The car slowly stopped at the entrance of the villa.
The housekeeper and a group of servants were already waiting on the lawn to greet her.
Seeing Josephine Thompson get out of the car.
The housekeeper and Housekeeper Sterling hurried up to her: "Miss, you’re finally back! I’ve made your favorite lotus seed and lily porridge; it’s just been served, and it’s still warm."
Josephine Thompson nodded and walked into the living room with the help of Ruby.
The familiar scent of agarwood wafted through her nostrils, completely relaxing her tense nerves.
Housekeeper: "Miss, we’ve prepared polo leaf water, would you like to take a shower first to wash away the hospital’s bad luck?"
Josephine Thompson responded softly: "Okay."
A little later.
She went upstairs to change her clothes and soaked in a hot bath in the bathroom.
After all.
It is a custom in Audenburg to do so.
After visiting a hospital or a cetery, it is customary to wash away the bad luck with polo leaf water upon returning ho.
The more aristocratic the family, the more they care about such traditions.
After the bath.
The housekeeper had soone bring wormwood and incense, and had her purified with the smoke.
"That’s enough."
"Miss, are you hungry? Dinner is ready."
"Hmm, hmm."
Josephine Thompson said nothing and headed straight to the dining room.
Upon reaching the dining room.
The porridge was already served, along with several appetizing side dishes.
Josephine Thompson had just sat down and taken a couple of sips of porridge.
When her phone rang, it was a call from the warehouse.
"Hello, Curator Warren."
On the other end, Curator Warren’s respectful voice ca through: "President Thompson, the second batch of items to be transferred has been thoroughly checked. When would you like them to be stored?"
"Arrange for them to be stored right now."
Josephine Thompson put down her porridge bowl and pulled up the warehouse inventory list on her tablet. "Have Manager Carter carefully verify the identification numbers, ensuring each one matches the system records precisely, without any mistakes."
"Understood, I’ll handle it imdiately."
After hanging up the phone.
She dialed the lawyer’s number: "Lawyer Kane, have the police verified the transaction location yet?"
Lawyer Kane: "They’re following up. They ntioned that the address does exist, but the surrounding surveillance coverage is minimal, making the operation problematic."
The lawyer’s voice was cautious, "Mr. Gallagher provided a specific ti. Should we prepare in advance?"
Josephine Thompson’s fingers quickly swiped across the tablet, pulling up a map of the area: "Have the police prepare as originally planned, without exposing our intentions prematurely. Also, send the auction commission agreent to my email, and I’ll sign and return it now."
"No problem."
She then made several more calls.
The porridge had already cooled significantly.
Housekeeper Sterling wanted to reheat it, but Josephine Thompson stopped her: "No need, I’m not hungry."
She stood up and went to the study.
The display here was completely different from the hospital ward.
The whole wall of bookshelves was filled with books on antiques, and the rosewood desk was neatly stacked with docunts to be processed.
Ruby opened the laptop.
The screen displayed the auction house’s collection information.
Josephine Thompson sat down and began reviewing items one by one: "Increase the estimated price of this blue and white porcelain vase from the Dawnveil Dynasty by ten percent; its glaze is top-notch among similar items. Also add ’original wooden box’ to the notes for that set of jade carvings. It could raise their premium."
Her voice wasn’t fast.
Yet she spoke with clear logic, her eyes focused intently on the screen, showing none of the vulnerability and agitation she felt at the hospital.
Only when discussing these artifacts, which she had been imrsed in for half her life, did she exude a naturally confident and poised manner.
"By the way, make a copy of the note that Nathaniel Gallagher gave. Lock the original in the safe, and give the copy to the police."
"Alright."
The sunlight outside gradually shifted west.
Through the blinds, mottled shadows were cast on the floor.
By the ti Josephine Thompson finished processing the last file, her neck was already a bit sore.
She raised her hand to massage her neck, her gaze falling on the photo fra at the corner of the desk. It was a picture of her and her grandfather at the collection gallery, the elderly man’s smile warm and kind.
"Grandpa, rest assured, I’ll handle everything," she said softly, lightly tracing the edge of the photo fra with her fingertips.
Her phone rang again.
This ti it was an unfamiliar number.
Josephine Thompson hesitated a bit but decided to answer it.
"President Thompson, this is Curator Zimrman from the Caldwen Museum. I’ve heard you’re looking to transfer a batch of artifacts? We’re very interested. Would it be possible to arrange a ti for a detailed discussion?"
Josephine Thompson’s lips curled up slightly, her tone returning to its usual calmness: "Of course, we can et. How about tomorrow at 10 a.m. in my office?"
"Great, see you tomorrow."
After hanging up, she took a deep breath.
Back in a familiar environnt, holding onto familiar work, the panic in her heart was finally replaced by a sense of security.
Whether it was Nathaniel Gallagher’s entanglent, or Julian Grant’s predicant, she temporarily pushed them to the back of her mind.
Right now, she had more important things to focus on.
Besides ensuring a peaceful pregnancy,
she needed to thoroughly reorganize the managent and loopholes in the Thompson Group.
...
The next day.
At nine in the morning.
Josephine Thompson arrived punctually at the office in The Antiquarian Market.
She had just sat down for a short while when.
Curator Zimrman arrived with his assistant.
"Good day, President Thompson, it’s been a while."
"Hello, please take a seat."
After so pleasantries, both parties got straight to the point.
Curator Zimrman brought a detailed list of collection intentions, highlighting several treasures Josephine Thompson planned to transfer.
