Chapter 9
1139 Words
"Dalton, you are so amazing!"
Four soda bottles clinked together in a plain rental as four high school students raised their glasses to celebrate their first big success.
This wild urban flood had unexpectedly brought them a fortune.
"Dalton, you're incredible! The money we've made these past few days is like what I'd earn in a year!" David exclaimed, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Exactly! Me too!" Ruby was as pretty as ever. She smiled wide, her big eyes turning into crescent moons, making her look especially sweet.
"But... Dalton, aren't you going back home?" Sophia asked, her voice a little hesitant.
The Walker family was so rich they could rival small countries. Dalton was their only biological son, so how could he leave without a second thought? Sophia couldn't understand.
"No!" Dalton's smile faded at the mention of the Walkers.
A bit more mature than Sophia, Ruby understood Dalton's feelings better. After five years with the Walker family, Dalton hadn't become rich. In fact, he looked even more fragile and humble. It was clear he hadn't had an easy life with them.
"It's okay, Dalton. We're your family too," Ruby said gently.
Dalton looked at his three friends, feeling a swell of emotion. 'Yes, you are my true family!' he thought.
In his past life, the ones who mourned his death were David, Ruby, and Sophia.
He had seen them crying at his grave. They couldn't understand how someone who seemed to lead such a happy life could die so tragically.
Dalton didn't know how to share everything he had been through. Instead, he could only hold their hands gratefully, savoring the warmth they offered.
"Helen, why are you crying?" Lucy asked in surprise as she saw Helen coming out of Dalton's room while getting some water.
Helen looked at Lucy and recalled Dalton's words about when Lucy had tricked him. With a serious expression, she pulled Lucy into her room and asked, "Lucy, tell me the truth. Did Dalton really steal the necklace?"
"Of course..." Lucy began, but knowing Helen's decisiveness, she hesitated as Helen's stern look made her reconsider. "It was Harvey who broke Mom's necklace. It was something Mom was going to give away. Harvey was scared of getting in trouble, so he asked me and Patricia to help him."
She revealed, "It was Patricia's idea, not mine! But Dalton really overreacted. He'd just get a beating. Why did he have to make a fuss? He's stolen things before."
"This time, the necklace was a misunderstanding. How can you be so sure he wasn't wrongfully accused in the past?" Helen retorted.
"How is that possible? Helen, he's from the slums. Isn't it normal for someone who grew up there to steal?"
Helen felt a wave of helplessness. "It turns out we've never seen him as family. We've always viewed him as a thief, a beggar, nothing more..."
Lucy struggled to argue back. She fell silent for a moment, feeling almost guilty, but stood her ground.
"Helen, you don't have to be so harsh. I admit I don't like Dalton. Who could like someone who's always so pathetic? But I haven't done anything too outrageous, have I? Besides, if our family weren't wealthy, would Dalton still see us as his family and try to flatter us all day?"
She continued, "To me, my brother is Harvey. As long as he doesn't fight Harvey over things, I don't mind him coming back. It just means one more person to share meals with. We can afford that."
After saying this, Lucy got up and went back to her room.
Watching Lucy leave indifferently, Helen shook her head helplessly, wondering what was wrong with her family.
Meanwhile, after finishing their celebration, Dalton looked serious as he said, "This operation went well, but I have bigger goals. If I tell you I have more ideas, would you trust me again and join me in another investment?"
He added, "Of course, the money we have is already enough for you to finish the high school. If you want to quit, I won't hold it against you."
"But the rainstorm has already passed. Are there any good opportunities left?" David asked, looking puzzled.
"Lemons."
"Lemons?" David's confusion deepened. Lemons were common back home and usually very cheap.
Dalton nodded confidently. "That's right. It's lemon season now, but because of the heavy rain, many lemons have fallen from the trees and won't sell for a good price. We can buy them at the lowest price."
If Dalton remembered correctly, there would soon be a significant shortage of lemons.
"And then we just wait for the price to rise," Dalton said with certainty.
"I believe in you!" Ruby was the first to show her support.
"I'm in too!" David and Sophia chimed in, raising their hands.
"Let's make a pact: after this deal, we need to focus on studying hard for the SAT. No matter what happens, we can't give up on going to college!"
"Sure!"
The four friends huddled together, stacked their hands, and shouted, "Let's make a lot of money together!"
Without hesitation, they headed to the lemon orchard the next day to buy lemons at a low price and rented a nearby warehouse to store their stock.
The lemon orchard owner had been stressed about how to handle all the fallen lemons, but when he saw that someone wanted to buy them all, he was overjoyed and offered Dalton an even lower price.
Lemons had thick skins and were relatively easy to store. Even though they had been rained on, they didn't need much preservation. They just had to take turns watching over the warehouse. They spent all their money on lemons. While the work was hard, they enjoyed the process more and more.
Meanwhile, Helen sent someone to check on Dalton at school twice. The teachers informed her that although classes had resumed, Dalton hadn't been attending.
"Hah, I knew it. He's just a good-for-nothing punk who probably used some underhanded trick to get into high school. Look at him; he's a total loser! Unlike our Harvey, smart and handsome!" Susan couldn't help but mock Dalton after hearing Aiden's report, making sure to praise Harvey once again.
"Well... Ma'am, even though Mr. Dalton Walker hasn't been going to class, his teachers say his academic performance is among the best in the school," Aiden said quietly.
"Is that true? He didn't trick the teachers too, did he?" Susan asked, her skepticism apparent.
At that moment, Jack's heart leapt with interest. If Dalton really had potential, Jack thought maybe he could accept Dalton.
After all, Dalton was part of the Walker family, so his intelligence shouldn't be too far off.
Just then, Aiden received a phone call. After hanging up, he eagerly reported to Jack.
"Sir, Ma'am, we've found Mr. Dalton Walker!"
- Writer
