Kieran had been working hard these past few days, so when he suggested they go out for Japanese food, Callie didn’t refuse.
After they had eaten their fill, Kieran went to the restroom while Callie went to the front desk to pay. Suddenly, she heard a voice behind her, “Mrs. Oconnor?”
Callie didn’t immediately realize she was being addressed. It wasn’t until a woman tapped her on the shoulder and said, “It’s me,” that she turned around, startled. She saw Mrs. Gamble, whom she had met at a dinner party. Mrs. Gamble, as always, looked affluent and asked with a smile, “What brings you here?”
“Mrs. Gamble,” Callie remembered the humiliation from that day and felt a bit uneasy. “I’m here with a colleague for lunch.”
Mrs. Gamble nodded, “Oh, taking it easy, I see.”
She looked like a well-kept housewife with no major concerns in her expression.
Callie glanced back, “Mrs. Gamble, aren’t you taking it easy too, having Japanese food for lunch?”
Mrs. Gamble leaned in and said, “I’m here accompanying my husband for a business discussion. The other party is a woman who thought it would be convenient to bring me along. They ended up talking business while I had nothing to contribute, so I came out for some fresh air and ran into you.”
Callie smiled faintly, “Chief Gamble’s work must be keeping him busy; it must be tough.”
“Tough? He seems to enjoy it. If it weren’t for the fact that the woman is attractive but older, I wouldn’t be so worried,” Mrs. Gamble said, looking bored as she glanced at their private room.
Callie frowned, catching onto a keyword but didn’t ask further.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Mrs. Gamble, Kieran returned, and they left the restaurant together.
A few steps outside, Callie stopped, “Can you find out who is talking in private room 405?”
She sat on a bench by the street for about fifteen minutes before Kieran hurried back with a photo in hand. “This is the best angle I could get.”
The photo was blurry but recognizable.
Callie took one look at it and tore it up before throwing it in the trash.
It was indeed Lucia.
“Did you hear what they were discussing?” she asked.
Kieran thought carefully, “It was similar to what you discussed with Shamar a few days ago.”
His vague answer gave Callie a general idea.
They were likely preparing for her entry into the domestic market. But since Nelson had already agreed to help, why was Lucia going to such lengths? Could it be that she didn’t trust her own son?
That night, Callie visited the old house to see Old Oconnor. The elderly man, feeling cold, was wrapped in a blanket. She made him a cup of hot tea to warm his hands.
“Nelson has been busy with work lately and asked me to visit you on his behalf. I hope you don’t mind,” she said.
Old Oconnor shook his head, “Oh, don’t say that. I don’t want to see him; having you here makes me happier than if he came.”
Callie chuckled, “Nelson would be sad to hear that.”
With Bianca and the servants taking care of the old house, there wasn’t much for Callie to worry about. The best she could do was chat with Old Oconnor and have some tea.
“Grandpa, I recently saw Nelson’s mother again…” Callie hesitated before asking, “I also learned something about her other son. Given this context, how much can we trust her?”
Old Oconnor’s smile faded slightly, “I didn’t expect you to find out so soon.”
“I don’t understand. This isn’t a secret to me; why didn’t you tell me from the start?”
“Callie, Lucia is a painful subject for Nelson. Anything related to her is something he would rather keep from others,” Old Oconnor said with a hint of bitterness in his voice.