I’ll take a look.
Without waiting for his son’s permission, Lysander took the candle and examined it closely, paying particular attention to the hand-drawn cat on it.
Just as he suspected.
It was almost identical to the candle he had seen in a photo on Nathaniel’s phone, especially the painted cat.
His mother had been a painter, and growing up around art, he had developed a keen eye for it.
The brushwork style was unmistakably by the same artist. Despite the simplicity of the strokes, the skill and depth were evident.
A truly talented artist.
However, the candle in Nathaniel’s photo had been adorned with various little animals and was more intricate. This one only featured a single cat. It made sense; no one gives away their best work.
After admiring it for a moment, Lysander casually tossed the candle back to Adrian, saying, Remember to return the favor with a gift.
Adrian clutched the candle, a bit annoyed by his father’s casual attitude, but nodded obediently.
He had plenty of toys, many still unopened. He could easily pick one to give to Julian.
He put the candle away and, noticing that the car wasn’t heading home, curiously asked, Dad, where are we going?
To Giselle’s.
Adrian’s eyes lit up, Really? Are we staying over?
Lysander glanced out the window, his expression calm, We’ll see.
…
Her father’s promotion, the family’s advancement, and her own standing with Lysander were all at stake.
Giselle was genuinely anxious.
Mrs. Harvey didn’t fully grasp the situation but could sense something was wrong and felt a bit panicked, What are we going to do?
Charles’ face was grim as he replied, There’s still a chance. Only the team members have been in contact with the Lockwoods, but the Forest Team leader hasn’t made a public statement yet. This is still a game of interests and negotiations.
The problem is the Lockwood family…
The Lockwoods were on a different level than the Harveys, though their past was checkered. Despite recent efforts to clean up their image, some lingering issues remained.
There were already plans to bring the Lockwoods down, and Charles had been secretly fueling the fire, waiting for their downfall to claim a share of their ‘legacy.’ Such an opportunity would propel the Harveys forward. But if the Lockwoods secured a partnership with the Forest Team, those plans might change.
The benefits and advancements a top-tier tech genius could bring were immense and transformative, and there was no way he could let the Lockwoods have that chance.