Chapter 58

"I know," Gideon responded. He wasn't much of a talker, but I knew what he meant. He still wanted me to get in the car. And so, I climbed in after him with Lucky in my arms. This time, Gideon wasn't working in the car. Instead, he leaned back against the seat with his eyes closed and massaged his temples. A faint scent of alcohol lingered in the air, mingling with the earthy tone of pinewood. It wasn't unpleasant, but it was strong. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and locked onto mine with an intensity that felt almost invasive. Yet the sharpness faded just as quickly. For a moment, I wondered if I had imagined it—or perhaps the alcohol had loosened the control he usually kept over himself. Gideon was no ordinary man. He was the head of the Jackman family and had single-handedly built a business empire. It was so vast that even after days of digging, I couldn't uncover everything. There was no way a man like him was as approachable and unassuming as he seemed on the surface. I