The next day, in Magic Strategy Group's conference room, the senior executives gathered, anticipating Carlos's routine morning meeting.
"Mr. Murphy has arrived," announced the meeting secretary.
Carlos entered, and the spacious conference room hushed instantly.
A single report dropped with a "clatter."
Carlos, in his impeccably suited attire, hair neatly styled, remained composed even with the lingering slap mark on his face drawing attention.
His subordinates covertly scrutinized the fingerprint on his face, their minds racing with speculation.
With Carlos known for his austere personal life, apart from Lily, no woman presumably had close contact with him.
Could Mr. Murphy and Miss Brown have argued?
Sweeping the room with his gaze, Carlos noticed the eager gossip on his subordinates' faces and said coldly, "Have you looked your fill?"
An eerie silence followed.
The staff guiltily bowed their heads even as some stole glances occasionally.
Carlos tugged at his thin lips, his voice tinged with coldness as he said, "If anyone hasn't had their fill of staring, step forward; I'll give them something to look at."
After speaking, he flipped open the documents beside him, tapping his knuckles lightly on the marble table, "The meeting shall commence."
As if a chill had swept through the conference room, everyone shivered simultaneously.
After the meeting concluded, Mike followed closely behind Carlos as they walked to the office.
He hesitated for a long time and finally decided to inquire, "Mr. Murphy, your facial injury..."
Carlos furrowed his brows, his voice low, "If you keep quiet, no one will mistake you for a mute."
Mike wished he could sew his mouth shut.
"What you were tasked to investigate, have you cleared it up?"
Mike replied, "It's been cleared up. Mr. Murphy, you were indeed mistaken about Ms. Parker. The reason she was at Woodberry School yesterday was to accompany Eddie to the entrance examination. Woodberry School offers one scholarship annually, and the questions are difficult; out of all the students, only Eddie passed the exam."
"And the result?"
"The principal rejected the application due to Eddie being from a single-parent family."
Carlos pondered for a moment, "Have you found out who did the beating?"
Mike answered, "I've looked into it; it was several suspects in custody who, upon hearing of human traffickers, lashed out in a fit of emotional turmoil."
Carlos commanded, "Harsh sentencing."
Mike nodded, "Understood."
"Carlos!"
At the office door, Lily had been waiting for a while.
Carlos stopped in his tracks, "What brings you here?"
Lily, dressed in a white business suit, approached him, "I'm off work today and wanted to see if you're free for lunch..."
She drew closer and suddenly noticed the mark on Carlos's face, pausing in shock, "Carlos, your face..."
The fingerprint was so clear, it was evident at first glance that this was the result of a slap.
But who would dare strike Carlos's face?
Carlos's frown deepened subtly, "It's nothing."
Lily asked with concern, "Who hit you? Was it Sophia?"
Carlos replied, "Yes."
However, Lily found it hard to believe, "Sophia always cherishes you, how could she bear to hit you?"
Carlos changed the subject, "Didn't you ask me to lunch? I'm free at noon."
Lily, astute as she was, realized Carlos was deliberately avoiding the topic and did not press further.
*****
The night deepened.
Carlos returned to the Murphy family home late into the night.
As he entered, the servant took his coat and updated him on Sidney's day, "Sidney was very happy today; he spent the day with Ms. Parker, who read him many fairytales from the book you bought for Sidney. He's asleep now."
Carlos responded with a simple "Hmm," and headed upstairs.
The servant quickly informed him, "Sidney is sleeping in Ms. Parker's room tonight."
Carlos hesitated, then turned toward Angela's room.
The door was pushed open gently, a warm wall lamp illuminated the bedside.
Angela lay in the middle, with Eddie on one side and Sidney on the other, both huddled close to her as they slept.
Angela, unable to turn due to her injuries, lay flat while one boy clung to her neck and the other to her waist, both sleeping soundly.
Carlos approached the bed, looked at Sidney's adorable sleeping face, and bent down to kiss his forehead gently.
Lily's words echoed in his ears, "Carlos, we are of one race. Though I'm not your destined partner, a woman's youth is precious. I've waited for you for so many years, not for a title, but because you're the man I chose to love and wait for throughout my life. I've waited all these years, prepared myself for everything, and I swear that I'll give Sidney a warm home. I'll be your best wife and Sidney's best mother. When will you marry me?"
Carlos's fingers lightly brushed Sidney's cheek.
Next to them, Eddie's eyes fluttered open; in the lamp's light, Carlos's handsome profile bent over Sidney was gentle and alluring.
He had never seen Carlos so tender.
Perhaps, only when with Sidney did he show a softer side, a rare show of tenderness from "Carlos."
He was Sidney's father, and also his own, but he couldn't acknowledge him.
If he did, he would have to separate from Mommy.
Once seemingly insignificant, the sight of Carlos tenderly kissing Sidney now sparked a momentary yearning in Eddie for the elusive fatherly love that appeared both within grasp and out of reach.
Unaware of Eddie's wakefulness, Carlos, after his display of affection, rose from the bedside. Sensing Carlos's movement, Eddie promptly closed his eyes, pretending to be asleep.
Carlos glanced at Eddie once more before turning his attention to Angela. With a gentle closure of the door, he left the room.
Eddie nestled his face into Angela's neck, halting his wandering thoughts and drifting into slumber. Angela, a light sleeper, had awakened when Carlos entered the room. Her eyes, only slightly parted, observed Eddie discreetly watching Carlos and Sidney, detecting a hint of envy in his gaze.
Contemplating whether Eddie's heart, too, yearned for paternal affection, Angela's tender hand soothingly stroked Eddie's forehead.
Angela got out of bed, tucked both boys in, and left the room.
The empty hallway echoed the vast, unfamiliar expanse of the Murphy Mansion.
By this late hour, even the servants had retired, leaving only one room on the third floor with a light still on.
Angela approached, noticing the door was ajar. Through the crack, she saw Carlos signing documents with a pen.
He was still working this late?
Angela turned to leave but had only taken a few steps when she heard labored breathing from the study. The raspy gasps, followed by a "thud" as if something heavy had hit the ground.
She recognized the sound of that breathing.
Rushing to the door, Angela swung it open and witnessed Carlos crumpling onto the carpet. His eyes bore the traces of immense pain, his hand tightly gripping the floor covering. The shadow cast on the wall transformed into the silhouette of a wolf, a majestic creature with sleek, glossy fur and a commanding presence.
The wolf's red eyes briefly met Angela's before it agilely leaped out of the window.