Chapter 10
The next morning, when Lucinda came downstairs, the living room was already full of people.
Valencia sat in the main seat, teacup in hand, talking with a middle-aged man wearing gold-rimmed glasses across from her.
Wesley sat to the side, flipping through a thick design catalog, occasionally looking up to interject a comment.
"Cindy, come sit." Valencia saw her and immediately waved with a smile. "This is the designer I invited, Mr. Everett Lavien. He's internationally renowned. I'm having him design the estate next door for you. Tell him anything you have in mind."
Lucinda walked over and sat beside Valencia.
Everett stood and nodded politely. "Mrs. Douglas, rest assured. I've done many similar projects. I'll definitely ensure your daughter is satisfied."
As he spoke, his gaze naturally shifted to Lucinda—
Then he froze completely.
That face.
Those cool eyes, features that drew the eye even without makeup, and those calm, almost indifferent eyes—
Everett's mind exploded.
Boss?
How could it be the boss?
He'd collaborated with countless top-tier clients, met innumerable important figures, thought he'd experienced every kind of scenario.
But at this moment, his brain truly short-circuited.
He recognized that face.
No—rather, no one in their circle didn't recognize that face.
Lucinda. The design world's absolute pinnacle. Known as the "ceiling of designers." And right now, she sat before him wearing an ordinary white sweater.
And she was in the Douglas family.
The Douglas family—the wealthiest family.
That legendary biological daughter who'd been lost for twenty years?
Everett's mouth twitched. Only one thought filled his mind.
What kind of dramatic plot twist was this?
His gaze fixed on Lucinda's face. His mouth opened and closed. He nearly blurted out "Boss."
Lucinda raised her eyes and met his gaze.
That look was too calm—calm as still water.
Don't speak.
Everett forced the title back down his throat. His facial muscles twitched. It took enormous effort to squeeze out, "Miss... hello."
His voice sounded slightly hollow.
Wesley set down the catalog, his tone serious. "Cindy, your mother and I discussed it. The estate next door—we're transferring it to your name. Consider it our... belated gift to you."
Lucinda looked up at him, lips curving slightly. "Alright."
Only then did Valencia breathe a sigh of relief, smile returning to her face.
Everett sat across from them, pretending to scroll through his tablet, but his peripheral vision kept drifting toward Lucinda.
The boss was the Douglas family's heiress.
If this news got out, the entire design world would explode.
He took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down.
Work. Focus on work first.
Just then, footsteps sounded from upstairs.
Dahlia descended in high heels, wearing a yellow dress, hair impeccably styled.
Her gaze fell on the living room. Seeing Everett, her eyes lit up instantly.
Everett!
International top-tier interior designer. He had fewer than twenty works globally, each one a masterpiece for the ages.
Last month, she'd pulled countless strings trying to book him to design her private art studio. Never even got a response.
Now he sat in her family's living room?
Dahlia hurried downstairs, a proper smile on her face. "Mr. Lavien? What brings you here?"
Everett looked up at her and nodded politely. "Hello."
Just that one sentence. Then his gaze returned to the tablet.
Dahlia's smile faltered, but she quickly adjusted and sat beside Valencia. "Mommy, what are you discussing? Did you invite Mr. Lavien to design something?"
"Designing the estate next door for your sister." Valencia's tone was casual, her gaze remaining on Lucinda. "Your sister just came back. She needs her own place to live."
Dahlia's fingers tightened slightly.
The estate next door.
That house was even larger than the one they currently lived in. She'd wanted it since childhood, had brought it up to Mom and Dad more than once. Each time, they'd vaguely brushed her off.
Now they were just giving it away?
She took a deep breath, pushing down the discomfort, and leaned toward Everett, tone warm. "Mr. Lavien, I especially love your work. Especially that piece at last year's overseas design week—absolutely stunning! I've always thought, if only I could have you design a studio for me..."
Everett listened, continuing to scroll without pause, only offering a brief acknowledgment.
Dahlia waited for ages. No follow-up came.
She bit her lip and tried again. "Mr. Lavien, could you possibly leave your contact information? We could schedule a time to discuss details..."
"Sorry." Everett looked up, tone distant. "My schedule is completely booked recently. I'm afraid I don't have time for other projects."
Dahlia's smile froze for an instant.
Her peripheral vision swept over Lucinda.
That woman just sat there. Said nothing. Did nothing. Didn't even glance their way.
Yet Everett's gaze kept unconsciously drifting toward her.
Not the look a professional gives a client to confirm requirements, but carrying a kind of... expectation.
As if waiting for her approval.
Dahlia couldn't help interrupting. "Mr. Lavien, this proposal sounds wonderful. Have you done similar projects before?"
Everett nodded. "Yes. That villa in the west district shares some similarities with this project."
Dahlia's eyes brightened. "I saw coverage of that project. I heard the garden landscape alone went through three design revisions?"
"Five revisions." Everett corrected her, tone flat. "The final version was completely redone from scratch."
"Who approved the final proposal then? You or the client?"
Everett's gaze unconsciously drifted toward Lucinda again.
The core concept for that project's final design had come from the boss.
He'd pulled three all-nighters in the studio without figuring it out. One phone call to the boss, three sentences, and everything clicked into place.
But he couldn't say that.
"The client." He withdrew his gaze, tone neutral.
Dahlia didn't notice his momentary distraction and continued warmly. "Mr. Lavien, with your busy schedule, you rarely take on private residential projects, right? My sister is so lucky to have you design for her."
Everett made a sound of acknowledgment, his gaze drifting to Lucinda again.
The boss was lucky?
He was the one who'd hit the jackpot, okay?
Designing for the boss's house—he could brag about this for a lifetime.
Seeing he didn't respond, Dahlia turned to Valencia. "Mommy, Mr. Lavien is truly renowned. It's amazing you were able to book him. I tried for ages and couldn't get an appointment."
Valencia smiled, but her gaze settled on Lucinda. "Your sister is the lucky one."
Dahlia's smile faltered.