Chapter 430

Evelyn turned around, her gaze lingering on the intricately carved wooden crane sculpture.

"You can think of this as a short break. The next project is about to begin, so you won’t have much time to rest."

"We have a new project?" Sophia perked up, excitement flashing in her eyes. She hadn’t worked in weeks, and her fingers practically itched for action. Even though working at DR Holdings could be exhausting, the satisfaction it brought was unmatched.

"Very soon!"

Alexander Kensington froze the moment he stepped into the living room. His sharp eyes immediately landed on the wooden crane sculpture, standing prominently in the center of the space.

It was impossible to miss.

"Is this…?" His voice trailed off, hesitant.

Evelyn had just finished clearing a spot for it when she noticed his return. She gestured toward him. "Perfect timing. Help me move this."

"Do you really need help with something this small?" He shrugged off his coat, rolled up his sleeves, and motioned for her to step aside. With effortless strength, he lifted the sculpture and placed it exactly where she had intended.

"Did you buy this?"

"Someone gifted it to me." She shook her head, studying the craftsmanship with admiration.

The details were exquisite—smooth lines, lifelike posture, even the crane’s eyes held a mesmerizing charm. She couldn’t help but smile as she examined it.

"Is this what you mentioned on the phone earlier?" Alexander pointed at it, eyebrows raised.

He had assumed it was some kind of joke, but this was far more impressive. Still, sending something like this to a woman? Whoever it was had an unusual sense of taste.

"Yeah." She rested her chin on her hand, nodding absently.

A flicker of irritation crossed Alexander’s face when he noticed her thoughtful expression. His voice dropped slightly. "A man?"

"Yeah." She nodded again, still distracted.

Her mind was elsewhere. If Julian Prescott had sent this, did that mean he wasn’t completely gone? Would he reappear?

Alexander abruptly rolled his sleeves higher, turned, and grabbed the sculpture again.

Evelyn snapped out of her thoughts. "Hey! What are you doing?"

"Throwing it out." His tone was firm.

"No! I want to give it to someone!" She grabbed his arm, holding him back. She knew that stubborn look—he wasn’t joking.

"Give it to someone? Who?" His suspicion deepened.

Evelyn sighed, amused by his protectiveness. "An elderly person, okay?"

"An elderly person…" He glanced back at the crane. It did have a serene, almost angelic quality—fitting for an older recipient. His tension eased slightly. "Who? You’ve never mentioned them before."

At that, Evelyn’s expression darkened, a shadow passing over her features.