They got into Ethan's truck. The engine roared to life, and the vehicle pulled out of the parking lot, merging smoothly into the city streets. At that hour, traffic was light, allowing them to leave downtown behind in no time.
After a while, they entered the quiet area of Hyde Park, one of Chicago's most iconic neighborhoods, known for its intellectual atmosphere, the presence of the University of Chicago, and architecture that blends historic mansions with modern buildings.
The real estate market there was as varied as it was exclusive, ranging from relatively accessible condominiums to luxury residences worth millions.
Guided by the GPS, Ethan took several turns until he entered a narrow street set back from the main road. Unlike the neighborhood where he currently lived—where houses stood side by side with barely any space between them—this place had a completely different feel.
Tall trees lined both sides of the road, obscuring the view in stretches. Between their shadows, private driveways wound inward, revealing only glimpses of homes hidden among the foliage.
Erin shifted in her seat, uneasy. Every house they passed felt out of reach. On a police salary, this was nothing more than a distant luxury… something reserved for imagination.
Her eyes traced the facades barely visible through the trees, and for a moment, a memory crossed her mind. It had been years since she'd been in this area, not since the days she attended the private school Hank had enrolled her in during her teenage years. All her classmates had lived in places like this.
She remembered that feeling perfectly.
Her jaw tightened slightly as she turned her gaze toward the window.
—Can you really afford a house in a place like this? —Erin asked, looking around as the shadows of the trees drifted across the windshield.
Ethan let out a faint, almost amused breath without taking his eyes off the road.
—I told you last time… I've got plenty of money —he replied calmly, gesturing ahead with a slight movement— Besides, we're almost there. The house I want to see is just up ahead.
Erin turned to look at him, somewhere between surprised and skeptical, as if she still hadn't decided whether to believe him.
The iron gate was already open. The private drive wasn't long, but it was enough to isolate the property from the outside. They moved forward slowly until they reached a circular driveway.
A soft breeze passed through, lifting a fine mist of water from a nearby irrigation system.
Outside, a black Mercedes-Benz was parked on the polished gravel roundabout in front of the house. Erin didn't get out right away; she half expected Ethan to change his mind.
—Come on, don't make that face. We're not robbing anyone.
When the car came to a stop, Ethan casually unbuckled his seatbelt. Erin, on the other hand, remained still, as if she hadn't fully processed where they were.
As soon as they stopped completely, two people quickly stepped out of the Mercedes parked in front.
One of them was a white man with a large nose, middle-aged. His companion was a white woman with striking red hair, dressed in a professional black skirt suit that accentuated her figure.
—Mr. Morgan!
The man approached quickly.
—I'm Reed Krazinsky, and this is my assistant, Sabrina Nolan.
As he walked toward them, Reed assessed them with a discreet glance. The man was attractive; the woman, captivating. They dressed with a kind of effortless simplicity and drove what looked like a government vehicle. Nothing about them suggested they had the capital to purchase a property like this.
Still, he didn't dwell on it, and a smile formed on his face. Experience had taught him never to judge a book by its cover.
Ethan greeted Reed with a brief nod.
What Erin didn't know was that, before arriving, he had already provided proof of assets to secure the showing. Otherwise, no one dealing in properties like this would waste time responding so quickly to a simple phone call.
Between the casino earnings from the past few months and proof of assets from cryptocurrency sales, it had been enough to demonstrate his financial strength.
—This is my girlfriend, Erin.
Erin straightened her shoulders elegantly and offered a slight smile.
—Nice to meet you —she said calmly, extending her hand.
—Shall we begin?
—Of course!
Reed nodded and gestured toward the front door.
—This way, please.
The large villa had a grayish-white exterior wall and a dark gray roof, with two floors above ground and a basement.
The front porch was quite extravagant. Shrubs lined the center, with curved steps on both the left and right sides.
