My New Eyes Can See Through Clothes

Leo settled back into his rocking chair, sipping his tea with a faint smile playing on his lips. The satisfaction of the day wasn't from making a sale or securing a new antique—it was meeting Jack that pleased him.

At that moment, Thomas Reed, owner of Reed's Antiques, strutted over. His heavy steps announced his arrival long before his sarcastic voice broke the calm.

"Leo, you're in a good mood today. What's gotten into you? No customers as usual? You should sell that dusty old shop of yours to me and open a branch at Reed's Antiques."

Thomas's sharp, mocking tone bounced off Leo, who remained unbothered. It was no secret that the fellow had tried numerous times to pressure Leo into selling the Noble Collection, but Leo's unassuming nature and quiet confidence had left him frustrated. Despite owning the largest and most successful shop on Antique Street, Thomas had yet to figure out why Leo couldn't be pushed around like everyone else.

Leo chuckled, shaking his head while taking another sip. "Thomas, I found a great treasure today. That's why I'm in such a good mood. And funny enough, this treasure has something to do with you."

"What are you talking about?" Thomas asked, his brows furrowing.

"A young man came into your store earlier with something valuable. But your clerk wasn't paying attention, so the boy came to me instead. I made a small profit on what could've been yours."

Thomas's mind whirled. A flash of recognition hit him as he remembered the young man he nearly bumped into earlier that day, the one that Mark had dismissed saying that the guy was just trying to sell junk.

Leo's smile deepened. "You see, sometimes if you don't look closely enough, you might miss something valuable."

The color drained from Thomas Reed's face. Small profit? That meant millions. At that moment, the realization hit him—he'd lost a fortune. Gritting his teeth, his temper flared.

Without another word, Thomas stormed out of Noble Collection.

Back at the Reed's Antiques Thomas burst through the doors and immediately tore into Mark.

"Damn it, Mark! Pack up and leave!" Thomas bellowed. "Do you even realize what you turned away? That locket was worth millions! Millions!"

Mark stood, stunned. "I—I thought it was fake. The boy didn't seem like he had anything valuable."

Thomas slammed his hand on the counter. "You're blind! Get out!"

That evening, Mark turned down a job, thrown out by his furious boss.

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As Jack walked out of Noble Collection, his mind buzzed with the possibilities that five million dollars could bring. With that kind of money, he could easily buy a decent house for himself. He could picture it now—a spacious place, quiet, away from the bustling noise of the city. He could live all alone in comfort, never having to deal with the annoyances of others.

But then, his thoughts shifted. Did he really want to be all alone? Sure, it would be nice to have his own space, but wasn't that a bit premature? The money he had was substantial, but it wasn't enough to sustain a luxurious life forever, especially if he wanted to help his family later. His family—he hadn't seen them in a while. Maybe, with more planning, he could bring them to live with him. And maybe, eventually, he could marry, settle down, and build a life beyond just antiques and deals.

"Slow down, Jack," he muttered to himself, walking down the narrow streets of the city. "No need to rush into a house just yet."

After some thought, he decided it would be better to live in a shared apartment for a while, at least for a few months. He could save money, gather enough to buy a proper home when the time was right, and then, when he was ready, bring his family to live with him. His mother, always worrying about him, would finally see him settled. And maybe—just maybe—he could find a girl to marry, someone who could share in the life he was beginning to build.

With that decision made, Jack pulled out his phone and began searching for apartments online. The process wasn't exactly fun—there were a lot of overpriced places, and the ones that were affordable were either too far from his new job or seemed sketchy. Still, he kept scrolling, determined to find the right place. Although he had lot of money, he doesn't want to waste it. A habit of being poor he had.

After about an hour of browsing, one listing caught his attention. It was a modest apartment in a quiet neighborhood, not too far from Noble Collection. The rent was reasonable, and it seemed like a good fit for someone in his position. The listing mentioned an elderly woman as the landlord, and Jack decided to give her a call.

The phone rang twice before a soft, shaky voice answered. "Hello?"

"Hi, I'm calling about the apartment listing," Jack said. "Is it still available?"

"Oh yes, dear, still available. Are you looking for a place?" the old woman asked, her voice warm but a little frail.

"Yes, I'm hoping to move in soon. I'd like to know more about the place," Jack replied.

They talked for a while, the conversation easy and polite. The woman, Mrs. Franklin, was kind and patient, explaining the terms of the rental. The apartment had three bedrooms, and Jack would be sharing it with two other tenants, though everyone would have their own private rooms. Mrs. Franklin was upfront—she needed six months' rent in advance, as she had been burned by tenants in the past who skipped out on payments. Jack, who had more than enough money now, didn't hesitate.

"Six months upfront is fine," Jack said confidently.

Mrs. Franklin's tone brightened. "Oh, that's wonderful, dear. You sound like a responsible young man. I'll prepare the papers for you to sign. Are you free to come by this afternoon?"

"Yes, I'll come right over," Jack agreed.

They finalized the details, and Jack felt a sense of relief. He didn't care much about the two other tenants—he wasn't looking to make friends. Having his own room was enough, and the fact that the apartment was so close to Noble Collection was perfect. It meant he could walk to work and not have to worry about commuting.

A few hours later, Jack arrived at Mrs. Franklin's house, after a cup of tea and small chat, he sign the paper and got proff of renting.

Mrs. Franklin offer him to take to apartment and show around before signing but Jack didn't want to trouble old lady, and he saw pictures, which were enough for him to decide.

Mrs. Franklin smiled warmly as she handed him the keys. "Well, if you need anything, I'm just a phone call away. The rent covers all utilities, and there's a small garden in the back if you ever want to sit outside. It's quiet around here—good for thinking."

Jack appreciated the woman's warmth and thanked her before heading out.

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