35 – Cypress Mosaic

As ​the ​vehicle ​completely ​left Evelyn’s estate, ​Lorenz ​roughly ​loosened ​the ​knot of his tie ​with ​trembling fingertips. He ​clutched his throbbing ​temples ​and ​bit ​his ​lower ​lip hard.

It was ​obvious ​that ​Joshua had no ​interest in the position ​of successor. ​Even if ​he did, ​he was ​no ​match ​for Lorenz. Furthermore, ​Joshua was ​still in his twenties. ​Among some of the ​relatives and factions within ​the group, ​there ​were those who believed that Lorenz, ​in his early thirties, ​still ​lacked ​the ​experience ​to become the ​head. Needless ​to ​say, the same ​applied ​to Joshua.

But Catherine was different.

Catherine ​Lockhart.

Evelyn’s only ​sibling.

Due ​to the twenty-year ​age ​gap, ​she ​was ​also a ​younger ​sister whom ​Evelyn cherished exceptionally.

Of course, Evelyn was a ​cold-blooded businesswoman. There ​was no way ​she Read on Read BL Novelswould let personal ​feelings influence ​a [stolen content]decision visit our siteas ​critical ​as selecting a ​successor.

However, even putting ​that aside, ​there ​were several ​reasons ​why Catherine ​remained ​a threat ​to ​Lorenz.

She ​was a board ​member ​of Lockhart ​Holdings, ​the ​holding ​company of the Lockhart Group, and concurrently served as a director for several foundations within the group. Being twenty years younger than Evelyn, she still had plenty of capacity to be active as an entrepreneur. In terms of age alone, it was a fact that she was the most suitable of the three to become the head of the Lockhart Group immediately.

Her management style was also completely different from Lorenz’s.

Catherine was moderate and conservative. While she tended to focus on preserving and maintaining the existing Lockhart, Lorenz was the type to expand the business boldly and innovatively. Consequently, their support bases were starkly divided.

However, in terms of actual managerial influence within the group, Lorenz was overwhelmingly dominant.

While Lorenz was active at the center of management, directing major projects for core companies, Catherine only exerted influence indirectly as a member of the board.

Even so, he couldn’t be completely at ease.

Lorenz had two—no, three weaknesses that she did not.

First, having married an Alpha from a prestigious political family, Catherine possessed a powerful network within the political sphere.

Lorenz had also been striving to build relationships by attending various gatherings and actively providing political sponsorships for several years, but he could not match the depth and breadth of the network she had cultivated her entire life.

And second.

Unlike her, Lorenz was not yet married.

The evaluation criteria for selecting the successor of the Lockhart family were largely divided into three categories:

· A healthy body and mind capable of leading the group without issue.

· Management performance to date.

· Evaluations from internal and external experts of the Lockhart Group.

However, there were other practical details beyond those.

Among them, the point the relatives placed particular weight on was marital status.

Deeply embedded within the Lockhart family was a traditional view that those who had not married and started a family were not considered true adults. It was an outdated custom, but the problem was that such a perception still held power within the family.

And Lorenz’s third weakness.

A healthy body and mind capable of leading the group without issue—Lorenz was hiding a disqualifying factor regarding this item.

His face contorted sharply from a pain that felt as if it were squeezing not just his temples, but his entire skull.

He must never let this illness be discovered.

Such a thing must not happen, and he would not allow it to happen.

Lorenz gasped for air, nearly panting from the unbearable pain. His seemingly sturdy, firm shoulders looked as if they might collapse at any moment.

Catherine…

It wasn’t that he had lived without tension just because he felt he had no competition, but this was certainly an unexpected situation.

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

“Thank you for saying so. I feel the same way.”

What he had said to Dr. Holloway was sincere.

Lorenz had no intention of being the loser in this competition. He had no intention of handing it over to Catherine this time and waiting for his turn next.

The hand pressing his temples moved to cover the [visit our site]entire right side of his face. [Read on Read BL Novels]visit our siteThe pain was becoming intolerable.

He took a scanner out of the inner pocket of his suit and measured his pheromone response level.

