Ivan thought it was a bit odd facing a painting of a back, but he didn't move it. If he did, it would show dissatisfaction with his mother's arrangement and would incur his father's reprimand, and everyone knew his father was famously affectionate towards his wife.

Ivan envied his parents' love, which remained as vibrant as ever after decades. His father once promised his mother a lifetime of happiness and peace, and he indeed proved it through his actions. His mother was one of the happiest women in T City.

He too wished to have a childhood sweetheart like his father, but unfortunately, he felt no romantic affection for Camila, who only considered him an older brother.

Ivan stayed in the study room for several hours until the door was pushed open.

A similarly tall and handsome man walked in; he was Glades Horne's younger son, Felix Horne.

Felix resembled Glades Horne, while Ivan combined the best features of both parents; the brothers were both handsome, but Ivan's skin was slightly fairer than Felix's.

Ivan lifted his head and naturally ended up looking at the painting again. He furrowed his brows once more.

"Big brother, what are you looking at? Something's off? You're frowning so tightly."

Felix asked curiously as he closed the study room door.

"Nothing." Ivan replied calmly, and when his brother approached, he asked, "Weren't you at a social event? How come you're back so soon?" 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

"Once the discussion was done, I headed back." Felix sat down and noticed his brother's gaze seemed fixed on the wall. He turned his head to look and saw the painting, exclaiming, "Big brother, who painted this? It's so lifelike!"

"Jimmy brought it back and gave it to our mom. She hung it here. Why, do you recognize the person in the painting?" Ivan caught the "lifelike" in his brother's words.

Felix responded instinctively, "That's you, big brother."

Me?

Ivan was stunned.

Suddenly, he understood why Josh Reyes bought back a seemingly worthless painting and why their mother wanted it—the main character in the painting was him.

Being a painting of a back, he couldn't see his own backside. He only noticed the painter's skill, unaware that he was the focus of the painting.

Ivan rose and walked beneath the painting, examining it intently once more.

Finally, his gaze rested on the words "Lia Aiken."

"It was painted by Lia Aiken. Big brother, who's Lia Aiken? The background of the painting also looks familiar, is it the airport in T City?" Felix asked curiously.

Ivan pressed his lips together in silence, his gaze deep, his thoughts unknown.

"Aiken, Aiken? Oh, right, big brother, isn't Valence Group negotiating a project with Aiken Family in River City? Could Lia Aiken be from the Aiken Family in River City?"

Ivan's dark eyes flickered. Valence Group indeed intended to collaborate with the Aiken Family in River City, with Valence Group holding the dominant position while the Aiken Family, eager for cooperation, remained passive.

Where was Jimmy recently on a business trip? River City, wasn't it?

This painting was bought from River City.

If Lia Aiken is connected to the Aiken Family in River City, this painting becomes intriguing.

Ivan's lips curved into a slight smile, but his gaze remained cold.

"Felix, do you remember Aiken's phone number?" Ivan returned to the sofa, sitting down casually.

"I do."

Felix retrieved his phone, found Aiken's contact in River City, and handed it to his brother, his eyes flashing with light similar to Ivan's.

The brothers' thoughts seemed aligned.

Aiken soon answered the call.

"Mr. Horne." Aiken's voice over the phone carried a flattering tone.

"Sorry to disturb you so late, Aiken."

Ivan smiled, "Is this a convenient time for you to take a call, Aiken? If not, I can call you again another day."

Aiken hurriedly responded: "It's convenient, it's convenient. Whenever Mr. Horne calls, I'm always available to take the call." He pushed away a woman draped over him, sat up on the bed, his slightly plump face adorned with an even broader smile, "Mr. Horne, feel free to give your instructions."

"No need for formality, Aiken. No orders, just looking to inquire about someone." Ivan leaned back against the sofa, his demeanor relaxed, "Do you know someone named Lia Aiken?"

Aiken was startled on the other end of the line, his smile turning cautious, probing, "Does Mr. Horne know Lia Aiken? Or did Lia Aiken offend Mr. Horne somehow?"

"From your words, it sounds like you know Lia Aiken?"

Aiken didn't want to admit it but couldn't hide the truth either. If Ivan wanted information, he could easily uncover it even if Aiken concealed it now. Aiken urgently needed to cooperate with Valence Group to resolve Aiken Family's current predicament.

He couldn't afford to offend Ivan.

"To be honest, I have a daughter named Lia Aiken. I just don't know whether she's the person Mr. Horne wants to inquire about."

Ivan uttered a simple "oh," then said nothing further, quickly ending the call.

Unable to gain clarity, Aiken was left feeling uneasy following Ivan's call.

"Darling, what's wrong? Looking all troubled—is that troublesome girl causing issues again?" Current Mrs. Aiken approached once more, an arm wrapped around Aiken's shoulder, asking with concern.

Aiken pushed her away again without responding, turned out of bed, and called his elder daughter while pacing anxiously in the room as he waited for her to answer.

Mrs. Aiken's seductive eyes flashed with malice; if Lia caused trouble, she vowed to seize the opportunity to completely oust Lia from the Aiken Family, thus securing the family's wealth solely for her two children.

"Lia Aiken, get back here immediately!"

As soon as his daughter answered, Aiken shouted, "You have half an hour. If I don't see you within half an hour, I'll destroy your gallery!"

After saying that, he hung up and spun back to the bed, throwing his phone fiercely onto it.

Mrs. Aiken picked up the phone for him, saying, "Why so angry? Don't damage your health by getting worked up. That girl is disrespectful and constantly irritates you—if she makes you ill… Darling, I'm not purposely denouncing her even though I'm her stepmother, but you know your daughter well, oh, still unsure if she's truly your daughter."

"Shut up!"

Aiken snapped, snatching the phone from his wife's hand, before abruptly leaving.

"Darling, where are you going?"

"I'll be sleeping in the study room tonight, you go to bed early."

Without looking back, Aiken walked away after leaving that sentence.

Once outside, he summoned a servant, instructing, "Tell the young lady to see me in the study room when she returns."

The servant noticed the master's fury, feeling worried for the young lady but couldn't speak up, merely responding respectfully.