Chapter 148

He set down his pen, long fingers swiping across the screen. That gentle reminder popped up right away. [Take care of yourself, even if you're swamped. Sleep early.] He stared at the message. Something flickered in his eyes, impossible to read. But his thin lips curled into a faint, mocking grin. With a soft click, he flipped the phone facedown on the desk, picked up his pen again, and went back to his work like nothing had happened. Just then, his assistant walked in with a stack of documents, speaking carefully. "Sir, these are some urgent files your brother couldn't finish." "Leave them there." His tone was cold, detached. The assistant placed the files on the table but didn't leave right away. He hesitated, then asked again. "Sir... Sunday is the... memorial day. Should we bring Mrs. Hilliard along for the visit?" His pen froze mid-signature, ink blotting heavily on the page. He looked up - his eyes, dark and deep, were filled with a kind of pain and restraint that couldn't be put