The CEO's Secret Obsession-Chapter 149: Preparations

[Carter Mansion]

Morning draped itself gently over the Carter estate.

The garden was still damp with dew, the air cool and fresh as sunlight filtered through the tall hedges.

Gregory walked at an unhurried pace along the stone path with his hands clasped behind his back.

Beside him, Ursula Carter moved with practiced ease, a light shawl resting over her shoulders and her gaze sweeping across the roses as if she were greeting old friends.

"It’s still beautiful," she said casually. "You have kept it exactly the way your father liked it."

Gregory smiled faintly. "He always hated too much change."

They walked in silence for a moment before Gregory cleared his throat.

"There is something I wanted to talk to you about," he said.

Ursula glanced at him sideways. "That tone usually means trouble."

He huffed softly. "You have always been good at reading people."

He slowed near the willow tree at the far end of the garden, the one Evelyn used to climb as a child.

"It’s about Willowood," he continued. "The land."

Ursula stopped walking.

"Ah," she said lightly. "That land again."

Gregory nodded. "I have been receiving offers for the past few years. Ridiculous ones, double even triple the market value."

She raised an eyebrow. "And now?"

"And now I am considering selling it," he admitted.

Ursula turned fully toward him. "That land is in Evelyn’s name."

"I know," he said quickly. "I haven’t made any decision. I wanted to talk to you first then I will speak to her."

Ursula studied his face for a while.

"You are worried," she said.

Gregory didn’t deny it. "I have a feeling that land will bring trouble into her life someday. I can’t explain it properly. It’s just—"

"A father’s instinct," Ursula finished.

He exhaled. "Exactly."

They resumed walking, slower now.

Ursula tilted her head, thoughtful. "Why do you think they are willing to pay triple the price for land in a remote, underdeveloped area?"

Gregory shook his head. "I don’t know. That’s what bothers me."

She hummed softly, amused rather than alarmed.

"So," she said, a smile tugging at her lips, "you think by selling a piece of land, you will make life easier for your daughter?"

He gave her a helpless look. "If there’s even a chance it will, I will take it."

Ursula stopped again, this time resting her hand lightly against the willow’s trunk.

"You are a good father," she said gently. "But life doesn’t work like that."

Gregory sighed and nodded, "I know."

"Trouble doesn’t disappear because we remove one object from its path," she said. "It simply finds another way to arrive."

"That’s not very reassuring, mother," he sighed.

Ursula chuckled. "I wasn’t trying to be." Then her expression softened.

"But," she added, "you are right about one thing. If something is circling Evelyn, it’s better to stay alert than comfortable."

Gregory nodded slowly.

"I will talk to her," he said. "Before the wedding."

Ursula squeezed his arm lightly. "Good. Just remember that Evelyn isn’t a child anymore. She deserves the truth, not just protection."

They continued their walk with the willow leaves rustling gently above them.

.....

[Reid Mansion — Morning]

Breakfast was already laid out when everyone gathered.

It was nothing elaborate, just the usual spread which included fresh fruit, toast, eggs, coffee.

It was the kind of normalcy the Reid mansion had learned to perform well.

Benjamin sat with his tablet open, scanning through emails. Alexander was halfway through his coffee, listening more than speaking.

Pauline ate quietly, composed as ever and Margaret, sharp-eyed, noticed everything.

Olivia sat across from Pauline, expression neutral, fingers curled loosely around her cup.

Pauline spoke first.

"Benjamin," she said calmly, "the Carters are coming for dinner today."

Benjamin didn’t look surprised. "Yes. I was informed."

"I want you home early," Pauline added. It wasn’t demanding, just firm.

Benjamin nodded immediately. "I will make sure of it."

That earned him a brief look from Margaret, one that said good without words.

Margaret dabbed her lips with her napkin and turned to Alexander.

"You," she said, "call Lucas early today."

Alexander blinked. "Lucas?"

"Yes," Margaret replied smoothly. "I have work for the two of you and no, it isn’t optional."

Alexander smiled faintly. "Of course. I will call him."

"What kind of work?" he asked.

Margaret waved a dismissive hand. "You will find out when he arrives. Just make sure he doesn’t disappear.

Benjamin finally set his tablet aside. "Anything else I should know about this dinner?" he asked.

"Yes," Margaret said at once. "This is a formal family gathering. Not a negotiation or a business meeting. So make sure you drop that stern look of yours."

Benjamin inclined his head. "Understood."

Pauline added quietly, "I will oversee the preparations."

Margaret nodded. "And make sure the gifts are ready. Evelyn will receive them today."

Alexander straightened slightly. "All of them?" He had seen the baskets that had been prepared for Evelyn earlier. Seeing how many they were, he had assumed it included all the gifts for all the functions.

"All of them," Margaret confirmed.

Across the table, Olivia stirred her tea, a little too slowly.

"That seems fast," she said, keeping her tone light. "So many things at once."

Margaret didn’t look at her.

"This family doesn’t do things halfway," she replied simply.

Silence followed.

Alexander glanced briefly at Pauline, then back to Margaret. "I will make sure Lucas comes."

"Good," Margaret said. "Now eat before the food gets cold."

.....

Lucas arrived at the Reid mansion earlier than usual with his hands tucked into his coat pockets and his gaze instinctively lifting to the familiar façade.

Alexander met him near the staircase.

"You look like you are walking into an interrogation," Alexander murmured.

Lucas snorted. "Your grandmother sent for me and that alone qualifies as a threat."

Alexander smiled faintly. "Come on."

They found Margaret in the sitting room adjoining her bedroom. Sunlight streamed in through tall windows, catching the silver in her hair as she sat upright on the sofa with a small velvet box resting on the table in front of her.

She looked up as they entered, eyes sharp as ever but softened immediately when they landed on Alexander.

"Sit," she said, gesturing to the chairs opposite her.

.....