Epilogue: The Contentment (Volume 1 Ends here)

The evening air in Singapore was warm and filled with the hum of a bustling city. The team decided to celebrate their newfound success at one of the finest restaurants in the Marina Bay area, a rooftop establishment offering panoramic views of the city skyline. As they stepped off the elevator, the ambiance of the restaurant struck them—a blend of elegance and modernity, with soft lighting and live jazz music setting the mood.

A host greeted them and guided them to a private table near the edge of the rooftop, overlooking the illuminated Marina Bay Sands and the iconic Merlion. The view was breathtaking, and for a moment, the team simply soaked it in, marveling at how far they had come.

"This is insane," Leo said as he took his seat, gazing at the twinkling city lights. "I can't believe this is how we're ending the day. Millionaires in Singapore, eating at a place like this."

Saimon grinned, flipping through the menu. "Not gonna lie, I've always wanted to try something this fancy. Might as well go all out tonight."

"Just don't forget the price tags," Samantha said with a chuckle, though even she seemed more relaxed than usual. "We may have millions now, but let's not blow it all on one dinner."

Matthew, sitting at the head of the table, smiled faintly. He still felt the weight of the decision they'd made earlier, but being surrounded by his team—his friends—eased some of the tension. "Order whatever you want," he said. "We've earned this."

The server arrived shortly after, taking their orders. They chose a variety of dishes, from Wagyu steaks to fresh seafood, paired with fine wine and sparkling water. As the server left, Leo leaned back in his chair, his tone turning serious for a moment.

"So, about the money," Leo began, glancing at Matthew. "We need to talk about how we're splitting it."

Samantha nodded, folding her hands on the table. "We all know the deal was for $1.5 million. But honestly, it doesn't feel right to divide it evenly."

Matthew frowned. "What do you mean? We're a team. We split it equally, $375,000 each."

Saimon shook his head. "No, Matt. That's not fair. You're the one who came up with the design. You did the heavy lifting—the concept, the technical details, everything. We just helped you make it happen."

Samantha added, her tone thoughtful, "Saimon's right. Without your vision, this wouldn't exist. You deserve the largest share."

"I couldn't have done it without you. You all played a part."

"We know," Leo said with a grin, "and we're not saying our contribution doesn't matter. But let's be real—this was your baby. How about this: you get $600,000, and the rest of us get $300,000 each."

Matthew opened his mouth to protest, but Samantha cut him off. "Matt, $300,000 is more money than most people see in their entire lives. We're more than happy with that. And you deserve the extra share."

Saimon raised his glass of water. "It's settled, then. To Matthew and his brilliant design, and to all of us for making it happen."

Leo followed suit, raising his glass. "To the future. May we never have to worry about money while we are still jobless after graduation."

Matthew hesitated for a moment before smiling and raising his glass. "To all of us—and to what comes next."

They clinked their glasses together, the sound ringing softly in the air. The food arrived shortly after, each dish more extravagant than the last. They savored every bite, sharing laughs and stories from the journey that had brought them to this moment.

As the evening wore on, the conversation turned to their plans for the future.

"What are you gonna do with your share, Matt?" Saimon asked, leaning forward.

Matthew thought for a moment, swirling his glass of wine. "I'm not sure yet. Maybe invest it in something new. I've been thinking about exploring other industries—maybe even tech. You know, starting a business, because that's where all the money is."

"Big dreams as always," Samantha said with a smile. "I'm planning to save most of mine. Maybe take a trip to Europe or invest in a business, but I want to be smart about it."

Leo grinned. "I'm gonna buy a car. An actual nice one this time, not the beat-up one I've been driving around campus. Then maybe invest in stocks or something."

Saimon chuckled. "I'm sending most of mine back home. You know, invest in my family's business."

Matthew looked around the table, a swell of pride filling his chest. "Whatever you decide, make sure it's something that makes you happy. We've earned that much."

As the night drew to a close, the team stepped out onto the rooftop terrace, the city lights stretching out before them like a sea of stars. For a while, they stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

"This feels like the start of something incredible," Samantha said softly.

"It is," Matthew replied. "And no matter where we go from here, we'll always have this moment."

They stayed a while longer, gazing at the skyline, letting the stillness of the evening settle around them. The gentle hum of the city below felt like the perfect soundtrack to their shared moment of achievement.

Finally, Leo broke the silence with a chuckle. "You know, this feels unreal. Just a few months ago, we were stressing over our capstone project, and now we're here, celebrating with $1.5 million in our pockets."

Saimon laughed. "It's a bit crazy. I mean, we've come a long way. And for all the stress we went through, I'd say it was worth it."

"Now we just have to wait for our graduation in September," Leo added.

Samantha smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned against the railing. "Graduation feels so close now, doesn't it? But with everything happening, it's like we've already stepped into the real world."

Matthew nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "This isn't where I thought we'd be at this point, but I'm glad we made it here. The journey's just starting."

Saimon clapped Matthew on the back with a grin. "And hey, maybe by September, we'll have even more to celebrate."

Leo raised an eyebrow. "You're talking about more than just a diploma, right?"

Saimon shrugged playfully. "Who knows? The future's looking pretty bright for all of us."

Matthew turned to face them, his expression thoughtful. "No matter where we end up, let's promise to stay connected. This is just the beginning of something bigger, and I want us to remember this team."

Samantha smiled warmly. "Agreed. No matter what comes next, we'll always have this."