The Gilded Man With A Thousand Lives

232 (Free Chapter) New Year’s Special

The Grant household buzzed with noise and activity. Neighbors peeked from their windows and craned their necks from their gardens to know what the hell was going on.

It was a three-bedroom home in Maude Street. Tyler had carried out some renovation, but it still looked ordinary. However, judging by the fanfare, one would think it was the Pope’s birthday party.

The commotion started when expensive luxury cars arrived in the lane. Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Porche, Audi—you name it. They parked at the intersection for some reason. Guests got off and walked to the Grant house.

What was happening? Were the Grants some bigwig family? Then why did they live in such a humble household?

Inside the Grant house, energies were high. Tracy rushed from one room to the other, ordering everyone around. She was in charge of the New Year’s Party.

Her underlings were older than her, starting with the tall Britta Salvatore. Then there was her boyfriend, Derek Sentinel, the Captain of the Indigo Knights.

Maya, the manager of Tyler’s automobile showroom, was the most hardworking. His representative in Peridot City, Wally, who handled the Bellagio Casino, was also part of the workforce. Barney from the insurance company acted as a mule as well.

“Trace! Give yourself a break!” Tyler called out to his sister. “You got back on your feet only a few weeks back. You shouldn’t push yourself.”

Tracy shot her brother a busybody look. “The New Year’s party will not host itself, Ty. I’m not a lazy bum like you. Now go and throw more wood into the fireplace. It’s freezing!”

Tyler sighed and proceeded to do as commanded. The chakra needles procured from El Medalla worked fabulously. The young man healed his sister’s disabled legs without breaking a sweat. Now, he regretted it because she was like a runaway train.

Naturally, the siblings had to put up a farce of visiting a top hospital and faking surgery. It was to convince Hugh and Ruth Grant that it was a medical miracle.

The cunning brother and sister sent the Grant couple on an island holiday for a week. How else could such a majestic party go unnoticed?

To prevent the neighbors from suspecting, strict instructions were given to guests to come in simple, non-branded clothes. They were to bring cheap wine and modest gifts. When questioned, the expensive luxury cars could be explained away by dubbing the gathering a party for chauffeurs.

“Am I allowed inside?” Tyler’s thoughts were interrupted by a sweet, familiar voice.

The young man’s heart skipped a beat, and he spun around. Outside the doorway stood Natalie Anderson. She wore a simple white dress and tied her hair into an unremarkable bun.

Regardless, the young woman’s beauty was resplendent, and one could easily mistake her for a movie actress. “Please come in,” he said, pursing his lips.

Tyler gave Natalie’s appearance a quick scan as she approached him. “I thought the only rule of the party was to exhibit no glamor.”

“What! Does this look like glamor to you?! I bought this dress at a vendor’s shop! I did my hair myself instead of going to a luxury parlor! What else do you expect from me, Julius Caesar?!”

Tyler shook his head and chuckled. “I’m kidding. Happy New Year’s Eve.”

Natalie quit her exclamations and smiled at him warmly. “Same to you. I thought you had forgotten me.”

The young man raised an eyebrow. “Didn’t I invite you to the party? I wouldn’t categorize that as amnesia.”

She put her hands on her hips with an annoyed expression. “No, you didn’t invite me! Yara did! You’re so full of yourself!”

Tyler scratched his head with a guilty grin. “Well… She’s my assistant… So…”

Natalie stepped forward and looked at him straight. Their eyes connected for an extended moment. They struggled internally, having mental fencing combat, trying to read each other’s thoughts.

Finally, Tyler gave up and looked away. The beauty wasn’t ready to give up. She was already determined to have her way.

Natalie checked all directions to make sure nobody was watching. She went on her tiptoes, bringing her face close to his. Tyler turned his lips away so that the kiss landed on the cheek.

Natalie stepped back, visibly hurt. “I’m sorry,” the young man apologized. “It’s… Umm…”

The beauty pursed her lips bitterly. “You’ve been avoiding my calls for a month, and now you cringe at me?”

Tyler stayed expressionless. “Well, I have been busy. I didn’t cringe—it was unexpected.”

“Alright. So… You’re busy running the Salvatore empire? Now that you’re wealthier than all the billionaires of Sapphire City combined, you don’t have time for me?”

“That, among other things. You know I have responsibilities beyond the material realm of the world.”

Natalie sighed. “Fine. Can we talk privately?”