His fingers traced lightly over the back of her hand, an inexplicable tickle that felt like an electric current surging through her heart, prompting Quiana Sutton to quickly withdraw her right hand.
"What are you doing here?"
Durrell Landon's eyes retained a hint of laughter as he reached out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.
"Cece, you clearly don't take care of yourself. It's only been four days at the apartment, and you've already drunk so much. Come back to Imperial View Manor with me."
Quiana Sutton: "..."
What had gotten into Durrell Landon? Calling her Cece? Even before he lost his memory, they weren't this close.
She pushed away his presumptuous hand, her expression a bit cold:
"Before I met you, I was doing just fine on my own. I don't need your care."
Durrell Landon pulled her up from the ground, gently but firmly drawing her into his embrace:
"Come back with me to Imperial View Manor, and I'll give you the painting."
She looked up at him, slightly amused:
"Young Master Landon isn't known for keeping his word, is he?"
"That's for others. For you, a promise is a promise."
Quiana Sutton: "..."
Durrell Landon could be shameless too? She could clearly sense the change in his attitude towards her, but she didn't see it as a good thing.
She pushed Durrell Landon, surprised at her inability to move him, and decided to stop struggling.
"Durrell Landon, what do you really want?"
Durrell Landon grasped her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze, "I want to regain my memory, and you are the only one who can help me do that."
She sneered: "I'm more effective than treatment?"
He answered with absolute certainty: "Of course!"
Quiana Sutton looked into Durrell Landon's deep, whirlpool-like eyes, feeling an unusual sensation rise within her.
She had never been so firmly chosen by someone, which was both shocking and a little frightening.
But soon, she cast aside that strange feeling.
In any case, she needed to obtain the painting and the divorce papers.
She finally agreed to return to Imperial View Manor.
...
As soon as she returned to Imperial View Manor, Quiana Sutton asked him, "The painting."
Durrell Landon paused for a moment, then chuckled softly: "You're refreshingly straightforward."
Quiana Sutton rolled her eyes.
Durrell Landon acted as if he hadn't seen it: "The painting is in the study. Come with me to get it."
Durrell Landon handed her the original work of art by Starry, and she slowly unrolled the painting.
It was the first time he saw genuine tenderness in her usually cold eyes, a warmth that emanated sincerely from her heart.
He instinctively asked softly: "Is this painting very important to you?"
Hearing Durrell Landon's voice, the warmth in her eyes gradually faded.
"Young Master Landon, you ask too many questions."
With that, she took the painting and left the study.
Durrell Landon watched her retreating figure. He realized he wanted her to look at him with those eyes just once.
The wise don't fall in love, yet he stubbornly wished to pull her into the web of love.
The painting was signed by Eleanor Storm, said to have exceptional artistic talent. In theory, she could have been renowned worldwide, but unfortunately, she died young, leaving few works, limiting her influence. Nevertheless, her talent was undeniable, outmatching only a handful.
At that moment, his phone rang, displaying a call from his elder brother, Zeke Landon.
He pressed the answer button.
"Brother…"
Zeke Landon, hearing his slightly indifferent voice, sighed softly.
"Durrell, come home tomorrow. Grandpa and the others want to see you."
"Do they want to see me, or is it another warning not to compete with you for Universal Corporation?"
Hearing Durrell's slightly sarcastic tone, Zeke Landon sternly rebuked: "Durrell—"
Realizing his voice was a bit loud, he softened his tone: "That's not their intention. They heard about your car accident and want to check on you, nothing more."
Durrell Landon maintained a faint smile, yet it was clearly cold and lethal.
"I understand. I'll go back to the Landon Family's old house tomorrow."
After speaking, he hung up the phone and stood still by the window, the soft moonlight unable to dispel the harshness on his face.
...
The next day.
Quiana Sutton emerged from the room and approached the dining table, somewhat surprised to find Oliver Gale was the only one there.
She instinctively glanced around.
Oliver Gale took a sip of coffee, smiling warmly at Quiana. Her return to Imperial View Manor was no surprise to him.
"Are you looking for Durrell? He's gone back to the Landon family's old house."
Quiana felt slightly embarrassed at being seen through, "I wasn't."
Oliver Gale didn't expose her lie, simply setting down his coffee cup with a gentle sigh, his eyes betraying a hint of sadness.
"Do you think Imperial View Manor is beautiful?"
Quiana Sutton didn't understand why he suddenly asked her this, but she still answered:
"Designed by Samuel Linnel, it could be considered one of the finest designs of the century, comparable to a work of art. How could it not be beautiful?"
"But to Durrell, perhaps Imperial View Manor feels like a gilded cage… a cage binding him to his fate."
Quiana Sutton frowned slightly: "What do you mean?"
Oliver Gale stood up without answering, leaving her with an enigmatic smile:
"I've told you enough. If you're interested, you can ask Durrell yourself."
After Oliver Gale left, Quiana Sutton found the food in her mouth suddenly tasteless.
Fortunately, at that moment, Isabelle Somerville messaged her, suggesting a meeting, which helped lift her spirits somewhat.
Before meeting Isabelle, she planned to buy a small cake at the Honey Sugar Workshop.
The Honey Sugar Workshop offered a cake popular among young women, Isabelle included, who recommended it to her several times, though Quiana wasn't fond of sweets.
Honey Sugar Workshop.
Quiana Sutton immediately spotted the last box of the cake she wanted and reached out for it, just as another hand snatched it before her.
She glanced at the young man beside her, visibly displeased.
"First come, first serve, don't you know that?"
Joseph Grant was momentarily taken aback, turning to Quiana instinctively. Despite her mask, her eyes and familiar voice were unmistakable: "Is it you?"
Quiana Sutton hadn't expected to bump into Joseph Grant while buying a cake, and simply responded:
"This cake should be mine."
Joseph Grant placed the cake back, speaking softly:
"I was impolite. It should indeed be yours."
Quiana Sutton: "..."
She said nothing further, simply taking the cake and leaving the Honey Sugar Workshop.