In the meantime, Vincent, who had quickly finished his espresso, shrugged his shoulders.
“The second son may not seem particularly interested in becoming the heir right now, but the situation can change at any time.”
“Standing against his older brother?”
Matteo’s voice rose.
“The Lockhart family doesn’t have a rule that the eldest son or eldest daughter must inherit.”
At those words, Matteo made a devastated expression as if he himself had been betrayed by a younger sibling. Then he raised both arms toward the TV as if appealing his grievance to God.
“Look! Just looking at him, that second son is frivolous to the extreme.”
“What does his face have to do with it?”
“Why doesn’t it matter? I’m not talking about whether he’s handsome or ugly. A person’s life shows in their countenance.”
“Whatever you think, Father, the second son is just as popular as the eldest. I heard even paparazzi follow him around.”
“That’s the problem. If he’s thinking of managing the company, he should manage his private life. He’s not even a celebrity. Entrusting that huge group to someone who only gets mentioned in tabloids is impossible, absolutely.”
Matteo was firm. In the sense that he believed his own words with absolute certainty, he nodded his head several times with a grave expression.
Listening to the two men’s conversation, Elian continued his meal silently.
As if whoever became the Lockhart family’s successor, whether it was that family’s eldest or second son, was completely unrelated to his own life.
On the news, the announcer continued the explanation.
《Damon Lockhart’s eldest and second sons, Lorenz Lockhart and Joshua Lockhart, are naturally being mentioned as the most likely successor candidates. The youngest, Lucas Lockhart, is expected to be excluded from candidacy due to his young age.
However, since both Lorenz and Joshua are young to become head of the group, even if a successor is selected, it’s expected that an interim chairman elected by the board of directors will fill the position for the time being. The individuals currently being mentioned as candidates are…》
As if uninterested in the interim chairman candidates, Matteo’s gaze moved from the TV to Vincent. He asked his son with a puzzled expression.
“But a third son? Weren’t there only two sons?”
“They adopted one three years ago or two years ago.”
“They did?”
“It’s a story all of New York knows, so it’s amazing how only you didn’t know, Father.”
Matteo looked up at the TV with fresh eyes.
Maybe six or seven years old? A boy with jet-black bobbed hair that framed his face and reached his chin, dressed in a black uniform, was stuck close to the side of a woman.
“Oh my… the child looks so gloomy.”
Matteo clicked his tongue and muttered, and Vincent responded matter-of-factly.
“Well, his adoptive father passed away.”
“It’s not that kind of temporary sadness. It’s fundamentally the face of a frightened child.”
Matteo clicked his tongue. Lina, who had been observing the conversation until then, joined in.
“I agree with your father on that. When you reach this age, even if you’re not an expert, you can see that much.”
Both Matteo and Lina looked at the child on screen with worried eyes and pity.
Elian’s face, which had been pressing down on the last piece of panini with his fork, also turned toward the TV. Even viewing on screen, the child was excessively frightened and rigid.
“Being adopted into such a prestigious family doesn’t mean everything’s happy.”
Matteo’s muttering voice was bitter.
“That’s right, that’s right.”
As Lina, with her arms firmly crossed, bobbed her head, her large gold earrings swayed along with her.
Elian’s eyes watched the child on screen.
Tightly holding the hand of the woman standing beside him and clutching a rabbit stuffed animal to his chest, the child was stuck close as if hiding behind the woman. The large eyes that surveyed the unfamiliar people filling the surroundings were filled with anxiety and wariness.
It wasn’t unusual for a young child of that age to be attached to a comfort object. However, being unable to part with it even when attending such an important event could be proof that the child’s anxiety ran deep.
Even to Elian’s eyes as a child specialist counselor, the child looked generally withdrawn. However, of course, he couldn’t hastily conclude that the child was experiencing problems based only on impressions from a short video.
“Eli, what do you think? Let’s hear from an expert.”
