Chapter 656: Encounter

Damien’s eyes fell on Joyce’s face. “Hello, Mr. Robert,” Joyce greeted, then walked past him.

Catalina and Lesley froze at the sight of Damien. Lesley’s embarrassment was palpable. She summoned her courage and looked at him. Damien stood silently, his indifferent, cold eyes fixed on her. Lesley felt humiliated; Joyce had thoroughly exposed her selfishness, ugliness, and scheming nature to Damien. Both Lesley and Catalina had fallen for Damien at first sight years ago, and he remained strikingly attractive.

Damien remained silent, then turned and walked away. Catalina and Lesley’s legs gave way, and they both fell to the ground.

Elvis, watching from the second floor, saw his mother-in-law’s triumph. He could only offer a silent thumbs-up, grateful for his choice and resolving to stand by her side.

His phone vibrated. A message from Levi: “Your mother is here.”

Elvis, motherless since childhood, was speechless. His phone vibrated again. Another message: “Your father is here too.”

His eyes darkened; he closed them. Another vibration. He hesitated, then opened the final message: “Remember to control your feelings and don’t scare your mother away.”

Elvis scoffed. Andrew, noticing Elvis’s unpredictable expression, asked, “CEO, what’s wrong?”

Elvis clutched his phone. “Open the door. My parents are coming!”

“Yes, President.”

Outside the Augustine Corporation gate, a luxurious car stopped. Reuben, looking in the rearview mirror, said respectfully, “Sir, this is Augustine Corporation.”

Alpha sat languidly, a cigarette between his fingers. After a moment, he exhaled, the smoke momentarily obscuring his handsome face. “Reuben, do you think I’ve gotten old?”

Henry studied the man’s face. Time had left few marks; the deeper lines in his eyebrows only added to his calm charm. Reuben shook his head. “Sir, not at all.”

Alpha chuckled. “She’s not old, how dare I grow old?” Reuben knew Alpha referred to Mrs. Midas; Levi had arranged their meeting. Alpha tossed his cigarette into the ashtray. “Let’s go in.” He’d only glimpsed her at the mall; it had been nearly twenty years since he’d truly seen her. Twenty years of searching, and she was finally back.

Joyce, ready to leave, saw Annabelle. “Annabelle, why are you here?”

Annabelle, attending her foster mother’s funeral, was an unexpected sight. Dressed in black, her sullen demeanor and loose black hair framed her beautiful face, immediately drawing everyone’s attention.

Annabelle approached Joyce. “Joyce, I’m here to meet someone.”

“Who?”

“Mr. Augustine.”

Joyce frowned, her dislike for Alpha evident. “Why?”

“Levi asked for his help. He wants to see me. I’ll meet him eventually, and I want to see my son, Elvis.”

Annabelle’s personality was cool and reserved, softened by a quiet gentleness. Death had changed her.

Joyce said nothing, then saw Alpha entering the hall. “Hello, Mr. Augustine,” she called.

Downstairs, Alpha, searching for Annabelle, heard Joyce. He saw both women. His gaze locked onto Annabelle, finding it hard to look away.

Joyce pushed Annabelle forward. “Mr. Augustine, I brought Annabelle as promised.”

Annabelle’s face was before Alpha; it was as if time had reversed. She hadn’t changed, still the beautiful, talented daughter of the Midas family. Annabelle, calm, met Alpha’s gaze. She hadn’t thought of him in years.