A week later, the atmosphere in the house between Angela and Jason had become tense. Because of this, Angela planned to move out by the following week, as she couldn't bear the guilt of having slept with her stepbrother. However, she didn't share this reason with the family. Instead, during dinner, she casually told them she had some business abroad and might be away for three to six months.
Jason, unlike the others who had mixed feelings about her sudden announcement and the vague details she provided, said nothing. Only he and Angela knew the real reason behind her departure.
Meanwhile, Jason continued to go to the gym every day and had started networking with other women there. Many of them were businesswomen, and besides finding them attractive as Milfs, he saw an opportunity to gain valuable business insights from them.
He knew that sooner or later, he would need to create a cover story to explain the source of his money, since not everyone would believe that someone with no prior experience suddenly became successful in online trading.
In connection with this, Jason received a message from his bank inviting him to visit a branch in another town the next day. He would have to travel out of town to attend. The invitation was due to a large sum of money recently credited to his account. Although he wasn't sure why the bank contacted him directly instead of the authorities, he discovered the money came from a company that turned out to be a shell company with an unknown owner.
Jason's new phone had also arrived earlier yesterday, and when he got it, the first person to see him with it was Daisy. She didn't even bother to ask how he got it or investigate further; she simply smiled and gave a thumbs up, as if she believed that at his age, he should have a job and be earning his own money like everyone else. She showed no surprise.
In fact, when others saw the phone, they reacted the same way — completely unfazed — which was the exact opposite of what he had expected.
Meanwhile, Angela didn't even glance at him, having been ignoring him ever since their encounter, so every time they happened to run into each other, the atmosphere was always awkward.
***
After returning from the gym, Jason stood in the kitchen making a simple meal for himself. The sound of the pan echoed as he moved with purposeful ease, tossing some vegetables and cracking an egg into the pan. Once finished, he plated the food, sat at the counter, and ate without any distractions.
When he was done, he leaned back and gazed at the empty plate for a moment, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and stood up.
He pulled his phone from his pocket, unlocked it, and opened the Kao Live app to look for Angela's page.
When it loaded, a message appeared saying he couldn't view her content, indicating he had been blocked—this was also the case on Instagram.
He blinked once, exhaled softly through his nose, and stared at the screen for a long moment before quietly saying:
"Well, that was pretty much expected. Pfft, whatever. I just hope this is where it all ends."
He set the phone down on the counter, rubbed the side of his neck, then picked it up again.
He opened another tab and browsed through some shopping suggestions.
For a brief moment, he looked at the clothes being advertised and realized his wardrobe hadn't changed much; it was mostly sweatpants, sweatshirts, and a few casual shirts. Maybe it was time to update it.
He grumbled to himself with a frown:
"This just won't cut it anymore. I should probably go out and buy some proper clothes."
Jason headed to his room, opened the closet, and looked at the tidy but dull lineup of clothes. He started pulling them out one by one, piling them on the bed. When he finished, the bed resembled a clearance sale rack. He paused for a moment, scratching the back of his head before grabbing his wallet. It was time to get something new.
Outside, the afternoon was progressing smoothly, with the town following its usual rhythm—groups of women moving about, going about their daily activities.
Jason took a taxi to the central district, where the largest clothing stores were located. When the taxi stopped in front of one of the biggest boutiques in town, he got out and looked up at the building. Its glass walls reflected the street, and the gold letters above the entrance read, "Veluria Fashion House."
He stepped inside, greeted by the soft sound of music. As soon as he entered, several heads turned toward him. The attendants behind the counter paused briefly, exchanging quick looks before one of them straightened up and approached with a polite smile.
"Good afternoon, sir," she said evenly. "Welcome to Veluria Fashion House. How can we assist you today?"
Jason put his hands in his pockets and replied:
"I'm looking to update my entire wardrobe. I need casual clothes, formal attire, and something for everyday wear. I'm not really concerned about the budget."
Her expression changed slightly, showing a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"Certainly, sir. This way, please. We have a private area reserved for premium clients."
'Oh? Thanks!' Jason thought to himself with a hint of sarcasm.
He followed her to a space separated by a thin glass partition. The room contained several racks of clothing organized by category. Two more attendants appeared, both wearing professional smiles as they prepared to assist him.
Jason was genuinely surprised that they didn't look down on him despite his plain attire and even guided him to a private section. Maybe it was because of his good looks or something else, since honestly, there was nothing else notable about him. He had always assumed that in exotic places like this, staff usually judged customers by their clothing to decide how to treat them, or whether to serve them at all.