Climbing the stairs, they reached the landing in front of the door, where Roman-style column railings formed a semicircle. Turning around, their view extended over the fountain wall, revealing the private drive they had entered through.
Ethan ran his hand along the tall stone pillars on either side, looking up; they were over ten meters high and felt grand and imposing, with elegant entry lights hanging above.
Reed opened the tall, dark red front door, and they all stepped inside.
There were five bedrooms and eight bathrooms in total, and the basement mainly consisted of a wine cellar, a private theater, a private gym, and a sauna.
Holding glasses of champagne, they toured the house.
The property was worth over five million, and its interior design was naturally luxurious beyond criticism; it mostly came down to personal taste.
Aside from personal items, all furniture and appliances were fully equipped.
There was no concern about quality.
—Mr. Morgan.
The red-haired woman, Sabrina, approached with a professional smile and shook Ethan's hand.
—The property was completely renovated very recently; all finishes, installations, and equipment are brand new —she explained— It's an exceptional opportunity. I'm confident you'll love it.
The agent carried a boldly confident air. Even with the client's companion present, she didn't hesitate to lean slightly toward Ethan as she handed him her card, letting her neckline do the talking while offering a knowing smile.
But Erin reacted first.
Before Ethan could even reach out, she stepped in and took the card with effortless composure, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
—Let's take a look outside —she said calmly, with a faint smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
The agent blinked, just for a second, surprised by the interruption.
Erin was no longer looking at her. She stepped forward, taking control of the pace of the tour, then raised her champagne glass and took a slow sip.
Ethan watched the scene in silence, a trace of amusement crossing his expression. After a brief hesitation, the agent regained her composure and quickly moved ahead.
—Of course… this way, please.
Sabrina maintained her smile, though for a moment she seemed to understand the message.
Her assistant nodded, heels clicking softly as she walked from the living room toward the back.
—What do you think?
Ethan lightly nudged Erin's arm, pulling her from her thoughts.
—So far… I like it —she replied, scanning the place.
Erin still struggled to process it. She had never imagined someone close to her could even aspire to live somewhere like this. And yet, as she took in the details, the almost unreal quality of the place… she couldn't help but picture herself there, sharing that space with him.
She followed as Ethan moved toward the back.
The living room opened seamlessly into the dining area, forming a wide, bright space. In front of them, massive floor-to-ceiling glass walls let in natural light and offered a direct view of the backyard. Reflections from the pool cast soft patterns inside, and beyond it, a line of trees enclosed the property, isolating it from the rest of the world.
Ethan walked up to the sliding glass door and opened it in one motion, letting a light breeze drift inside.
Without looking back, he stepped outside.
Erin watched him for a moment before following, a strange feeling growing in her chest… as if the place wasn't just about him, but about something that, without her realizing it, was beginning to include her.
The terrace was spacious and furnished with several outdoor sofas. On the other side, stainless steel grills gleamed under the afternoon light.
The entire area was elevated, surrounded by Roman-style column railings in a grayish-white tone.
A few steps down led to the pool level.
—Mr. Morgan —Reed said with a smile, clasping his hands as he followed— this is the outdoor leisure area.
He gestured toward the water.
—The pool, as you can see, is about 12 meters long and 5 wide, with a gradual depth from the shallow end to nearly two meters at the deepest point.
Along the edges, underwater lights had been installed, designed to illuminate it at night and give it a more elegant atmosphere.
—What do you think?
Ethan lightly nudged Erin again.
—So far… I like it.
Erin didn't respond right away. She was still processing. She had never imagined someone close to her could live in a place like this. And yet, as she took in the openness and calm of the space, she couldn't help but imagine herself there… with him.
She followed as Ethan moved farther back.
—The residential management takes care of everything —the agent added, returning to her professional tone— Landscaping, general maintenance, pool care, even technical services. The property practically maintains itself.
Ethan nodded slightly, as if it matched what he was looking for.
He approached the sliding door again and opened it quietly, letting the breeze pass through.
