He Watched Me Shine Without Him novel Chapter 83

Linda gave only a faint smile.

She had spent a lifetime silently competing with Vivian’s mother—comparing daughters, husbands, grace. And in every regard but wealth, she had never lost. But when it came to money, she knew the Brown family outmatched them.

The Marshalls could only buy a new house by selling the old one.

Vivian’s mother spotted Linda’s awkward silence and doubled down with smug delight.

“Linda, I heard you’re selling your old place? That’s great! A few million from that sale, add a little more, and you could buy one of these big flats. Then you can all live together with your daughter and son-in-law. Isn’t that perfect?”

Linda’s face fell, the sarcasm striking home.

“I can’t afford a unit here,” she said sharply. “Rose, let’s go look somewhere else.”

But Rose suddenly stepped forward and walked up to Ethan.

“You still owe me two hundred thousand,” she said plainly. “Since you’re shopping for homes, it means you have money now. Time to pay me back.”

Vivian’s mother snapped, voice like vinegar. “Rose, that money was something you gave Ethan willingly when you were dating. Now that you’ve broken up, you want it back? That’s not how things work.”

But Houston stepped in coolly, standing beside Rose.

“When Ethan was dating Rose, he never told her he was using her money to support your daughter’s best friend. A scumbag and a pretentious fake joined hands to cheat her out of her hard-earned savings. That’s fraud. Look—two hundred thousand. You have ten minutes to return it, or I’ll let your daughter and son-in-law get a taste of life behind bars.”

Ethan’s face flushed in fury. “Houston, stop embarrassing yourself. It’s just two hundred thousand! I’ll pay her back double if she wants. You're just a glorified employee—no money, no status. Trying to claw your way up by milking someone else’s cash?”

Vivian’s face paled. She stared at Ethan, cringing. He’s literal trash. And he dares insult Houston—Crestview’s crown prince?

She tugged Ethan’s sleeve. “Ethan, stop talking.”

Vivian’s mother snorted, looking Houston up and down with disdain. “Ethan isn’t wrong. A man who can’t make money on his own and has to eye his wife’s wallet? Pathetic.”

Houston raised an amused brow. “Fair point.”

Ethan snapped. “You’re talking about yourself!”

But Rose was done listening to their venom. She took Houston’s hand and turned to leave.

,,,

Yet fate had more drama in store.

As they toured more of the estate, they bumped into Vivian’s family again—this time inside the sales office.

Vivian’s mother proudly held a signed purchase contract.

“Linda,” she sang, “have you decided on a place yet?”

Linda, after learning the price of the units, just wanted to flee. “We’re not buying here.”

Vivian’s mother’s smugness shattered like porcelain under a hammer. Her heart twisted as she realized: Same wedding, but my daughter has to bring her own home—and Rose gets a mansion as a gift.

It was a villa.

“This one goes under your name. That way, you’ll have a place that’s truly yours.”

Rose had never cared for material things.

But Houston’s gesture dropped every jaw in the room.

This villa was worth nearly a hundred million. And he was giving it to her without blinking.

Linda and Sam were both deeply moved.

Sam wasn’t greedy. He shook his head gently. “Houston, it’s the thought that counts. You kids need your savings more than us. Keep your money. Rose isn’t like those other girls—give her a doghouse and she’ll still be happy if she has her job.”

Houston’s gaze drifted toward Vivian’s father, cold and piercing.

“I won’t let Rose go without just because she’s content. On the contrary—because she asks for nothing, I’ll give her everything. A house. A car. And a name that no one can look down on.”

Ethan scoffed, “Anyone can talk big.”

Houston said nothing—he just pulled out a sleek black card and handed it to the sales consultant.

“That villa. Full payment. Now.”

The expression on Ethan’s and Vivian’s mother’s faces contorted so hard, their toes could’ve drilled a luxury condo into the ground.