Chapter 4
The next morning, Ivy got up early.
She grabbed a quick bite near the hotel, then hopped on a bus and headed to Aerithmere, following the address the System had given her.
Aerithmere was an old neighborhood built back in the 90s. It looked a bit run-down, but everything was spotless.
The greenery was well-maintained, and tall sycamore trees lined the streets everywhere.
It was nothing like the new apartment complex Ivy used to live in, with its sterile glass walls and card-swipe gates at every turn.
The place was full of life.
Ivy found the building that the System had pointed her to and made her way up to the fifth floor.
The landlady was a kind-looking elderly woman with white hair.
[Scanning target: Betty Smith.
[Occupation: Retired teacher.
[Profile: Kind-hearted and always willing to help. She has lived alone ever since her son and daughter-in-law moved overseas. She's not renting the place for the cash. She wants a friendly young neighbor to keep her company and bring some life back into her home.]
Ivy felt relieved. She smiled and said, "Hi, Mrs. Smith. I found your rental ad online."
Betty's eyes sparkled. "Oh, it's you. Come on in."
The place was small. It was a one-bedroom with a living room, but it was spotless and bright. Sunlight streamed in through the south-facing windows, making the whole place feel cozy and inviting.
"This used to be my old study. It's been sitting empty for a while," Betty said warmly. "All the appliances are here. You can move in with your suitcase. The rent is 400 bucks a month. What do you think?"
Ivy was honestly taken aback. In this area, 400 bucks a month was practically a steal.
She'd looked it up online yesterday. Similar places nearby started at 1 thousand dollars a month.
[System alert: This is a special deal for friends. Betty really likes you. Say yes and thank her.]
"Mrs. Smith, this is really too cheap," Ivy said, genuinely moved. "I..."
"No, it's not cheap at all." Betty chuckled, waving her hand. "I live alone, and I want some company to make the place feel lively. You seem so quiet and neat. I really like you. Let's settle it then."
Ivy didn't insist anymore. She nodded firmly. "Thank you, Mrs. Smith."
That same day, she signed the lease, paid for half a year in advance, and got her own set of keys.
At last, she finally had her own cozy haven.
Once she was settled in, the first thing Ivy did was head to the nearest carrier store and get a new SIM card using her driver's license.
Then she went to the mall and picked up the cheapest burner phone she could find.
Yep, a basic model. No fancy features, only calls and texts.
Ivy popped in the new SIM card, powered it up, then switched off her old smartphone, along with the old SIM, and tucked them both away at the bottom of her suitcase.
[System alert: Good call. The GPS on smartphones is the biggest risk for exposing your whereabouts. Until you're totally safe, keeping your digital footprint minimal is the smartest move.]
After all that, Ivy felt like she was putting even more distance between herself and her old life.
She went to the supermarket, picked up some essentials and groceries, then headed back to her cozy little home and made herself a simple dinner: a plate of simple pasta.
Ivy felt a lump in her throat as she ate.
The last three days felt like a nightmare.
She'd been betrayed, schemed against, and had to run for her life in the dead of night. Thank goodness for the system. Thank goodness she managed to escape.
After dinner, Ivy made sure everything was neat and in order.
She sat at her desk and took out the house deed.
She needed money.
She had over 80 thousand in savings, but she couldn't live off her savings forever.
She had to find a new job ASAP and tie up loose ends with Wade.
The house her grandfather left her might be her ace in the hole.
[System alert: The property tied to this deed is in the old downtown area, right in a top school district. It's currently valued at about 1 million bucks. But thanks to some lingering ownership issues, selling it outright is complicated, and you'll likely get lowballed.]
[Best course of action: Get in touch with Ethan Cole at Parker Law. He's a specialist in real estate disputes and totally trustworthy.
[He can help you clear up the ownership mess quickly and legally, making sure you get the maximum value out of your property.]
Ivy glanced at the system prompt, and hope started to bloom in her chest.
She hopped online right away, found Parker Law and Ethan's contact info, and scribbled it in her notebook.
Just then, her basic phone buzzed unexpectedly on the desk. The caller ID showed a number she didn't recognize.