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Chapter 16
To make a good impression on her potential future boss, Elijah put extra effort into her appearance
the next morning.
Today marked her last day at the Morgans‘, and she felt as if blessings were lining up one after
another.
Not only did she have the rare chance to meet the CEO face–to–face, but she could also leave this place behind with her mother by her side. Three wins in one day.
She ignored Ethan Morgan’s hesitant expression and left in good spirits, heading to the so–called
“blind date.”
Ethan watched her back as she walked away, just as he had done countless times before. But today, for some reason, his chest felt unusually tight, an unfamiliar unease creeping in.
The address Mrs. Morgan had given led Elijah to an exclusive, serene fine–dining restaurant tucked away from the bustle of the city.
Stepping inside, her eyes immediately fell on the man by the window.
He had an aura of quiet authority, with a subtle but undeniable edge.
Even from behind, she could tell he wasn’t just anyone.
For the first time that morning, her heartbeat quickened slightly as she walked toward him.
“Hello, are you Mr. Howards?” Her voice was soft but steady. “I’m Elijah Watchmaker… your blind date for today.”
The man raised his head lazily, and for a brief moment, his sharp, cold eyes froze on her face.
Then, as if someone had dimmed the sharp light in his gaze, his lips curved into a gentle, warm
smile.
“Hello, Miss Watchmaker.”
It was completely different from what she had imagined.
Leon didn’t give her the cold shoulder, nor did he put up any barriers to make things difficult.
The distant, commanding aura she had felt at first seemed like an illusion. In person, he was
composed, polite, and almost disarmingly approachable.
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Elijah forced down her nervousness and steadied her voice, getting straight to the point.
“I know Mr. Howards isn’t actually interested in this blind date. Truthfully, I came here today
because I have something else I’d like to discuss with you.”
Leon leaned back, a subtle amusement playing in his eyes. “That’s not entirely true.”
She blinked, startled, and looked up at him, only to meet his smiling gaze.
“I wasn’t planning on it… but then I saw you, and I changed my mind.”
Her breath caught.
“Don’t call me Mr. Howards,” he said casually, leaning forward slightly. “Just call me Leon. And as for what you wanted to discuss, I’m all ears, Elijah.”
Hearing her name roll so naturally off his tongue, she froze for a second.
The polished elegance in his demeanor was still there, but beneath it, she could sense a hint of
unrestrained boldness, playful, even.
Strangely enough, she didn’t find it off–putting.
She had always known she was beautiful. People told her so often.
If it weren’t for her looks, Ethan Morgan would never have kept her as his secret lover for three
years.
But when Ethan praised her “beauty,” it always came laced with an entitled possessiveness, as if
she were something that belonged to him.
And when others complimented her, it felt as though they were admiring a valuable piece of art
rather than seeing her as a person.
Even the Morgans “adopted” her as a goddaughter for that very reason.
Leon’s tone was nothing like theirs. Even when he expressed admiration, there was a sincerity in
his voice that didn’t make her feel objectified.
Elijah drew in a quiet, steadying breath.
Come on, you’re not some seventeen–year–old schoolgirl anymore. Counting the extra ten years from your past life, you’re actually older than him. Get a grip, for God’s sake!
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Clearing her throat, she shifted the topic to business.
“Do you remember the art exhibition a while back? The first–prize winner–the painting they showcased–do you still recall it?“.
Leon’s brows arched slightly, a flicker of recognition in his
gaze.
“You mean the piece titled ‘The Back of a Working Woman‘?”
She gave a faint, bitter smile and nodded.
“That painting was actually called ‘Mother’s Back‘. It was my work. But Hannah Lopez claimed it as her own.”
Leon’s expression sharpened, but his reaction carried little surprise.
“I should’ve guessed.”
He rested his elbows on the table, his voice low and thoughtful.
“That painting had so much heart. I watched the interview with Miss Lopez afterward, and she sounded completely detached–like someone who had no idea what the piece actually meant. It didn’t add up.”
“I assumed she’d bought the work from someone else. I even felt sorry for the original artist.”
“A painting with that kind of life in it… it would never stay buried, no matter whose hands it ended up in. It’s far too powerful to be traded away for money.”
His eyes darkened, and his lips curved into a sharp, mocking smile.
“I didn’t expect her to go beyond buying it–to outright steal your name and claim the glory for
herself.”
Elijah’s breath hitched. Her chest tightened.
“…You really think a painting like that would never be overlooked?”
Because back then, everyone had said the opposite.
They all told her that even if two identical paintings existed, the one in Hannah’s hands would always be the “valuable” one, because Hannah was the one holding it.
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