Chapter 204

Chapter 204

From early morning, the Seymour Family's front door hadn't had a moment's peace.

The first shareholder arrived at eight o'clock sharp—a man in his fifties with every hair slicked perfectly into place and an expression dripping with arrogance.

John stood at the entrance. "Mr. Wallace, Mrs. Seymour isn't receiving visitors today."

Daniel Wallace smiled faintly. "John, I'm not a visitor. When a Seymour Group shareholder comes to see Mrs. Seymour, it's business."

John opened his mouth to respond, but Octavia's voice drifted out from the living room.

"John, please show Mr. Wallace in."

She sat on the sofa, already changed into fresh clothes with her hair pulled back. No makeup. She looked worn, but her eyes were clear and alert.

Daniel entered, his gaze lingering on her face for a beat. He knew about the scandal—the whole identity-swap mess that had blown up everywhere. A flicker of scrutiny and amusement crossed his features before he smoothly tucked it away, nodding with a practiced smile.

"Mrs. Seymour, I apologize for the intrusion. We're all devastated about Mr. Seymour's situation. I'm here to see if there's anything we can do to help."

Octavia met his eyes, her tone even. "Thank you. Mr. Seymour is only temporarily out of contact. Search and rescue operations are ongoing—I'm sure we'll have news soon. As for company matters, Mr. Seymour's excellent team is handling everything. No need to worry."

Daniel's smile stiffened briefly before recovering. "However, the Group has decisions to make every day. Those executives, talented as they are, can't make executive-level calls, can they? But a corporation the size of the Seymour Group can't just grind to a halt because Mr. Seymour is absent. The shareholders feel we should appoint an interim leader—just until Mr. Seymour returns and can take back the reins."

"The shareholders?" Octavia studied him. "Which shareholders, exactly?"

Daniel blinked, caught off guard. He forced a laugh. "Just a few of the major ones. We discussed it and decided we can't keep waiting indefinitely. What do you think, Mrs. Seymour?"

"Mr. Wallace." Octavia cut him off, her voice quiet but each word crystal clear. "Mr. Seymour has been out of contact for less than forty-eight hours, and you're already scrambling to replace him. Don't you think that's a bit premature? I'm sure when Mr. Seymour returns, he'll be deeply moved by how concerned you all were."

Daniel's expression shifted. He laughed awkwardly and stood. "Mrs. Seymour, you're absolutely right. I wasn't thinking clearly. I'll leave you to rest."

Less than half an hour after he left, another visitor arrived.

This time it was a woman in her forties, dressed in an expensive suit with flawless makeup. Her demeanor was considerably softer than Daniel's. The moment she entered, she clasped Octavia's hand, eyes reddening, voice catching.

"Mrs. Seymour, we're all heartbroken about what happened to Mr. Seymour. You're holding everything together alone—it must be unbearable."

Octavia let her hold her hand without pulling away. "Thank you for your concern, Ms. Harrison."

Samantha Harrison dabbed at the corners of her eyes and sighed. "Mrs. Seymour, the Group has thrived under Mr. Seymour's leadership all these years. Now that he's gone, the stock price has taken a nosedive. The shareholders are worried sick. I've heard the board is already discussing bringing in an interim leader to stabilize things—"

"Ms. Harrison, who do you think would be suitable?" Octavia asked.

Samantha faltered, forcing another laugh. "I wouldn't presume to say, but doesn't the Seymour Family still have Mr. Lucas Seymour? He's been abroad for years, but he's still family. Capable too. Having him step in temporarily might satisfy everyone."

Octavia looked at her without speaking.

Samantha shifted uncomfortably under her gaze and excused herself shortly after.

Throughout the morning, several more groups came through.

Each had their own agenda, but all were testing the waters, trying to pry something useful from her.

Octavia handled them one by one, maintaining a polite expression and measured tone throughout.

Sierra stood at the top of the stairs, watching Octavia see off the sixth group. Finally, she couldn't take it anymore.

"Octavia, you can't keep doing this." She strode over, snatched the phone from Octavia's hand, powered it off, and shoved it into her own pocket. "You need to rest."

Octavia looked up at her, eyes slightly unfocused, as if she hadn't quite processed the words.

"Give me my phone. I still have calls to make."

"There are no more calls to make." Sierra's voice rose. "You haven't slept since yesterday. You've barely eaten anything. You look terrible. If you keep this up, Leopold won't even be found yet and you'll collapse first."

Octavia opened her mouth to respond when the doorbell rang again.

She instinctively started to stand. Sierra pushed her back down onto the sofa.

"John!" Sierra called out.

John hurried over from the hallway.

"Start turning people away at the door. No one gets in—reporters, shareholders, no one."

John glanced at Octavia. When she didn't object, he nodded and headed out.

Sierra sat down beside Octavia, taking her hand.

Octavia's hand was ice-cold.

"Go sleep for a bit." Sierra's voice softened. "I'll keep watch. If anything happens, I'll wake you."

Octavia shook her head. "I'm not tired."

"Your eyes are practically closing on their own and you say you're not tired?" Sierra pulled her to her feet and steered her toward the stairs. "Go lie down. Even just an hour. You're running on empty—you can't do anything like this."

Octavia let herself be guided up the stairs, each step slow and heavy.

It wasn't that she didn't want to sleep. She was afraid of what she might dream.

Afraid that when she woke up, she'd discover all the nightmares were real.

Sierra pressed her down onto the bed and pulled the covers over her.

Octavia lay there, staring at the ceiling.

"Close your eyes," Sierra said.

Octavia obediently closed them, but her lashes trembled and her fingers gripped the edge of the blanket tightly.

Sierra sat by the bed for a while, waiting until her breathing gradually evened out, then quietly stood and slipped from the room, closing the door behind her.

Octavia didn't know when she'd fallen asleep.

She only knew she was exhausted—her consciousness sinking into deep, deep water. Everything around her was quiet. No sound at all.

Then she saw moonlight. Bright moonlight streaming through the window, pooling silver-white across the floor.

Someone stood by the window, backlit so she couldn't see his face clearly. But she knew that silhouette too well.

"Leopold."