According to him, most areas over there had already been flooded.
And the situation was only getting worse. No one knew how long this torrential rain would last.
Their supplies were running dangerously low. The only option left was to venture outside and try to salvage whatever was still floating on the waterâanything edible, if they were lucky.
Suzy paid close attention to posts from accounts with IP addresses in A City.
Quite a few users reported that their neighborhoods were already inundated, though the water hadnât yet reached upper floors.
Most people said the same thing.
But one comment caught Suzyâs eye.
[Iâm at Riverside Villas. Itâs starting to flood here too. My house is at the foot of the mountain, and the waterâs already up to my calves.]
Riverside Villas.
A flicker passed through Suzyâs eyes.
Wasnât that exactly where Wendy and Georgeâs family villa was located?
If the foot of the mountain at Riverside Villas was already flooding... then the Kale family wouldnât be far behind.
Their home sat halfway up the mountainâslightly higher ground, yes, but not high enough to hold out for long.
Come to think of it, Suzy hadnât paid much attention to that family lately.
Things had been unusually quiet over there. No drama, no chaosâhonestly, it had been a little disappointing.
But now...
Who knew what was happening?
With time to spare, Suzy immediately opened the surveillance app on her phone and switched to the living room feed.
Perfect timing.
As if by coincidence, the entire family was gathered in the living room.
Wellâalmost.
Aside from the usual members of the household, there was also an unfamiliar middle-aged couple, along with a teenage boy who looked about sixteen or seventeen.
The two sides sat facing each other, a clear line drawn between them.
Suzy zoomed in, studying the unfamiliar pair.
She didnât recognize them.
But... Wasnât the person sitting beside them... Vanessa?
Wait.
Looking closer, the middle-aged woman bore a striking resemblance to her.
Suzy couldnât help but laugh.
Donât tell me Tommy actually brought Vanessaâs parents here too?
Now
this
was going to be interesting.
No wonder George and Fiona looked like theyâd just swallowed something foul.
Suzy adjusted the volume and settled in to enjoy the show.
Vanessaâs mother, Margaret, forced a flattering smile as she addressed the family.
"Iâm sorry, we really had no choice but to come and trouble you like this. Our house is completely floodedâthe water has already reached the second floor! Everythingâs soaked. We truly have nowhere else to go..."
She glanced around the spacious, well-decorated home, her tone growing more eager.
"Your house is so large, so beautifulâthere must be plenty of empty rooms! If you could spare just one for the three of us to stay in temporarily, we would be endlessly grateful. As soon as the water recedes, weâll leave immediately!"
Fionaâs face turned green. She forced out a stiff smile.
"There arenât that many empty rooms. It may look big, but there really arenât many livable spaces."
Just ten minutes earlier, Tommy had gone out.
When he returned, he brought three extra people with him.
He hadnât mentioned a word to anyone beforehand. The entire family was still reeling.
The smile on Margaretâs face faltered for a moment before she quickly replaced it with an even more pleading expression, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Please, have some compassion! We truly have nowhere else to turn! You see how close Vanessa and Tommy areâtheyâre practically family already. Shouldnât family help each other in times of need?"
She hurried on, eager to reassure them.
"We wonât stay for free! My husband and I can workâwe can cook, clean, anything! And my son, Patrick, is very well-behaved. He wonât cause any trouble!"
After speaking, Margaret shot Vanessa a meaningful glance.
Vanessa understood immediately. She tugged gently at Tommyâs sleeve, her expression pitiful.
Tommyâs heart melted instantly.
"Mom, Dad... just let Vanessaâs family stay. The rain is so heavy out thereâhow can we possibly turn them away?"
The moment he spoke, Wendy felt the overwhelming urge to slap him. She was barely holding back her anger.
Did Tommy have any idea how risky it was to bring outsiders into the house right now?
Not to mentionâthey had arrived empty-handed. If they stayed, the family would have to feed them too.
Vanessa had been tolerable, but now there were three more mouths to feed... How did she end up with such an idiot for a brother?
Even in the original storyline, Tommy hadnât been this brainless.
George sat on the sofa, frowning as he smoked one of his last remaining cigarettes. He said nothing, but his expression was just as grim.
"Mom, Dadâsay something!"
Tommy, ignored, began to lose patience.
The air grew heavy. No one spoke.
Vanessa tugged at him again, her voice soft. "Maybe... we should just go. Iâll take my parents back."
"No! Itâs too dangerous outside right now. Vanessa, donât be ridiculous!" Tommy grabbed her anxiously.
Then he glanced at Fiona and Georgeâand made the decision himself.
"Thatâs it. Itâs just three extra pairs of utensils. Itâs not like we canât afford it! Weâll make space somehow!"
The moment those words left his mouth, an eerie silence fell over the room.
Margaret and her husband immediately looked relieved.
Vanessa let out a quiet sigh of relief as well.
Meanwhile, Fiona and George stared at their son in shock, as if seeing a stranger.
"Tommy! Youâ" Fiona was so furious she couldnât even finish her sentence.
"Tommy, have you lost your mind?!" Wendy finally snapped, her voice sharp as she screamed.
"Look at them! What did they bring? Nothing! They show up empty-handed and expect to move in? Do you even realize how precious supplies are right now? Weâre rationing our own foodâwhy should we support an entire extra family?!"
She was livid.
Every single supply in this house had been purchased by her.
And Tommy hadnât even bothered to consult her before making this decision.
Who did he think he was?