Chapter 176: Chapter 177

Chapter 0177 Chapter 0177 “That’s a good idea,” I said, switching my phone to record mode.

We walked silently across the uneven ground, the crunch of our footsteps breaking the stillness. The damage stretched as far as I could see–deep furrows scarring the earth, the soil peppered with white grains of salt. There wasn’t a single plant left standing.

As I filmed, my mind raced, trying to think of ways to salvage this disaster. Building anything commercial here wouldn’t make sense–not this close to Lunar Lake.

A school or community center was out of the question, given how isolated the area was. Housing was also a nonstarter; I’d never put new homes so close to the border.

But I wouldn’t let David win. There had to be a way to make something out of this land, something worthwhile.

With Alexander by my side, I felt a flicker of hope. He was resourceful and sharp, with a proven track record of successful projects–not just on his own land but in the capital as well. If I couldn’t come up with a solution, I knew he could.

I clung to those thoughts, willing myself to stay calm and not let my anger overwhelm me. I should have expected this the moment the land transfer was finalized. I should have posted someone to guard it, but I hadn’t thought David would stoop this low.

Yet, here we were.

There was no predicting his next move, no telling the lengths he’d go to in order to come out on top.

And yet, this wasn’t a game–not to me. Lives were on the line, even if David didn’t realize it yet. I’d seen the worst–case scenario play out in the original timeline. If I allowed this to escalate further, I knew exactly how bad things could get.

“This is frustrating,” Alexander muttered, setting his teacup down with a quiet clink.

We were seated in my father’s study, surrounded by bookshelves and the faint scent of old paper. After returning from the farmland, we’d launched straight into brainstorming possible uses for the land, but an hour later, we were no closer to a solution.

Alexander was texting back and forth with his consultants, while I pored over maps of the area. A tray of tea and sweets sat between us, largely untouched. Neither of us had much of an appetite, due to our frustration.

“You’re right about that,” I said, glancing at Alexander. “Frustrating doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface. I’m not sure if I want to scream or cry.”

“You’d be justified in doing either,” he replied, his tone softening as he met my gaze.

“I wish my dad was home,” I said, breaking the silence. “He might be able to help us think of something.” Alexander leaned back, his expression thoughtful. “We’re not actually in a rush,” he pointed out.

“I know,” I said with a sigh, “but I also know I’m not going to be able to relax until we come up with a solution for this. I can’t stand the idea of David winning this round.”

I felt the frown deepen on my face and pressed my hand to my forehead as if I could smooth away the worry lines. “Giving yourself a headache over it isn’t going to help,” Alexander said gently. “You should try to eat something. You haven’t eaten all day. Besides, it’s hard to think clearly when your brain doesn’t have any fuel.”

“You’re right,” I admitted, glancing at the tray of untouched sweets. I picked up a plain–looking sugar cookie and +25 BONUS Chapter 0177 took a small bite. It was surprisingly delicious, and I realized just how hungry I was.

I sat back in my chair, eating the cookie and then another. After a few moments, Alexander stood and walked to the window, opening the shades and letting sunlight pour into the room.

The light instantly lifted any spirits. I let out a laugh, unable to stop myself.

“What’s so funny?” Alexander asked as he returned to his seat.

“I feel like a plant,” I said, grinning. “A little sunlight and a snack, and I suddenly feel much better.”

“Sunlight can do wonders,” Alexander said with a chuckle, glancing down at the map. “You shouldn’t underestimate just how powerful it is.

I nodded in agreement, my gaze on the map. Alexander’s words lingered in my mind–the power of sunlight.

Suddenly, an idea sparked.

+25 BONUS Chapter 0178