57 – Cypress Mosaic

The ​transparent ​glass ​walls, ​devoid of a ​single ​fingerprint, ​created ​an ​optical illusion.

It looked as ​if ​the man might ​misstep at any ​moment ​and ​plummet ​ninety ​stories ​down.

“So, just come ​over ​here ​and have some ​champagne.”

Only then did the ​man cast ​a sidelong ​glance at ​Joshua and ​return ​to ​the sofa.

Even though ​he felt ​the gaze staring intently ​at him, Joshua deliberately ​ignored it. He simply ​wanted to ​send ​this man away as quickly as ​possible. And then he ​wanted ​to ​sleep. ​That ​was all.

Red lips, ​looking exactly ​like ​his own son’s, ​moved.

“Joshua.”

“It ​doesn’t matter what you say.”

“Grandmother ​has recognized ​you ​as a candidate ​for ​the ​successor.”

Joshua ​snorted.

“Why ​on earth ​can’t ​you let ​go of such a futile dream?”

“It is ​not a futile ​dream! You are ​also Damon Lockhart’s son, ​and you ​are more than ​qualified!”

“Do ​you know why ​Grandmother didn’t announce ​my brother ​as ​the successor ​immediately?”

Joshua ​spoke calmly ​as ​he set ​his ​drink ​down on the ​table.

“It’s ​to make ​him ​stand ​out ​more.”

“……”

“Not someone who was appointed successor by default, but Lorenz Lockhart—the man who rightfully seized the position after defeating other stolen contentcompetitors. [unauthorized copy]That is the picture Grandmother wants.”

“Perhaps.”

Surprisingly, the man admitted it readily.

However, that wasn’t everything.

“But if it is proven that there is a superior candidate, she is not the type of person to ignore that and appoint Lorenz as the successor regardless.”

Joshua burst into laughter. The cool sound of his laughter echoed through the spacious living room.

“Do you really believe I am superior to my brother?”

“Why would you be any less than Lorenz?”

“Looking at you now, I suppose you really are the one who gave birth to me.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“That I’m not inferior to my brother. Despite everything, you’re the one who sired me, so you’re thinking such non-objective thoughts.”

“Why add ‘despite everything’? Of course I sired you.”

Joshua, who had been leaning his head loosely against the backrest, looked down at his father from that position.

“I just don’t usually feel it.”

Having finished his sentence with a cold, indifferent calm, Joshua stood up with his glass in hand. For a fleeting moment, Joshua’s gaze toward the man looking up at him held a hint of pity.

“Whatever Grandmother’s intention is, in the end, my brother will be the successor. I have no intention of playing along with a play designed to make him look better. The more I struggle, the more ridiculous I look, and only Lorenz Lockhart’s status will be highlighted.”

“Joshua, come back and sit down.”

Sipping his drink through a straw, Joshua waved his hand without looking back.

“Do you think your position will be [Read on Read BL Novels]secure once Lorenz becomes visit our sitethe successor? You’ll lose everything unauthorized copyyou currently have! Joshua!”

The man shouted desperately behind him, but it was useless.

As Joshua climbed the stairs with his back turned to the man, his cheeks twitched with anger and contempt.

If Lorenz Lockhart becomes the successor, I’ll lose even what I have now?

Even while saying I have equal qualifications to my brother, you are actually the one who underestimates me the most. My beautiful, naive, and greedy father.

Joshua had absolutely no intention of jumping into the succession battle.

Because he…

Hated losing.

Especially losing to Lorenz Lockhart was absolutely horrific.

Therefore, he had no intention unauthorized copyof [stolen content]unauthorized copyentering a fight that was designed for him to lose from the start.

If he didn’t reach out because he didn’t want it, that wasn’t losing.

But if he wanted it, longed for it, and exerted every effort only to fail to grasp it—that would be the most miserable defeat of all.

He never wanted to experience that again against Lorenz Lockhart. What he had gone through until now was more than enough.

If you don’t want to lose to an opponent you cannot beat, you simply avoid the fight altogether. That was the method of self-preservation Joshua had mastered.

Lorenz Lockhart.

The precious successor.

The half-brother five years his senior who was destined to surpass him in everything.

The shadow he had once chased so fervently, but could never ultimately catch.

Returning to his bedroom upstairs, Joshua collapsed onto the bed.