Matteo’s question suddenly turned toward Elian.
“Ah… I don’t really know much about the youngest Lockhart.”
“Is Elian the type of kid who’s interested in that kind of gossip?”
When Lina scolded him, Matteo soon nodded in agreement.
“True, that’s right. He’d know even less than me.”
As Elian turned his gaze away, his eyes met Vincent’s.
After briefly exchanging glances, the two people’s eyes soon scattered in the air.
In fact, the two of them, especially Elian, were the greatest experts on the Lockhart family at a level accessible to ordinary people.
The screen changed, and the three sons of the Lockhart family following their father’s coffin with solemn expressions were shown in sequence.
The eldest son with a difficult and stubborn impression.
The second son who seemed playful but willful.
The youngest who had only grown to about his older brothers’ waists.
“Whatever the case, the Lockhart people certainly have remarkable looks. Seeing them all caught in one screen like this, it’s like a movie.”
After Matteo’s admiration, Lina looked at Elian with affectionate eyes.
“Even so, they’re not as good as our Elian.”
“That goes without saying! When Eli was young…”
How famous Elian had been for his striking appearance since childhood—Matteo was clearly about to launch into his long repertoire again.
Having just finished his meal, Elian hurriedly stood up from the stool.
“Thank you for the meal. Ahjussi, it was delicious.”
Due to his dulled sense of smell, he barely tasted any flavor, but Elian had no intention of telling Matteo and Lina about it. If he brought it up, it would only cause unnecessary worry.
“Yeah, okay. Leave the plate and hurry along.”
Lina, who had been watching Elian gather his things, asked affectionately.
“Are you biking to work today too?”
“Yes.”
“Isn’t it still hot?”
“Mornings and evenings are manageable.”
“That’s pretty good exercise too.”
Elian tapped his helmet and smiled.
“Right. And it’s nice not being stuffy like the subway.”
When Elian smiled, his somewhat cold-looking impression softened considerably. Lina looked at him with warm eyes and lightly touched Elian’s cheek. It was a touch filled with affection.
“Still, you must always be careful.”
“What is he, a little kid? You’re talking like when we first taught him to ride a bike at age six.”
Vincent, who had been listening from the side, snorted, but Elian reassured Lina with a warm smile.
“The bike path to the center is well-maintained. Don’t worry too much.”
Vincent, who had moved Elian’s empty plate to the kitchen entrance, casually draped his arm over his friend’s shoulder and led him toward the exit.
“Father, stop worrying about the Lockhart family and please look at our plumbing. Our clogged pipes are a bigger problem right now.”
“Can’t even solve something like that on your own… Do I really have to step in?”
Though Matteo grumbled, he stood up from his chair and began taking off his apron.
“I’ll see Eli off and come back, so go upstairs first and take a look. You probably won’t be able to fix it either, Father.”
Vincent seemed to be enjoying this situation. He was clearly already feeling gleeful at the thought of teasing his father, who would struggle in frustration due to his pride despite being unable to solve it.
Just as the two were about to leave the restaurant, a middle-aged man opened the door and entered. He was a regular from the neighborhood.
“Matteo, one coffee!”
Shouting boldly while throwing open the door, he spotted Elian and Vincent walking side by side and acknowledged them.
“You two are close as always.”
Vincent shrugged with his arm still draped over Elian’s shoulder as if it were natural.
“Because we’re brothers.”
The regular looked back and forth at the two people before him.
Vincent with his sturdy build and olive-toned skin, and Elian with his transparently fair skin and golden hair. He tilted his head and pursed his lips.
“Brothers… My cat and the neighbor’s shepherd look more alike than you two.”
Behind them, the store’s TV channel changed to a sports program. The regular, pleased, quickly approached the bar counter. Then he joined Matteo and Lina and began chatting animatedly about this year’s MLB postseason race. Leaving the familiar voices behind, Elian and Vincent exited the restaurant.
