Chapter 795: Chapter 795



“Mrs. Miller, why don’t you stay here and recover? I’ll head up to fetch Aurora and check the situation.”

Joelle hesitated, her brow furrowing with concern as she considered Callan’s age. “Be careful.”

“I’ll be fine.”

As Callan glanced towards the path ahead, the terrain looked almost surreal. The snow cascaded like a frozen waterfall, or perhaps a towering wall defying the heavens.

Against the boundless majesty of nature, they realized they were nothing—insignificant.

Meanwhile, about three kilometers up the mountain, Lucian crouched by a fire, trying to warm his hands. A pot hung over the flames, though the fire seemed to die out with frustrating regularity.

Adrian, sitting nearby, observed him with an arched brow. “Why do you insist on enduring this? You could easily find someplace warmer.”

Lucian chuckled. “That’s something you wouldn’t understand, Adrian. You’ve had everything handed to you on a silver platter.”

Adrian’s face remained impassive. “Haven’t you?”

“No, we’re not the same. Not by a long shot.” Lucian jammed the edge of a dagger into the can, twisting it open with practiced ease. “Since I was a kid, everyone’s been quick to slap the ‘mediocre’ label on me. Do you know what it feels like to hit a wall no matter how hard you push? To grind yourself down and still come up short? I’ve always had this burning need to prove myself, but I guess failure is the only thing I’m good at. Ran my father’s business straight into the dirt. Took me three decades to even figure out who my real mother was. Not exactly a success story, huh?”

He let the words hang in the air, then added with a hollow chuckle, “Out here, though, none of that matters. No expectations. No disappointments. Sure, it’s tough, but isn’t everything tough? Once I get my hands on the money, no one’s going to laugh at me ever again.”

He paused. “Relax. I’m not planning to hurt you. As long as you hand over the inheritance and Miller Group, you’re free to go. What do you say?”

Lucian grinned slyly, a blend of cunning and mischief dancing on his face.

He and Adrian shared the same blood—they were half-brothers.

After a long silence, Adrian finally spoke. “That’s not how you earn money, Lucian. If you’re in trouble, just say so. I won’t turn you away.”

Lucian froze, staring at the opened can in his hand. He chewed a mouthful of food, but his jaw worked mechanically now; taste had drained away.

Aurora lay nestled on Adrian’s lap, her small body rising and falling with each peaceful breath. Adrian adjusted her gently, cradling her into a more comfortable position. He turned his gaze back to Lucian. “Let me tell you something I never thought I’d say. I’m a father, and even if my daughter never achieves anything in her life, I’d never hold it against her. Parents don’t see their children as investments. They’re grateful for the gift of being a parent, no matter what. And I believe, deep down, your parents just want you to be healthy and happy.”

Adrian’s words surprised even him. Growing up in the Miller family, warmth had been scarce. Scheming, ambition, and survival had been the order of the day. But life with Joelle had softened him, and fatherhood had slowly reshaped his understanding of love and responsibility.

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