He was exhausted enough to die, yet he felt as if he couldn’t sleep. He forced his eyes shut.

He soon lifted his eyelids at the vibration of the phone he had tossed beside him.

It was the private investigator. However, he wasn’t particularly pleased.

He hadn’t received any proper information lately.

‘Rian’ would certainly be the rarest collectible, but he was starting to find this waiting tedious.

Lying on his side, he answered the phone carelessly.

“It’s been a month since I made the request. Are you playing games with me?”

[Are you available today? 6 o’clock, at the usual bar.]

It had already been several years since he started dealing with this man. He unauthorized copycould gauge the visit our sitevalue of the report just by hearing the voice. It [stolen content]seemed this time wasn’t a complete waste.

Joshua pushed himself up. He brushed back his waving curly hair. In the darkness draped by blackout curtains, his green eyes flashed with anticipation.

“How about earlier? I don’t mind right now.”

He wouldn’t be able to fall asleep easily anyway.

[I should be able to report to you by evening.]

After setting the appointment, he ended the call.

With a smirk, Joshua wiped his face with his palm and collapsed back onto the bed.

Burying his face in the pillow and closing his eyes, he pictured Rian’s face.

Though a month had passed, the shock delivered by the delicate beauty of those features and their overall harmony was still vivid.

Lorenz can have the whole Lockhart Group for all I care.

Being the successor only increases the burden of obligations, doesn’t it?

‘Rian’—Lorenz probably had never possessed something that beautiful. He was certain of it.

His moist red lips murmured, excited with anticipation.

“Ah… how am I supposed to wait until 6?”

■

An ordinary bar in South Bronx.

Sitting at the end of the bar counter, which was practically his reserved seat, Joshua was showering the private investigator—who was making him wait again today—with all sorts of curses. He was grinding his teeth, thinking that if the man showed up without any results this time, he would personally fix that smirking face.

The man entered the bar dressed in his usual inconspicuous attire.

Joshua, sitting crookedly on the stool, stared intently at the man approaching with a smirk.

“Your punctuality is as impeccable as ever, Mr. Joshua.”

Clatter, bang.

Joshua kicked away the stool next to him just as the man was about to sit.

The few customers looked back for a moment at the loud noise, but their gazes soon dispersed. This was a place where this level of commotion happened routinely.

Without showing any sign of surprise or fear, the man righted the fallen stool.

“You seem to be in a very bad mood.”

“Thanks to you.”

Joshua glared at the man, chewing gum loudly. The atmosphere was menacing, as if he might pounce and throw a punch at any second. Considering Joshua’s time as an ice hockey player, he was certainly capable of doing so. Regardless of his skill, he had been a player frequently disciplined for rough physical play and brawls. The man knew this well and always teetered precariously on the edge of Joshua’s patience.

“Please don’t be so anxious. Today, even a bonus wouldn’t be enough to thank me.”

The man sat on the stool and signaled to the bartender.

Joshua immediately leaned in close.

“Did you find something out?”

Joshua grabbed the collar of the man ordering a drink and forced him to look at him, a faint madness swirling in his eyes. At the anticipation that he might have found the whereabouts of the treasure he had been searching for so desperately, a greedy smile played on his lips.

The man thought that if he dragged this out any longer, this impatient prince might actually break his nose.

While being held by the collar, he smiled triumphantly and took out his phone.

“Here, is this the person?”

Joshua released the man’s collar as if throwing him aside and snatched the phone.

The dark green eyes flashed as he checked the photo on the screen. His smile deepened. It was unauthorized copyan [Read on Read BL Novels]eerie smile, appearing both cruel and innocent.

Joshua scrolled through the ten or so photos one by one.

A slender build, bright blonde hair that looked as if it would melt under the light, a clean jawline, and stubborn-looking red lips.

It was undoubtedly ‘Rian.’

“How did you find him? Where is he now?”

“Ah… it was literally hard labor.”

The man began to recount the story with a touch of arrogance.

“I couldn’t get any information from the bar in the end. But according to what you told me, Mr. Joshua, he is an extraordinary beauty, and these days, such a person cannot help but be rumored. No matter how much they want to live quietly, the world won’t leave them alone.”

The dissatisfied face that had kicked the stool and grabbed the man’s collar was gone; Joshua now focused on the man’s face, his eyes sparkling like a child listening to an exciting story.