Chapter 171: Discovered too late...
After entering his room, Julia shut the door softly behind him. With a click, the light flicked on, bathing the familiar space in a warm glow.
He looked around, eyes pausing on the painting hanging on the far wall. It was a picture he had created long ago—an image crafted with hope and longing. A guide, he had once called it. A way to identify the sister he’d never met.
When drawing it, he’d imagined how she might look based on a careful blend of his parents’ features. Every stroke had meaning. Every color carried emotion. It wasn’t just a painting—it was a symbol, a reminder that somewhere out there, a part of him was still missing.
He had taken a shot of the painting with his phone and carefully saved it to ensure he didn’t lose it.
He stepped forward slowly, taking in every detail with new eyes. His heart thudded as he recalled the girl he’d seen earlier.
The resemblance was uncanny. Every detail seemed to match—except for the eyes. He hadn’t seen them. That one missing piece haunted him. Were they like his? Onyx flecked with gold? The thought lingered.
He sighed deeply and walked toward the bed. With a tired slump, he sat down and began unbuttoning his shirt.
The day had been long, stressful and exhausting in more ways than one. All he wanted was a quick shower and a few moments of quiet. With a long stride, he stepped into the bathroom.
Steam curled from the bathroom as he stepped out, towel slung over his shoulder, hair damp and tousled. Just as he reached for a shirt, his phone dinged.
A notification lit up the screen. He picked it up and glanced at the message. A summary report from Maxwell—his assistant. He skimmed it briefly, making a mental note to review it more thoroughly later.
Without hesitation, he dialed a number.