Chapter 1840:


    Christina had never believed in simply giving money away. What she wanted was to create the right environment, and to have Bain teach the residents how to stand on their own. What they chose to do with that opportunity was ultimately up to them. She was d to provide the tools and the training, but she had no intention of offering handouts indefinitely. In her view, people who never learned to be independent would never truly find their footing. Her rule was simple: help those who were willing to work. Those who chose idleness had only themselves to answer to.


    A in ck car sat parked outside the arrivals exit of an airport in Apresh.


    Dn appearedposed, but Edwin — seated behind the wheel — could read him well enough to know better. In the span of less than a minute, Dn had nced at his watch more than ten times. They had been waiting for hours, and the night was growingte.


    “Mr. Scott, try to rx. Christina’s ne isnding any minute now,” Edwin said quietly.


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    Dn said nothing. He pressed his lips together, a faint crease forming between his brows.


    He reached for the bouquet of fresh roses on the seat beside him and examined each bloom with careful attention. Satisfied that they still looked perfect, he exhaled slowly, brought them close enough to breathe in their scent, then set them back down with great care.


    Then he picked up the small box. Insidey a set of jewelry he hadmissioned especially for Christina.


    Edwin watched all of this and had to suppress a smile. He was fairly certain his boss was going to burn holes in the gifts from staring at them so intently. When Dn finally looked up and their eyes met, Edwin already knew exactly what wasing.


    “Do you really think she’s going to like these presents?” Dn asked.


    Exactly what Edwin had known he would say. It was no surprise whatsoever.


    Edwin wasn’t a mind reader — it was simply that Dn had asked this same question so many times that Edwin had long since lost count. He pressed a polite smile into ce and answered, “I’m positive she’ll love them. You chose them yourself, Mr. Scott, so she’s bound to be pleased.”


    Beneath the seat, out of sight, Edwin dug his fingers into his own leg and gritted his teeth. He was running out of ways to say yes. He had already exhausted every variation he could think of, and if Dn asked one more time, he genuinely didn’t know how he would manage a response that sounded even remotely fresh.


    Seizing the opportunity, Edwin said, “Mr. Scott, the timing is right. Stay here — I’ll go inside and bring her out to you.”


    Since everyone still believed Dn and Christina were at odds, he couldn’t go in himself. It was the perfect exit. Edwin was out of the car before Dn could draw another breath, disappearing through the airport doors at a pace that was almost undignified.


    Dn stared after him, mildly puzzled. He couldn’t quite shake the feeling that Edwin had been in a very great hurry to get away from him.


    Left alone, he grew more restless with every passing minute. He shifted in his seat, checked his watch, looked toward the exit, checked his watch again. His heart was beating louder than he would ever have cared to admit. He couldn’t understand what was taking so long. The doors remained stubbornly still.


    Then, atst, she walked through them.


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