Chapter 1060: Uninvited

Chapter 1060 – Uninvited

Adrian’s eyes narrowed.

For a second, Lux watched his face.

There.

A subtle shift.

Not surprise.

Suspicion.

"My cousin?" Adrian asked.

The butler hesitated. "Yes, sir."

Celeste’s face went colder.

"With his daughter and son," the butler added.

Adrian’s jaw tightened.

Naomi looked at him. "Already?"

Adrian did not answer her. He looked toward the front hall. "Tell them in."

The butler bowed. "Yes, sir."

He had not even finished turning when a voice came from beyond the corridor.

"No need, cousin. We already found our way."

Adrian’s expression turned to stone.

Celeste’s fingers tightened at her side.

Three figures entered without invitation.

The first was a man in his late fifties, silver hair combed back, body still fit beneath a dark blue suit. He had the Delacour facial structure, but where Adrian looked severe, this man looked polished in a way that felt oily beneath the shine.

Victor Delacour.

Adrian’s cousin.

Behind him came a young woman in a cream dress, elegant and pretty, with a smile too practiced to be innocent.

Elise Delacour.

And beside her, a young man perhaps in his early twenties, sharp-jawed, casually expensive, with the bored cruelty of someone raised to believe inheritance was a personality.

Hugo Delacour.

Victor stopped just inside the hall and spread his hands. "Adrian."

His eyes moved over the gathered servants, then to Celeste, Naomi, Lux, and finally the cat. His smile widened. "Well. What a lively afternoon."

No one greeted him.

Victor did not seem bothered.

He looked past them toward the rear grounds, where the skyline was now missing something old and irreplaceable.

"I heard there was... an incident."

Adrian’s voice was cold. "News travels quickly."

"Concern travels quickly," Victor corrected smoothly. "Especially among family."

Maribelle’s pen moved once across her tablet.

Lux glanced at it.

She had written something.

Probably rude.

Professionally rude.

Victor’s gaze drifted to Lux and lingered.

Recognition.

Curiosity.

Calculation.

Then to Naomi.

"Naomi, dear. Are you all right?"

Naomi’s expression remained controlled. "I’m fine."

"Good, good." Victor’s smile did not reach his eyes. "It would be unfortunate if today’s bad omen harmed anyone."

The air chilled.

Adrian’s eyes narrowed. "Bad omen?"

Victor looked almost apologetic. "The tower collapsing so suddenly? Such an old symbol of the family. People will talk."

Elise sighed softly, as if mourning already. "It’s tragic. That tower was always so beautiful in photographs."

Hugo shrugged. "Heritage structures collapse when neglected."

Naomi’s eyes flashed.

Adrian’s face hardened.

Celeste said nothing.

That silence was more dangerous than anger.

Victor continued, stepping farther into the hall as if he had every right. "Of course, I’m not accusing anyone. These things happen. Old families sometimes lose old symbols." His gaze flicked to Lux. "Especially when new influences arrive."

Lux looked at Victor.

Victor looked back.

For one moment, the hall became very quiet.

The servants seemed to shrink toward the walls.

Victor smiled. "And you must be Mr. Vaelthorn. That famous playboy."

Lux’s expression remained pleasant. "Unfortunately for several people, yes."

Naomi pressed her lips together.

Adrian glanced at Lux sharply.

Victor’s brow lifted. "Interesting answer."

"I enjoy honesty."

"Then honestly, your timing is remarkable."

Lux tilted his head. "I’ve been told that."

Victor’s smile sharpened. "Naomi returns with a mysterious gentleman, and suddenly Delacour’s tower falls."

Hugo let out a small laugh. "That’s poetic."

Elise touched his arm as if gently scolding him, though her eyes were bright with amusement. "Hugo."

"What? It is."

Naomi’s hands curled.

Lux shifted the cat slightly against his chest.

The orange cat, still unconscious, gave the faintest twitch of one ear.

Somehow, that felt like judgment.

Victor’s gaze dropped to the cat. "And what is that?"

Lux looked down. "A cat."

Hugo snorted. "Obviously."

Lux’s eyes lifted. "Then why ask?"

Hugo’s smile stiffened.

Naomi almost smiled.

Victor’s gaze sharpened by a fraction.

Celeste noticed it.

So did Adrian.

Lux had not raised his voice. Had not threatened. Had not shown anything supernatural. Yet somehow Hugo looked like he had stepped forward and found the floor missing.

Victor recovered first. "I only meant it is unusual to carry a stray animal after such an incident."

Lux smiled faintly. "I collect unusual things."

Elise looked him up and down. "Do you?"

Naomi’s gaze slid toward her. Cold. Very cold.

Lux noticed that too and decided, with great generosity, not to provoke the young woman further.

Yet.

Victor turned back to Adrian. "I came as soon as I heard. The family must present unity at a time like this."

Adrian said, "I did not call for you."

"Family should not need calling."

Maribelle’s pen moved again.

Victor continued, unaware that a demon secretary was now documenting his social sins with murderous neatness.

"The tower’s fall will damage confidence. Investors dislike instability. Society dislikes scandal. We must prepare a response before rumors become... unmanageable."

Adrian stared at his cousin.

Lux watched Adrian watch Victor.

This was useful.

Because Adrian’s face had changed.

Before today, perhaps Victor’s words would have sounded practical. Annoying, yes. Self-serving, perhaps. But reasonable enough.

Now Adrian saw the timing.

He saw how quickly Victor had arrived.

How smoothly he shaped the narrative.

Adrian’s stomach tightened.

Lux did not need to say it.

The red cluster from the project room glowed in Adrian’s memory.

Adrian felt something cold and ugly settle behind his ribs.

Betrayal was easier to think about in documents.

Harder when it smiled in your hallway.

Victor stepped closer.

"I can help," he said gently. "You know I can. We should convene the family board immediately. Perhaps some temporary authority should be shared while you deal with the... emotional aspect."

Adrian’s voice was very quiet. "Temporary authority?"

Victor nodded. "Only until things stabilize."

Hugo added, "It would reassure people."

Elise smiled at Naomi. "And perhaps Naomi should stay away from public attention for a while. People are already talking about her association with Mr. Vaelthorn." ℯℯ𝑙.

Naomi’s face went blank.

That did it.

Lux’s smile appeared.

Small.

Polite.

Terrible in a way only Naomi recognized immediately.

Adrian saw it too this time.

And for once, he did not tell Lux to stop.

Victor noticed the smile and misread it.

"Mr. Vaelthorn," he said warmly, "I hope you understand. This is a family matter."

Lux adjusted the cat in his arms. "Yes," he said. "That is what makes it so ugly."