Master Bedroom
When Jason woke up, Holly was already out of bed.
He stretched lazily, stepped out of the master bedroom, and wandered through the sunlit villa until he finally found her—in the kitchen.
Holly was wearing soft home clothes and an apron, her hair tied casually.Even dressed down, her dancer's figure was impossible to hide.
She looked radiant, relaxed, and genuinely happy.
"You're awake," she said with a bright smile. "How many eggs do you want?"
Her smile was sweet—so sweet it felt like the whole kitchen warmed around her.
Meanwhile, Graham Larson, not wanting to burden his daughter with the chaos happening at home, had kept the family's internal problems hidden.She didn't know she was being targeted again.She didn't know the jealousy was returning.She didn't know the family was about to implode.
For now, she was happy.
And Graham wanted her to stay that way for as long as possible.
Jason smiled."Two eggs, I guess. But hey—don't we have a chef? And it's your birthday. Why are you cooking?"
Holly giggled."I'm extra happy today. I just wanted to make breakfast myself. And… I wanted to make it for you personally."
She gently pushed him into a seat.
"You sit. I'll take care of it."
Despite not being a "domestic wife" type, Holly was perfectly capable in the kitchen when she wanted to be.
Soon, she set down a plate of fried steak and eggs, fresh fruit, vegetables, and a tall glass of milk.
The two enjoyed breakfast together.
Not long after, Holly's classmates began to arrive—her roommates Emily, Jasmine, Chloe, and several more students Jason didn't recognize.
Judging by their flawless figures, most were likely from the dance department.
Emily had visited before, so she acted normal.
But the others?
Their jaws dropped.
A private oceanfront villa in Bilan Bay?A heated infinity pool?Private beach access?
This wasn't "nice."This was Hollywood A-lister luxury.
One girl, Jasmine, felt her stomach twist with regret.
She remembered the hot spring resort trip.She remembered choosing to flirt with Xavier Boyd instead of Jason.Now, seeing this villa—
She wanted to slap herself.
If she had targeted Jason that day…Even if she couldn't become his girlfriend…She could've at least become his personal assistant.Even being a maid here would've been a dream lifestyle.
Holly's birthday gathering didn't have a grand schedule.
She invited her classmates early mainly for two reasons:
To show off her villa
To enjoy an entire day of fun
The pool was heated.The private beach was theirs alone.The villa had too many leisure areas to count.
Jason lay on a deck chair, sunglasses on, music playing.
He didn't join their high-energy splashing and shouting—a group of dancing majors was a bit too chaotic for him—
But occasionally admiring a collection of bikini-clad dancers wasn't bad at all.
The atmosphere was perfect.
Warm sun.Clear water.Holly laughing with her friends.
Everything was peaceful.
Until—
At the entrance of Bilan Bay, two men and three women arrived, checking the address in disbelief.
They stared into the gated community, looking at the stretch of multimillion-dollar villas.
"This is the place?"
"Yes. The address is exactly this."
"But… how is this possible?Holly Larson lives here?"
Their shock was genuine.
Because these people—
were members of the Larson family, the very same ones who had mocked Holly endlessly.
And now they were standing outside Jason Carter's villa.
With no idea what awaited them.
"It's impossible she lives here," one of the Larson cousins muttered at the Bilan Bay entrance."She must've rented it for the birthday. Even a single day here costs a fortune."
"I've only rented a villa at this level a couple of times myself," another girl sniffed."She's totally spending our Larson family money to eat, drink, and show off."
"And her dad earned commissions from those deals recently.If we'd known, we should've never given them that."
One of them dialed Holly Larson.
Holly answered the call, pleasantly surprised.She had invited them—but only out of courtesy. She assumed they wouldn't come.
Still, since they were relatives, she called the butler to let them in.A small part of her hoped they were here to reconcile.She wasn't the type to hold grudges; she'd enjoyed her moment of triumph already.If they came sincerely, she was willing to let the past go.
The butler escorted the group inside.
When they saw Bilan Bay Villa No. 1, their eyes widened.
Bilan Bay had three rows of villas—the closer to the ocean, the more expensive.
No.1 was the most luxurious villa in the oceanfront row.
The cousins became even more bitter, deciding Holly must be burning Larson family money recklessly.
Not even considering that Holly's "luxury lifestyle" was basically just weekend outings—nothing compared to the real spending of the Larson heirs.
"Cousins, welcome," Holly greeted them happily.
One of them scoffed,"What cousins? We're your paternal cousins."
Another added with a smirk,"Wow, you really know how to enjoy yourself. How much are you spending just for a birthday?"
"Hey, don't just stand there. Pour us tea."
Holly froze.Ah.So they didn't come to reconcile after all.
But something felt wrong.
Ever since Jason helped her family, her father's status had risen dramatically.He controlled almost the entire economic lifeline of the Larson business.So why were these people treating her like before?
Sensing something off, Holly called her father.
Graham Larson didn't want to upset her, but when she insisted, he explained everything.
Holly's smile vanished.
Even if the family was expanding, how could they let her father's contributions vanish like they never existed?Even if priorities shifted, did they need to tear him down again?And to come here, on her birthday, just to humiliate her—
That was deliberate.
But Holly held back her anger.If she retaliated, her father might suffer further.He always thought of her first, and she always thought of him.
She also didn't want to trouble Jason for every small issue.He'd already done more for her than anyone in her life.
So she swallowed her frustration and hoped the cousins would calm down.
She invited them inside, made tea, and tried to be polite.
But they immediately pushed their luck.
Complaining the tea wasn't good.Kicking off their shoes and telling her to put them away.Acting even worse than before.
Holly's classmates—especially Emily—were furious.Jasmine, Chloe, and the others were stunned.They had no idea Holly's status in her own family was this low.
On her birthday…In front of her friends…Being treated like a servant…
Her eyes grew redder and redder.
Jason, sunbathing outside, dozed off for a short while.
When he woke and walked into the villa—
he saw Holly standing there, misty-eyed, being scolded like a maid.
His expression darkened instantly.
He hadn't explained to the Larson family that he owned all five separation plants.He wanted to see their true nature.
And he was right.
A leopard never changes its spots.
These cousins had bullied Holly her entire life—a few days of "humility" wasn't genuine.The moment things shifted, they reverted immediately.
But even he didn't expect them to come to his villaon her birthdayand bully her face-to-face.
Jason's voice dropped, cold as winter steel:
"The Larson family… you've really gotten bold."
He didn't throw them out immediately.
Instead, he pulled out his phone and made a calm call to Olivia.
Then he walked straight into the living room—
and pulled the tearful Holly Larson into his arms.
Her cousins froze.
Her classmates stared.
And the entire atmosphere shifted.
Jason had arrived.
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