Chapter 340: Chapter 340

In front of the school, many parents had already departed, but a few lingered at the back, hoping to catch a moment with Ian. It’s a pity that Ian didn’t seem to notice them at all.

Even the headmaster found himself a bit flustered. It was always like that with Ian. This time, he had made his assistant stay back lest the man did something that may offend Ian. The headmaster was trying to show respect while Ian focused entirely on his wife and their two children. Out of the three Thornston kids, little Ingrid seemed almost glued to her mother’s side.

"Is everything okay, sweetheart?" Shelby asked as she saw Samantha finally disappear behind the thick double doors some distance away.

Ingrid nodded but didn’t say anything.

"Why don’t you head on to class? I’ll pick you up later, okay?" Shelby encouraged, noticing Ingrid’s hesitation to leave. Meanwhile, Gabriel was happily lost in his own world, proudly introducing his mother to everyone around as if he had just won a trophy that he wanted the whole world to celebrate with him.

"Ermmmm...." The headmaster hesitated little, while he cleared his throat to get the attention of the family. Many things run through his mind as he finally came to a decision to bring forward a task he had at hand.

"Is anything the matter, Headmaster?"

"The commissioned private pool has been created for Ingrid’s use as you had requested."

"Oh...." Shelby raised an eyebrow as if asking Ian about it.

’A private pool for Ingrid at school? Did I hear that right?’

Ian smiled and finally stepped into the conversation.

"That was done on record time...."

Shelby was still baffled and was trying to wrap her mind around this new information. She was well aware that Ingrid liked the water for obvious reasons, but they could not let her swim in public for other further evident reasons as well, but did that mean that she, the nine-year-old girl, could get her own pool at the school? Wasn’t that a tad bit ridiculous?

The headmaster was still talking and explaining about a few things that Ian had apparently d to the Islanders’ Academy to get his children comfortable.

"Would you like to see it?"

Ian nodded and then holding out his hand for her, guided Shelby to follow the headmaster. The mention of the pool piped Ingrid’s attention and Shelby could feel the excitement ooze off of her.

"Thank you for your generosity, Mr Thornston. I am glad that the madam has totally recovered from that ordeal. The secondary pool is still under construction, and we expect it to be done in a couple of months.... "

Ian generously d to create a wonderful private recreational area just for his children. At the same time, he ensured that a larger, identical space was built for all the other students to enjoy.

He knew that Ingrid would spend a lot of time at school and just wanted to ensure she was comfortable.

There were a lot of rules attached to these new private recreational areas when he had given the funds to have them constructed, including but not limited to the fact that there were no cameras there that could be accessed by the school, and no one else but the three Thornston children and only the Thornston family had access to it.

The conditions stipulated for this construction were bizarre, and Ian did not explain himself to them. He had promised that it could become the school staff’s property after the youngest, Gabriel, graduated from the Islanders’ academy, not before then. The project started with only Ingrid in mind but was then extended to the other two as well.

The headmaster led them through many complex hallways till they stood in front of a frosted glass.

"After today, this will only be accessed by the biometrics of the kids and anyone else authorized."

The headmaster said as he punched some keys on an electronic keypad, and the glass slid away to review the innards of the new place as he added,

"I was about to send the communication to your assistant today informing you of this, but seeing you and the Mrs here, I thought to let you see it together.... " he added, as if trying to gain some favour of having the foresight to do this. Throughout their walk there, he had been talking non-stop about what had been done but neither Ian nor his wife said anything in response.

Shelby took a step into the area and gasped. The two children echoed her reaction.

The said pool stretched out like a glistening jewel, its water so clear it seemed almost unreal. Sleek, polished tiles lined the edges, catching the sunlight and reflecting it in a shimmer of blues and silvers.

Around the pool’s perimeter, lounge chairs with plush, cushioned seating invited people to sink into comfort. Each one was shaded by a wide, elegant pink umbrella. Built-in misters sprayed a fine, warming mist into the air, making the cold temperature of the day fade into a distant memory.

The facility itself was a marvel of modern design, with sleek glass walls that allowed natural light to pour in, creating a bright and airy atmosphere. An infinity edge on one side of the pool gave the illusion that the water spilled seamlessly into the horizon, blending with the sky beyond but there was no sky beyond.

