CHAPTER 48: SHOCKED

The main saloon of the Mia was the kind of space that could silence even the most jaded traveler.

Wide, floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped the room in a panorama of glittering ocean, the glass so clear it almost disappeared.

Polished teak floors gleamed underfoot, softened by thick Persian rugs in muted navy and cream. Plush, deep-cushioned sofas in pale leather formed an inviting ring around a low, glossy table of inlaid walnut.

Overhead, the ceiling was a subtle curve of cream lacquer and brushed steel, dotted with warm recessed lighting that made the gold fixtures gleam just enough to whisper money without shouting it.

And right now, Liam and his guests were settled into that luxury, waiting for the first wave of dishes to arrive from the galley.

It had been maybe fifteen minutes since they’d stepped aboard, and most of that time had been spent touring the yacht from stern to bow.

They’d moved through the sundeck, the jacuzzi, the observation lounge, the gym, the private cinema, the guest suites, and the master suite that had made even Elise stop walking for a full second before forcing herself to keep pace.

The result of that tour?

The expressions around him said it all.

A few of them were trying to play it cool, leaning back into the sofas as if they were used to this sort of thing — but their eyes gave them away.

They kept drifting, taking in the clean lines of the interior, the art on the walls, the faint shimmer of handwoven silk in the curtains. They weren’t just seeing a yacht. They were calculating the scale of the thing.

These weren’t kids who’d never seen money. They came from the kind of families whose names carried weight in certain circles — the old families of Los Angeles, Silicon Valley, and beyond. For them, "expensive" was normal.

But there were rules in their worlds.

Sure, they could spend a few thousand, maybe tens of thousands, on a weekend without raising eyebrows. Designer clothes, luxury dining, small gatherings in private clubs — fine.

A $500,000 sports car for a graduation gift? Acceptable. A one-million-dollar classic? Still tolerable, though parents would raise a brow.

But beyond that? That was where the invisible leash tightened. Everything was monitored. Every purchase scrutinized, not out of stinginess, but because their families understood the optics — money had to be managed, not flaunted without purpose.

And then there was Liam.

Liam, who had dropped over seventy million dollars on Bellemere Mansion without blinking. Liam, who had bought a Sikorsky helicopter worth more than twenty million as casually as one of them might buy a pair of sneakers. Liam, who was now sitting in the main saloon of a yacht that could easily have cost hundreds of millions, wearing a platinum Patek Philippe.

The gap wasn’t just in wealth — it was in freedom.

They all knew the kids from the Rothschilds, the Saudis, and a few other ultra-elite families—though they haven’t really met some of them. But even those heirs lived under the watchful eyes of dynasties older than countries, their spending had to be approved and curated.

Liam felt... different. Untethered.

And that difference was making them rethink what kind of person could casually own what he owned. What kind of family would hand their eighteen-year-old son this kind of unrestrained spending power?

No one at the table could answer that question. And the mystery only made it worse — or better, depending on how you looked at it.

Liam could read it in their body language. The way Kristopher kept glancing toward the windows as if measuring the yacht’s width. The way Matt traced the curve of his wine glass with a fingertip, his gaze flicking between him and the gold-rimmed plates set before them.

He let them have their thoughts. He knew that silence could be just as powerful as speaking. But as the host, he also knew it was time to draw them back from their quiet calculations.

Liam leaned forward slightly and said with a calm voice, "I’m glad you all made it today. I know everyone’s schedules are packed, so thanks for making the time."

Hearing what he said, they all looked at him with polite smiles and genuine warmth.

"I hope you’ll enjoy yourselves," he added, his tone effortlessly warm but threaded with quiet confidence. "The Mia’s fully stocked, so if there’s anything you want, just ask. This is your space as much as mine today."

That earned him a ripple of smiles, even a faint chuckle from Kristopher.

"Generous host, you’re making it hard for the rest of us to invite people anywhere after this," Matt said with a smile.

"I’ll take that as a compliment," Liam replied, smiling.

He really love interacting with Stacy and her friends as they are very honest with their emotions, and words.

"But seriously, I must say that I was quite surprised when you told us in the group that you bought a new yacht and want to take it out to sea," Kristopher said, with an astounded look on his face.

"You were not the only one. I actually thought that it was going to be a small yacht or medium size at best. But I really didn’t expect it to be a super yacht!" Harper said, as he looked around the main saloon.

It was as if he was trying to imprint everything into his mind.

"Ummm.... Liam, I hope you don’t mind us asking but how much...?" Kristie said, with look of anticipation, "We can already guess the price but I just want to confirm."

"300," Liam replied.

A brief silence enveloped the main saloon as everyone processed the ridiculous figure that Liam just casually said.

"$300m... Three hundred million dollars..." Lana said slowly with a weak voice.

Not just she but they all were repeating the number in their heads. They tried to just gloss over it but no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t.

It was simply impossible.

"I’m sorry if I’m being rude here but I just want to confirm one detail if you will let me. It fine if you can’t answer," Kristopher said with a shocked and pleading expression on his face.

"Sure. Go ahead," Liam said, giving him permission to ask whatever question he wants to ask.

"This yacht... It’s your personally, right?," Kristopher asked, "Like it’s not owned collectively by your family."

He added the last part to make sure he make sure he conveyed his question accurately. He wasn’t trying to be rude but really the shock he was feeling right now is...

To Kristopher’s question, Liam simply nodded.

"Holy sh*ttt!!!" Kristopher mumbled, as he collapsed back.

Even before asking the question,he already knew the answer. Liam had said it in the group that he bought a yacht. But still, that didn’t do anything to lessen the shock he was feeling at the moment.

"At this point, I really have nothing to say but after today, I’m increasing my shock threshold," Harper said, with a forced smile on his face.

"Wow! Congratulations, Liam," Stacy said with a genuine smile.

She had been mostly quiet since, not really saying much as she also tried to process everything.

In a way, this was especially more shocking for her because Liam was a former classmate of hers.

Yes, she had investigated and confirm that Liam had told her. He really did go to the same middle school and high school with her, and they were also in the same class.

It took the group a few more moments but they got their emotions under control. But that didn’t mean that they will be forgetting any of this anytime soon.

The next moment, the polished double doors at the far end of the saloon swung open, and two crew members stepped in, carrying silver trays that gleamed under the soft lighting. The faint aroma of fresh seafood, grilled vegetables, and warm bread rolled into the room, subtle but mouthwatering.

Food was ready and it was time for them to eat.