Fortunately, Medford is not densely populated, and although the road conditions were very poor in the bad weather, there was fortunately no widespread traffic jam.
More than half an hour later, in the strong wind and heavy rain, Mike and the others arrived at the large villa.
Helen and Eileen were looking out the door.
"Thank God, you're back safe and sound!" Helen stepped forward and embraced her returning daughter.
This heavy storm came too suddenly, obviously frightening Helen, the single mother.
"Eileen, arrange for someone to get dry towels and clothes; Mia and the others need to freshen up..." With her mind at ease, Helen began to arrange tasks.
Before long, Mike and the others, having dried off the rain and changed into new clothes, gathered in the villa's large living room.
At this time, it had already been decorated into a temporary banquet hall, with various foods, small desserts, and hot tea on the tables.
Because the temperature had dropped sharply, Helen also arranged for someone to light the fireplace.
On the television in front, reporters were broadcasting outdoor interviews about this special weather.
It could be seen in the video that outside, the rain was pouring like columns, the wind was howling, and the reporters and passersby could no longer stand steadily.
Compared to the harsh weather outside, being able to nestle on a warm sofa and drink a cup of hot tea was a rare luxury.
Soon, there was movement at the villa's entrance.
Accompanied by cold air and raindrops, Georgie and Connie, shielding Mandy, the pregnant woman, between them, entered the villa.
Dry towels, hot water, warm clothes...
After another round of tidying up, Georgie and the other two also came to the living room and sat on the sofa.
Seeing Mandy's comfortable expression, this storm seemed to have little effect on her.
Or rather, Georgie and Connie protected her very well.
"Do you know how bad the weather is outside right now?" Georgie, after eating some food, shared, "I felt like our car almost got blown away just now. Luckily, my driving skills are excellent..."
The comfortable environment made him completely relax.
"Oh, Mike. Do you know how much money the little shop made today?" Georgie, who had just opened his car repair shop, was still in the fresh excitement phase.
"How much?" To avoid dampening his spirits, Mike responded.
Mike had invested over fifty thousand dollars in that comprehensive car repair shop, from site selection to renovation.
In return, he received a 60% share of the shop in one go.
Of course, for Mike, whose net worth now exceeded ten million, this investment was more about helping Georgie; making money was just a bonus and not worth too much attention.
"It was over four hundred dollars in a single day; we're going to get rich!" Georgie said with a touch of emotion, "I never thought a car repair shop could be so profitable."
Earning a week's worth of a typical white-collar worker's salary in one day was indeed something for Georgie to be happy about for a while.
However, this is also understandable; in America, which is in a period of economic development, the proportion of labor service fees is gradually increasing.
Even just taking a towel to wipe cars for drivers at traffic lights, if lucky, one could earn over a hundred dollars in tips a day.
Not to mention that Georgie's business combines car washing and repair, which is a skilled trade.
"The revenue is good; keep up the good work. When you open branches later, you can also be a boss," Mike said with a smile, encouraging the highly motivated Georgie.
Just as the two were imagining the future, George, who was soaked from the rain, entered the villa, shielding his youngest daughter, Missy.
"You're all here!" Seeing Georgie and the others, George's face broke into a smile.
Missy, on her part, happily rushed into Mike's arms.
Looking at the little girl's cleverness, this storm seemed to have little impact on her either.
"Helen, thank you for providing shelter for me and my family." George, after tidying up, came to the living room and first expressed his gratitude to the villa's owner.
"It's nothing; the house hasn't been this lively in a long time," Helen replied with a smile.
Afterward, a group of people sat around in the living room, playing board games and chatting about the weather.
Compared to the raging storm outside, this was finding peace amidst the chaos.
"By the way, where is Mary? I haven't seen her." George, who was playing cards with his eldest son, suddenly asked.
"Oh no, I almost forgot. Mom might be in trouble." Georgie froze in place.
All the previous circumstances had made him forget about Mary.
"What's wrong? Didn't you mom come with you?" George asked worriedly.
"When we left earlier, Mom was still busy with church work outside. She said on the phone that she would drive over, but who knew she still hasn't arrived after all this time..." Georgie explained guiltily.
Because Mandy was pregnant, Georgie had been in a hurry to bring her to the villa earlier, so he hadn't waited for Mary to come along.
"What's wrong, George?" Connie, who was chatting with Helen, saw George's distressed expression and asked.
"It's Mary; she's very likely trapped at home, or trapped halfway..." George couldn't help but worry, thinking of his wife still out in such weather.
As the saying goes: a day as husband and wife, a hundred days of kindness.
Moreover, George had very deep feelings for Mary.
"What can we do?" After learning the truth, Connie also became worried about her daughter.
Connie was not aware of Georgie's earlier phone call to Mary.
"Don't worry, let's call Mary again and confirm the situation first," Mike, sitting on the other side, also learned what had happened.
"Right, call her!" George took the phone from Mike's hand.
After a few rings, the call was connected.
"Mary, where are you now? Are you okay?" George asked anxiously as soon as the call connected.
"George, I'm at home, the rain outside is too heavy for me to go out, and the house is leaking..." Mary spoke intermittently, her emotions very unstable.
It made sense; as a woman, being alone in a leaking house in such terrible weather, the situation would definitely not be good.
"Don't be afraid, take care of yourself..." George tried his best to comfort his wife.
Suddenly, a scream came from the phone.
"What's wrong? Mary!" George's heart also leaped at that moment.
"The window was blown off, and the lights in the house are out..." Mary's words on the phone were cut short by crackling electrical sounds, forcing the call to disconnect.
It was clear that, following the electrical circuit, the Cooper family's phone line also had issues.
"No, Mary needs me now!" After the phone call, George became even more worried about his wife.
He then got up, preparing to go back and find Mary.
"Calm down, George. Mary will be fine at home; it's more dangerous for you to go out now," Connie tried to persuade George.
Outside the window, it had completely darkened, and the occasional flashes of electricity in the sky and the deafening thunder showcased the power of nature.
"No need to persuade me; I can't leave Mary behind." His concern for his wife made George overcome his fear of nature.
"Mike, Connie, I'm leaving the children in your care. And Georgie, take good care of Mandy." After giving his instructions, George walked firmly towards the door.
Meanwhile, Amy, at Helen's instruction, quickly went to the room and retrieved a set of waterproof warm clothing, a powerful flashlight, and a reinforced helmet.
She handed them to George before he walked out of the villa.
Then, George, wrapped in warm clothes, walked into the night.
Back in the villa, everyone had lost their previous mood for fun.