Chapter 235: [235] "HOUSE 3"

The navigation system on the Porsche’s dashboard indicated a right turn onto a narrowand unlined road. Luc steered the vehicle off the main avenue. The concrete of the affluent residential district immediately gave way to a canopy of pine and oak trees.

The sunlight filtered through the branches in scattered, broken patterns across his windshield.

"This is off the main areas," Luc noted, checking the speedometer as the road curved sharply. "The privacy is natural. No need for eight-foot stone walls when you have a quarter-mile of dense woods bordering the property line."

Hugo Blanc kept himself focused, tracking their GPS coordinate. "The listing emphasized environment. The zoning laws for this specific sector restrict commercial development and limit residential land clearing to a minimum. It ensures the beautiful trees remains intact permanently."

"Smart," Luc said. He guided the car around a final bend.

The trees opened up to reveal a modest driveway which was well paved. Luc pulled in and shifted the car into park. He cut the engine, the sudden silence of the woods pressing in against the windows.

They both stepped out of the Porsche. The air here felt different...cooler, cleaner, seperated from the exhaust and heat of the city.

Luc closed his door and looked at the property.

It matched the photographs Hugo had displayed. It was a modern, single-story construction utilizing natural wood and dark stone accents. Large, flat-paneled windows offered ample natural light without turning the structure into something else. It sat low to the ground, blending effortlessly into the surrounding foliage.

But there was a distinct feature that the angle of the listing photos had subtly downplayed.

It was a twin house.

The structure was cleanly bisected down the middle. Two identical front doors, painted a certain black, sat on opposite ends of a long, shared front porch. A single firewall separated the two residences, joining them under one continuous, low-pitched roof.

"Semi-detached," Luc observed, walking up the driveway. "It’s a nice style. The listing didn’t exactly highlight that you’d be sharing a wall with a neighbor."

Hugo adjusted the strap of his bag, surveying the exterior with a clinical eye. "The photographs were cropped to emphasize the left one. However, the blueprints I downloaded from the municipal registry indicated the shared structure. I am aware of it."

"And you’re okay with it?" Luc asked, crossing his arms as he looked at the identical right side of the house. "You just rejected a massive estate because you didn’t want to deal with wasted space. And if you rent out the second, living in a twin house means you don’t control the type of person who lives on the other side of that wall. Could be a family with three screaming toddlers. Could be a guy who plays the drums at 2 AM."

"I think I know the risk," Hugo replied calmly, walking toward the electronic lockbox mounted near the left front door. "The soundproofing for modern builds in this price bracket mandate acoustic insulation between adjoined units. The right unit is currently vacant and actively listed on the market. I can request Valérie’s management team to vet potential tenants before they sign a lease."

"You’re going to have Valérie run background checks on your neighbors," Luc chuckled, following the teenager up the front steps. "That is terrifying, Hugo. Just do it yourself."

"It is efficient if she does, she has her way of scrutinizing. You could say I learnt from the best," Hugo corrected. He tapped a six-digit code into the lockbox. A green light flashed, and the small compartment popped open, revealing a key.

Hugo unlocked the door and pushed it inward.

They stepped into it and the interior was exactly as promised. No marble floors or glass staircases.

The flooring was of engineered oak. The walls were painted a neutral gray. The layout was a true open concept, but scaled down to manageable proportions.

The kitchen featured a modest, highly functional island with dark soapstone countertops. The living space flowed directly from the kitchen, anchored by a simple fireplace embedded in a stone accent wall.

It was normal. It was a house meant to be lived in, not a showroom designed for hosting galas.

"This is better," Luc said, walking into the living room. He didn’t have to raise his voice. There was no echo. The acoustics were deadened perfectly by the materials and the low ceiling. "It actually feels like a home."

Hugo walked straight to the kitchen. He stood in the center, visualizing the space. He paced the distance between the refrigerator, the stainless steel sink, and the stovetop.

"The working area is nice as well," Hugo announced, genuine satisfaction bleeding into his tone. "The distance is exactly three steps between each station. No obstructions."

Luc walked over to the windows at the back of the living room. He peered through the glass.

The backyard was a medium-sized plot, fenced in by dark wood panels that provided immediate privacy. Beyond the fence, the dense woods continued.

In the center of the shared compound sat a rectangular swimming pool. It was bordered by a modest concrete deck and a covered sit-out area featuring a built-in barbecue grill and outdoor seating.

"The pool is shared," Luc called out, unlocking the sliding glass door and stepping out onto the back patio.

Hugo followed him outside, standing on the edge of the deck. He looked at the pool, then at the covered sit-out area. The property line dividing the two units was marked by a low planter box filled with decorative grass, creating a visual boundary without erecting a physical wall.

"The maintenance contract for the pool and the exterior grounds is managed by a centralized homeowners association," Hugo recited from his memory of the listing. "The financing is split equally between the two units. I do not have to hire independent contractors or negotiate landscaping. It is the best deal we’ve seen today."

Luc walked over to the edge of the pool. The water was crystal clear, reflecting the sky above.