Chapter 40

Tony sensed that something was off. Encouraged by Giselle, he moved to the couch and hesitantly unwrapped the gift box. After he opened it, he gazed at its contents for a few moments, his expression becoming tense and serious. Renee also leaned in to take a look. Inside was a classic English mantel clock, luxurious in both material and design. At first glance, everything appeared fine until… "Didn't you always love antiques like this, dad? I went to great lengths to find it for you. Do you like it?" Giselle asked with a strained smile. Silently, Tony knocked the box to the ground in a burst of anger. The issue? In Valantian culture, a clock is a symbol for "the end". With Giselle giving him a clock for his birthday, it was essentially a curse. It was a way of wishing him an untimely death. For Valantians, getting such a foreboding present on one's birthday was unimaginable, particularly from a youngster. When Renee grasped the implication, she became even more furious than Ton