Chapter 627

Justin's door remained open, exceeding Lily's expectations. He seemed to be waiting for her. Though he hadn't closed it, Lily glanced inside, raised her hand, and knocked twice. "Come in," Justin's voice replied.

A single, dimly lit lamp illuminated the room. Justin sat by the window, a cup of fragrant coffee before him, though he hadn't touched it.

"Justin."

"Sit down," he said, his gaze calm. His eyes, Lily noted, looked considerably better than they had in the mourning hall.

"You…" she hesitated, searching for a starting point.

"Didn't I tell you not to come back? You're still so stubborn," Justin began, his complaint laced with concern.

"Do you think I could escape by staying away?" Lily smiled wryly, studying him thoughtfully.

He sat quietly, staring at the vast forest outside. Only faint shadows were visible, yet his gaze remained fixed. Silence hung between them, but Lily's questions remained.

She glanced toward the open door, her view unobstructed, ensuring she could see anyone approaching. In the mourning hall, Justin had cut her short, likely to avoid eavesdropping. Here, however, they should be safe.

"What happened to Henry?" she asked directly. He was their uncle, but he needed to earn that respect; otherwise, it was merely a title.

Justin remained silent, his lips pursed.

"I've been thinking," Lily continued. "Was that display—pushing you out of your position—all about seizing control of the Lodge family?"

Justin remained silent. Lily pressed on. "I don't understand. Why are you afraid of him? Why did you relinquish control?"

"You think I'm afraid of him?" Finally, Justin looked at her, shaking his head with a chuckle. He stretched, finally picking up his coffee and taking a sip. "It's been years since you took over. Even if he returned, as an elder, he couldn't simply take it back. And Grandpa? Was there something wrong with the scented candles?"

A lab report existed, but Henry had revealed it—leaving open the possibility of manipulation. Still, Lily trusted Justin; they had grown up together. He might appear indifferent, but his coldness masked a warmer nature. He'd helped her investigate Nathaniel, repaired her relationship with her grandfather, and even called to prevent her return.

Slowly setting down his cup, he lowered his eyes and nodded subtly. Lily saw it clearly: the scented candles were the problem.

His expression grew grave. Lily, the maker of the candles, had absolute confidence in their purity. She'd added medicinal herbs, thoroughly researching and testing them. They promoted sleep and relaxation, with no toxic side effects. The rigorous testing had delayed production considerably.