Chapter 22: Unveiled Truths
Quinn stood in the driveway, keys in hand, as he faced his father's bewildered expression. His dad was still frozen in place, staring at the Range Rover like it was some mythical creature parked outside the house.
"Dad, it's yours," Quinn said again, holding the keys out.
His father blinked, coming back to reality. "Quinn, this is a...a brand-new Range Rover. How could you afford this? You're a student!"
Quinn shifted his weight awkwardly, glancing at Lisa who still looked a bit shell-shocked herself. He had hoped to keep his newfound wealth under wraps, but there was no other way to convince his dad to accept the gift. He sighed. "Dad, I've been doing pretty well lately with an online business I started." He hesitated before adding, "I have more than enough."
His father looked from Quinn to the car, still reluctant. "I don't know, Quinn. This is too much. You should be saving this money for your future."
Quinn smiled softly. "I've already saved enough. Trust me, this won't even make a dent in my bank account." He handed the keys to his father, but his dad just stared at them, not moving.
Four hours. It took four whole hours of convincing, explanations, and even showing his father his bank balance before he would accept the car. The entire time, Quinn watched as his dad went from shock to disbelief to acceptance, though he was still clearly overwhelmed.
But it wasn't just his dad. When Quinn showed his father the bank account balance—over $150 million—Lisa's jaw dropped. She had known Quinn was doing something online, something involving his business and investments, but she hadn't realized the full extent of his success. Professor William had mentioned Quinn's entrepreneurial spirit, but even the professor likely had no idea just how much money Quinn was working with.
Lisa had remained unusually quiet after seeing the numbers, barely able to speak. Quinn couldn't blame her. He had wanted to keep things low-key, but this surprise visit had turned into something much more intense. His parents, who had always been supportive but never particularly wealthy, were now faced with a son whose fortune seemed unreal.
As everyone's shock finally began to wear off, Quinn found himself sitting in the living room, flipping through TV channels with his father. The two of them sat quietly, though the weight of the earlier conversation still lingered in the air.
Quinn's father looked over at him. "I don't know what to say, Quinn. This is... it's unbelievable. Your mom and I always knew you'd do well, but this..."
Quinn smiled a little, trying to ease the tension. "I've been working hard, Dad. And I just wanted to do something nice for you and Mom. You both sacrificed a lot for me, and I didn't forget that."
His father shook his head, still clearly overwhelmed, but he smiled. "You've done more than enough, son."
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Lisa was helping Quinn's mother prepare dinner. His mother, who was still buzzing with energy from the earlier events, chatted away while they worked. Lisa, though, was much quieter than usual, still processing everything.
"You know," Quinn's mother said, chopping vegetables with a bright smile, "we always thought Quinn had big dreams. But I didn't expect him to make so much money so quickly. I guess I'm still a little in shock."
Lisa nodded, trying to find the right words. "I... I didn't expect it either," she admitted. "He never really talked about how much he had. He just... worked quietly."
His mother chuckled. "That sounds like him. He's always been determined, but he keeps a lot to himself."
Lisa smiled faintly. "Yeah, he does."
As dinner was served, Quinn and his father joined the women in the kitchen. The meal was simple but warm and comforting, the kind of home-cooked food Quinn had missed while living on his own. As they ate, Quinn took out the presents he had brought for his parents. His mother gasped when she saw the makeup set, her hands trembling slightly as she held it.
"Quinn, this is... this is too much," she said, her voice thick with emotion.
Quinn smiled and shook his head. "It's not, Mom. I wanted to get you something nice."
She hugged him tightly, whispering a soft "thank you" in his ear. His father, though quieter in his reactions, smiled widely when he opened the gold-plated lighter. Quinn knew how much his dad loved little luxuries like this, and seeing his reaction made it all worth it.
"This is great, son," his father said, flicking the lighter and admiring the way it glimmered in the kitchen light. "You didn't have to, but I appreciate it."
They shared stories over dinner, laughter mixing with the sounds of silverware against plates. Lisa had loosened up a bit more by this point, joining in the conversation and even joking with Quinn's parents. Despite the earlier shock, things felt normal again, like the family Quinn had always known.
After dinner, as the night grew late, Quinn's mother helped him prepare a mattress on the floor in his room. He had offered to sleep elsewhere, but his mother insisted he stay in his room. Lisa, meanwhile, was offered the bed, something Quinn had readily agreed to. He didn't mind sleeping on the mattress.
As they laid out the bedding, his mother teased him again. "So, you're a millionaire now, but still sleeping on the floor, huh?" she said with a smirk, adjusting the blanket.
Quinn laughed softly, shrugging. "Some things never change, Mom."
His mother's expression softened as she finished setting up the mattress. "I'm proud of you, Quinn. Not just because of the money, but because of how far you've come."
Quinn's chest tightened a little at her words. "Thanks, Mom," he said quietly, not quite knowing what else to say.
After his mother left, Quinn lay down on the mattress, staring up at the ceiling. Lisa was already in the bed, though she seemed a little nervous.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice low in the quiet room.
Lisa turned over to face him. "Yeah," she said after a moment. "I just... I didn't expect all of this. You've really come a long way, Quinn."
Quinn nodded, though he felt a strange mix of pride and uncertainty. "I guess I have."
There was a brief silence before Lisa spoke again, her voice soft. "Your parents are really proud of you, you know."
Quinn smiled in the dark. "Yeah. I know."
As the night wore on, they both fell into a comfortable silence, the weight of the day slowly fading as sleep began to take over. Quinn closed his eyes, feeling content for the first time in a long while. He was home, with his family, and for once, everything felt just right.