Rich People Problems

Rachel awoke to both the smell of her favorite coffee and the sight of Nick who began to tell her about his trip to Thailand. He told Rachel that they had met in India, where she had gone just before the Japanese invaded Singapore. She was only 22 at the time. They had an affair during the war “and traveled through India together” (373). Su Yi then sneaked back to Singapore with Jirasit’s help. When she saw her father again, she found out that he had arranged for her to marry a man she had never met.

Rachel recalled that Su Yi told her the story of the arranged marriage and said that she was grateful that her father chose someone for her. Nick said that his grandmother was actually resistant to the decision. Then, after the war, she saw Jirasit again in Bangkok. Though, they were both married to other people, they resumed their relationship. During the affair, she found out that she was pregnant. The child who resulted was Nick’s aunt, Catherine.

Su Yi was in a bind but had a choice: She could divorce James Young and be alone with an illegitimate child, or confess the truth and beg him not to leave her. James not only took Su Yi back but never once made her feel guilty for the affair. He was also determined to win her love and succeeded. He treated Catherine as if she were his own. In fact, Nick suspected that Catherine was even his favorite.

In the end, Su Yi felt that her father was right to choose James for her, which was why she wanted Nick to obey her own wishes about whom to marry. Rachel also remembered how Su Yi reacted when finding out that she was the result of an affair that her own mother had out of wedlock.

Nick then showed Rachel the letter that had fallen out of one of Su Yi’s diaries. It was from King George VI, thanking her for allowing Tyersall Park to be a safe haven for many British and Australian soldiers. Additionally, Su Yi’s brother had helped hide Tan Kah Kee and Ng Aik Huan—some of Singapore’s key anti-Japanese activists—in Sumatra. Su Yi had taken a risky trip to Indonesia to see Ah Jit (Alexander) before he died. She disguised these activists and Allied officers as servants so that the Japanese troops would be none the wiser. Nick insisted that Tyersall Park was more than his childhood home, it was a historical landmark.

Charlie embraced Astrid on the beach, promising he’d never again let her go. She said that she needed to take some time away for herself—something she had never done. She told Charlie that she owned a piece of land nearby, which was left to her by her great-aunt Matilda Leong. She had never visited the land before deciding to move to the Philippines.

Over lunch, Astrid told Charlie that she had gone to Paris to see her friend Grégoire who told her about Palawan. A friend of his named Simone-Christine de Ayala lived there. Astrid said that some people called Simone-Christine an energy worker, but Astrid found her simply to be a wise woman who was easy to talk to about what concerned her in life

Astrid told Charlie about how her parents had directed every move she made in life, and refused to allow her to do anything that would put her in the public eye—and certainly not any cause like human trafficking in Southeast Asia.

Charlie insisted that, if Astrid married him, she could be whoever she wanted to be. He also reported that Isabel had awakened from her coma, and Michael agreed to sign her divorce papers. Charlie found out that Isabel had him and Astrid under surveillance in India. She had also planted a camera and recording device in his daughter Delphine’s stuffed giraffe. Due to Delphine dragging the stuffed animal between houses, Isabel kept track of everything that went on. Michael helped Isabel acquire the device.

Charlie had flown to Singapore a few weeks before to tell Michael that, if he didn’t withdraw the lawsuit against Astrid and sign the papers, he would have Michael sent to prison for “aiding and abetting Isabel in her illegal surveillance” in addition to extortion for sending Astrid the video with a demand for $5 billion (383).

Astrid was relieved to know that she was finally free, but she wasn’t sure that she wanted to marry again. She also wanted to stay in Palawan. Charlie asked Astrid if there was a place in her new life for him. Astrid was unsure of what to say.

Kitty and Oliver were walking through Kanaal—the atelier and private showroom of esteemed interior designer Axel Vervoordt. They walked through “a dramatically lit chamber […] filled with nothing but ancient Buddha heads carved out of stone” (385). Kitty suggested that they do the same in the garden at Tyersall Park. Oliver chucked to think of how Victoria Young would react to the sight of that. He also wondered if Kitty could be styled as Singapore’s version of Peggy Guggenheim. Perhaps she could turn Tyersall Park into an art showroom like Storm King in New York or the Chinati Foundation in Marfa.

