جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 230

Elaine watched with satisfaction. Joanne's face had turned ashen, and her entire body trembled with rage.Just then, a worker came up the stairs carrying a paint roller and a bucket of red paint.Joanne snatched the roller from his hands, dipped it into the paint, and shoved it straight into Michelle's face. "I've seen everything I need to know about the Prescott family's values. If an unmarried younger sister can speak like that without a second thought, I can only imagine what my Lucille endured in your house for five years."You came onto my property looking for a fight, so don't expect me to be polite. This is a construction site. We don't have much to offer, but let me welcome you with a little paint and a little cement. We've been family for years, after all. Consider this my parting gift."Joanne showed no mercy. She swung the paint roller at Michelle and Elaine alike.A large crew was working on the renovations at Midnight Splendor. When they heard the commotion, they gath

Lucille's eyes reddened. "Mom, the nights are going to be exhausting. Even with Nancy there, the baby will cry, and you'll be up all night. Besides, I don't feel comfortable leaving her alone with Nancy..."Joanne shook her head. "I've raised children before. I brought up you and your brother on my own. Trust me, and go after what you love with everything you have. If you're going to do something, make it count."Those words untied the last knot in Lucille's heart. The biggest question weighing on her mind finally disappeared.A parent's love would always be a child's deepest source of strength.Warmth surged through her. She nodded, then rested her head against her mother's shoulder. "Mom, we haven't been this close in years."Joanne stiffened for a moment. She had never been entirely comfortable with hugs from her grown daughter.Even so, her hand rose instinctively to stroke Lucille's back, and her eyes grew misty. "Forgive me. I spent all those years running as fast as I coul

The face on the screen disappeared for a moment.When it returned, his voice was thick with emotion. "Soon, Mom. Once this big project wraps up on my end, I'll come home and see both of you."Lucille's eyes had already turned red. She covered her face with one hand and fought to keep herself together, barely succeeding.Then she smiled through tears that shimmered in her eyes. "Then hurry home, okay? Mom and I can't wait to see you. And thank you for the new car, and for sending us two incredible people to help. I've been doing really well lately. You already know all about it, don't you?"His face never reappeared on the screen, but his voice came through clearly, warm with affection. "I know. You've done well. You and Mom have had a hard time these past few years. From now on, your brother has your backs. Nobody is ever going to push you around again."Lucille nodded vigorously, and the tears she had fought so hard to hold back finally spilled over.Beside her, Joanne's eyes ha

"That assignment Otto was on was a classified national project. He had no freedom of movement. Besides, Otto and Lucille both have far too much integrity to ever—"Rayne clutched her head in despair. "My God, Gideon. This is where things stand, and you're still talking about their integrity?"The two of them are practically public at this point, and you still can't see it? Lucille is a partner at Riverrun Architectural Design Studio, and now Otto has gone out and bought her a luxury car. It couldn't be more obvious. Are you blind?"And I heard Riverrun Studio is holding a grand signing ceremony tomorrow. Three of the world's top 100 real estate firms will sign long-term agreements with them. Lucille and Otto will attend together as co-partners."We both know Otto never blurs professional lines unless he means it. If he had no feelings for Lucille, would he really go this far for a junior colleague? I'll say it plainly. Lucille's design skills aren't even on my level."That last cl

Gideon could not find words for what he was feeling. He stumbled out of his office in a daze and made his way to Lucille's old workstation.Standing before the empty desk and chair, he felt a crushing heaviness settle over him.She was such a proud, self-sufficient woman. She had tried so hard to earn his acknowledgment. She had wanted to be recognized, valued, and understood. She had devoted herself to her dreams with relentless determination, leaving almost no room for anything else. She would work late into every night, every day of the year, without weekends or breaks.Every time she finished a design, she would bring it to him with that familiar spark in her eyes, eager to explain the inspiration behind it.Even now, Gideon could still picture those bright, animated eyes whenever she spoke about her work. Yet, he had almost never given her what she wanted.He had stood over every submission with unquestioned authority, dissecting it piece by piece before sending it back. He h