The Inescapable Celibate Heir Chapter 144: The Young Island Owner

Jasmine lay back on the lounge chair, lazily turning her head to ask the maid, "Hey, do you know who owns the island next door?"

The maid bent over and replied, "Ms. Murphy, the island next door belongs to Mr. Hamilton. I've heard he's someone who made it onto the global rich list."

Jasmine sat up immediately. "What's his full name? Is he old?"

The maid answered, "Samuel Hamilton. I heard he's into investments and looks pretty young."

Jasmine suddenly remembered. He made it onto the global rich list last year because his investment in an AI company brought in billions when it went public. 

She didn't get investments or AI, but she got money. Moreover, Samuel was only 28 and lived in Sunhaven. 

She had seen his photo in a magazine and was deeply impressed. He was young, rich, and very handsome—the kind of man she wanted to marry. 

She eagerly asked, "Since he lives so close, does my mom know him?"

The maid shook her head. "No, this is the first time I've seen him here." 

Samuel had built a vacation villa on the island but was rarely there due to his busy work schedule. 

Jessica was also busy and didn't vacation often, so they had no interaction.

Jasmine had hoped to use a visit as an excuse to get close to Samuel, but since her mom didn't know him, showing up unannounced would be too forward. 

She ran her fingers through her hair, thinking she needed a better plan to meet him naturally.

Meanwhile, Victoria noticed the beach below, with colorful umbrellas and a few tiny figures. 

She took a sip of grapefruit juice; the red juice was sweet and tangy, and her tongue quickly swept across her lips. 

This fleeting moment was caught by Ethan, who had been watching her. Her quick, red tongue seemed soft and sweet. 

His gaze turned predatory for a moment, which Victoria noticed, turning to him in confusion. Ethan quickly masked his emotions, not wanting to scare her.

Victoria frowned slightly, wondering if she had imagined it. She soon dismissed the thought and casually asked, "There seem to be people on the island below. Samuel, have you met the neighbors?"

Samuel swirled his wine glass, inhaling the aroma before setting it down. "No, I barely come here once a year. But these islands are owned by global elites, so it should be easy to find out." 

He took a sip of his wine, savoring it.

Nick suddenly got excited and started searching for information. He exclaimed, "A celebrity bought an island nearby this year. Guess who?"

Eric leaned over to see Nick's phone, asking, "Which celebrity?" 

His family was in the entertainment industry, so he might know them. Nick pulled his phone away, teasing, "Guessing is more fun!"

Eric grabbed Nick's hair, demanding, "Show me!" 

Nick hid his phone behind him, playfully wrestling, "No way! Eric, you're like a monkey, you're gonna pull my hair out."

Roy put down his utensils, showing interest. 

Only Ethan remained focused on his plate, occasionally glancing at Victoria, seemingly uninterested in the conversation.

Samuel thought for a moment, hesitating, "I think her last name is Shaw. What's her full name again?" 

He couldn't remember, as he didn't care much about celebrities.

Victoria suddenly remembered her classmate Jasmine mentioning a vacation on an island and chimed in, "Jessica Shaw?"

"Yes! That's the name. Victoria, you know her? She must be quite famous." Samuel tapped his wine glass, producing a clear, pleasant sound. 

He continued, "When that island was for sale, the real estate agent asked me if I was interested. But I already have 'sol,' so why would I want a smaller island?"

Nick and Eric stopped their tussle, laughing with their hair sticking up. "You should've bought it for me, Samuel. We could be neighbors!"

Samuel tossed a bread roll at Nick, hitting him square in the face. "Why would I give it to you? If I were to give it to anyone, it would be Victoria. But that island is too small for her. Plus, it's not safe. It's man-made, and the foundation is unstable." 

When the agent offered it at a discount, Samuel had it checked out. It turned out to be artificially created, and with the unpredictable weather and storms, who knew how long it would last?

Victoria recalled Jasmine's proud mention of her mom buying an island, unaware of the backstory. 

It seemed Jessica wasn't as wealthy as she appeared, opting for a cheaper, unstable island. 

She chuckled, "A classmate of mine mentioned vacationing on an island. It must be her."

Roy quickly reacted, "Jasmine's here too? What about Tony?" He frowned. 

It was bad enough having to deal with the twins at the Murphy mansion, but now their island was right next door for the vacation. Just his luck. 

Previously, when Tony got injured and took a leave of absence, his father had hinted that Roy shouldn't be too harsh. 

But even though he bullied Tony every day at school, he hadn't caused Tony's injury! 

These twins, just like their mother, were masters at pretending to be innocent and considerate, while actually being full of devious plans, always thinking of ways to frame others.

Victoria shook her head. "I don't know. I just heard Jasmine mention coming here. I wonder if her mom knew about the island's issues."

Roy hesitated, wanting to say more, but the plane's announcement interrupted, "We are about to land. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts."

Nick jumped up, excitedly shouting, "Finally! I can't wait to run on the beach." 

He dashed off, and everyone else smiled, returning to their seats.