As Lucy and Bettie approached the seating area, he motioned toward the couches with an open hand.

"You may have a seat."

Edgar’s tone was cordial, almost welcoming. Then, as if remembering something, he paused.

"Ah, yes. Before I forget."

He tapped his earpiece lightly, there was a blue glow indicating an active connection. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Antonio, come in."

A moment later, the door opened and a man in a fitted suit stepped inside. His dark glasses reflected nothing and he had no expression on his face.

"Antonio," Edgar said calmly, with his gaze still on leaving Lucy and Bettie, "make sure there is nothing on them."

He turned back to the two women, who stared at him with hardened expressions.

"I’m sure you both understand," he added. "Given the... circumstances between myself and Stark Industries, I would prefer to avoid any recordings of what is said here."

Lucy’s mouth pressed into a thin line, but she nodded. And with that, they both obliged.

Antonio spoke quietly into his comm and a few seconds later, two more operatives entered the room.

They approached Lucy and Bettie with professional detachment, gesturing for their bags.

Lucy handed hers over first. One of the men opened it carefully, methodically removing her arcphone, a small pen she used for work notes, and a compact tablet-like device. Each item was inspected, then placed on a nearby side table.

Bettie followed suit, handing over her own bag. The second operative went through it with the same thoroughness, pulling out her arcphone and a slim portable charger.

Once the bags were cleared, one of the men produced a compact scanner device. It was sleek, no larger than a TV remote, with a small display screen and a series of blinking indicators along its side.

He powered it on, and ran it over them both, starting from their shoulders and moving down. The device scanned for any concealed wiring, transmitters, or embedded tech.

However, the screen remained green and gave no alerts.

At the same time, another operative remained a few feet behind them. To any observer, he appeared to be doing nothing more than watching.

In truth, his role was far more specific.

He was there to sense any spell being cast, or even one already in effect. The same applied to enchantments. It was well known that certain spells and enchantments could be used to record conversations.

After a moment, Antonio gave a slight nod to Edgar. "Clear"

"Good," Edgar said, inclining his head.

He reached for the wine glass resting on the armrest of his chair and took a slow sip. Then he set the glass aside.

"Now," he said, his gaze settling on Lucy with renewed focus. "To what do I owe this pleasure? Why are you here?"

Lucy inhaled slowly, steadying herself.

"Mr. Desdemona," she began, "I came here because I know for a fact that my father has been brought back... as a summon."

For a brief moment, Edgar’s brows lifted, although the smile on his lips didn’t falter.

"Is that so?" he asked. "And where did you hear something like that?"

Lucy held his gaze, refusing to look away.

"As you well know," she continued, "there are certain things that can only be built by a very specific level of talent. And there’s only one person who could construct them the way they’re being made now."

She paused, then added, "I heard you speak at the event. The way you talk... the mannerisms, the phrasing... I grew up with that voice. I know it."

Silence followed.

Edgar didn’t respond immediately. He leaned back and studied her with a different kind of intensity now.

Then a slow smile curved across his lips.

"So what if it’s true?" he asked.

Lucy didn’t lose her composure. "I didn’t come here to argue about that," she said. "But if I know this, then my boss, Mr. Ethan, knows it as well. However..."

She held his gaze.

"He’s willing to drop the case, if there’s confirmation that my father has truly been summoned."

There was a hint of curiosity on his face now. "And why would he do that? If anything, proving such a thing should only strengthen your case."

"Because I have no interest in fighting against my father," Lucy said in a steady voice despite the emotion beginning to creep into it. "He was the one who built it, not you people at Crypco. That was always his dream."

Her voice softened slightly. "I was only trying to carry on his legacy. So if this is the truth... then I won’t fight. Not over this."

Edgar’s smile widened, and he let out an exhale, something almost like a laugh.

"You’re a bold young girl," he said, before stretching out his hand.

A magic circle formed beside him and from the circle, a figure began to take shape.

It formed into a man with graying hair, dressed in a suit with a white shirt and a striped tie, black-framed glasses resting neatly on his face.

Isaac Hargreaves.

As he fully manifested, Lucy’s glistening eyes widened and her hands flew to her mouth. Bettie was just as surprised too.

Isaac was just as shocked seeing as daughter right before him too. However he couldn’t take a move from that point until he was ordered or allowed to.

Edgar watched their reactions with a grim form satisfaction, then he rose from his seat, brushing a hand down the front of his suit as he did.

He began walking toward his desk, then stopped halfway and glanced back at Lucy.

"Listen carefully, Miss Hargreaves. Once this is over, you will make sure your boss drops that case immediately."

There was a brief pause.

"Though I suppose my earlier message should already be encouraging him to. But if the case is not dropped by the end of the week..."

"...then you’ll see a side of me, far worse than you could’ve ever imagined."

He continued on his way. "You have two minutes."

It was as though Lucy had barely paid edgar any attention as she was too focused on her father.

Lucy’s eyes began to well up as she took one step forward. Then she walked all the way to him, her steps quickening with each one, until she was standing right in front of him.

"Dad," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Isaac’s composure cracked. His lips trembled, and his eyes filled with tears.

"Oh, my sweet girl," he said, in a voice thick with emotion. "You shouldn’t have come here."

Lucy didn’t respond, instead she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

Isaac wrapped his arms around her immediately, holding her tightly.

"How could I not have?" Lucy said through her tears. "How could I not?"

Isaac pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her. Then, slowly, he went down on one knee so they were at eye level.

"Your mother," he said quietly, his voice shaking. "How is she?"

Lucy’s tears fell harder. "She still talks about you every day, every single day."

Isaac’s face crumpled, and tears spilled down his cheeks. "I’m so sorry," he said, his voice breaking. "I’m so sorry."

He reached up and cupped her face gently with both hands, his thumbs brushing away her tears even as his own continued to fall.

"I didn’t mean to leave you both," he said. "I never wanted any of this."

Lucy shook her head, her hands gripping his wrists.

"It’s not your fault," she sai. "It’s not."

They stayed like that for a moment, holding each other, with the weight of everything pressing down on them.

Behind them, Bettie wiped at her eyes with the back of her hand. She turned away slightly, giving them what little privacy she could in the moment, but she couldn’t stop the tears from coming.