120 ⎯ As expected… A hollow laugh escaped Lorenz’s lips at the result, which far exceeded the predicted value. It had been a long time since he had seen such a high number.

A red light appeared on the LED line. It had passed the yellow for ‘Caution’ and was now signaling ‘Danger.’

The driver, who had been talking to someone in a tense voice, cautiously reported to Lorenz.

“Mr. Lorenz, they say they’ve reached Dr. Carver. I will take you to the hospital immediately.”

Lorenz barely managed to nod, his face still covered.

“It will take about 40 minutes to reach the destination. If you are in too much pain… shall I give you a sleeping pill?”

“Yes. That would be best.”

Lorenz was now breaking into a cold sweat. He looked like someone who had been shot in the side. The driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror with a worried look and fumbled to find the sleeping pills he always kept on hand. His young master lived with chronic headaches, but it had been a long time since he had seen him in this much agony.

Lorenz’s hand trembled violently as he took the sleeping pill from the driver.

Opening a water bottle and tossing the cap to the floor, he swallowed two pills. They were powerful sedatives specially prescribed for use in the worst-case scenarios.

A healthy body and mind capable of leading the group without issue.

He bit his lip so hard it turned white. The knuckles of the hand gripping the armrest stood out prominently.

Closing his eyes and waiting for the effects of the sedative to spread, Lorenz instinctively felt that a nightmare was waiting for him with its mouth wide open. But there was no way to avoid it. His father’s cold face approached him.

‘Listen carefully, Lorenz. If it becomes known that you have such an illness, you cannot become the successor. If you cannot inherit Lockhart, you lose the very value of your birth. Do you understand? Keep this in mind. Never, to anyone, let this illness be discovered!’

Lorenz’s pale face, damp with cold sweat, plummeted into sleep.

■

A bonfire is burning in a large fireplace.

Outside the window, heavy snow is pouring down. There was so much snow that the Hudson River below the hill was invisible.

Warm food is laid out on a table where candlelight flickers.

Crack, crack. The occasional sound of sparks flying from the bonfire further enhanced the midwinter atmosphere.

A dog with black patterns on a tan background lies flat under a dining chair, watching the fire.

A cozy and snug, familiar sight.

Lorenz knows this place.

It was the villa in Tarrytown.

A young Lorenz sits alone at the dining table. His favorite meatball pasta was the main dinner menu, but he could hardly touch the food.

Just then, Margaret entered the dining room with quiet but quick steps.

Checking Lorenz’s plate, she asked with a worried face.

“Mr. Lorenz, is the food not to your liking today? You don’t seem to be eating well.”

Lorenz shook his head weakly, his expression devoid of vitality.

“Margaret, where did you go?”

“One of the employees… their Heat… they stolen contentsuddenly became very unwell. I’m [visit our site]on my way back from arranging for them to finish work early and rest. Did you need me?”

“Everything smells different today. And… my head hurts so much.”

Margaret’s two hands, which were low in temperature, caressed young Lorenz’s forehead and cheeks. It wasn’t a severe high fever, but there was definitely a fever.

Lorenz was not a child who faked illness to avoid meals. Even back then, he already showed a tendency to push himself to the limit to fulfill his responsibilities and duties.

“I think it would be best for you to rest for today. Shall we go up to the bedroom?”

Nodding, Lorenz climbed down from the chair. The dog that had been lying down immediately stood up and followed Lorenz, wagging its tail from side to side.

As he left the dining room holding Margaret’s hand, Lorenz pulled her hand down a couple of times and looked up at her.

“Margaret.”

“Yes, Mr. Lorenz.”

“Can I sleep in Mother’s bed?”

“Hmm… it seems you’re acting spoiled.”

As she said this and looked down at Lorenz, a soft, not-at-all stern smile appeared on Margaret’s face.

“It’s because I don’t feel well. I keep feeling dizzy, like I’m on a boat.”

Lorenz was someone who rarely complained or acted spoiled.

Looking down at the small hand pressing his own temple, Margaret scooped him up in her arms.

“Then, just for today.”

Nodding, Lorenz wrapped both arms around her neck.