She Left She Thrived She’s Worth Billions novel Chapter 527

Rosevale Heights was the kind of ultra-exclusive community whose sheer architectural opulence left ordinary people feeling entirely out of their depth.

Walking through the manicured grounds next to Melanie, Everett couldn't help but feel awkwardly out of place.

On one hand, he was endlessly grateful for the stroke of luck that brought her to him.

He knew Melanie lived here.

And he knew she lived with Preston.

They were a couple; moving in together was completely normal.

Tonight, Everett had just wanted to take a walk to clear his head, and his feet had subconsciously carried him toward her neighborhood.

Bumping into her felt like a blessing from above.

Yet, walking beside her through this pinnacle of high-society wealth, a crushing wave of inferiority washed over him.

It felt like Melanie was drifting further and further out of his reach.

Or rather, he was becoming less and less worthy of standing beside her.

Hearing Everett let out a heavy, sorrowful sigh, Melanie asked gently, "What's wrong? Is something on your mind?"

Everett slowed his pace.

They wandered toward the estate's beautifully landscaped gardens and sat down beneath a lavish wrought-iron pavilion.

"It's nothing... just that sometimes, I can't help but resent the hand I was dealt."

"Resent your fate?"

"Yeah."

Everett nodded, flashing a bitter, self-deprecating smile at Melanie.

"I've lost count of how many times I've wondered... if my dad hadn't fallen into Glacier Lake during that training exercise, would my family's life be entirely different today?"

Melanie stayed quiet, letting him vent.

"At the very least... we'd probably be as well-off as the Hales."

Listening to his heavy words, Melanie could hear the subtle, lingering envy he harbored toward Dominic.

"Wait... are you saying your dad was a champion swimmer, and Dominic's dad couldn't really swim at all?"

"I don't know the exact details, but my dad was practically a fish. As for Gregory Hale..."

Everett paused, digging into his childhood memories.

"I vaguely remember my dad mentioning once that Gregory hated the water... But the official story is that Gregory saved your dad during that accident. Maybe he learned how to swim later on."

Everett shrugged, brushing the inconsistency off as a minor detail.

But Melanie's brow knotted in deep, troubled thought. A terrifying piece of the puzzle was desperately trying to click into place.

Walter, a champion swimmer, drowned.

Gregory, a man who couldn't swim, somehow rescued her father and was hailed as a hero.

A sudden, chilling gust of wind swept through the pavilion, and Melanie shivered violently.

"Are you cold?"