The door of the Rhaengon mansion opened. Only two cars entered; the rest turned back toward a nearby area. The road leading up to the mansion was lined with tall pine trees, each branch alive with the chatter of thousands of birds.
The garden was typical of a wealthy estate, with streams and fountains weaving through meticulously arranged plants. Flowers and fruits flourished, but on closer inspection, most were rare herbs, cultivated with care and precision.
Cats, dogs, and two foxes tumbled and played together. You don't hunt your companions with a full belly. None were of any special breed, yet all were healthy and vibrant.
Rain was the first to step out of the car. He didn't wait for his mother, tossing his coat to a nearby guard before striding into the mansion.
Serena paused at the garden gate. "Millow!" she called, scolding a fox that had lunged at a brown dog's fur. She called one by name, and instantly all of them came bounding toward her.
She knelt and played with them for a few moments, until the cars had left.
Inside the mansion, her son awaited. He extended his hands toward her, but she passed him without acknowledgment. "Why are you still standing there?"
"To welcome my mother of course," Rain said, picking up a small packet from the table. An elderly female servant offered Serena a tea cup.
"I've never seen Serena come home in a good mood whenever she goes out with you boy," the woman muttered.
"Except we didn't go out today. We went hunting, dear old lady. Now, could you serve this humble being a glass of fresh mint lemon juice?" Rain grinned, his eyes glinting with mischief.
The woman left without a word, keeping a wary eye on Serena.
"My dear birth-giver, to atone for my grave arrogance, allow me to present—" Rain bowed dramatically, "the latest design from Lermeś, shipped directly from Paris. I even had to intercept it before some esoteric minister's mistress could snatch it."
"..."
"You're in a remarkably good mood," Serena said, pinching her forehead and sighing at his theatrics. "How much did you spend on it?"
"..."
"This humble son requests that his mother briefly imprison her Asian blood and accept the gift," he said. Serena frowned, then carefully took the bag, keeping her eyes on him.
"You could've spent time with Niko instead of doing this," she said, though she nodded in appreciation of the bag.
"He bites me," he complained.
"He's just playful," Serena replied.
"You don't look happy seeing me play."
"You're a grown-up human being, Rain," she said.
"That's why I hate that ginger crackhead." Rain pointed at Niko, Serena's favorite cat, now crawling into her lap. She smiled softly as she patted him.
"Tsk." Rain plopped onto the opposite sofa.
The room was elegant yet understated, blending vintage decor with modern style. At times, it was almost catchy—an unresolved decision between Rain's love for antiques and Serena's minimalist taste.
The other servants moved quietly, smiling as they passed, all women, either middle-aged or elderly.
"Hey, Maya, can you check if Roufa purposefully forgot my drink?" Rain called out to a passing maid holding a cleaning brush. She smiled and disappeared.
Moments passed with Rain humming and Serena sipping her tea, until heavy footsteps approached. A man in his late forties entered.
"What's wrong?" he asked, waiting until Serena gestured for him to sit. "Did something happen at the casino?"
"Does anything not happen if I don't handle this boy properly?" she replied, setting down her cup. "It went smoothly; I'm just a little embarrassed by his antics that's all."
"I love it when people underestimate me. Easier to catch them off-guard. What's the point of showing spine if you're going to lose anyway?"
"He has a point," Jay said thoughtfully. "So, will Mandis lend us the money?" Rain glanced at Serena, who raised a questioning brow.
"I think it'll go smoothly. Mandis won't abandon his preposterous habits while he believes he can bankrupt the Rhaegons. But it seems you're plotting something with his offspring. What did you tell him?" Rain smiled knowingly.
"I have a small grudge against him. Nothing serious. Just thinking of turning him into a good… husky for me."
"You never mentioned a grudge. What happened?"she seemed almost curious, as she knew her boy had a very bad habit of holding grudges even on tiniest things.
"An insignificant incident, Mother. You shouldn't concern yourself. But trust me, Uncle, Noah will be far more profitable as a puppy for us than a foe."
Jay nodded, "did you get any special information about him?"
"Not exactly him but about his sister and mo..." His eyes unintentionally almost fell on Serena, hesitating, "mother."
Jay stood, signaling the meeting's end, staring at the clock, "hope you use the information wisely."
He first stepped up to leave, as noticing Rain's lack of enthusiasm in explaining anything about his plans for now.
"When are you heading to the lab?" Serena asked.
"My prototype isn't ready yet, but I'll check in to make sure they're not slacking off," Rain said. He waved Jay to follow him and added, "For now, I'll follow this grumpy man. See you later, iron-hearted mother."
He left in a burst of energy, leaving Serena alone. She set Niko down, about to move, but paused. The bag Rain had given her earlier rested on the table. She stared at it for a few moments before breaking into a small smile.