Chapter 58: The Ashford Residence

Thomas found Damon in his study shortly after lunch.

"Master, the car is ready. The Ashfords are expecting you."

Damon closed the document in front of him and stood.

Vivian was waiting in the sitting room when he arrived, dressed for the visit and carrying her handbag.

She had already checked her appearance once, yet she paused beside the mirror to smooth a crease in her clothes before turning toward him.

Vivian rarely worried about how she looked in front of him, and she certainly wasn’t someone who needed to impress her own family.

This time, however, she would be returning home with the man she loved, and the thought made her a little more self-conscious than she expected.

She had faced important family gatherings without a second thought, but now she found herself wondering whether her parents would notice how naturally she stayed close to Damon,

or whether her mother would recognize the difference in the way she looked at him.

They left Blackstone Manor together, with Thomas remaining behind to manage the household.

The journey began quietly.

Vivian watched the familiar streets pass beyond the window while Damon considered the reason for their visit.

Her father had agreed to meet them, but his unusual questions about the circumstances surrounding Damon’s parents’ disappearance suggested that the Ashfords knew more than they had previously let on.

He wanted to understand what his mother had done and why it had mattered to the Ashfords.

Beside him, Vivian’s earlier composure was gradually fading away.

She settled back against the seat, her hands resting over her handbag.

As the car moved farther from the city center, she became quieter, occasionally glancing at Damon before turning her attention back to the window.

Damon left her to her thoughts and considered his own position.

Bonding with Vivian had brought Damon a substantial increase in strength, and the difference was more significant than he had initially expected.

The reward wasn’t just a temporary surge of power. His body could now handle more energy, and the strength he had gained gave him a much better foundation for further growth.

He could feel the difference even without testing himself.

The power that had once strained his body now felt more manageable, and his movements carried a firmness that hadn’t been there before.

The system had given him a genuine step forward, not an improvement that would disappear once the initial excitement wore off.

Even so, Damon understood his limits. Alistair Veyron, the Concord’s leader known as the Old Head, remained far beyond his current level.

The reward had moved him forward, not carried him to the summit. He would need more growth before he could stand confidently against the highest figures in the organization.

His financial circumstances had also changed just as dramatically.

Eleanor’s business growth and the returns connected to her acquisitions had pushed his liquid wealth beyond $1.5 billion.

The figure represented more than a growing bank balance. It meant Damon could finance his plans, acquire valuable assets, and respond to unexpected problems without waiting for anyone’s approval.

Now whatever he learned about his parents, he would have the resources to act on it.

Between his growing strength and Eleanor’s returns, he was building a position that belonged to him rather than one granted by another powerful family.

The car gradually left the busier districts behind. The roads widened, the traffic thinned, and large private properties began appearing behind walls and guarded entrances.

Vivian recognized the route, her attention shifting from the passing scenery to the road ahead.

The Ashford estate came into view a few minutes later. Its entrance was broad and carefully maintained, with security personnel stationed on either side of the gates.

Beyond them, a long driveway passed through landscaped grounds toward the main residence, whose size and restrained architecture reflected the family’s wealth and standing.

The guards recognized Vivian and opened the gates without delay.

Vivian sat a little straighter as the car passed through the gates.

She had grown up here and knew every turn of the driveway, yet today she found herself noticing details she usually ignored:

the gardeners working near the front lawn, the familiar windows of the upper floor, and the entrance where her parents would be waiting.

She reached over to straighten the edge of Damon’s sleeve, then seemed to realize what she was doing and withdrew her hand with a faint blush.

"My mother notices everything," she murmured, looking ahead. "If she thinks I’ve been acting differently, she’ll probably want to know why."

Damon glanced at her, but he didn’t make a joke out of it.

She rested her hand beside his for a moment before returning it to her lap.

By the time the car reached the front steps, Richard and Catherine were already waiting outside.

Her father, Richard Ashford, stood beside her mother, Catherine Ashford, speaking to her about something that made her smile.

They looked like a couple waiting for their daughter to come home, not people preparing for a formal negotiation.

Richard was dressed neatly but casually enough for an afternoon at home, while Catherine wore an elegant outfit and had the warm, attentive expression Vivian knew well.

When the car stopped, Catherine stepped forward first, apparently eager to greet them. Richard followed at a more relaxed pace, his attention moving from Vivian to the man beside her.

Vivian took a moment before opening the door.

The familiar sight of her parents should have made the visit easier, but knowing she was arriving with Damon after their relationship had changed left her feeling unexpectedly shy.

She smoothed her clothes once more, then stepped out and joined him.

Catherine’s face brightened when she saw her daughter.

Vivian greeted her with a hug, and for a moment her earlier nervousness gave way to the comfort of being home.

When she stepped back, however, she became aware of her father’s gaze resting on Damon and instinctively moved a little closer to him.

Richard noticed the gesture but said nothing about it. He approached Damon with a welcoming smile, offering his hand as Catherine stood beside Vivian.

Damon shook it, meeting the older man’s eyes. He had expected to be examined closely, but there was no hostility in Richard’s expression—only a curiosity that seemed to deepen as he studied Damon’s face.

Richard’s smile faded into a thoughtful look. For several seconds, he appeared to be comparing Damon with a memory.

Then he spoke.

"You definitely look like a Thorne."