It was a large screen and a mirror connecting at the top that gave that sense of an endless horizon. Soft LED lights, hidden beneath the water’s surface, added a touch of glamour, their colours shifting slowly from a calming blue to a vibrant green as the day progressed into the evening. Faux lawns at vantage points gave the illusion that this was an outside pool, not an indoor one.

Nearby, a swim-up bar offered every luxury imaginable, stocked with chilled drinks, fresh fruit smoothies, and even a few mocktails! The barstools, submerged just below the water, seemed designed to keep swimmers at the ideal temperature, while they sipped their beverages—a perfect blend of relaxation and style—except this was in a school!

The poolside area was equipped with top-of-the-line fitness gear for water aerobics and a state-of-the-art sound system that played ambient music softly in the background which had started playing as soon as the door had slid open, its speakers cleverly hidden within the landscaped faux gardens.

"We added these temperature-controlled cabanas, complete with adjustable sunroofs and smart technology that can allow the children to control everything from the lighting to the ambient temperature with just a touch of a button." The headmaster’s voice pierced Shelby’s stupor just as the thought crossed her mind,

’This isn’t just a pool! It’s a whole of experience that’s baffling!’,

And Shelby was right. The area was a blend of luxury and technology that catered to every comfort imaginable. It was the kind of place where you could lose track of time, letting the hours drift away in a haze of sun, water, and sheer bliss.

Her small mouth hung open as Gabriel dashed off into the place in excitement. Ingrid wanted to, but she had made a promise with her parents never to swim in front of others, and her headmaster was there. Shelby’s astonishment could not be masked! She had seen her fair share of riches after becoming Mrs Thornston, but she was seeing was incomprehensible!

"What do you think, Elvin?"

She shook her head out of that amazement state and asked,

"... th-is is j-ust for the use of our three?"

"Of course! Is it not enough? Maybe it should have been bigger since they are three.... But -"

"No – n-o I don’t mean that...." Shelby added quickly shaking her one hand as the other was still clasped in Ian’s.

"It’s more than okay!" In her mind, she thought that it was even too much, but Shelby did not dare say the words.

The headmaster’s smile widened, and he clasped his hands in gratitude. He was somewhat apprehensive that Ian may not like it but seeing the way he held his wife in high regard, her response had sealed the deal for him.

"Thank you, Mrs Thornston!"

’What did I do?’ Shelby wondered.

Somewhere in the third period, Samantha had excused herself to the ladies’ room. She was starting to get a headache from all the attention she was receiving and needed those few minutes to herself.

"Did you hear? The school commissioned a new private pool for the Thornston adopted children! Can you imagine? They get their own pool, and the rest of us get one!"

"Really? I want to see it! Let’s go after school!"

"See what? It’s out of bounds to all of us but those three. I hear even the headmaster is forbidden from entering the place."

"Those are some lucky bastards! I wish I were adopted too!..... but isn’t that over the top? This is our school... why...."

"Ikr! The world is unfair, and we can’t do shit about it. I hear that they visited the area today. They should even be there by now."

"Did they sideline the first girl?"

The voices faded from the room as Samantha walked out of the stall in a daze. She knew that her parents would never sideline her, but she still felt a faint pang in her heart from hearing that.

Thinking back to the conversation, Samantha set off to go look for this private pool. She did not want to be left out, and the class was starting to get annoying anyway!

It took her a while and a few asks to get to the place. It was not hidden in any way so that was fairly easy.

As she stood in front of the frosted glass, she hesitated as she stared at the key panel,

"What do I tell them? How do I even get in?"

Just then, "Welcome, Miss Samantha!" A sweet mechanical voice reached her ears as the doors slid open. Samantha stepped back in surprise, but the doors remained open till she passed through it. She had no idea why it opened for her, but that warmed her heart. Whatever had been done had included her!

Samantha heard the excited shrieks before she got there. She felt as if she had stepped into an alternate universe and an outdoor pool.

"Wow!" was all she could say.

She took a gentle step forward as the shimmering pool came into view, and then a wave of surprise washed over her at the breathtaking scene that greeted her eyes.

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