked very hard for a long time. I want you both to have a chance to rest."

Aaron exchanged a glance with Elise, who was still clutching the phone, staring at the pictures of the house with a mix of awe and uncertainty. The weight of Ethan's words seemed to settle over them, heavy but not unwelcome.

"I still don't understand," Aaron said, frowning. "Where is all this money coming from? A house like this… tuition for Crescent International… it doesn't just appear out of nowhere."

Ethan hesitated for the briefest moment, then took a steadying breath. He'd known this question would come. "David Turner," he said, keeping his tone calm and measured. "He's been incredibly impressed with my work. He sees potential in me, and he's been helping to make some of this happen."

Ethan knew that this made-up excuse was not convincing at all. But he never lied this big to his parents. Telling them about the system? That would not be the best action.

Well, that was what he thought.

Aaron frowned slightly. "Turner? I know he's a well-known person, but this seems excessive, even for him. Why would someone like that go out of their way to do all of this for you?"

Ethan smiled faintly, a mix of confidence and humility in his expression. "He values what I bring to the company, Dad. People like him have their ways of making things happen quickly. And honestly, this is just the beginning. You'll see more surprises soon."

Jacob's face lit up again, his earlier doubts melting away. "Come on, Dad," he said eagerly. "We know Ethan—he's not getting involved in anything shady. Besides, Ethan is really smart. So, it's not weird at all. Let's just enjoy this, yeah?"

His enthusiasm was infectious, though it faltered slightly when Aaron shot him a stern look. Lily giggled softly, coming to her brother's rescue. "He's right, though," she said, her voice warm with conviction. "Ethan's not normal smart. He's a genius and just… rich now. That's it."

Aaron exhaled deeply, the tension in his shoulders easing. "I suppose you're right," he admitted reluctantly. "Maybe I'm just overthinking it."

Ethan smiled in relief. "Thanks, Dad. And you too, Jacob, Lily."

Aaron turned to Elise, who had been quiet. "What do you think?" he asked softly, unsure.

Elise kept staring at the pictures of the house. "I don’t know," she finally said. "It all feels so fast."

Noticing her hesitation, Ethan leaned in, speaking gently. "You don’t have to decide now. How about we just try living there for a while? Bring some clothes, see how it feels. The house is ready for us."

Lily and Jacob, still looking at the photos, exchanged excited glances. Ethan smiled, ruffling Lily's hair and patting Jacob's shoulder. "And if you two want to pick out some new clothes, I’m all for it."

"Really?" they said together, their faces lighting up with big smiles.

"Really," Ethan laughed. Then, turning back to Aaron and Elise, he said, "I’ve already arranged everything. The movers will come in a few days for the rest of our things. For now, just pack what you need. We’ll figure it out once we’re there."

Jacob, barely able to contain himself, burst out, "When can we see the house?"

Ethan's grin widened. "Tomorrow morning," he said. "While we still have a few hours before we sleep, let's finish dinner and grab what we need."

Jacob and Lily didn't wait to be told twice. They bolted from the table, their laughter trailing behind them as they ran to gather their things. Watching them go, Ethan smiled, then turned back to his parents.

“Mom, Dad,” he said softly, “you should get ready too. This is the beginning of something new for all of us.”