chapter1368

Simone looked up at Leonard. "Those flowers... I think they're from the garden behind The Williams Group headquarters. The species is extremely rare; you wouldn't see them just anywhere."

As if struck by an idea, she pulled out her phone. "I used to walk through the Williams family's back garden all the time. I thought the flowers were so beautiful, I took a lot of pictures." She scrolled through her gallery and showed the photos to Leonard. "Look, brother. Doesn't the scenery look just like the painting?"

Similar flowers could be a coincidence. But if the surrounding scenery was also identical, it was something more. Leonard swiped through Simone's photos and saw that she was right. The flowers, the layout, everything was a perfect match, just shot from different angles.

Leonard's dark eyes narrowed. He was certain now: the scenery in his painting was indeed the garden at the Williams estate.

"Brother," Simone asked, "do you think this 'Summer' artist knows someone in the Williams family? Or... what if they *are* a member of the Williams family?"

For some reason, an image of Stella painting by a window flashed through Leonard's mind. He dismissed it just as quickly. Even if Stella could paint, she couldn't possibly possess the skill of Summer. It was a level of talent that even Aurora couldn't reach. How could a mere housewife possibly achieve it?

"It's probably a friend of someone in the family," Leonard concluded aloud.

"Well, if you want to find Summer, you could try starting with the Williams family," Simone suggested.

"Yes, I know," Leonard replied. "But they seem to value their privacy. I won't bother them for now."

Having offered her insight, Simone soon departed.

In the following days, Stella took Joshua to see Mr. Burton for several check-ups. When they received confirmation that Joshua had made a full recovery, Stella finally breathed a heavy sigh of relief. Haynes and Keen both left Solmaris; Haynes had a company to run and Keen had to return to school. As for Foreman, there was still no news of him.

One day, while Stella was replying to

work emails in her office, she noticed a new message in her private inbox. It was from 'L.' The

email was simple: "I have a piece I'm working on, but I feel like something is missing. Everyone! show it to

says it's fine. I was wonderingu Summer had time to take a look at it for me?"

An image was attached. Stella had just wrapped up a major task and

had some free time. She

downloaded the image and enlarged it. It was a photograph of a painting of a mountain range. The reguntains, shrouded in mist, wei majestic and imposing, ll interconnected with a sense of

energy and rhythm. The brushwork revealed an artist with a profound technical foundation.

Stella had assumed 'L' was merely an art enthusiast. She was surprised to learn he

was a painter himself, and a very skilled one at that. His work radiated a seriousness and love for the craft that she deeply respected. Every dedicated artist deserved respect.

She examined the painting closely. From its overall composition to the finest details, it was flawless. The atmosphere it conveyed was deep and profound. And yet, just as 'L' had said, something felt... incomplete.

Stella pondered for a moment and thought she had identified the issue. She studied the picture one last time before replying to the email.

Half an hour later, Leonard received a reply from Summer.

"Although the sun isn't depicted, the shading in the corner suggests a sunrise. But the light itself feels absent from the peaks. The soul of a sunrise is the light, not just the hint of it. Without that warmth, the mountains, however majestic, feel cold and lifeless."