According to him, most areas over there had already been flooded.
And the situation was only getting worse. No one knew how long this torrential rain would last.
Their supplies were running dangerously low. The only option left was to venture outside and try to salvage whatever was still floating on the water—anything edible, if they were lucky.
Suzy paid close attention to posts from accounts with IP addresses in A City.
Quite a few users reported that their neighborhoods were already inundated, though the water hadn’t yet reached upper floors.
Most people said the sa thing.
But one comnt caught Suzy’s eye.
[I’m at Riverside Villas. It’s starting to flood here too. My house is at the foot of the mountain, and the water’s already up to my calves.]
Riverside Villas.
A flicker passed through Suzy’s eyes.
Wasn’t that exactly where Wendy and George’s family villa was located?
If the foot of the mountain at Riverside Villas was already flooding... then the Kale family wouldn’t be far behind.
Their ho sat halfway up the mountain—slightly higher ground, yes, but not high enough to hold out for long.
Co to think of it, Suzy hadn’t paid much attention to that family lately.
Things had been unusually quiet over there. No drama, no chaos—honestly, it had been a little disappointing.
But now...
Who knew what was happening?
With ti to spare, Suzy imdiately opened the surveillance app on her phone and switched to the living room feed.
Perfect timing.
As if by coincidence, the entire family was gathered in the living room.
Well—almost.
Aside from the usual mbers of the household, there was also an unfamiliar middle-aged couple, along with a teenage boy who looked about sixteen or seventeen.
The two sides sat facing each other, a clear line drawn between them.
Suzy zood in, studying the unfamiliar pair.
She didn’t recognize them.
But... Wasn’t the person sitting beside them... Vanessa?
Wait.
Looking closer, the middle-aged woman bore a striking resemblance to her.
Suzy couldn’t help but laugh.
Don’t tell Tommy actually brought Vanessa’s parents here too?
Now this was going to be interesting.
No wonder George and Fiona looked like they’d just swallowed sothing foul.
Suzy adjusted the volu and settled in to enjoy the show.
Vanessa’s mother, Margaret, forced a flattering smile as she addressed the family.
"I’m sorry, we really had no choice but to co and trouble you like this. Our house is completely flooded—the water has already reached the second floor! Everything’s soaked. We truly have nowhere else to go..."
She glanced around the spacious, well-decorated ho, her tone growing more eager.
"Your house is so large, so beautiful—there must be plenty of empty rooms! If you could spare just one for the three of us to stay in temporarily, we would be endlessly grateful. As soon as the water recedes, we’ll leave imdiately!"
Fiona’s face turned green. She forced out a stiff smile.
"There aren’t that many empty rooms. It may look big, but there really aren’t many livable spaces."
Just ten minutes earlier, Tommy had gone out.
When he returned, he brought three extra people with him.
He hadn’t ntioned a word to anyone beforehand. The entire family was still reeling.
The smile on Margaret’s face faltered for a mont before she quickly replaced it with an even more pleading expression, her eyes glistening with tears.
"Please, have so compassion! We truly have nowhere else to turn! You see how close Vanessa and Tommy are—they’re practically family already. Shouldn’t family help each other in tis of need?"
She hurried on, eager to reassure them.
"We won’t stay for free! My husband and I can work—we can cook, clean, anything! And my son, Patrick, is very well-behaved. He won’t cause any trouble!"
After speaking, Margaret shot Vanessa a aningful glance.
Vanessa understood imdiately. She tugged gently at Tommy’s sleeve, her expression pitiful.
Tommy’s heart lted instantly.
"Mom, Dad... just let Vanessa’s family stay. The rain is so heavy out there—how can we possibly turn them away?"
The mont he spoke, Wendy felt the overwhelming urge to slap him. She was barely holding back her anger.
Did Tommy have any idea how risky it was to bring outsiders into the house right now?
Not to ntion—they had arrived empty-handed. If they stayed, the family would have to feed them too.
Vanessa had been tolerable, but now there were three more mouths to feed... How did she end up with such an idiot for a brother?
Even in the original storyline, Tommy hadn’t been this brainless.
George sat on the sofa, frowning as he smoked one of his last remaining cigarettes. He said nothing, but his expression was just as grim.
"Mom, Dad—say sothing!"
Tommy, ignored, began to lose patience.
The air grew heavy. No one spoke.
Vanessa tugged at him again, her voice soft. "Maybe... we should just go. I’ll take my parents back."
"No! It’s too dangerous outside right now. Vanessa, don’t be ridiculous!" Tommy grabbed her anxiously.
Then he glanced at Fiona and George—and made the decision himself.
"That’s it. It’s just three extra pairs of utensils. It’s not like we can’t afford it! We’ll make space sohow!"
The mont those words left his mouth, an eerie silence fell over the room.
Margaret and her husband imdiately looked relieved.
Vanessa let out a quiet sigh of relief as well.
anwhile, Fiona and George stared at their son in shock, as if seeing a stranger.
"Tommy! You—" Fiona was so furious she couldn’t even finish her sentence.
"Tommy, have you lost your mind?!" Wendy finally snapped, her voice sharp as she scread.
"Look at them! What did they bring? Nothing! They show up empty-handed and expect to move in? Do you even realize how precious supplies are right now? We’re rationing our own food—why should we support an entire extra family?!"
She was livid.
Every single supply in this house had been purchased by her.
And Tommy hadn’t even bothered to consult her before making this decision.
Who did he think he was?
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