Chapter 200
"You really are…" Milton took a deep breath, then suddenly asked out of nowhere, "You really are my sister?"
"One hundred percent genuine."
Milton shook his head, as if he still hadn't processed it.
He walked to the desk, pulled open a drawer, and took out a deep blue velvet box, placing it in front of Lucinda.
The lid bore a gold-embossed logo—the limited edition mark of the world's top diamond brand. Only three sets in the entire collection had been made, each worth over a hundred million.
"I was going to give this to you tomorrow." Milton's voice was light. "But I think now works just as well."
Lucinda glanced down at the box and pushed it back. "Milton, this is too expensive."
"Expensive? What's expensive about it?" Milton pushed the box back toward her. "I earn money to spend on my family. You're my sister. It's only right that I give this to you. Besides…"
He paused, a smile tugging at his lips. "You're Felix. A hundred-million-dollar diamond set is exactly what you deserve."
Lucinda looked at his expression—the one that clearly said, "If you don't take this, I'm going to be upset"—and suddenly felt the gesture and tone were identical to Valencia's.
She sighed and tucked the box into her drawer. "Fine. I'll take it. But don't stuff anything else at me."
Milton smiled with satisfaction and lightly ruffled the top of her head. "That's my good girl."
He turned toward the door, took two steps, then stopped as if remembering something. "Oh, right. Spending money…"
Lucinda sighed helplessly. "There's more?"
"Of course there's more." Milton pulled a black card from his pocket and placed it on Lucinda's desk, his tone casual. "Use this. If it's not enough, let me know."
Lucinda glanced down at the card, then looked back up at Milton. She mentally estimated the card's limit, then nodded. "Alright. I'll keep it."
Only then was Milton truly satisfied. He turned and walked to the door.
His hand had just reached the doorknob when Lucinda's voice came from behind him. "Milton, wait."
He turned around and saw Lucinda pull a folder from her desk drawer and hand it to him.
He took it and opened it. Inside were two neatly organized stacks of data.
"This is reference data that might be useful for the next few phases of your project. I compiled some of it myself a while back and organized it. See if you can use it."
Milton flipped through two pages. His pupils contracted slightly.
This data covered the exact critical bottleneck points they were currently stuck on. His team had spent nearly a month on it with no clear breakthrough.
And now, his sister had compiled it all?
He snapped his head up, looking at Lucinda. His Adam's apple bobbed several times. Then he reached out and pulled Lucinda into a tight hug. "Cindy… you're the most incredible sister in the world."
Lucinda was caught off guard by the embrace. Her hand hovered in the air for a moment before settling on his back, patting him lightly twice. "Alright, alright. That's enough."
Milton released her. His eyes were slightly red, but the smile on his face wouldn't go away.
He looked down at the folder in his hands as if he were holding some priceless treasure. "I'm going to go read this now. Get some rest."
With that, he turned and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
His footsteps faded down the hallway, carrying a rhythm so light he almost seemed to be floating.
At the far end of the hallway, in the shadows, Dahlia stood at the corner, her eyes practically shooting flames.
A diamond set. An unlimited black card. Felix. And that data folder Milton had been clutching like a treasure…
She stood in the darkness, her features twisted, her lips pressed into a tight line.
'Lucinda… I will crush you underfoot!'
After Milton left, Lucinda had just sat down when her phone screen lit up.
A video call request from Reginald.
She looked at it for two seconds, then answered.
On the screen was the man's profile. He looked like he'd just showered—his hair still slightly damp, a few strands falling over his forehead. He looked completely different from his usual meticulous appearance.
He was looking down at some documents. When he heard the call connect, he glanced up. His lips curved almost immediately.
"Done with everything?"
"Yes."
Lucinda propped her phone on the desk and leaned back in her chair. "What about you? Not sleeping yet?"
"Waiting for you." He said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world, as if the statement needed no explanation.
Lucinda raised a brow. "Waiting for me for what?"
Reginald looked at her. Those eyes that could freeze someone solid in a business setting now gleamed like they were dusted with broken light.
He leaned closer, his face nearly filling the screen, his voice dropping with a tone that carried an almost unconscious hint of coaxing. "Tomorrow's the weekend. You know that, right?"
"I know. So?"
"So—" His tone suddenly brightened. "I want to take you to a water park."
Lucinda paused.
"A water park?" She repeated the words, her tone tinged with uncertainty.
"Yes!" Reginald nodded, the light in his eyes growing brighter. "The new one that just opened in the south part of the city last month. The facilities are top-notch—wave pools, lazy rivers, water slides, everything. I checked—the water quality is excellent, and it's less crowded than the other parks in the city. You spend all day cooped up in an office staring at a computer. You should get out and get some fresh air."
Lucinda looked at him and was silent for two seconds. "I'm not going."
The light in Reginald's eyes dimmed for a moment, then flared back up almost instantly.
He spoke quickly. "It's really fun. You can just soak your feet in the shallow area and sunbathe. If you don't want to get in the water, there are lounge chairs and umbrellas nearby. You can just lie there drinking juice and not do anything. I'll be with you the whole time. I absolutely won't leave you alone."
His tone was serious. Every detail had been planned in advance.
Lucinda thought about it. She didn't have anything urgent scheduled for tomorrow, but out of habit, she left herself some room. "Tomorrow I still have…"
"I already checked your projects." Reginald cut her off, his tone carrying a hint of quiet pride. "Fiona said you have nothing urgent tomorrow. You've already reviewed the progress reports, the data's been processed—tomorrow you're completely free."
Lucinda looked at him and suddenly realized there was no argument she could make that he hadn't already blocked.
When had this man become so thorough with his preparations?