Chapter 126
The next morning, when Lucinda came downstairs, Uma was already waiting by the dining table.
"Miss, what would you like for breakfast?"
Lucinda sat down at the table and scooped up a spoonful of porridge. The temperature was just right.
Uma stood beside her, wringing her hands. She hesitated, then finally couldn't hold back. "Miss, will you… be home for dinner tonight?"
Lucinda looked up at her. Uma quickly explained, "No, no, I'm not trying to rush you. It's just that Mr. Manuel Douglas… he's been back for several days now, and he really wants to have a proper conversation with you. But you leave before dawn every day and don't come back until midnight. By the time he wakes up in the morning, you're already gone. At night, he waits until eleven or twelve and you still haven't returned… He doesn't say anything, but I can tell—he really wants to have a meal with you."
Lucinda's spoon paused. A flicker of barely perceptible softness crossed her eyes. "I'll come home early tonight."
Uma's eyes lit up instantly. She beamed, unable to contain her smile, and rushed toward the kitchen. Her voice floated back down the hallway. "I'll go tell Mr. Manuel Douglas! No, wait—I'll tell Mrs. Douglas first. She'll be over the moon—"
Lucinda watched Uma's delighted figure disappear. She lowered her head and took another sip of porridge. The curve of her mouth deepened slightly.
After finishing breakfast, she grabbed her bag and headed out.
At the manor gates, the black Maybach was already parked in its usual spot.
Lucinda walked to the car and pulled open the door. She froze.
Reginald sat in the driver's seat. He hadn't gotten out to open the door for her like he usually did. Instead, he turned his head to look at her, a faintly helpless yet reluctant smile on his lips. "I'm driving myself today. I gave the driver the day off."
Lucinda bent down and slid into the passenger seat, closing the door behind her. She glanced at him. "You're going on a business trip?"
Reginald started the engine. The car smoothly exited the manor gates. His gaze stayed on the road ahead, but his peripheral vision never left her. "Yeah. Three days, four at most. There's a problem with the project up north. I have to handle it myself. I didn't want to go, but the people there can't sort it out. I'm the only option."
Lucinda murmured an acknowledgment. She didn't say anything else.
Reginald glanced at her through the rearview mirror, then reached back with one hand to grab an insulated bag from the back seat. He placed it on her lap.
"What's this?"
"Breakfast. In case you didn't eat enough, I brought you another portion."
He paused. "Though judging by the porridge at the corner of your mouth, you've already eaten."
Lucinda instinctively raised her hand to wipe her mouth. Nothing came off. She turned her head and glared at him.
Reginald just smiled. He reached over and took her hand. "Take care of yourself. Don't drink coffee on an empty stomach—it's bad for your stomach. If anything comes up, call me anytime. Don't think it's a bother. My phone's on twenty-four-seven…"
Lucinda looked at him.
Reginald kept going. "I left a box of food in the trunk. Fruit, snacks, drinks—enough to last you several days. While I'm gone, the driver will pick you up and drop you off every day. I've already made the arrangements—"
"Reginald." Lucinda cut him off.
"What?"
"I'm just spending a few days on my own. I'm not going to the wilderness to survive."
Reginald chuckled. He didn't say anything more, but his fingers tapped the steering wheel twice. A trace of reluctance flickered in his eyes.
The car stopped in front of the Ridgeway Tech building. Lucinda unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle.
"Wait." Reginald stopped her. He reached into the back seat and pulled out a small velvet box, handing it to her.
Lucinda glanced at it. She didn't take it.
"It's not jewelry." He smiled. "It's a tracker. Don't glare at me—it's one of those tiny ones you can attach to a keychain. It's not to monitor you. It's in case something happens and I can't find you. The signal up north is terrible. I'm worried you'll call and I won't be able to answer. This way, I'll have peace of mind."
Lucinda looked into his eyes—so serious they bordered on excessive. She was silent for a second. Then she reached out, took the box, and tucked it into her bag.
"I'm going." She pushed open the door and got out without looking back.
Reginald sat in the car, watching her figure disappear into the building entrance. His smile slowly faded. A faint layer of concern settled in his eyes.
He sat in the driver's seat for a long while before starting the engine, turning the car around, and merging into the heavy flow of traffic.
Lucinda walked into the Ridgeway Tech building. The receptionist saw her and immediately stood up, a smile she couldn't hide spreading across her face. "Good morning, Ms. Wipere! We received six more partnership proposals today, all from major companies in the industry. Two of them have already sent over draft contracts. They're just waiting for your review."
Lucinda took the stack of documents and flipped through them. She nodded. Just as she was about to head toward the elevator, hurried footsteps sounded behind her.
Gaia came running down the hallway, clutching a thick stack of files. By the time she reached Lucinda, she was still breathing hard, her cheeks flushed. "Ms. Wipere… there's something I want to talk to you about…"
Lucinda stopped and turned to face her.
Gaia bit her lip and lowered her head. Her voice grew quieter and quieter. "So… the organizers of the National Intelligent Robotics Research Conference sent me an invitation. They want me to attend… but I'm too scared to go…"
She looked up. Her eyes were slightly red. Her fingers gripped the edge of the file folder so tightly her knuckles turned white. "I don't have much education or experience. If I go in front of all those experts, I'm afraid… I'm afraid I'll embarrass the company. What if they ask me questions I can't answer? Or what if they laugh at my research…"
Lucinda looked at her. She didn't say anything right away.
She pulled a gold-embossed invitation from her bag and waved it in front of Gaia. "They invited me too."
Gaia froze. Her eyes widened slightly.
Lucinda put the invitation back in her bag. She looked into Gaia's eyes, each word deliberate and clear. "Gaia, I've seen your effort and your ability. After what happened with Joseph, you didn't break down. You didn't back away. You worked even harder than before. That new proposal you developed—the data runs smoothly, and efficiency improved by twelve percent. That result would hold up anywhere in the industry."
"This conference isn't charity. It's not pity. You earned it. You deserve to stand on a higher stage and let more people see your talent."
Lucinda finished speaking and gave Gaia's shoulder a light pat. "I'll go with you. You don't need to be afraid."
Gaia stood completely still. A moment later, she nodded hard, clutching the stack of files even tighter. Her back straightened a little more. "Ms. Wipere, I'll go."
Her voice still trembled slightly. "I promise I won't let you down."