34 – Cypress Mosaic

Evelyn’s ​voice ​was ​like ​a long blade ​forged ​from ​ice. ​She ​ruthlessly cut through Joshua’s ​refusal.

“As ​long as you ​carry the name ​Lockhart, ​no ​one ​gets ​to ​live as they ​please. ​Such ​a life is ​not permitted. Duty comes ​first. Whether ​you want ​to do ​it or ​not ​is ​irrelevant.”

With her magnifying ​glasses perched ​on the bridge of ​her nose, Evelyn looked ​straight ahead; there was ​a power ​in ​her gaze that made it impossible ​to dare question her. ​Once ​she ​confirmed ​that ​Joshua had fallen ​silent, her ​gaze ​shifted to the ​left, ​toward the person sitting opposite ​Lorenz.

“And here, ​my ​niece, Catherine Lockhart, ​is ​also ​qualified ​to ​be a ​candidate.”

Lorenz’s ​frozen green ​eyes turned toward the woman sitting across ​from him.

Catherine Lockhart—Evelyn ​Lockhart’s only sibling ​and the great-aunt of ​Lorenz and ​Joshua.

“But Joshua and ​Catherine ​are not Read on Read BL Novelsof ​the Read on Read BL Novelsfirstborn line,” ​someone protested. ​It ​was [stolen content]one ​of ​the figures ​from ​the pro-Lorenz ​faction.

Though ​they ​were exercising restraint ​to ​avoid offending ​Evelyn, ​their ​voice ​was thick with dissatisfaction.

However, Evelyn remained unshaken.

“The Lockharts have no rule stating that the firstborn must be the successor. Only the person with the most fitting qualifications will be selected as the heir.”

“But Evelyn…”

Dr. Holloway spoke up cautiously. Everyone looked at him with expectant faces, hoping he would say something that might change Evelyn’s mind.

“While that may be the guideline, it is a fact that almost every successor until now has been the firstborn.”

“Of course, Lorenz is sufficiently qualified.”

Evelyn took off her magnifying glasses and looked around the room. She continued.

“But the other two are just as capable. For the sake of fairness, everyone who is qualified must first become a candidate. If Lorenz truly desires the position of successor, he will show something decisive during the remaining period. The same goes for Joshua and Catherine. If you want it, throw everything you have into the race. The position of the Lockhart family successor is not something you obtain simply by waiting.”

Ugh…

Lorenz clenched his teeth and swallowed a groan as a headache, feeling as if his skull were splitting, struck him.

Meanwhile, Evelyn began listing the detailed requirements for the successor.

Having lived his entire life with the sole goal of becoming the head of the Lockharts, Lorenz knew the contents so well he could recite them with his eyes closed.

The headache grew more intense. Along with it, his sense of smell became hypersensitive.

The faint, everyday level of Pheromones that Alphas and Omegas naturally emit—scents that were bearable at first now made his stomach churn. However, he could not take medication in the middle of this meeting.

Sitting beside him, Joshua nudged his brother with an elbow and whispered.

“What’s wrong? Fix your expression. Grandma’s going to get angry.”

“Stop grating on my nerves.”

Lorenz glared at Joshua’s smirking face and snapped back, draining the rest of his tea.

“Then, next spring, I will formally select the successor here.”

As soon as Evelyn’s announcement ended, Lorenz hurried to stand up. He stepped out of the living room and strode toward the attendant waiting in the hall. He took the medicine from him and swallowed four or five painkillers at once. Perhaps because the pain had been dormant for so long, it felt even more severe than before. It was like a wild beast that had been caged and finally escaped to run rampant.

Just then, someone cautiously placed a hand on Lorenz’s shoulder from behind.

“Lorenz, do not worry too much.”

It was Dr. Holloway.

“Doctor.”

“You know Evelyn well, don’t you? She is someone who moves boldly if necessary, but she values tradition and procedure just as much. This is likely just a formality. In the end, you will be the successor.”

The doctor’s amber eyes shone intelligently behind the glasses he always wore. Though he seemed indecisive at a glance due to his quiet and gentle nature, he was quite a clever man. He never spoke nonsense that wasn’t worth hearing. If he hadn’t been, Evelyn would never have kept him by her side as an aide in the first place.

