It was signed by Garry Clark, Waldo’s second son.
Lucia noticed Waldo holding a card with a look of hesitation and inquired, “Whose gift is that?”
Both Stella and Matthew observed Waldo attentively. The unexpected arrival of the gift had raised their concerns about potential complications.
After a brief moment, Waldo tucked the card away. His expression eased as he looked up again.
With a smile, he reassured them, “It’s from an old friend I haven’t been in touch with for a while. Let’s get back to the cake cutting.”
Relieved by his response, Lucia’s tension faded.
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She resumed the birthday ritual, making a ceremonial slice in the cake before passing the knife to a waiter, who continued to serve slices to the guests.
As everyone settled back into their seat, Waldo’s demeanor grew more reserved.
The card had clearly stirred something within him, leaving him pensive and distant.
Waldo’s thoughts were on his younger son, Garry Clark, a source of both pride and frustration.
Garry had inherited the best attributes from both his parents—his charm and good looks were undeniable.
But these traits had led him down a path of notoriety, becoming a known playboy in Seamarsh.
Waldo, preoccupied with his business empire, had little time to guide Garry, hoping it was just a phase of youthful folly. He held on to the hope that Garry would eventually mature and take up the family business.
However, this leniency only encouraged Garry’s reckless behavior, even involving himself with married women.
Garry’s tragic end came when he provoked a mafia boss, leading to his untimely demise.
Waldo only grasped the full extent of his son’s misadventures upon receiving the grim news. Filled with remorse, he realized the past was irreversible.
This period marked the bleakest in Waldo’s life, a time shrouded in despair, until the arrival of Matthew. It was then that both he and Lucia began to find their way back to a semblance of normalcy.
As word of Matthew’s return circulated, several women, claiming to have been Garry’s mistresses, approached the Clark family, seeking acknowledgement. Waldo, however, refused to meet any of them.
He doubted the coincidences and, selfishly, he was unwilling to accept any of Garry’s possible illegitimate children.
He believed it would tarnish the Clark family’s lineage, a belief deeply rooted in his conservative values.
Waldo’s thoughts were interrupted as he narrowed his eyes.
It had been over twenty years since Garry’s death, and these years, no mistresses had come forward. Yet, the gift he received tonight felt Like a deliberate provocation.
Could it be from the woman he recently refused to meet?
Filled with speculation but maintaining a composed exterior, Waldo remained quiet about his thoughts.
Matthew, sitting down, sensed that something was off with Waldo and suspected a problem.
Knowing it wasn’t the right time to inquire, he decided to wait until after the banquet to discuss it in detail with Waldo.
With this plan in mind, Matthew redirected his attention, engaging in conversations with the other guests, putting his concerns aside for the moment.
The banquet wound down smoothly, despite earlier interruptions. As the older guests began to depart, the younger ones congregated for a game of snooker.
“Who’s that man playing snooker? He’s incredibly handsome!”
“And so skilled! How come I’ve never seen him around before?”
“That’s Sprague Evans, a new face here. He’s working with Prosperity Group.”
Sprague’s expertise in snooker was undeniable, drawing admiring whispers from the women around.
Yet, he remained focused on the game, seemingly unaware of the attention he was garnering.
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His current opponent, realizing he was outclassed and noticing Matthew getting ready to leave, conceded, “I give up. There’s no fun in such a one-sided game. Sprague, why don’t you challenge Matthew?”
Another one chimed in, “Yeah, it’s not enjoyable for you to keep winning so effortlessly against us.”
As the voices grew louder, Sprague straightened up and smiled.
“I’ve heard a lot about his skill in snooker, but I doubt I’m a match for him. However…”
He paused, glancing at Stella, “I would be interested in playing snooker with his wife, if she’s willing.”