Axel then entered the room. He said that a young couple had just visited with her Majesty the Queen earlier that day. The couple had acquired “the largest private estate on the island” (386). Oliver guessed that the couple were an English lord and a Chinese woman. Axel confirmed that they were, indeed. Oliver looked out onto the balcony where Kitty had gone after hearing the news and flung her cell phone into the canal below.

When she returned to Oliver, she told him that she had spoken to Jack, who had bought her the house in Singapore. He had said that he was proud of the changes Colette had made in her life and wanted to reward her. He also warned Kitty against trying to make him choose between her and his daughter.

Oliver advised Kitty to try to use her position as Harvard’s mother, ensuring that he would be the most influential person in the boy’s life. This way, she would secure her position beside Jack’s inevitable heir. Kitty asked if the contract to buy Tyersall Park was signed; Oliver said it hadn’t because Nick was trying to buy it, but he couldn’t raise enough money to match Jack’s offer. He needed $4 billion more. Kitty then offered to provide the money to steal the house away from Jack. Oliver was surprised to hear that she had so much money of her own. Kitty said that she had received 2 billion in her divorce settlement from Bernard Tai and invested it all in Amazon. She now had more than 5 billion.

Oliver made a few calls, including one to Nick. Oliver reported back that Nick was having Tyersall Park declared a national historic landmark. He and a group of partners were preparing to counter Bing’s offer. They only needed 3 billion more. Kitty agreed to provide it. 

Everyone who was anyone in Singapore high society was gathered at Tyersall Park for the wedding of Rachel’s dear friend Peik Lin and Alistair Cheng.

The property was transformed into Tyersall Park Hotel and Museum. The main house was preserved as a historic landmark and boutique hotel run by Colin Khoo and Araminta Lee. In the 19 acres near the house there were 40 guest villas designed by Oliver T’sien and Axel Vervoordt. Beyond this, there was Tyersall Village, a community of 45 acres with sustainable housing for people in the creative arts and middle-income families. The property was built by Goh Developments—“the construction company owned by Peik Lin’s family” (393). Victoria said that she was fine with what Peik Lin and Alistair had done with Tyersall Village, but she despised the Buddha heads in the garden.

After the ceremony, Eddie was the first to propose a toast to the newlyweds. He then began to cry and collapsed onto his brother’s shoulder. Fiona revealed to Astrid that, after Su Yi died, she told Eddie to go to a therapist—otherwise, she was going to leave him. He relented and also gave up his mistresses. He was learning, alas, to process his feelings in a healthier manner.

Fiona then complimented Astrid on her dress, which Astrid said he had made. It was a part of her new line of resort wear. He was also creating her own fabrics. The one she was wearing was “bamboo cotton, hand-dyed in ocean water” (395). She loved her new life in Palawan. Charlie was with her, teaching math and science classes. Cassian was one of his students.

After the wedding banquet, Peik Lin threw her bouquet and Scheherazade caught it. When Araminta revealed news that a European prince planned to rent out the entire hotel for a week for his birthday party, Rachel wondered if Colette would soon hire it out for her next big party. Araminta then asked Kitty how Colette was doing since the accident that had occurred at her Save the Orangutans Proust Ball the year before at the Goodwood Park Hotel. Kitty reported that Jack had told her that Colette’s condition was improving; she was staying in a nice facility in England, but it would be some time before she could return to Sumatra. On the bright side, she could speak again without dribbling.

While telling the story about Colette, Harvard tugged at his mother’s sleeve, saying he was hungry. Kitty led him to a quiet corner in the woods, undid her strapless jumpsuit, and took out her left breast so that Harvard could eat. Kitty had become a believer in attachment parenting. She looked around at all of the Buddha heads in the garden, pleased with her décor choice. She was certain that they would bring Tyersall Park good karma.

On the other side of the garden, Nick was commending Rachel for coming up with the idea of “putting Peik Lin, Alistair, Colin, and Araminta together” to create the eco-village that radiated outward from Tyersall Park (397). Nick was especially impressed that Colin and Araminta had done so much while also having a baby—Auberon. Rachel paused and said that the boy was adorable and would make a great playmate for her and Nick’s child. She then revealed that she was six weeks pregnant. Nick was “overwhelmed with joy” but insisted that they not tell his mother (397). Rachel agreed. Nick then took his wife onto the dance floor. He gazed down at his wife, looked at Astrid and Charlie who were blissfully embracing, and cast a glance over at the great house, which seemed reborn.