CWMBR 36

Chapter 36

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Sponsored by Elisa. Thank you ❤️(1/6)

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**Past memories continue 

Seeing Ain unable to tear himself away from her lips, Donna smiled triumphantly. She opened her small handbag with a dazzling smile, like a goddess confident of victory.

“I also have proof that I slept with you.”

She pulled out a new photo. It was much clearer and brighter than the previous one.

“This is definitely not something you can’t recognize, right?”

The two people entangled on the bed were indeed Ain and Donna. Ain with his eyes lowered, and Donna clinging to him with an euphoric expression.

If a moment ago, a fiery passion had been burning inside him, now a chill as cold as ice enveloped his entire body.

“Actually, I’m being blackmailed with this photo. I couldn’t bear it alone... so I ended up coming to you like this.”

Donna whispered softly as she handed the photo to Ain.

“Do you believe me now?”

That day, Ain couldn't head straight to the mansion.

Under normal circumstances, he would have immediately sought out the person who took the photo, retrieved the original, and prepared to destroy it. But this time, the reason was different. The thought of uncovering the extortionist’s identity came later.

What struck him first was pure shock and betrayal.

The shock and betrayal stemmed from the suspicion that Finn Emerson and Bridget Pennington might be in some kind of relationship. The thought that the baby in Bridget's womb might be Finn Emerson's bloodline was so repulsive that even imagining it was unbearable.

Ain immediately set out to uncover the truth about their relationship. The employee, whom he had contacted at the pub, assured him that he would bring back results soon.

“Should we take additional measures?”

The additional measures he referred to implied physical confrontation. Ain hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

"Let's start with the investigation first."

Fortunately, Ain was still clinging to a modicum of reason at that moment. Even if Finn Emerson really was in a relationship with Bridget, he knew that it would not be wise to harm him right away. It wasn't because Finn Emerson was a more important person than Ain. It was because of the person he was backed by.

The person who introduced Ain to Finn Emerson was Mrs. Callaway, Finn's patron and a prominent figure in high society.

As a member of the Callaway family, a prestigious family with a deep appreciation for the arts, she sponsored a select few artists, and Finn was one of the most beloved among them. Even Finn, who was known for his promiscuous lifestyle, was careful to treat Mrs. Callaway with respect, and she seemed satisfied with this special treatment.

"I want to open a large, elegant coffee house in a suitable location."

The official reason was to celebrate the success of his recent new work. However, Ain easily realized that she wanted to nurture Finn not just as an artist, but as a talent who could be useful in the family business in the future. This was especially true given that coffee houses were also social gathering places for intellectuals.

Prominent nobles often seek to showcase their refinement through artistic endeavors. And if possible, they harbor the desire to stand out as the best among them.

"I've heard that Herbert has been aggressively scouting artists lately, but it's not something Callaway needs to be concerned about, is it?"

Herbert was not a noble family, but a family that had made a fortune in trade. At first, they imported excellent works of art from abroad through their own trade routes, but gradually expanded their business to include supporting and nurturing artists. They had exchanged a few times with Callaway, who had established themselves like the local patriarch of Alensia, but for some reason, things went south, and now they were expanding their business independently.

From Callaway's perspective, that might look like a thorn in their side. However, they were not on the same level to respond actively.

At Ain’s words, Mrs. Callaway covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"Oh. You shouldn't ignore the sprouting seedlings."

"If it bothers you, just pull out the roots."

"No matter how great a tree may be, it cannot stand alone on the earth. Pulling out the roots of a delicate sprout would be unwise."

Mrs. Callaway spoke in a kind tone and lifted her teacup.

"After all, nothing can grow tall under lush foliage. I don't intend to stop them from gathering under the shade of the trees."

So, she was asking him to help Finn Emerson, who would eventually contribute to the lush foliage. There was no need to quarrel with Mrs. Callaway, and if he could get her to agree now, it would be useful in the future. Ain’s calculations were quick. As soon as a smooth agreement was reached, Mrs. Callaway called Finn Emerson to her side.

“It is an honor to meet you in person, Mr. Wise.”

He was a man with a handsome face and well-maintained, lustrous platinum-blond hair. He was dressed in a rather stylish vest, and the few unbuttoned buttons on his shirt added to the artist's characteristic free-spirited atmosphere. 

“Finn Emerson?”

“That’s correct.”

Art could be profitable depending on how it was handled, but Ain had never felt the need to get involved in it. So, he heard the name Finn Emerson for the first time when he was introduced to him. Finn seemed a little hurt by this, but Ain was not particularly impressed by the fact that he was a popular playwright. He probably thought he was too preoccupied with his appearance for a writer, but that’s all he had to say.

“He’s worth the investment.”

Finn smiled faintly at Mrs. Callaway's words and replied modestly. Ain did not particularly join in their conversation. However, he seemed to agree with Mrs. Callaway's assessment to some extent. With such a sharp and ambitious personality, he would likely demonstrate bold decision-making and drive, potentially achieving high efficiency in the short term.

"I hear you enjoy visiting the site regularly. Please share your valuable insights."

Finn wanted to seek Ain’s advice from the very beginning, starting with choosing the coffee house building. Under normal circumstances, he would have refused, but in this case, Mrs. Callaway had requested it, so he agreed to accompany her initially as a consultant. That was how their partnership began.

However, most cities already had established coffee houses. Finn Emerson was more ambitious than expected, wanting his coffee house to be the largest and most influential location. Therefore, any place with an already suitable-sized coffee house was excluded from consideration.

Having ambition was not a bad thing. Though his ambition was funded by a patron's money, it was also a testament to his ability. There was nothing more difficult than taking money from someone else's pocket.

After meeting and visiting several cities, they ended up in Glynford, which had become known among artists, whether intentionally or not.

“This place seems too far from the capital.”

"Now that the railroad is connected, it shouldn't be too difficult to come and go. Besides, it's not completely in the countryside, and the people here are quite knowledgeable about art and culture. It would be troublesome if they were too ignorant, but here they are just innocent enough to be easy to deal with, don't you think?"

When the two men got off the train, they found a small station. They said the railway had only been built recently, but even though the station was small, the overall facilities were relatively clean and new. Finn said he liked Glynford Station and gave a favorable review. However, Ain did not.

“There’s a guide who can show us around the city, so I’ve already made a reservation.”

"It doesn't seem like a city big enough to need a guide."

“Of course, that’s true, but it’s a city that’s developed so rapidly.”

Ain scoffed. Where else in Alensia was there a city that had developed so rapidly?

There was a city nearby that had grown rapidly with the establishment of a factory, and beyond that was the largest coal mining town in Alensia. If you were to compare them, those cities were much larger than Glynford.

"It's a city with no particular charm, neither here nor there, so they built cultural facilities to attract residents from nearby cities, and it just so happened to work out."

Ain had already read some information about Glynford before arriving, so it was even more boring.

The actual scenery of Glynford was even more mundane and uninteresting than what he had read about it.

“I bought a one-way ticket planning to stay here for a few days, but what about you, Mr. Wise?”

"Call me by my proper name."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I keep making mistakes. I'm sorry, Mr. Sherman."