Chapter 448 A Gift to Give to You
Sophia smiled, "I was just about to call you guys. The food's all set on the table. Come eat quickly before it gets cold."
Benjamin and Alaric exchanged glances and hurried downstairs.
The chefs at Harvest & Hearth were all top-notch, creating dishes with endless variety.
Not only did they taste amazing, but they rarely repeated the same dishes.
This was why Harvest & Hearth had become so famous.
Magnus had been living abroad for years and hadn't had authentic Novarian cuisine like this in ages.
As the familiar flavors spread across his palate, his lowered eyes instantly moistened.
Sophia happened to be sitting across from him and keenly noticed his emotion. She asked with concern, "M, is the food not to your liking?"
Benjamin and Alaric also turned their attention to him.
M tightened his grip on his fork and slowly shook his head. "No, it's just been so long since I've had Novarian food. I miss it."
Sophia nodded understandingly. "If you like it, have more."
Chase had brought plenty of food—more than enough for the five of them.
She had heard from Benjamin before that M had been living away from home all these years to gather evidence of the organization's crimes.
She could imagine how difficult it must have been for M to persist day after day, year after year.
But he had done it.
M's determination and conviction alone were admirable.
Magnus smiled and nodded, not daring to let his thoughts wander further, and picked up his eating pace.
He found the meal deeply satisfying. After drifting abroad for so many years, his constantly anxious heart finally settled down.
It was a very grounded feeling.
He hadn't experienced this feeling in a long time. It felt good.
He remained immersed in his own thoughts, completely unaware that someone beside him had been discreetly observing him.
Ever since meeting him, Alaric's gaze had been falling on him, intentionally or not.
For some reason, this M gave him a strange feeling.
More precisely, an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if he had seen him somewhere before.
Especially M's back and those eyes.
It seemed like there was a similar pair of eyes in his memory, gazing at him with gentle yet deep affection.
But remembering that Benjamin had mentioned M had been in the organization all these years, he figured it was unlikely to be someone he knew.
He shook his head, pushing away the jumbled thoughts, deciding he must be overthinking.
After dinner, Alaric prepared to leave but was stopped by Sophia.
"Alaric, wait a moment. Grandpa's medicine should be running out. Take some back with you."
With that, Sophia hurried back to her room to get the medicine she had prepared for Preston.
"Is Preston's condition very serious?"
Magnus suddenly murmured, and his words happened to reach Alaric's ears.
He shook his head. "Not really serious. Sophia says it's mainly emotional distress. The news of Benjamin's death hit him hard."
Benjamin was someone Preston had watched grow up. He hadn't even been that attentive to his own two sons.
But Benjamin's situation was special—not only was he poisoned, but his parents didn't care about him either.
Preston couldn't bear to leave him to fend for himself, so he raised him by his side.
It could be said that in the entire White family, Preston had the deepest feelings for Benjamin.
Magnus's heart tightened again, and he sighed deeply inside.
He had left too hastily back then. Afraid of leaking information, he hadn't told Preston about his plan at all.
Preston probably still thought he had run away from home out of rebellion.
Now wasn't the time to go back.
Wait a little longer.
Magnus consoled himself silently.
Alaric looked at him with surprise, feeling his concern seemed a bit excessive.
But just then Sophia came downstairs with the medicine, successfully diverting his attention.
Sophia handed him the medicine and explained the dosage and usage.
Alaric committed it to memory, and only when leaving did he remember the purpose of his visit.
He had originally wanted to tell Benjamin and Sophia as soon as he arrived, but M had interrupted him, and he only remembered now.
"Benjamin, Sophia, I have a gift for you."
He waved to Chase, who immediately handed them the documents.
"What's this?"
Benjamin took the documents and asked curiously.
Sophia also leaned over to look and discovered it was actually an acquisition contract signed with the Stewart Group, complete with Zander's personal signature.
Benjamin laughed helplessly. "So that's why you were being so mysterious today—you went to acquire the Stewart Group."
No wonder Chase had been so happy when he called him.
Sophia's lips curved into a smile. "Thank you!"
Clearly, the White Group had no need to acquire a company on the verge of bankruptcy.
This was purely to get revenge for her and Benjamin.
This feeling of being protected by others was simply wonderful.
Benjamin felt the same way. Ever since he took over the White Group, no matter what difficulties he faced, he had to overcome them alone.
Alaric used to focus solely on medicine, and Cillian was like a child who never grew up.
Only he had been silently holding everything together.
This was the first time he deeply experienced the feeling of being protected by family.
"Alaric, thank you."
He looked at Alaric, his tone earnest and sincere.
Alaric smiled and patted his shoulder, his lips curving slightly. "Why be so formal with me? Since Zander dared to let Isabella go after you and Sophia, he should pay the price!"
If Zander, who had done nothing wrong, heard these words, he would definitely cry out his innocence.
All of this was done by Isabella behind his back—it wasn't his idea at all!
He deeply regretted it now!
Once the Stewart Group was acquired, it could never be surnamed Stewart again. To save the company, he had borrowed a huge loan back then.
And it was in his personal name!
He had been selling off large amounts of stock recently just to pay back this money, thinking that once the Stewart Group recovered, the money would come back.
But now... the Stewart Group was gone, and he still had to repay the debt alone.
Was there anyone more miserable than him in this world?
He was about to hate Isabella to death!
If Isabella hadn't deliberately provoked Sophia and Benjamin, how could he have been implicated?
Now everyone in Silverlight City was laughing at him—all because of that bitch Isabella!
Zander didn't know how he left the Stewart Group. He walked down the street in a daze.
Just then, his phone suddenly rang, the ringtone pulling him back from his thoughts.
Seeing it was an unknown number, he hung up without thinking.
But the caller persisted and called again.
This made Zander's mood even worse. He pressed the answer button and started cursing into the receiver, "Will you stop? I don't want to buy a house, get a loan, or buy insurance!"
"Zander~~ it's me."
Isabella's tearful voice came through, and Zander froze for a moment.
"Isabella? Aren't you at the police station? Why are you calling me?"
Isabella began pouring out her grievances. "Zander, I'm so scared. Please, save me!"