"Don't ask. I'm just following someone else's request. Go inside and talk to your father properly."
As if sensing Livia's unspoken questions, Allen offered no further explanation.
Livia frowned slightly, her gaze lingering on Allen.
His voice felt strangely familiar, as though she'd heard it somewhere before. No matter how hard she tried to recall, she found no clues.
His presence was like a missing puzzle piece—absent, yet seemingly connected to her past.
She couldn't help but steal another glance at the man before her.
Allen was tall and slender, exuding a detached, almost ethereal air. There was an indescribable mix of coldness and distance about him, with eyes that remained indifferent and lips faintly curved, as if nothing in the world could truly touch his heart.
Who exactly was he? And why was he here?
But she asked no further. Since he was unwilling to explain, she could only suppress her curiosity and follow him through the gates of the Lord's Manor.
The grand hall was bathed in soft light, with sunlight filtering through towering glass windows, casting warm hues over the black-and-white marble floor.
Lord Edgar sat at the head seat, dressed in a dark formal suit embroidered with intricate gold patterns at the cuffs and collar, a testament to his noble lineage. His deep-set eyes carried an air of authority, and though strands of silver crept into his hair at the temples, they did nothing to diminish his commanding presence—if anything, they made him seem even more composed and unreadable.
His fingers tapped lightly against the desk as he studied Livia with a penetrating gaze.
Clearly, the guards had already informed him of her arrival. Yet, the moment his eyes landed on Allen, a flicker of surprise flashed across them.
He was the first to break the silence, his voice deep and firm.
"Allen, what are you doing here?"
Allen smirked faintly, his tone laced with indifference.
"I'm just here to take a look. And to make sure my sister's daughter isn't being bullied."
Sister?
Livia's eyes widened slightly.
This man… knew her mother?
A whirlwind of emotions surged within her. She knew so little about the woman who had given birth to her. The mother she had never met was like a mystery—every time she thought she was close to uncovering the truth, she would realize she had only scratched the surface, with more secrets lurking beneath.
Who exactly was her mother? Why did so many people mention her, yet speak of her in hushed, evasive tones?
Livia pressed her lips together, forcing down the flood of questions in her mind, and refocused on the exchange between Edgar and Allen.
Edgar let out a cold chuckle, a trace of displeasure flickering in his eyes.
"Bullied? My daughter? Who would dare? I should be the one asking you—do you know what Emma has done? Where she has gone? Are you the one hiding her?"
His tone sharpened, irritation creeping into his voice as he spoke of Emma.
Emma?
Livia immediately caught onto the name.
How was Emma connected to Allen? And even Edgar? Was it all tied to her mother as well?
She turned slightly toward Allen, eager to see how he would respond.
Allen's faint smile faded just a little, his gaze darkening. His voice was cool and detached.
"I never expected her to do something like that either. But no—I don't know where she is."
He paused briefly, his eyes flickering with an almost imperceptible trace of resentment.
"After that incident from back then, we haven't spoken in a long time."
That incident from back then?
Livia's brows furrowed, her curiosity growing stronger.
What had happened? What could have caused even someone as indifferent as Allen to show a sliver of hatred in his expression?
Despite his effortless composure and detached manner, the subtle shift in his gaze when he mentioned that incident revealed that it had left a lasting scar.
Her intrigue deepened—who exactly was Allen? What kind of past did he carry?
Edgar scrutinized Allen for a long moment, as if trying to gauge the truth behind his words. In the end, he chose not to press further. Withdrawing his gaze, he spoke in an impassive tone.
"Fine. Take a seat."
Allen didn't argue. He casually settled into a nearby chair, his expression indifferent, as if the entire conversation was of little concern to him.
Edgar finally turned his sharp gaze to Livia, his eyes filled with scrutiny.
"Now then, let's hear it—what brings my dear daughter here today?"