Marvel's Princess - Chapter 75
Samantha officially bid farewell to the small town where she had lived for many years and moved to Los Angeles with Natasha.
The LAPD welcomed Samantha’s arrival. After all, she was not only a beautiful woman but also had connections with higher-ups. They wouldn’t make things difficult for her. Samantha, capable of maintaining order in Prosperity Town, also had sufficient social skills. Considering her new life and the need to take care of “two” daughters, she chose a desk job, focusing more on her family.
She and Natasha first rented a place to gradually adapt to life in Los Angeles.
On the other hand, the prospect of a new life reignited Charlie’s ambition. He requested to work in the homicide unit, dealing with frontline cases.
Bella didn’t object to this; after all, Charlie was passionate about being a police officer and fighting crime. She couldn’t stop him from doing what he loved.
Charlie needed to transition his work in Forks to a new sheriff. He also had to complete a series of tasks like proposing, getting married, saying goodbye to old friends, and buying a new house in Los Angeles.
Should they buy a house first or get married first? In Eastern cultures, buying a house comes first, but in the West, well… they also need to buy a house! No one would live together without a house.
Young people might consider renting, but Charlie and Samantha, being relatively traditional, felt more secure owning their own home. Plus, they had the money.
Working in Los Angeles meant buying a house in Los Angeles. They used their LAPD badges to connect with various professionals. A few phone calls later, real estate agents were pitching properties to them.
While some might scam the police without significant stakes, most wouldn’t bother.
Despite being newcomers, Charlie and Samantha, with the help of colleagues, shortlisted a few properties.
Bella had nothing to do but wait for college to start. Natasha was handling her transfer, occasionally disappearing for a while. Bella, understanding the unspoken agreement, even covered for her a few times.
On weekends, the family of four would drive around to view houses.
Their first choice was a villa in Santa Monica, previously owned by Bella’s old acquaintance, Dr. Adrian Toomes. Built less than five years ago, the villa had a futuristic design. After Adrian’s demise, his brother sold the house at $3.9 million.
Despite Natasha’s love for the house, they all exclaimed, “We can’t afford it!” Even if they could buy it, the property taxes would cripple them. Their income couldn’t sustain living there.
They drove around Los Angeles, grabbing lunch at a fast-food joint before continuing their search in the afternoon.
Their fourth viewing was a mansion near Hancock Park. As they arrived, Natasha, the first out of the car, exclaimed, “Wow! What a huge house!” The mansion stood over ten meters tall and covered more than 800 square meters.
Bella, removing her sunglasses, examined the mansion, feeling a sense of familiarity.
The real estate agent, a middle-aged woman named Marcy, eagerly introduced the property.
“This house was built in 1922 by renowned Los Angeles surgeon Charles Montgomery for his wife, Nora. You might think the house is old, but it’s not. Come, take a look.”
Inside, she pointed out the Tiffany light fixtures and the Victorian-style decor. “This place has great taste and style. For two detectives, it’s an excellent choice.”
“Detectives?” A stern voice interrupted from nearby. It belonged to a serious-looking middle-aged man.
Marcy’s tone cooled slightly as she introduced the parties. “Dr. Harmon, this is Detective Charlie Swan and his fiancée and daughters. Detective, this is Dr. Harmon, the current owner, who bought the house six months ago but now needs to sell for personal reasons.”
Dr Harmon seemed hesitant about selling to a detective but maintained a polite demeanor. He shook Charlie’s hand, then gave a quick tour of the house.
The interior was lavish, reminiscent of an old European castle. Luxurious lighting, exquisite paintings, and vibrant carpets added charm.
“Is this painting genuine?” Natasha asked Bella, pointing to a painting of a regal woman holding a head.
Natasha excelled in modern sciences and high-tech gadgets but lacked knowledge in art and history, which were Bella’s strengths.
Bella glanced at the painting. “It’s by French symbolist painter Gustave Moreau, depicting a Thracian girl holding the head of Orpheus.”
Noticing Marcy and Dr. Harmon’s excited expressions, she added, “It’s probably a replica. The original is in the Gustave Moreau National Museum in Paris.”
Their excitement dimmed slightly. Replicas held no real value.
“Doctor, can I ask why this house is so cheap?” Charlie inquired.
Comparable properties sold for $2 million just two streets over. This house had an asking price of $400,000 six months ago—only a fifth of the market average. Now, Dr. Harmon had reduced it to $260,000.
Honestly, at such a low price, even regular people would suspect something was wrong.
Dr. Harmon’s wife, a typical American housewife, showed visible resistance when addressed as Mrs. Harmon.
Observing the couple’s evident distance and tension, Bella, trailing the group, sensed a significant rift between them.
“Detective, we were scammed by this wretched real estate agent!” Mrs. Harmon exclaimed.
Her husband tried to signal her to stop, but she continued under Samantha’s gaze.
“There’s something strange about this house. The previous owner died here, and before that, there might have been more deaths.”
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