Chapter 116: Camilla’s birthday gift to Grandpa Luther

Chapter 116: Camilla’s birthday gift to Grandpa Luther "Hahaha—" Grandpa Luther chuckled as he accepted the brocade box from Camilla’s hands. "Whatever you give me, Grandpa will love it." As the box opened, a refreshingly pure and natural fragrance wafted through the air. Instantly, the old man felt invigorated, his weariness melting away. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes. Sinclair also raised an eyebrow slightly, intrigued as he glanced over. Inside the box lay a bracelet strung with eighteen wooden beads, each intricately carved with auspicious cloud patterns. A single pale green jade bead separated the agarwood beads in the middle. The soothing, soul-cleansing fragrance in the air emanated from this very bracelet. "What is this?" Even for someone as worldly as Grandpa Luther, the sight before him was astonishing. "A bracelet made of Green wooden Jade?" This type of wood was not only a rare and exquisite incense but also a prized medicinal ingredient. Due to its extremely slow formation, it was considered exceptionally precious. The wood is truly the rarest of the rare, practically priceless. No monetary value could ever do it justice. Even with the Luther Family’s immense wealth and influence, acquiring something like this isn’t simply a matter of writing a check. After all, treasures of this caliber almost never appear on the auction block. A glimmer of understanding flashed through Sinclair’s sharp, obsidian eyes. So this was why Camilla had sent people to N City—for this very bracelet. "wood is a premium medicinal ingredient," Camilla explained softly, her voice gentle as a spring breeze. "It sharpens the mind, warms the stomach, and soothes the spleen." She added with quiet emphasis, "It’s absolutely perfect for you." "Camilla." Sinclair’s gaze lingered on the bracelet, but his focus wasn’t on the agarwood beads. "What’s special about this Hetian jade bead?" That faint medicinal aroma mingled with the wood’s fragrance—it had to be coming from this one. "You noticed?" Surprise flickered across Camilla’s face at his perceptiveness. "I soaked this jade bead in a special herbal infusion for half a month." "Not only does it fully activate the medicinal properties of the wood, but it can also monitor Grandpa’s health condition to some extent." "Monitor health?" Grandpa Luther turned to Camilla, his eyes brimming with curiosity. "Due to the unique properties of the herbs coating the outer layer of the bead, you can roughly gauge your health just by observing the color of this jade bead," Camilla explained meticulously as she fastened the bracelet around Grandpa Luther’s wrist. "If the color grows clearer and more translucent, it means your health is improving. Conversely, if it darkens, it indicates the opposite." This was precisely why she had crafted this medicinal bead. After all, Grandpa Luther was getting on in years, and they didn’t live together. With this bead, he could easily keep an eye on his own well-being anytime. "This is far more precious than any wooden bead," Grandpa Luther murmured, deeply moved by Camilla’s thoughtful gesture. Wrinkles of contentment spread across his aged face. "You’ve put so much heart into this, child." Camilla smiled softly, her expression serene and elegant. "As long as you like it." "Like it? Of course I do!" Grandpa Luther cast a seemingly casual glance at Sinclair and sighed. "If only some people could learn a fraction of Camila’s filial piety, this old man would wake up laughing in his sleep." "You’ve been a bit irritable lately," Sinclair remarked, raising a brow with a faint smirk. "Camilla’s gift really hit the mark." "Irritable?" The old man scoffed. "That’s because I’m driven to it by you ungrateful descendants!" "That," Sinclair drawled, leaning lazily against the back of his chair, his striking features appearing even more refined and aristocratic under the warm glow of the lights, "is something you should say to the trio inside." At the mention of Jonathan and his family, Grandpa Luther sighed, his brows furrowing with resignation. The Porter family had its share of disappointments, but so did the Luther Family. If not for Sinclair’s competence, the Luther Family might have long followed the porters down the path of decline. How ironic—both he and grandpa Porter were superior in strategy in business, yet when it came to raising children, they had failed so miserably! The car fell silent. Camilla watched as Grandpa Luther leaned back against the seat, his expression tinged with loneliness, and her heart ached. The hand that had been about to pull the share transfer agreement from her bag paused. Forget it. No need to upset Grandpa right now. She’d find another opportunity to bring it up later. Only after Grandpa Luther had retired for the night did Sinclair and Camilla finally leave. Ramsey opened the rear door for them. Just as Camilla was about to step inside, Sinclair suddenly swept her into his arms and carried her into the car, settling her onto his lap. "Sinclair!!" A competent assistant knew when to be discreet. Ramsey kept his head lowered, pretending he hadn’t seen a thing. The moment he slid into the driver’s seat, he raised the partition, instantly cutting off all sight and sound between the front and back, creating two separate spaces. Sinclair tightened his arm around Camilla’s slender waist, holding her firmly against him, his dark eyes unreadable. "Sweetheart" Camilla wrapped her arms around Sinclair’s neck, her beautiful eyes curving into crescents. "Are you upset?" "My wife spent the entire evening focusing her attention and energy on someone else," Sinclair murmured, his fingers tracing the delicate curve of her ear, his gaze unfathomably deep. "Tell me—should I be happy?" His voice was low and rough, laced with something unspoken. To execute this intricate scheme, she really hadn’t spared him much thought tonight. "I’m sorry," Camilla said, locking eyes with his coldly handsome face, her gaze brimming with both appeasement and playful petulance. "Then punish me," she whispered, pressing her delicate body closer. "As long as it makes sweetheart feel better." Her voice lifted slightly at the end, carrying an unintentional, tantalizing lilt. "Oh?" Sinclair’s eyes darkened further, his voice gravelly. "I haven’t decided on the punishment yet, but let me collect some interest first." As he spoke, one hand settled firmly on Camilla’s slender waist while the other cradled the back of her head, pulling her entire body flush against his. The force was commanding yet met with no resistance—not that Camilla had any intention of resisting. His cool lips descended upon hers in a kiss that was both icy and domineering, carrying an intensity that brooked no denial. Camilla responded by wrapping her arms around Sinclair’s neck, melting into his embrace. The kiss deepened with each passing second, Sinclair’s large hand tightening around her waist as if he wanted to fuse her very being into his own. The heat between them rose steadily, radiating through their clothes and mingling in the charged air. Time seemed to stretch endlessly before they finally, reluctantly, broke apart. Breathless and weak-kneed, Camilla rested her forehead against the crook of Sinclair’s neck, trying to steady her ragged breathing. The unmistakable heat pressing against her only deepened the flush on her already rosy cheeks, making her glow even more bewitchingly. To him, Camilla would always be lethally irresistible. A single kiss had nearly shattered his self-control. Loosening his tie with one hand, Sinclair cracked open the window slightly, letting in a sliver of cool night air. A chilly breeze carrying the faint briny scent of the sea drifted in, mingled with the distant, rhythmic murmur of waves. "Sweetheart," Camilla straightened up, her beautiful eyes lighting up with delight as she gazed out the window. "Is there an ocean nearby?" "Yes," Sinclair glanced outside before turning his attention back to Camilla. "Want to go see it?" "I do," Her eyes curved into crescents, her expression bright with anticipation. "Would that be okay?" Though she’d grown up in San Francisco and knew the city had a coastline, she’d never actually visited the shore for one reason or another. But now, with the sea breeze in the air and the man she loved beside her, she suddenly felt an irresistible urge to see the ocean. "Of course," Sinclair looked down at her, warmth glimmering in the depths of his gaze. "Have I not told you before? With me, you can have anything you want." He reached out and lowered the partition between the front and back seats, then turned to Ramsey. "Pull over."