“Here he is—Mr. Adam Foster. Ashley, you should be grateful he agreed to meet you despite his busy schedule.”

Arthur reintroduced Ashley to the man they had discussed the night before, inside his own study.

Ashley’s first impression of Mr. Adam hadn’t changed. He was still that calm‑faced man with eyes that seemed to look straight through you. The only difference was age—lines etched deeper into his face, and hair now fading into shades of gray.

Mr. Adam smiled until his ...