Jade stepped out of the taxi and onto the cracked pavement in front of her grandmother’s house, the evening sky fading into soft purples and blues. A faint breeze rustled the leaves of the old oak tree by the porch, but even the familiar sight of her childhood home couldn’t settle the nerves that had been buzzing in her chest since the pharmacy visit.
She climbed the steps with her bag slung over her shoulder, her heels clicking softly against the wooden planks. Something felt… off. The house looked different.
Pausing at the door, Jade frowned, narrowing her eyes. The old, chipped paint on the front door had been replaced with a fresh coat of white, and the rusty hinges no longer squealed when she pushed it open. Inside, the difference was even more startling.
Her breath hitched.
The dim, sagging hallway that had greeted her for years was gone. In its place was a clean, freshly painted corridor. The walls were a soft cream color, the light fixture above replaced with something new and elegant. She stepped inside, blinking as her heels sank into new carpeting—something plush and far too expensive for their budget.
“What the…” Jade whispered under her breath.
She dropped her bag at the door, her heart pounding as she walked further into the house. The living room had been completely transformed. The old, lumpy couch that sagged in the middle was gone, replaced by a soft, modern sectional in a neutral gray. The coffee table, which had been wobbling for months, had been swapped for a sleek wooden centerpiece that looked like it belonged in a catalog.
The most shocking part was the walls—pictures of her family were hung neatly in new frames. The cracked plaster, which had driven her grandmother crazy, was now completely smooth and pristine.
Her grandmother’s voice called from the kitchen. “Jade? Is that you, dear?”
“Yeah, Grandma, it’s me,” Jade replied, still in shock as she made her way toward the kitchen. She couldn’t help but run her hand over the walls as she passed, as though she needed to feel them to confirm they were real.
The kitchen was just as immaculate. The faded cabinets had been replaced with sturdy white ones, and the countertops were a clean, shining granite. The once-leaky sink had a new stainless-steel faucet, and the floor tiles were fresh, no longer cracked or stained.
Jade’s grandmother, Mrs. Nguyen, stood by the stove, humming softly as she stirred a pot of soup. She looked happier and healthier than Jade had seen her in months, her hair neatly pinned up, her favorite floral apron tied around her waist.
“Grandma…” Jade finally found her voice. “What happened to the house?”
Her grandmother turned, her kind face lighting up with a smile. “Oh, isn’t it wonderful, sweetheart? I almost didn’t recognize it when they were done.”
Jade blinked, completely floored. “Who was done? Grandma, how did you afford all this?” She gestured around her. “The walls, the floors, the furniture… What’s going on?”
Her grandmother gave her a sheepish smile as she moved to the kitchen table, lowering herself carefully into a chair. “Come sit, Jade. You must be tired from your trip.”
Jade didn’t move. “Grandma, I’m serious. We couldn’t even afford to fix the bathroom, and now the whole house looks brand new. How?”
Mrs. Nguyen hesitated, her wrinkled hands smoothing over her apron before she finally spoke. “It was Enzo.”
Jade’s eyes widened, and she stumbled back a step. “Enzo?” Her voice rose, a mix of shock and confusion. “As in Enzo Enzo? Tall, dark, cocky, likes to smirk a lot—that Enzo?”
Her grandmother chuckled softly. “Yes, dear. That Enzo.”