The balance on his own card was now just over 700,000 dollars, but Luis couldnât stop grinning.
The rewards from the System tasks were generous indeed, but the hidden benefits of this main quest involving his sister-in-law were absolutely outrageous. If possible, Luis would have loved to transfer every last cent of the remaining money to her right away.
It was just that Luis, much like her, had grown accustomed to a life of hardship. Suddenly having this windfall of wealth dropped into his lap felt a little unfamiliar, even unsettling.
Transferring such a large sum directly might frighten her, and besides, he needed to find a suitable excuse.
Last time he took her to buy those luxury handbags and jewelry, she had been too hesitant to really indulge. Even spending over ten thousand dollars like that had left her anxious and uneasy for a long while afterward.
So Luisâs headache now was figuring out a plausible excuse to spend money. His mother-in-lawâs upcoming birthday was naturally a perfect opportunity, but aside from that, any rash expenditure needed a fitting reason.
"Why so much?"
Nancy pressed, her tone questioning.
A flicker of unease crossed her face. Seeing that somewhat foolish grin on Luisâs face, she couldnât help worrying that her brother-in-law had lost his mind.
Just considerâtoday alone, between buying the car and lending out money, he had spent nearly thirty thousand dollars. Honestly, she herself was feeling a bit dazed by it all.
After all, she hadnât been born into some wealthy family. Her life could hardly be called comfortable; it was merely enough to keep food on the table. The amount spent today was a colossal sum, one her family couldnât have scraped together even if they sold their home.
"Big sister, Iâve been doing some mental accounting," Luis said, gently stroking her cheek, his gaze tender and affectionate. "Daniel sponging off his parentsâwell, theyâre his own parents. But you going along spending their money must feel uncomfortable deep down."
His words struck right at Nancyâs heart, touching her most vulnerable spot.
This had been the most dissatisfying aspect of her marriage since the beginningâhaving to ask her husband for money whenever she needed it. Every single argument made her feel inferior to Daniel, leaving her unable to hold her head high.
Her in-laws might not say anything outright, but they surely held their opinions internally. She wasnât stupid; she could see it clearly.
"And then?" Nancy murmured, softening as she leaned against Luisâs chest.
"This money isnât a loan to Daniel, and it isnât a loan to you either. You donât need to write any IOU, and you shouldnât even think about paying it back."
The moment he said this, Nancy immediately shook her head. "No, Iâve already spent far too much of your money..."
Before she could finish, Luis lowered his head and captured her soft, fragrant lips in a kissâlight as a dragonfly skimming water, yet filled with a special warmth. He then continued, his voice gentle but firm,
"I want to. I love you. This is one way love expresses itself. I canât bear to see you suffering this kind of indignity."
"Since youâve already set your sights on this business venture, when itâs time to take it over, let Daniel put in his share, and you put in yours. After that, youâll be the major stakeholder, the boss."
"From then on, any profit you make is yours to spend with confidence. Otherwise, if you keep having to reach out to him for money, I simply couldnât stand to watch it."
"But how would I explain this to him?" Nancy was already swayed, a flicker of hope and anticipation lighting in her eyes.
"Whatâs there to explain? Just say the money was lent by your younger sister to her older sisterânot by a brother-in-law to a brother-in-law. As for the shares, simply keep them under your name."
Seeing her hesitation waver, Luis pressed on, his tone coaxing and persuasive. "Big sister, donât hesitate any longer. Would I ever do anything to harm you?"
"Thatâs not what I meant!" Nancyâs cheeks flushed pink as she hurried to explain. "Itâs just... spending so much of your money makes me feel terribly guilty!"
As she spoke, she suddenly reached up and caressed Luisâs face, her expression tinged with pain. "If only you werenât my brother-in-law... how perfect that would be. I would divorce him in a heartbeat and marry you, even if it meant my death. Iâd give you so many children..."
Even his ethereal, otherworldly sister-in-law had now descended into the mortal realm. Words of such deep affection were, without a doubt, the most exhilarating thing any man could hear, bringing an incomparable sense of satisfaction.
"Why couldnât I have met you sooner..."
How devoted, how full of longing and regret those words were. Even the sternest resolve would melt into tender submission before such softness.
But the problem was, back when we first met, you looked down on me from the very bottom of your heart. Your sharp, sarcastic remarks had been perfectly in sync with that bastard Daniel, a seamless duet of disdain.
Remembering all the cutting, scornful things his sister-in-law had once said, and then looking at her nowâthose sexy, enchanting cherry lips...
Luis desperately wanted to tear his pants down right then and there, to thrust violently into that pretty mouth of hers as a form of revenge...
But he suppressed the impulse there in the car. Clearing his throat softly, he continued, "Big sister, weâre together now, and thatâs good too."
"A secret affair between a brother-in-law and his sister-in-law has its own thrill. Normal married couples grow bored over time, but a relationship like ours... it can stay fresh and exciting much longer."
As he spoke, his mischievous hand wandered to her buttocks, feeling the pleasing curve of his sister-in-lawâs pert backside through the fabric of her pants. With the driver present, only such small, covert touches were possible.
Nancy didnât refuse him, merely letting out a soft, coquettish murmur. "You really are a wicked, indecent rogue... How did both of us sisters end up falling for you?"
Still, the fact that he was her brother-in-law remained a concern in her mind. After a momentâs thought, Nancy suggested, "Iâll write you an IOU later. That way, if Lily ever asks, Iâll have something to show her."
Luis had expended considerable effort precisely to avoid her writing any IOU or promissory note.
After that Cayenne was smashed, the moment Dominicâs compensation payment came through, the amount in his sister-in-lawâs "savings" had immediately been deducted.
Following that logic, if a formal IOU were issued, the amount likely wouldnât count toward accumulation. Spending this money would then become utterly pointless.
"Big sister, really, itâs unnecessary. Lily never questions how I handle my money."
"Just listen to me. Take the funds and secure those shares. That way, you become the major shareholder, the boss. From then on, Daniel will effectively be working for youâearning money for you to spend, all while having to mind your moods and reactions."
Luis continued weaving his temptation. "And that mother-in-law of yours, with her foul mouth... Didnât she used to constantly nag about all those petty, grating things?"
Nancy looked momentarily puzzled. "What things?"
"You know... how so-and-so got married, and the bride price was only a few thousand dollars, but the brideâs family gave a car and several properties as dowry..."
"Or which relative had the good fortune to marry some wealthy heiress, and how a job transfer or promotion was just a word from the father-in-law..."
Whether Chloe had actually said these exact words was unknown, but embellishing details was something Luis excelled at. Besides, given the typical character of young married women like Chloe, even the most educated among them couldnât completely conceal that sharp, acrid edge to their remarks.
"Thatâs true!" Luisâs gamble paid off, Chloe had probably indeed made comments along those lines.
Perhaps when Nancy heard them at the time, she hadnât taken them to heart. She had always been somewhat carefree and thick-skinned.
His aloof, ice-queen sister-in-law wasnât actually all that perceptive or sensitive, so she likely just brushed it off as idle gossip and didnât dwell on it.
Now, stirred up by Luisâs deliberately exaggerated reminder, she suddenly felt a wave of intense discomfort. A hot flush of embarrassed indignation and rising anger surged within her.