Yet beneath that anger lay something more frightening:
Morning sunlight streamed through the tall dining room windows, casting a gentle glow over the Andersons' long mahogany table. The aroma of fresh bread and coffee filled the air—an atmosphere of normalcy that Canary desperately needed after the previous day's chaos.
But as he stepped inside, his steps halted.
His breath caught.
There, seated comfortably as though nothing had ever happened, was Joel.
Joel looked up with a slow, satisfied smile.
"Good morning, Canary."
Canary stared, struggling for words that refused to form.
"I… didn't expect you back," he finally said, voice flat.
Joel shrugged lightly, as though the entire mansion and all its power belonged to him by right alone.
"I thought I should give you two some space. But you know how it is—east or west, home is always best."
Canary's jaw tightened. "Really."
"Yes, really," Joel replied with studied warmth. "I must apologize for all the fuss I caused. But I'm here now… to make peace between my dear sister and dear nephew." His smile widened as if he were delivering a blessing instead of a threat.
Canary didn't respond. He simply lowered himself into his chair and began to eat, every movement deliberate—controlled. Lucy sat quietly at the opposite end of the table, her silence screaming louder than any argument.
Joel leaned back, folding his hands with exaggerated calm.
"And I must say," he continued, his tone dripping with satisfaction, "I was actually impressed yesterday. I didn't expect you to be so knowledgeable in the conference room. Now I fully understand why they made you the CEO."
Lucy's spine stiffened. She opened her mouth—
"That's enough, Joel—"
He cut her off smoothly, holding up his hand.
"I was only appreciating my nephew." His voice remained sweet, too sweet. "Now, let's enjoy breakfast, shall we?"
The clink of Canary's fork against his plate was the only reply—sharp, metallic, and echoing through a dining room suddenly too silent.
In that stillness, one truth became clear:
Joel wasn't back for peace.
He was back to reclaim power.
____
The designers' office had been filled with chatter until the glass door swung open. Regina stepped inside with her usual air of elegance and confidence. Silence immediately swept through the room.
Gladys leaned toward Lisa, whispering under her breath, "What is she doing here?"
Jenny and Richie watched Regina with burning jealousy in their eyes, while Simon, Daniel, and the other designers stared openly, clearly impressed by her presence.
At the far end, Canary sat at a workstation, his eyes fixed on the laptop screen, fingers still moving across the keyboard as if nothing unusual had occurred. His desk was positioned a little away from the rest, allowing them to speak without being overheard.
Without lifting his gaze, he asked, "What brought you here, Regina?"
She looked slowly around the office with a hint of disapproval. "Of all places, why did you choose to sit in this office?"
"That is none of your business," he replied coolly, still typing.
Even though the rest of the team could not hear the words exchanged, curiosity and tension filled the air. No one dared to speak or glance away.
Regina folded her arms across her chest. "I just hope it isn't because of her… Lisa."
Canary paused only for a heartbeat, then continued working. "Whatever the reason is, you shouldn't mind. Besides, shouldn't you be happy that I left my office for you and Joel?"
Regina sighed softly. "Maybe. But I'm not on Joel's side. He employed me as his adviser, so I'm simply performing my duty."
Canary finally looked up at her, a short sarcastic chuckle escaping him. "Performing your duty… like framing me in that video?"
Her posture stiffened and she lowered her gaze. "About that… I was irrational. I'm really sorry. I won't let anything like that happen again."
He glanced at his watch, his tone cold and dismissive. "I'm busy. You should leave."
Regina stared at him for a moment longer, but seeing that he had already returned his attention to the laptop, she turned sharply. Her heels clicked through the silent room as she left, leaving everyone holding their breath.
As soon as Regina disappeared behind the door, murmurs began to rise again around the designers' desks. Jenny let out a faint, mocking laugh as she leaned forward in her seat.