“Thank you for saying so.”

At that moment, Catherine Lockhart, crossing the hall over the doctor’s shoulder, entered his field of vision. She cast a brief glance at Lorenz as she moved toward the dining room, flanked by her followers.

Keeping his eyes fixed on her, Lorenz added to the doctor.

“I think so too.”

One might have been surprised by the young man’s bold answer, but the doctor instead smiled warmly, patted Lorenz Read on Read BL Novelson the shoulder, and departed. Having watched the brothers [stolen content]Lorenz and Joshua [stolen content]since they were children, the doctor was familiar with their temperaments.

A headache that felt like it would explode his brain.

And a surging wave of nausea.

Lorenz squeezed his eyes shut and frowned.

He knew that at times like this, no amount of medication would help. Based on experience, his PRL would likely reach at least 100.

For some reason, Elian Bellotti’s face came to mind.

Was it because he always felt at peace when he was with him?

Ridiculously, he missed the time spent in Lucas’s room, listening to Elian’s voice as he spoke softly to the child. When the proposal was first made, it had felt like nothing but a burden.

But even if he returned home immediately, Elian wasn’t at stolen contentthe visit our site[unauthorized copy]mansion. He had gone back to his house in Brooklyn for the weekend. Of all times, today.

He felt as though he couldn’t endure it any longer.

Lorenz approached Evelyn, who was heading toward the dining room, and asked for her understanding.

“Grandmother, I’m sorry. I don’t think I can join you for the meal.”

“What is the matter? You surely cleared your schedule for this.”

“I ignored a toothache and let it linger, and now I can’t even manage with painkillers. I think I need to see a doctor immediately.”

“Oh dear…”

Her face looked as if she wanted to lecture him for failing to maintain proper self-care, but she let it slide with a brief, sidelong glance.

“In a few weeks, there will be a gathering of close [Read on Read BL Novels]associates [unauthorized copy]to discuss visit our sitea charity party. Make sure you clear your schedule properly for that.”

“I will do so.”

As Lorenz turned away from Evelyn, his eyes met someone else’s. Joshua was leaning crookedly against the doorframe of the wide-open living room, watching him.

He uncrossed his arms, approached, and shrugged.

“Brother, what a shame. I was surprised too, you know? I thought it was a given that you’d be the successor. Who knew she’d react like that?”

Lorenz snorted, as if he weren’t even worth dealing with. Joshua’s sarcasm continued.

“I’m someone who has absolutely no interest in being the successor, but you… you must be pretty pissed.”

As he walked toward the main entrance, Lorenz signaled a mansion employee to have the car ready. Then, he spoke to Joshua in a low, fast, and emotionless tone.

“There is no reason to visit our site[Read on Read BL Novels]be. Because the conclusion that I will become Read on Read BL Novelsthe successor will not change.”

Joshua followed his steps, sneering.

“Catherine isn’t such an easy opponent. Everyone will find the competition for the successor quite entertaining. I bet there will be groups placing bets all over Manhattan.”

“……”

Sensing Lorenz’s cold gaze, Joshua added with his characteristic smile.

“Of course, I’m on your side.”

Lorenz didn’t even respond, merely confirming the arrival of his vehicle with his eyes.

“Well, anyway, see you around. I’ll be in New York for a while, so we’ll have plenty of chances to run into each other.”

“If you plan on staying in New York, show some interest in Lucas.”

The moment Lucas’s name was mentioned, Joshua’s face, which had been pretending to be relaxed until then, instantly contorted. He did not hide his aggressive emotion.

“He’s just a kid Father adopted on a whim to ease his own guilt. Why should I have to deal with the aftermath of something a selfish old man did just to make himself feel better?”

“Legally, he is your brother, and you have a responsibility to look after him.”

When Joshua, having ruffled his chocolate-colored curly hair, looked up again, his face had returned to its usual expression.

True to his nickname, he smiled brightly and without a care, like the California sunshine. It was a healthy, fresh smile, as if he knew nothing of the worries of the world.

“You’re going to be the successor. All responsibility lies with the successor. What would I know?”

Lorenz’s car came to a stop in front of the main entrance steps.

Joshua tapped Lorenz on the shoulder and frowned.

“Get that treated. A dentist… ugh, that sounds painful.”

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