Without looking back, he stepped outside.
Erin followed, still carrying that lingering feeling of stepping into a world that wasn't hers… but was somehow starting to feel possible.
Next to the pool was a circular jacuzzi made of natural stone. It had space for six people and sat slightly elevated, connected to the same heating system.
—Everything is completely new —Reed concluded— It was all installed during the full renovation.
He walked quickly to a nearby stone structure and pointed toward one of the exterior walls.
—We also installed a large outdoor television for entertainment.
Ethan barely listened.
He walked down the steps by the pool and continued toward the back of the yard.
There was a small half basketball court surrounded by a metal fence. Nearby trees provided shade, keeping the area cool.
He kept walking across the grass.
Reed and Sabrina hurried after him, trying not to fall behind.
Erin, meanwhile, stayed near the pool railing. She watched the wide stretch of lawn behind the house and the small wooded area that bordered the property.
The assistant's heels began to sink into the grass, making it difficult for her to walk.
With some discomfort, she took off her shoes and hurried in small steps to catch up.
Ethan finally stopped and looked around. Then he raised a hand, gesturing to the lawn, the trees, and the small forest behind the house. Beyond it, a nearly four-meter-high outer wall could be faintly seen.
—All of this is mine?
Reed and Sabrina exchanged a quick glance. Their expressions lit up instantly.
—Of course, Mr. Morgan —Reed replied, stepping forward and nodding enthusiastically— The house, the garden, the court… everything you can see. About half an acre in total.
He extended his arm across the land.
Ethan nodded slowly. He liked open spaces—it reminded him of home.
—What's the price?
Morgan didn't like to waste time, so he went straight to the point.
The agent didn't hesitate.
—The total value is five million eight hundred fifty thousand dollars —she replied with a professional smile— But we offer various financing options if you prefer. We can structure a plan tailored to you: from mortgage loans with preferential rates to staged payments or partial investment with asset backing.
She stepped closer, lowering her voice slightly, as if sharing an exclusive advantage.
—We could even arrange a fast pre-approval, given your credentials. The goal is to give you flexibility and find the most convenient way for you to acquire it.
Reed's sharp instincts told him the man in front of him was genuinely interested—and financially capable—so he quoted the price with enthusiasm.
Morgan looked at him and spoke casually:
—Contact the owner —Ethan said calmly, still looking over the land— I'll pay cash. Full payment.
Reed and Sabrina froze for a moment.
A purchase like this usually involves weeks of paperwork, mortgages, bank checks, and endless negotiations. But he said it as if he were buying a car.
—If there's no issue —Ethan added casually— call me when you have confirmation.
He turned and began walking across the grass, looking toward the small forest behind the property.
The sunset light fell across the garden, his silhouette almost glowing under the low sun.
Sabrina watched him for a moment before reacting.
—No problem! I'm sure the owner will be delighted with that offer —she said quickly.
Ethan nodded.
—Good.
Reed extended his hand enthusiastically.
—Then… we have a deal.
—We have a deal.
Reed clenched his jaw, pulled out a handkerchief, and wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead.
—I'll sort it out with the owner and get back to you tomorrow.
Ethan nodded, climbed the steps, and gestured to Erin.
—Why did you hang back?
Erin walked toward him with her hands slightly open.
—I thought you were going to keep fooling them a little longer. Is that it? Over already?
—Come on, I told you—I'm not scamming anyone. Do you think they would've shown me the house if I couldn't afford it?
Erin pouted slightly and changed the subject.
—I'm hungry!
—Let's go, I'm starving too.
Ethan waved goodbye to the sellers.
Leaving the agent and assistant behind, the two of them walked away from the house.
Ethan glanced back at the villa, a satisfied smile on his face. The truth was, he didn't care much about the finer details—it met his basic needs, and more importantly, it was secluded, far from prying eyes. There was no need to negotiate further.
If nothing unexpected happened, this would be his home from now on.