The weather took a sudden turn. The morning had been all sunshine and gentle breezes, but when
Leanne stepped out of the operating room in the afternoon, the world outside had darkened ominously.
Large raindrops hammered against the ss, drumming out a chaotic symphony.
She peeled off her scrubs while Amy, changing beside her,mented, "I was nning to take my mom
for a shopping spree after work. So much for that n."
Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDra/ma.O(r)g!
"Why not shop online?" Leanne suggested casually, pulling out her phone from her locker.
"Good point!"
Leanne nced at the news, where the signing ceremony between ElitePinnacle and VectorVista had
just concluded smoothly.
Curtis'' photo was front and center. He was a vision of perfection with his deep-set eyes, high
cheekbones, and jawline sharp enough to cut ss. Representing VectorVista at the signing, Phillip
stood alongside him. The brothers shared a striking resemnce yet exuded entirely different auras.
Phillip maintained his usualposure, rarely seen without a stern demeanor. On the other hand,
Curtis seemed much moreid-back. Caught by the camera in midughter at something said off-
camera, Curtis'' smile contrasted with the cool detachment in his eyes, apletely different picture
from the Curtis Leanne knew.
The media frenzy wasn''t only about the corporate coboration but the Richardson brothers standing
together, reigniting spection about the Stonebridge elite, the Richardson family''s session drama.
Rumors swirled about the rivalry between Phillip, the guarded elder brother who had supposedly driven
Curtis to forge his path with ElitePinnacle, and Curtis, who, after years of strategic silence in Bullion
Boulevard, was said to be eyeing the family empire.
Known for their discretion and seldom speaking to the press, the Richardson family never addressed
these spections.
Given the typical narratives of power struggles within elite families, the harmonious appearance of the
Richardson sons, each excelling in their respective fields, was unexpected. Phillip, the elder, anchoring
the family''s century-old business, VectorVista, and Curtis, the prodigious maverick, expanding into new
markets, seemed to solidify the Richardson family''s empire as impregnable.
Leanne recalled a saying by Charles, "Unity among fathers and sons, harmony among brothers, love
between spouses, these are the foundations of a prosperous family."
Despite Curtis'' past rebellions against perceived injustices within his family, he had never shown
disrespect toward his parents, Maddox and Jennifer, or resentment toward Phillip for their father''s
favoritism.
His outward demeanor might be that of a rogue, but inside, he was forthright and free-spirited.
Catching a glimpse of Curtis'' erged photo on Leanne''s screen, Amy teased, "Can''t evenst a
moment without seeing his picture to cure your lovesickness, huh?"
"Just stumbled upon it," Leanne deflected, locking her phone. "Can''t I take a look?"
"Sure, sure," Amy conceded. "If my husband were that handsome, I''d print his photo and paste it over
Ruben''s face. Then I''d agree with everything he says."
Leanne couldn''t help butugh. "I support that."
After work, Leanne changed into a simple yet elegant dress, and Jake drove her to the celebration.
The night seemed to fall earlier under the gloomy sky, and the fierce rainstorm that had hit earlier had
settled into a steady drizzle, weaving rivulets down the car windows.
Curtis stood under the portico at the hotel entrance, watching the slender rain threads dance in the
night-lit drizzle.
As their car pulled up and Leanne prepared to step out into the rain-soaked night, two bow-tied
doormen hurried down, bowing as they ced a carpet at her feet to shield her from the puddles.