Chapter 222
Chapter 222:
“Right? Villas in this area are premium properties. Not just anyone can afford something like this p>
“So our company’s been hiding a rich heiress all this time, living like an ordinary person p>
Their teasing filled the air, prompting Kailey to let out a tired sigh. “Honestly, this house has me drowning in debt. I’m basically working nonstop just to keep up with the payments p>
Their expressions shifted immediately. “Seriously? How much do you still owe p>
“I’ve lost track,” she said with a shrug. “I can only pay it off little by little p>
That explanation was not far from the truth. The amount she owed Ryan was substantial, and there was no chance of settling it anytime soon.
Inside the vehicle, her colleagues continued chatting, trading complaints about how difficult life had become — how everyone was scraping by while struggling under the weight of their mortgages.
R𝘦𝘢𝗱 𝘧𝗋𝗼𝗆 𝘺𝗈u𝘳 р𝗁𝗈𝗇е 𝗼𝘯
“Hey, Ms. Carman, you’ve been awfully quiet p>
Someone noticed Zaria lifting a hand to her mouth, her expression slightly off. “Are you feeling carsick p>
Zaria shook her head quickly. “No, not at all. I’m just thinking.” She could hardly admit she was trying not to laugh. Her eyes drifted toward Kailey. At first, she had believed that staying close to Kailey would help her stand out, letting her showcase her abilities to the boss and secure an easier promotion — but holding something back on her own had never sat comfortably with her.
After a moment, she spoke evenly. “There’s always a way forward. Keep creating, because you never know when something you make will suddenly take off.” In the design world, staying cautious rarely led to real progress. To stand out, they had to take risks, break patterns, and aim to be seen. Recognition was the only thing that could push their work into the spotlight and give it real worth.
The topic settled heavily over the group, and the mood dipped. That early excitement they had once felt for studying design had slowly faded. These days, most of them were focused on getting by, struggling with rent and daily expenses, with little room left to chase ambition.
“Stick to your own direction,” Kailey added, “and results will come in time p>
The vehicles continued north, racing along the highway. Gradually, the route veered away from the main roads, the streetlights thinning until darkness settled in. Outside the windows, the scenery blurred into shadows, and the distant mountain ridges drew closer with every mile.
Zaria lifted her hand and pointed ahead. “See that area? We turn in right past the foot of the mountain. The resort is hidden in there p>
“So it’s inside the canyon p>
“You can’t really have a canyon without mountains and water p>
“That’s fair p>
The group, half-asleep moments earlier, perked up as anticipation replaced their fatigue.
Cold mountain winds swept through the area, and the temperature dropped sharply compared to the city. Kailey had already pulled on a windbreaker, but the chill still left the tip of her nose flushed red.