Chapter 166: You never loved Dad
Alekis carefully reviewed the final documents prepared for the appointment of the next Chairman. With a sigh, he closed the file and locked it away in his desk drawer. His eyes drifted to a framed photograph on the corner of his desk, his expression softening as he gazed at the image of Antoine.
"Roderick isn’t fit for this position," he murmured, almost as if speaking to the man in the photo. "If you were still here, Antoine, you would never have entrusted this legacy to your son. It should have gone to Lucius. But this is what I promised you when you were blessed with a boy."
A firm knock at the door pulled him from his thoughts. "Come in," he called.
The door opened, and Fiona entered, balancing a tray with a steaming pot of tea and a delicate porcelain cup. Her steps were measured, her presence graceful.
"Good morning, Father," she greeted, her tone light yet respectful. "I thought I’d bring your morning tea today." She set the tray down on the table with care, the faint clink of porcelain breaking the silence.
Alekis raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with skepticism. "And what do you want, Fiona? It’s not like you to perform such acts of kindness without an ulterior motive."
Fiona’s lips curved into a faint smile as she poured the tea, the aromatic steam curling upward. "Father always assumes I have some hidden agenda," she replied, her voice steady. "But as the daughter-in-law of this household, isn’t it only natural for me to take on such small duties from time to time?"
She handed him the cup, her eyes meeting his briefly before she straightened up.
"Take a seat and be honest about why you’re here," Alekis said, his tone calm but probing. He gestured to the chair across from him. "I know my eldest daughter-in-law doesn’t make such gestures unless she has something to ask." He lifted the teacup to his lips, taking a measured sip as his gaze remained fixed on her.