Anton was not the only one with a similar idea.
When the company held another meeting and everyone saw Lupin's dazed and lost expression, three out of the twenty-odd employees stood up, intending to pool their money to buy out the company's shares.
This was a very realistic matter, as everyone in the company was originally an elite in their respective fields, handpicked by the US headquarters, which not only represented their excellence but also the ambition of those who dared to enter an emerging industry.
At this point, if no one with the final say stepped forward, it was foreseeable that London would soon have three information consulting firms competing with each other.
Everyone knew each other, and it was bound to be a fierce battle.
But everyone was waiting for Lupin to state his position, if Lupin was willing to enter the fray, then this man who had earned everyone's trust would suppress this restless ambition.
With the abilities he had demonstrated, no one felt they could compete with Lupin, it would be better to join him and get some initial shares.
As information trickled in from the US headquarters, everyone was waiting for the final notice.
Anxiety, suspicion, factions, and arguments spread throughout the entire company.
Ilsa was the first to notice Lupin's problem.
"Are you planning to leave?" Ilsa stared at Lupin.
Lupin just kept his head down and said nothing.
"Lupin, look me in the eyes."
Lupin let out a deep breath and looked up, "You know, Ilsa, I don't even know what I want, my life has always been one of wandering."
"I owe Anton, that particularly smart nephew I mentioned to you, I owe him, and I have to provide him with the best life."
"Now I've done it, and I've saved up enough money for his future."
"But I don't know, I really don't know what I want for myself."
"I've never thought about myself."
His eyes were filled with confusion, "The company is gone, it's like a dream that suddenly ended, maybe I should leave too."
"Leave?!" Ilsa suddenly grabbed Lupin's shoulders with both hands, staring at him intently, "What about me?"
"Huh?" Lupin stared blankly at Ilsa, to be honest, he was very, very attracted to this woman, so much so that sometimes his heart would pound just looking at her, it was that intense.
But...
He was a werewolf.
This was destined to have no happy ending.
He couldn't bear the thought of his child also being a werewolf, living like a sewer rat, ostracized everywhere, with no hope in sight.
He was lucky enough to possess powerful magic, but that came from the opportunity Dumbledore had given him.
What about his child? Who would give them a chance?
No, he didn't dare to get married, didn't dare to have a family.
Lupin struggled to force a smile, a smile so strained that his own heart ached, "Ilsa, you're a good girl, you'll find someone wonderful."
"No!"
Ilsa growled, "You can't leave, I've realized I've fallen in love with you, I can't let you leave my life!"
Lupin gently pushed her hands away, stood up, picked up his lion-headed cane and his briefcase, paused for a moment, and said hoarsely, "I'm sorry, Ilsa, I thought we were just good friends, I'm not interested in you."
He walked home with heavy steps.
He didn't even know how he got back.
He just felt the whole world spinning.
Thud!
He collapsed onto the bed, his eyes empty as if he had lost his soul.
Werewolves, do not deserve a future............
Bang, bang, bang!
A frantic knocking on the door.
The sound of steady and rhythmic footsteps approached.
Ilsa's tearful voice came from outside the door, "Lupin, no, I know, I know the way you look at me, you love me, you can't leave!"
However, the one who opened the door was a little girl, with black hair and deep green eyes, who looked at her with great composure, "Hello."
Ilsa quickly wiped the corners of her eyes, "Hello, I'm looking for Lu..."
Her eyes suddenly widened, her gaze passing over the girl to a figure in the distance.
It was a middle-aged man, she had heard of him, Andre of the pure-blood Rosier family, the legendary paranoid madman who sought to resurrect his beloved wife.
"He, why is he here."
The girl looked back, then at her, and asked softly, "Do you know each other?"
Ilsa was in disbelief, "I mean, why is there a wizard in your house, Lupin is clearly a Muggle, he..."
Just then, the door was forcefully pulled open, and Lupin rushed out, his eyes bloodshot.
"Yes, I'm a liar, I had my nephew drink Polyjuice Potion to impersonate me on the night of the full moon, your initial guess was right, I am a werewolf!"
"A werewolf!" Ilsa cried out, taking a panicked step back.
Lupin watched her movement and laughed silently, his whole body trembling with laughter, finally, his face fell, and he grabbed the door, "Ilsa, I'm planning to leave, don't come and disturb my family again, goodbye forever."
Bang!
The door closed, separating the two worlds.
...
Three days later, Ilsa came knocking again.
It was still the exquisite girl who opened the door.
"Hello, I'm looking for Lupin."
The girl pursed her lips, "He's left."
"Le... left?"
"Yes, he just left last night, with his luggage."
...
The next day, another knock on the door.
"Hello, is Lupin back?"
...
Another day, "Lupin..."
Ilsa's beautiful, expressive eyes lost their sparkle day by day.
Every day that followed, she would arrive on time to knock on the door, waiting with hopeful eyes for a certain someone to open it.
But unfortunately, it was Anna who opened the door every day.
Well, at least she got to know Anna.
Once, she rushed into their house in a frenzy and finally got to know this unique family.
A legend in pure-blood circles, a madman attempting to resurrect his wife, the suave and elegant Andre Rosier.
And his equally elegant daughter, although the daughter was very young, which didn't quite match the legendary devotion.
There was also a goblin, and a ghost holding its own head.
Oh, and an Anton who was buried in a mountain of parchment manuscripts every day.
_This day, Anton stopped her.
"It's been a month, Miss Ilsa, you've disturbed us for a whole month."
"I... I'm sorry, but..."
"Miss Ilsa." Anton thought for a moment, considering his words, "I can be a bit of a busybody sometimes, but most of the time I don't try to control other people's decisions, I respect the feelings of those I care about."
He led Ilsa to the door of Lupin's room and knocked on the brass plaque, "You see, it says 'Lupin's Room', this is the home he finally has."
Ilsa stared at him blankly.
"But apparently, because of you, he won't be coming back. I've also lost an uncle, we've spent almost a year together and have developed a deep bond."
Anna grinned, "I like Uncle Lupin."
Pedro the goblin had a strange expression, "Oh, I can't live without him."
"Gagaga." The old wizard looked at Pedro with a faint smile, this foolish teacher, bound by the 'Unbreakable Vow' curse, had yet to find a chance to cure Lupin, although Lupin's condition was currently stable.
The old wizard also stated his position, "Lupin is a good friend of mine, he often has insomnia at night, and I'm always the one who chats with him, hmm, he mentions you often."
Anton took his tweed coat and scarf from the coat rack, "So, I've decided to go find him, my poor, weak, escapist uncle."
Ilsa's eyes lit up, and she grabbed Anton's hand, "Let me go with you!"
Anton looked at her with a half-smile, "Today is the night of the full moon, so, Miss Ilsa, do you dare to come?"
Ohoho, the first time they met, Miss Ilsa had said the exact same thing to Anton disguised as Lupin, how interesting.