"I think Regina and Canary look better together than someone here," she said loudly enough for the message to land exactly where she intended. Her eyes flicked toward Lisa, who remained completely still, pretending not to hear.
Simon rolled his eyes. "Jenny, don't talk nonsense."
"There's nothing like nonsense," Jenny snapped back. "Everyone can see Regina is way more beautiful and cooler than Lisa."
Richie seized the moment to add fuel. "And she's from a wealthy family. I also heard Regina and Canary went to the same school abroad."
Jenny rested her chin on her hand, smirking. "Of course. That means there are high chances of Canary getting back with her."
Gladys immediately pushed her chair back, glaring at them. "No way. Canary only loves Lisa."
Lisa gently tugged at Gladys's sleeve, shaking her head. "Don't waste your time arguing with them," she whispered, her voice fragile but steady. The last thing she wanted was attention on her—especially now, in front of so many envious eyes.
Just then, the office door opened again. Regina stepped out, expression composed and chin lifted high. Every single person froze. The jealousy from the girls, admiration from the boys, and tension from Lisa all collided into a suffocating silence as they watched her walk away with the same confidence she had entered with.
Lisa's heart beat unevenly as she stared after her, unable to deny the discomfort curling deep inside her stomach.
When lunch hour arrived, Canary stood from his workstation and left the office without saying a word to anyone. A moment later, Lisa's phone buzzed.
Let's have lunch together.
At the cafeteria.
I'm waiting.
Warmth spread through her chest. She smiled instantly and gathered her belongings. Gladys raised a brow, already guessing.
"I'm going to have lunch with Canary," Lisa murmured shyly.
Gladys grinned and whispered, "Enjoy."
Lisa stepped out and found Canary waiting just outside the office door. The moment their eyes met, she smiled. He returned the gesture, his expression softening.
"Shall we?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, cheeks warming slightly.
They walked side by side to the cafeteria and headed straight into the VIP section — a quiet and elegant area usually reserved for top administrators who preferred not to have meals delivered to their offices.
Once seated, Canary gestured toward the menu. "Order whatever you want," he said, his tone gentle and attentive.
Lisa nodded, still a little nervous yet undeniably happy.
They had barely settled into conversation when Joel and Regina entered the VIP section as well, deep in discussion about company matters. They took seats a few tables away, not noticing Canary and Lisa at first.
Joel paused mid-sentence, his gaze drifting toward the familiar figure across the room. "Isn't that Canary?" he murmured.
Regina turned to look — her eyes narrowing slightly when she saw the pair smiling at each other. "Well… well," she muttered. "He brought a designer to the VIP section."
"Lisa, right?" Joel asked, his stare lingering on them.
"Yes, that's her," Regina answered, still watching.
Joel leaned back in his seat, evaluating the scene. "I didn't know those two were that close."
Regina let out a small laugh. "You mean you don't know they're dating?"
Joel's eyebrows shot up. "Are you sure?"
"It looks like you're too focused on work to notice anything," Regina replied smugly. "But the entire company knows."
"Ohh… then that's great," Joel said under his breath, his expression shifting to one of satisfaction. "We still have many weaknesses to use against Canary."
Regina's attention sharpened. "I thought you were fond of Lisa."
"I am," Joel said with a casual shrug. "There's something amusing about her. But if she's dating my enemy, then that makes her my enemy too."
Regina smiled, dark satisfaction flickering in her eyes. "That's true. They are both our enemies."
Joel smirked, already plotting.
At that moment, Lisa glanced to the side — and her smile faded when she spotted Joel and Regina staring. She gasped quietly. "Mr. Rivers…"
Canary followed her gaze, his expression turning cold.
"We might have come at the wrong time," he muttered. Then, with a dismissive shrug, he turned back to Lisa. "But don't mind them. Let's enjoy our lunch."
Lisa nodded. "Sure."
Together, they decided not to let the unwanted company ruin their moment, focusing instead on each other — unaware that their happiness had just added fuel to a much larger fire.