Chapter 466

Andrew Smith had barely stepped through the front door when he was enveloped by the jubilant atmosphere in the living room.

Andrew Senior rose from the sofa, his face flushed with pride. He strode forward in three quick steps and clapped his son heavily on the shoulder. "That's my boy! The old general just called me personally with the news. A bureau chief at twenty-five! I wasn't half as accomplished at your age!" His voice trembled with barely contained emotion. "Tonight, you're drinking with your old man!"

"Congratulations on your promotion, Andrew," Clara Smith said, approaching with a fruit platter. Though her smile was wide, her nails dug deep into her palms.

Her gaze flickered to the gleaming stars on Andrew's epaulets, feeling as though a thorn had lodged itself in her heart. If only Andrew had married Diana... the Wei family could have climbed this golden ladder. But now...

"Thank you, Father. Thank you, Clara." Andrew gave a slight nod, his eyes sweeping across the room. His elder brother Adrian lounged against the liquor cabinet, winking at him, while the youngest, Anthony, stood awkwardly in the corner.

"Little brother!" Adrian bounded forward, playfully punching Andrew's chest. "Look at you! The youngest bureau chief the Smith family's ever had!" Dressed in a tailored suit, he looked every inch the successful businessman—especially with the new imported car he'd driven home today.

Anthony shuffled over belatedly, his voice barely above a whisper. "Congratulations... Second Brother." His eyes darted to Andrew's crisp uniform, suddenly finding his own casual clothes painfully dull in comparison.

Clara watched the three young men, mental calculations whirring. Adrian's business was thriving, with branches rumored to have expanded to other provinces. But... Her expression darkened. Now all her hopes rested on Anthony—though the boy was disappointingly meek...

"Enough standing around," Andrew Senior boomed. "Clara, bring out the vintage Maotai!" He turned toward the kitchen. "Mrs. Wang, two more signature dishes!"

Under the crystal chandelier, Andrew's epaulets gleamed coldly. Clara's hands trembled slightly as she held her wine glass. She suddenly remembered the phone call last month from her eldest brother—"Little sister, about your nephew's job transfer..."

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, dusk gradually enveloped the military compound. No one noticed the unfamiliar blaze that had ignited in Anthony's eyes as he watched his second brother—a fire that had never been there before.