Michael sat at the kitchen table, his laptop open in front of him. The remnants of breakfast—plates with crumbs of toast and a half-empty cup of coffee—sat to the side, forgotten as he focused on the screen. Bridget had gone to take a shower, leaving Michael with a few quiet moments to himself.
He clicked through a few emails, responding to the most urgent ones before his mind wandered to something he had been considering for a while. A new house. The penthouse was great, but with the success of his company and the way his life was evolving, he felt it was time for a change—a bigger space, a place that felt more permanent.
He opened a new tab and typed "luxury houses for sale in Manila" into the search bar. Within seconds, a list of properties appeared on the screen, each one more impressive than the last. Michael scrolled through the options.