Queen of Wild Cards novel Chapter 72

"Alright then, when are we moving?"

"Tonight. As soon as we finish dinner with Grandma, I'll take you there. Frederick won't be able to hold himself back for much longer. You don't even need to pack; just bring yourself."

Since his grandmother had already brought it up, he was eager to take her to their new home as soon as possible. He hadn't been sure how to broach the topic, but Nadine had perfectly paved the way.

Stella had no objections. A place to sleep was a place to sleep.

She just hadn't expected Julius to prep an entire bridal suite. Weren't they supposed to get divorced in a year? Was a whole new house really necessary?

After dinner with the Matriarch, the two of them left the manor.

Their new home was located in the Imperial Gardens.

It was infinitely more luxurious than the gated community Frederick lived in.

Every villa here boasted private front and back gardens, an exclusive driveway, and completely bypassed the need for communal underground parking. The backyard even featured a private swimming pool.

If Frederick had lived in a fortress like this, hacking through the Hawthornes' front door with a saw would have been a lot more complicated.

Julius registered Stella's face into the smart lock system.

"Come on, I'll give you the grand tour."

After swapping their shoes for slippers in the grand foyer, Julius took Stella's hand and led her through the house.

Stella's palm was practically sweating against the warmth of his large grip. Lately, it seemed like Julius was always finding excuses to hold her hand.

After one lap around the property, Stella could sum it up in a few words: A fully integrated smart home!

The living room, dining room, bedrooms, bathrooms, and balconies—everything was automated.

The sheer curtains and blackout drapes automatically slid shut, plunging the room into darkness as a massive, hidden smart screen smoothly descended from the ceiling.

There was a party mode, a relaxation mode...

In the master bedroom, all you had to do was say, 'I'm going to sleep,' and every light would instantly shut off. You didn't even have to lift a finger.

If you were lying in bed but weren't quite ready to sleep, you could switch it to reading mode. The headboard would smoothly adjust upward, creating the perfect angle for scrolling on a phone or tablet.

Naturally, the kitchen, dining room, bathrooms, and balconies boasted the exact same level of high-tech luxury.

Once the grand tour was over, Julius finally led Stella into the master walk-in closet.

Stella stood there, completely stunned.

Two-thirds of the massive, custom-built shelving was filled entirely with her clothes.