Catherine and Blake spent two days in Paris before Halsey urged them to return home.
The next morning, Halsey found Blake strolling in the garden.
"Blake, can we talk?" Halsey asked gently.
"Of course," Blake replied, his expression cool but manner amicable.
"I want to transfer my company to your name. Consider it a peace offering to my future son-in-law, hoping you'll take good care of Catherine. I'm at ease leaving the company in your hands," Halsey said after a moment of hesitation.
Blake frowned. "Why me?"
"You're capable. The Royal Group has flourished under you. Catherine is still young, and I'm worried she might buckle under the pressure," Halsey explained.
"Do you trust me that much?" Blake asked with a touch of mockery.
"You're more reliable than I imagined," Halsey admitted.
"I can't accept it," Blake refused firmly.
Halsey was taken aback. "Why? Is it too small?"
"A profitable company is valuable regardless of its size," Blake said seriously. "But I won't have it thought that I'm after your fortune."
Halsey nodded understandingly. "I won't press you. I'll think of another way."
After lunch, Catherine gazed at the several boxes of gifts Halsey had prepared. "Dad, this is too much."
"It's not. These are things girls like," Halsey smiled.
Blake, noticing Catherine's tears welling up, gently embraced her. "Go ahead and cry if you need to. I won't mock you."
Catherine smiled through her tears. "You're smirking!"
"I'm happy for you," Blake said helplessly.
On the way back, Catherine sighed, "I really wish Halsey could move back home."
Blake was silent. He wanted Halsey to be near his daughter and Catherine, yet worried it might complicate his mother's relationship with Halsey.
Meanwhile, Richard and Nick found themselves in a tight spot.
Richard's attempts to rally old allies failed. He realized Blake had already won their loyalty.
"What on earth did he do?" Richard slammed the sofa in fury.
Nick frowned. "Perhaps we should abandon revenge. Blake's influence is beyond imagination. Even Catherine has been taken from us."
"Then we'll just have to take her back!" Richard roared.
Richard, frustrated by his son's lack of ambition, lashed out at Nick.
Nick spoke indifferently, "I had planned to disrupt their relationship on the day of their engagement, making them a laughingstock. Now that the plan's failed, I'm losing confidence in stealing Catherine away."
"Can't you be more ambitious?" Richard felt his son lacked the daring he once had when he was young.
Nick frowned. "Harming each other is the most disheartening thing, Dad. Don't you think so?"
Richard's head buzzed, as if doused in ice water.
"What did you say?" Richard's face darkened, looking ready to strangle his son.
Nick, startled, realized he'd touched Richard's nerve and fell silent.
Richard, grinding his teeth in anger, warned, "Never mention that again, especially not in public. Or don't blame me!"
Nick quickly nodded. "Don't worry, I have no interest in your past."
"How's your company coming along?" Richard, aware he'd overreacted, softened his tone.
"The machinery's procured. I'm busy hiring staff and have secured a year's worth of orders. Everything's on track," Nick replied calmly.
"Good, work hard to break into the market. I believe Blake won't monopolize your business," Richard said with concern.
"He acts overly magnanimous, as if we're receiving some great favor from him," Nick said, clearly displeased.
"What can you do? It's his turf. If he wanted to crush your business, you'd be helpless. He's already shown mercy by considering brotherly bonds!" Richard saw this as a vivid lesson for his son.
Abroad, he'd always stressed the importance of power to his son, but Nick, absorbed in research, had ignored his advice. Now that Nick understood the importance of power, it was too late.
Nick, feeling restless, got up and grabbed his car keys. "I'll head to the company."
"If you want to see Catherine, come to your Granny's for dinner tonight!" Richard said, noticing his son's low spirits.
"Sure, you call Granny, and I'll be there this afternoon. I heard they're back from overseas!" At the thought of seeing Catherine, Nick brushed off other concerns.
Richard sneered suddenly. "What a missed opportunity! It's a pity we didn't send someone to take him out overseas!"
"You mean we didn't send assassins abroad?" Nick raised an eyebrow. "You should think of other plans. Even if he's killed, the inheritance might not come our way. Don't forget he has a brother and a son."
Richard's irritation flared. "That brat looks shrewd. He might grow up to be even more ruthless than Blake!"
"Possibly!" Nick agreed. He'd observed Noah closely. The boy, though young, was calm and steady, much like Blake in his childhood.
Richard, frustrated by Nick's lack of a girlfriend and thus no grandchildren, felt a surge of anger.
"Why don't you find a woman to have a child? I think having a child early is a kind of competitive advantage." Richard suggested abruptly.
Nick's face darkened. "No way, I don't like kids."