"I’ve found something out on my end, too." Silas Norwood said with a wry smile. "Before Sutton the Second came to Metropia, his side also privately received a piece of information. The gist of it... is the same as before."

It was a while before Kian Sterling let out a cold laugh. "Why does the Sutton Family keep producing such idiots?"

"They’re idiots, but they’re also a liability," Silas Norwood said, asking him, "How do we split them?"

"One for each of us works," Kian Sterling said nonchalantly, though with a hint of regret. "I’d rather wipe out the entire Sutton Family, but these prominent families are deeply entrenched. Even if we joined forces, it would take a lot of time. I don’t have the patience to waste months of my energy on a rat’s nest."

Besides, keeping the Sutton Family around meant their stock dividends could provide Celia Sterling with some spending money.

But Wyatt Sutton and Brian Sutton could not be allowed to remain.

Silas Norwood felt much the same. He mulled it over. "One each, then. We’ll do it covertly to avoid leaving any loose ends for people to gossip about."

Kian Sterling was about to say more when Celia Sterling pushed the door open from outside. He stubbed out his cigarette, and he and Silas Norwood tacitly dropped the subject.

Celia Sterling sat down next to Silas Norwood and casually took a sip from his coffee cup. "What are you two talking about?"

"Work stuff," Silas Norwood said gently. "And you."

Celia Sterling paused. "What about me?"

"Your work schedule has been a bit intense today. I heard you’ve scheduled training sessions every day. Cece, I hope you’re prioritizing your health," Kian Sterling said, his brow slightly furrowed.

"I’ve been resting for too long. It’s nothing to push myself a little once in a while." Celia Sterling glanced at the empty coffee cups in front of them. "Let’s go. Time to head home for dinner."

「Nightfall.」

But Celia Sterling didn’t go to rest right away. Instead, she sat on a lounge chair in the villa’s garden, swaying gently as she gazed at the moon.

"It’s eleven o’clock, honey." Since she hadn’t gone to bed, Silas Norwood, long accustomed to their active nightlife, found it hard to sleep alone. After briefly discussing the plan for Wyatt Sutton and Brian Sutton with Kian Sterling, he immediately came out to find her.

Celia Sterling hummed softly in acknowledgment and shifted to make room for him.

Silas Norwood lay down beside her, casually pulling her into his embrace. "How can the moon in the sky be as beautiful as the moon in my arms, hmm?"

Celia Sterling ignored his teasing. "I’ve been so busy with one thing or another all these years. Even here at the villa, there’s always something distracting me. It’s been a long time since I’ve just sat properly in the garden and looked at this place I’ve lived in for so many years."

Her tone was slightly wistful. "I remember when I was little, right after my brother and I moved here. I couldn’t get used to it and was too scared to sleep at night. That illegitimate son Franklin Sterling brought back was like a madman, always causing trouble for my brother. We would often spend the whole night lying in the garden, just like this. I’d lie in his arms and listen to him sing lullabies. In the blink of an eye, we’re all grown up."

"Why are you suddenly so sentimental, Darling?" Silas Norwood placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head and sighed softly. "Is it the stress from work, or was I a bit too rough these past few days and upset you?"

Celia Sterling pinched his waist lightly. "It has nothing to do with you. I was just talking. I was just lamenting that I’ve never taken a good look at the home I’ve lived in for so many years. I want to look at it, really look."

"We come here to stay for two days every week. It’s not like you don’t get to see it," Silas Norwood said in a low voice. "Go to sleep."

After getting Celia Sterling to sleep, Silas Norwood found he couldn’t fall asleep himself.

He meticulously buttoned up his pajamas and knocked on Kian Sterling’s bedroom door in the middle of the night.

"Can’t you change this habit of waking people up in the middle of the night?" Kian Sterling opened the door with a look of disdain, his eyes still heavy with sleep.

"As I recall, in the beginning, it was Kade who sought me out to discuss projects all night long."

Kian Sterling: "..."

Silas Norwood didn’t bother reminiscing with him and said coolly, "Keep a closer eye on things lately. Something’s not right with Cece."

Kian Sterling was silent for a moment. "She does seem a bit out of it. Too much of... that sort of thing is bad for her health. You should show some restraint."

Silas Norwood: "...It’s not just that. I can’t quite put my finger on it. I’m not always by her side, so Kade, you should pay more attention, too."

Kian Sterling scoffed. "You think I need you to tell me that? Get lost and go to sleep."

The flashy G-Wagon pulled to a stop in front of the largest testing facility in Metropia.

Half an hour later, Celia Sterling emerged with a file in her hand and sat down in the driver’s seat.

Taking a deep breath, she opened the file folder, her fingers trembling slightly.

Then, she sat there in the car, numb, for a full two hours.

Not until Kian Sterling’s call came through. "Where did you go?"

Celia Sterling opened her mouth several times before she managed to find her voice:

"Just shopping. Buying afternoon tea for my brother and Silas."

"What’s wrong with your voice? Did you catch a cold last night?" Kian Sterling’s sharp ears picked up on the fact that something was amiss.

"The temperature dropped this morning, and I wasn’t wearing enough clothes, but I’ve put on more now." Celia Sterling took a moment to compose herself, slowly calming down. "I’ll be fine after I drink some hot water to warm up."

Kian Sterling hummed in agreement. "If you still don’t feel well, go home and rest, or go rest at Silas Norwood’s place."

After hanging up, Celia Sterling slumped over the steering wheel for another half an hour before touching up her makeup in the mirror, starting the G-Wagon, and heading toward Sterling Group Headquarters.

This time, she didn’t bring Kian Sterling’s favorite afternoon tea.

"One of the metrics on your last physical was off. The doctor specifically said you need to cut back on sugar, or even cut it out completely. This fruit jelly might seem bland, but it’s good for you." Celia Sterling rambled on, "I also brought you some things for tea—dried tangerine peel, lemon, and monk fruit. You can’t just drink coffee all the time. Time for a change of pace."

Kian Sterling casually picked up a fruit jelly, studying her impassively.

Now, he was starting to believe what Silas Norwood had said about something being wrong.

"Cece, it’s been a long time since you’ve had a heart-to-heart with me." Kian Sterling probed, feigning nonchalance. "You used to tell your big brother everything. Now that you’re married, you keep it all bottled up."

"That’s not true."

"No?" Kian Sterling scoffed. "Then why do you look like you’re hesitating to say something?"

Celia Sterling gently rubbed her face, composed herself, and finally managed a smile. "Alright, I have been thinking about some things lately."

She gathered her thoughts, looked at Kian Sterling with a very serious expression, and said, "Brother, ever since we were little, you’ve always put me first. You’d eat what I liked, do what I enjoyed for fun. From big things, like helping me achieve my dream of becoming a perfumer, to small things, like watching a movie I wanted to see. I remember you used to have so many hobbies of your own—mobile games, skiing, extreme rock climbing... But whether it was because of work or because you were spending time with me, you’re twenty-seven now and you’ve barely had a chance to live the life you wanted."

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Kian Sterling frowned slightly. "There are many ways to live life. Hobbies aren’t necessarily what bring the most happiness. For me, the joy I get from watching a movie and eating popcorn with my little sister far outweighs something like rock climbing. My life doesn’t need you to look back and redefine it."

"But lately, I’ve suddenly wanted to try the things you like," Celia Sterling said softly. "Brother, the work at the Group is endless. Let’s make some time. You can teach me how to play mobile games, and then we can go skiing, go rock climbing, and watch those mecha movies you like. What do you say?"