"President Thompson, the quality of these collections is indeed rare. Especially this green porcelain cup from The Dawnveil Dynasty, with its fine texture and jade-like glaze, it’s truly a unique piece."
Curator Zimrman pointed at the picture on the list, his eyes full of admiration, "Our museum is willing to offer 1.2 tis the market price to acquire it. We hope to give it a good ho."
Josephine Thompson calmly said, "Curator Zimrman, you’re an expert and understand the value of these collections. The price is negotiable, but I have one condition."
"All collections that enter must be displayed publicly for a long ti, and cannot be hidden away."
That’s what Grandpa always said.
Artifacts are a type of culture that need to be known by more people.
Curator Zimrman was startled for a mont, then laughed and nodded, "Naturally, our purpose in collecting is for heritage and display, you can rest assured, President Thompson."
The discussions went smoothly between both parties.
Soon, a preliminary agreent was reached.
After sending Curator Zimrman off.
Josephine Thompson had just taken a sip of tea when Manager Carter from the warehouse called.
"President Thompson, we just discovered during inventory that a Copper Furnace from The Luminous Dynasty is missing. The system record shows it was checked out last week, but we didn’t receive an entry record."
Josephine Thompson’s face instantly darkened: "Investigate, check the surveillance imdiately to see who handled it. Also, retrieve last week’s checkout sheet to verify the signature records."
"We’re already investigating. The surveillance shows that Curator Sterling’s assistant took it, but there’s no entry receipt record."
"Curator Sterling?"
Josephine Thompson frowned, that old fox indeed has issues, "Continue to investigate, compile all checkout records related to him, I need to know how many tricks he’s played."
"Understood."
Hung up the phone.
She rubbed her temples.
Thought she could take a breather after handling the theft case, but didn’t expect there’s still more to uncover.
Ruby brought over a cup of hot tea: "President Thompson, would you like to rest for a while? You haven’t stopped since this morning."
"It’s fine."
Josephine Thompson waved her hand, opened her computer, and started processing the final auction procedures, "Send the electronic version of the auction catalog, I’ll double-check it."
Images of auction items flashed across the screen one by one.
From bronzeware to paintings, each piece holds the dedication of generations of the Thornton Family.
Transferring them is hard.
But to recover the stolen collections, and to give the child a stable future, it’s a step that must be taken.
...
Worked till the afternoon.
The lawyer sent a ssage, saying that the police have already deployed an operation according to the address provided by Nathaniel Gallagher, waiting for the transaction day to close in.
Josephine Thompson looked at the ssage, remained silent for a few seconds, ultimately didn’t reply.
She leaned back in her chair, gazing at the bustling world outside the window, suddenly feeling a bit tired. But when her hand gently touched her lower abdon, she imdiately straightened her spine.
There are still many things waiting for her to handle.
She dared not waste a minute.
Soon.
She opened the chat box with the auction house again, confirming the final version of the auction catalog was correct.
Afterwards, she reminded the deputy manager to ensure security, preventing any accidents before the auction.
Just put down her phone when the desk’s landline rang, it was from the front desk.
"Beep beep beep"
"Hello, Sophia, what’s the matter?"
Sophia’s tone was tense, "President Thompson, President Gallagher is here, says it’s urgent."
Josephine Thompson’s brow instantly furrowed, her tone cold and hard: "Tell him I’m busy, let him leave."
"But... he said if you don’t see him, he’ll keep waiting downstairs." Sophia’s voice was with difficulty.
"Let him be." Josephine Thompson directly hung up the phone, but a surge of anger unexpectedly flared in her chest.
Nathaniel Gallagher always barges into her life in this domineering way.
Never considers her wishes.
She took a deep breath, forced herself to refocus on her work.
"President Thompson?" Ruby cautiously handed over a docunt, "This is Curator Sterling’s assistant’s interview record, please have a look."
Josephine Thompson took the docunt, her fingertips slightly pale from the pressure.
The words on the docunt were scrawling, the assistant admitted to being instructed by Curator Sterling to transfer the Copper Furnace, saying it was "temporarily borrowed for exhibition", yet didn’t ntion when it would be returned.
"Submit this record to the police, have them intensify the interrogation on Curator Sterling." She said coldly, "I want to see how many more tricks he can hide."
"Understood."
In the next three days.
She was always busy with work, overwheld.
Thursday.
Ruby reminded her: "President Thompson, today is ti for the follow-up appointnt. The doctor appointnt’s already scheduled, you need to go to the hospital for the check-up."
Josephine Thompson frowned, "Can I go tomorrow?"
Ruby shook her head, "Tomorrow’s schedule is tight, no ti to spare. Moreover, the doctor’s appointnt is already made."
"If you go tomorrow, you’ll need to make another appointnt, which is more troubleso."
"Alright then." Josephine Thompson imdiately closed her computer, got up to go to the hospital.
After all.
She already decided to give birth to this child, naturally needs to ensure all prenatal checks are done properly.
...
Half an hour later.
Audenburg University Hospital.
The driver drove, sending Josephine Thompson to the hospital.
"President Thompson, be careful."
Josephine Thompson got out of the car, still feeling a bit dizzy.
Just walked into the hospital.
Suddenly.
She saw on the hospital’s garden lawn, a cute little boy actively playing football.
Looking closely, it turned out to be Henry Gallagher.
"Little master, quickly return to the ward, you can’t just run around..."
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