Godly Investor: A Hundred Trillion Dollars For Investment And Donations-Chapter 301 -

When Grandma York finally released her, she motioned for one of the nearby attendants.

"Give Miss Bryson a special seat," she instructed, her voice steady despite the lingering tears. "She's an honored guest tonight."

Without wasting anymore time Naomi took her seat, maintaining her composed demeanor.

"The Godly Investor sends his apologies for not being able to attend," she informed Grandma York. "He is currently occupied with pressing matters but wanted to ensure his presence was felt through this gift."

Immediately Grandma York nodded, wiping the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. "He didn't have to do this, but I'm deeply touched by his thoughtfulness."

As the evening progressed, the atmosphere lightened, and the event eventually came to a close. Guests began to bid their farewells, their faces still reflecting the impact of the extraordinary evening. The York family stood at the door, thanking each guest as they departed.

Ethan lingered by the grand doorway, his hands casually tucked into his pockets as he waited for Serenity. The night air was cool, a gentle breeze rustling the nearby trees. He watched as the last few guests filtered out, his thoughts wandering to the whirlwind of the evening.

Serenity finally emerged, her steps light as she approached him.

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"Hey," she greeted softly, her smile subtle but warm. "I didn't think you'd wait for me."

Ethan shrugged, his usual calm demeanor intact. "Figured I'd stick around," he said. "You looked like you could use an escort to your car."

She laughed lightly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her face. "Thanks, but I wanted to ask—did you get the mail?"

Ethan's brow furrowed slightly. "Mail? What mail?"

Serenity tilted her head, her expression playful. "You haven't checked your inbox, have you?" Without waiting for an answer, she continued, "The school sent out a notice. We're going on a vacation abroad. It's part of a partnership deal with some companies overseas. They're calling it a 'tour,' but it's basically a study-abroad trip."

Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Abroad, huh? Any idea where we're going?"

She smiled, her excitement barely contained. "You'll see. Just make sure you check your mail and don't miss the deadline to register."

Ethan nodded, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Guess I'll have to check it out."

As they walked toward the parking lot, the conversation drifted into casual banter, the tension of the evening finally giving way to a lighter, more comfortable air. For the first time that night, Ethan allowed himself to relax.

Serenity studied Ethan's expression closely as they walked, her tone casual but her gaze observant. "You know," she began, "I figured you might not have heard about the vacation because you haven't been around in class lately. It's been a while since anyone's seen you."

Ethan tilted his head slightly, acknowledging her observation without much reaction. "I've been busy," he replied simply. "But now that I know about it, I might consider attending."

Serenity stopped walking for a moment and turned to face him fully. "It's not just about attending," she said, her voice carrying a note of seriousness. "The cost of the vacation is ten million dollars."

Ethan blinked, the amount catching him off guard. Ten million dollars? he thought, his mind racing as he processed the number. Serenity noticed his brief pause and continued, her tone softening slightly.

"It's surprising, right?" she said with a small smile, though her voice carried a hint of irony. "Even some of the rich elites in our school aren't planning to go. It's just… too much. And believe me, those are people who think nothing of buying sports cars on a whim."

Ethan's curiosity piqued. "So who's going, then?" he asked, his tone casual but genuinely interested.

Serenity shrugged. "Only the super-rich, really. I heard some old students—people who graduated five or even seven years ago—are coming back just for this. It's like an exclusive club. If you can afford it, you're automatically part of a circle."

Her words hung in the air for a moment, and Ethan could sense there was more she wanted to say. "What about you?" he asked, his voice gentle but direct. "Do you want to go?"

Serenity hesitated, her gaze drifting to the ground before meeting his again. "Honestly?" she said. "Not really. It's a lot of money for something that feels more like a status symbol than a real vacation. But…" She paused, exhaling softly. "Grandma York already paid for me. She insisted."

Ethan noticed Serenity glancing at him out of the corner of her eye, her expression unreadable but her mind clearly racing. She was trying to gauge his reaction, to see if he'd be able to handle the enormous price tag attached to the vacation. He kept his face neutral, though inside, he was already piecing together her unspoken thoughts.

After a moment, Serenity broke the silence. "If only I'd told you earlier," she said quietly, almost as if speaking to herself. "You wouldn't have given Grandma that necklace. Maybe then I could've used the rest of the money to pay for this trip."

Her words surprised him, and he couldn't help the small chuckle that escaped his lips. "Serenity," he said, shaking his head slightly. "If I were going to sell that necklace, what makes you think I'd waste the money on a vacation?"

She looked at him, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Ethan's lips curved into a faint smirk, and he slid his hands into his pockets, his posture relaxed but his tone steady. "If I had the money from selling something like that, I'd invest it," he said simply. "Why blow it all on a trip when I could turn it into something that lasts, like investment?"

Serenity's eyebrows shot up, her expression shifting from surprise to contemplation. Ethan's words lingered in her mind, reshaping her perspective. He's right, she thought. Why would someone like Ethan waste money that could fundamentally change his life? It was a question she hadn't considered before, and now it made her feel almost guilty for suggesting it.

"I guess I didn't think of it that way," Serenity admitted softly, her tone thoughtful. "When you put it like that, it seems… foolish to even bring it up."

Ethan tilted his head slightly, his calm gaze meeting hers. "It's not foolish," he said, his voice steady but kind. "It's just different. Some people see value in experiences like this, and that's fine. But for me, priorities are different."

Serenity nodded slowly, her thoughts still turning over his words. After a brief pause, she sighed and gave a small smile. "Well, I guess I'll just have to survive the whole month without any of my friends," she said, trying to sound casual, though her voice carried a tinge of sadness.