Chapter 183 The Head
Standing behind Adolph, his subordinate Benjamin didn't dare to speak out, though he couldn’t help feeling somewhat embarrassed by reflection. Adolph was notorious for being stingy, a fact well observed by everyone over the years.
“Are you planning to attend the auction in person, sir?” Benjamin ventured to ask.
Adolph responded with a nonchalant grunt, “Yes, make sure to place our security near RH, just in case there’s any commotion.”
Benjamin frowned, “I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to cause trouble at RH. You needn’t worry, sir.”
RH was the grandest and most enigmatic auction house, with an impressive and somewhat obscure backing. Whoever dared to stir trouble there, no matter how noble their status, would vanish without a trace overnight.
Adolph glanced at a photograph before him.
“No, I’m worried I’ll be the one taking action. What if someone tries to snatch what's mine? You think I won’t take it back?”
The object in question was an exceedingly rare diamond unearthed three years ago from a mine in South Africa. To date, it was the largest and most valuable pink-purple diamond ever found, with a purity level of flawless LC. Even under a tenfold magnifying glass, diamond experts couldn’t find the slightest internal flaw, making it the pinnacle of diamond purity.
And its weight... a whole 60 carats!
Consider that natural pink diamonds are exceedingly scarce, accounting for only 0.001% of all diamonds annually. A pink diamond weighing 27 carats had once appeared at a national auction a decade ago and sold for a record-breaking 71.2 million dollars.
One could only imagine the stir this ‘Pink Star’ was set to cause at the upcoming auction.
Such a rare treasure was naturally something Adolph intended to buy for his darling sister.
“Keep an eye on things. Any news from RH, I want to know immediately,” he instructed.
“Yes, sir.” Benjamin replied, head bowed slightly. After a pause, tinged with complexity, he added, “Sir, the head has returned.”
Adolph's eyes flickered with barely detectable anxiety.
“Why has the head returned so soon?”
“It must be because of the RH matter,” the man suggested. “The head requests your presence at home tonight.”
Adolph glanced at his watch and left in silence.
Driving along the mile-long Willow Road, the street lights stretched shadows across the pavement. The hot breeze that blew through was too weak to dissipate the tension inside the car.
Adolph sat in the vehicle, his fingers slender playing over his phone, lingering on the screen for a long time without making a call to Luann Weaver.
“We’ve arrived, sir,” announced the driver.
Adolph snapped out of his daze and tucked his cellphone back into the spacious pocket of his white lab coat.
Dim light haloed the living room, revealing the outline of someone sitting on the couch.
He had barely set foot in the foyer and started to switch shoes when a raspy voice slowly permeated the air, "Did I ever tell you not to come home wearing those clothes? They reek of blood, it's nauseating."
Adolph's face turned pale; he looked down at himself. Not a speck of blood stained his immaculate attire.
"Sorry, Sir, my mistake. I'll take it off right now," Adolph said with a tinge of regret, quickly shedding his coat and handing it to a servant nearby.
After completing the task, he strode forward and knelt on one knee before the head of the household, "Please, punish me."
Enveloped by shadows, the man on the couch sported a generous overcoat that framed his robust figure, his slightly curled blonde hair casually tied at the back of his head.
An aged but steady hand emerged, resting above Adolph's bowed head. Adolph closed his eyes, his heartbeat skyrocketing to 180 beats per minute.
Unexpectedly, the man spoke, "Never mind."
"If Luann found out, she'd probably be in tears."
"Get up."
Breathing a barely audible sigh of relief, Adolph began to stand and speak, but in the next instant, he was sent flying by a kick, crashing into a decorative liquor cabinet. The collision sent bottles clattering down onto him.
His glasses, resting on the bridge of his nose, had shattered, narrowly missing his eyes.
Adolph coughed violently, a trickle of blood staining the corner of his lips.
The man's voice was devoid of emotion, "I can forgive your earlier oversight."
"But you failed to protect Luann."
Adolph swallowed hard, stammering out an apology, "I'm to blame."
"Why didn't you report back about the Weaver family arranging for her to marry Myron Curtis?" the man rose slowly.
Adolph, eyes downcast, only saw the approaching shadow on the floor.
He was at a loss for words.
The man's voice carried an oppressive force, "Did I not make it clear? Luann's marriage is my business; the man she marries will be handpicked by me."
"That Curtis kid is worthy?"
"Speak up."
"Have you turned mute?"
Suddenly, the man's grip tightened on Adolph's cheeks, forcing him to look up. The faint light revealed his face, marked by the passage of time, around fifty years of age.
Adolph was innocent in this regard. The same day the head instructed him to get close to the Curtis family, coincidence had it that Luann Weaver had been ordered by the Weaver family head to marry Myron Curtis.
The situation had escalated suddenly, and it was Luann Weaver's impulsive decision that set it off. Though one couldn't really blame her; after all, the head had never discussed any future marriage with her.
"Marriage... Getting married doesn't matter. Once we find the Curtis family's secret, I'm sure Luann will divorce Myron Curtis anyway."
Hearing these words, the man's menacing aura seemed to diminish slightly. After a brief pause, he asked another question. "Is she...?" But before finishing his sentence, he scowled, sensing something improper in his original line of questioning.
So, he asked in a different way. "That Curtis kid, he didn't do anything to Luann, did he?"
Adolph swallowed hard. "There shouldn't be anything," Adolph replied tentatively.
The response clearly did not sit well with the man.
"Give me a straight answer."
Adolph locked eyes with him, suppressing the fear within. "Sir, as a man, I find it rather uncomfortable to broach such subjects with Luann. Perhaps you might wish to ask her directly?"
The man fell silent for a moment. "And Holly Weiss?"
Adolph's anxiety surged. "Holly's often by Luann's side... All the reports we've received from her have been positive. If anything were to happen to Luann, Holly would no doubt inform us immediately. You needn't worry."
The man nodded and released his grip, his voice turned stern and cold. "Adolph, if there's a next time, I won't be so lenient."
"Yes, yes, of course..."
"Tell Luann to speed up the investigation. This lack of progress isn't up to her usual standards," said the man, his expression grave. He stood up and strode purposefully towards the door.
"Understood."