That's why most people dress up heavily when they visit clothing stores, but here, none of that happened. The staff didn't treat him badly as he had expected. Maybe the whole city was like this, since the hotel receptionist hadn't questioned his outfit or order, nor had she ever doubted or looked down on him.
Could it be because he was... the only man they had seen?
The first attendant introduced herself as the store manager, speaking warmly with a broad smile:
"We'll help you find whatever suits your taste best. Do you have any preferences for colors or brands?"
Jason looked around and shrugged slightly.
"Not really. Just show me what looks good, and I'll decide from there."
They started showing him a variety of clothes, from designer shirts to tailored jackets. Each item was carefully folded or displayed, and Jason examined them one by one. He tried on several pieces and stood in front of the mirror, studying the fit. The attendants exchanged quiet whispers, somewhat surprised that a man was shopping in their store, especially one who spent freely without hesitation.
One of them said politely, "This blazer fits you perfectly, sir. It complements your build and shoulders well."
'Yeah. That's what they all say. I once lied to a customer in my past life, telling them one cigarette brand was better than another, mostly because... Ugh. Whatever.'
Jason turned slightly to the side, checking his reflection.
"You think so? Then I'll take it. Add it to the list."
He responded in complete contrast to his inner thoughts.
Another salesperson held up a pair of tailored pants and, while assessing his size, said:
"These would go perfectly with the blazer. Would you like to try them on together?"
Jason nodded and changed once more.
When he came out, everyone agreed the outfit looked perfect.
The manager, who had joined them a moment earlier after being informed that an important young man was in the store, grinned and said:
"You have a great eye for what suits you, sir. Not many can pull off this combination."
Jason gave a slight smirk.
"I'll take your word for it. Keep going; I'll tell you when I've had enough."
For the next hour, the attendants moved around him, bringing out various outfits and accessories. Jason selected shoes, belts, and watches to match.
By the time they finished, several bags were neatly stacked beside the counter. The store manager reviewed the list before announcing the total.
"Your total comes to twelve thousand six hundred dollars, sir."
Jason blinked twice and tilted his head slightly.
"Twelve thousand six hundred, huh? That's a new record for me."
The manager smiled.
"You've also set a new record for the week, sir. Congratulations."
Jason chuckled softly and pulled out his card.
"At least I get something out of it."
After completing the payment, the manager handed him his receipt and said goodbye:
"Thank you for shopping with us. Please feel free to come back anytime. We seldom have customers as decisive as you."
Jason adjusted the strap of one of his shopping bags on his shoulder and replied as he walked away:
"It's easy to be decisive when you know what you want."
He left the store and called a taxi to take him home. Once there, he spent the evening completely clearing out his old clothes and replacing them with the new ones. The room looked brighter just from the contrast of colors in his new purchases.
Feeling satisfied, he collapsed onto the bed and chuckled softly to himself, reflecting on how much had changed in such a short time.
The next morning arrived quietly.
Jason woke up early and got ready for his trip to the neighboring town where the bank branch was located. He went to his closet and carefully selected one of his new outfits. He chose a fitted white shirt with a subtle silver pattern and paired it with dark blue trousers.
Over that, he wore a fitted gray jacket that perfectly complemented his watch. Looking at himself in the mirror, he gave a slow nod of approval.
"This," he said to his reflection, "is what a respectable man looks like. If I saw me on the street, I might even ask for an autograph."
He adjusted his sleeve cuffs, checked the time, and grabbed his wallet.
Before leaving, he sprayed some cologne and glanced around the room one last time to make sure everything was in place. Then he stepped outside.
His stepmother was in the front yard, tending to a small patch of weeds near the fence. Dressed in her usual work clothes and gloves, she crouched close to the ground, her tight short jeans accentuating her figure as she trimmed the overgrown edges.
Jason approached and spoke calmly:
"I'm heading to the bank in the next town. I should be back before evening."
She looked up briefly, nodded once, and smiled.
"Good luck with whatever you're going there for."
Jason was a little surprised she didn't ask any questions but quickly pushed the thought aside.
'Huh. Strange.'
He gave a faint smile in return.
"Thanks. I'll bring something back if I find anything worth bringing."
She chuckled softly and went back to her work. Jason stepped onto the sidewalk, walked toward the waiting taxi, got in, leaned back, and looked out the window as the car started moving down the road.
'Ugh. I hope I'm not going to have to talk about taxes.'