On the top floor of Stark Tower, a young man who is lounging on the sofa lets out a mocking laugh and sinking deeper into the soft cushions.
He then said, "Charlie, you really go all out for your adopted son."
Charlie stood in front of him, calmly looking at the young man.
The young man had striking features—thick, dark brows and lashes that were heavy and rich in color.
His eyes gleamed with a certain light that making them even more captivating.
His youthful, confident face had at least a strong resemblance to his father's.
After Howard Stark's passed away, Charlie had taken on a key role at Stark Industries for the past few years.
He patiently helped guide the arrogant young heir, Tony Stark, through the complexities of running a massive corporation.
Slowly, Charlie let go, allowing Tony to step into his role as the true leader of the company.
Now, it was time for the old guard to step down.
A new ruler was rising like the sun on the horizon, and Charlie would cast his final rays of light onto another sky.
"Soren is an angelic child, Tony. If you met him, you'd like him too," Charlie smiled.
"This is his first birthday with us, and Renee and I want to make it special—big, grand, unforgettable. He deserves that. Plus, we need to officially announce our decision to our friends. It's a big moment for us."
Tony Stark raised an eyebrow, folding his arms.
An angel, huh?
More like a little devil.
He knew all too well how annoying teenagers could be, and he seriously doubted he'd have any interest in some kid.
"So, where are you planning to move?" Tony asked.
Charlie smiled again, "A small town in Kansas, called Smallville. Mr. Lionel Luthor from LuthorCorp recommended it to me. He's a personal friend, and I took his advice. It's a sunny place all year round. I think it will help Renee feel better."
At the mention of that familiar and irritating name, Tony couldn't help but frown.
Lionel Luthor—Tony didn't like him at all.
Although they didn't have direct conflicts of interest, and LuthorCorp even collaborated with Stark Industries on a few projects, Lionel always reminded him of a slippery snake, ready to strike when you least expected it.
"Promise me, stepping down as Stark Industries' CEO isn't just a cover for joining LuthorCorp," Tony teased.
"Oh, of course not. That's never happening," Charlie waved it off, "Even if LuthorCorp offered me all the money in the world, I wouldn't work there. I just can't live by their methods."
He didn't spell it out, but both of them knew what "their methods" meant.
LuthorCorp was known for its greed, ruthlessness, and relentless pursuit of profit without a shred of empathy.
Charlie added, "I've been too caught up with work all these years. It wasn't until after what happened with Benjamin that I realized what really matters—family or work. I'd rather spend the rest of my life with my family, watching my boy grow up, than chase money I'll never be able to spend."
Tony stayed quiet, resting his chin on his hand.
He seemed to be thinking, but it was hard to tell if he was really deep in thought or just zoning out.
"Come on, Tony, promise me you'll be there Saturday night, alright?" Charlie smiled.
Tony snorted, pretending to be indifferent, "I'll try."
...
The Hargreaves family had planned Soren's birthday party with great care.
For some reason, they always felt like they hadn't done enough for their adopted son.
They poured a part of their unfulfilled love for their lost child into Soren, wanting to give him the very best of everything the world had to offer.
This, however, only made Soren feel even more pressured.
The Hargreaves couple was almost too kind to him—so much that it felt overwhelming.
Soren had never received such deep, unconditional love from adults before, and now that he was suddenly wrapped in their tight embrace, he didn't know how to live up to their expectations.
It was like being handed a jar of candy all at once, holding it in his arms and wondering how much he would have to pay in return.
All he could do was try his best to meet their hopes.
The Hargreaves estate was brightly lit tonight.
Crystal chandeliers scattered rainbow-like reflections everywhere, and every golden candlestick held electronic candles that glowed softly.
Elegant pink and white roses, along with eustoma flowers, decorated the corners of the grand hall.
The Hargreaves couple led Soren through the crowd, introducing him to every guest.
Renee had dressed Soren up from head to toe.
Weeks before, she had ordered a custom-tailored white suit just for him.
The outfit fit perfectly with him, highlighting his slender waist and long legs.
A stylist had carefully brushed out his soft, wavy blonde hair, letting it part and cascade down the sides of his face, hiding the last traces of his childhood roundness.
It gave his face smooth, elegant lines, and his eyes sparkled like drops of water on the surface of a sunlit ocean.
The Hargreaves couple stopped in front of another pair of guests.
A middle-aged man wearing silver-rimmed glasses stood next to a young man with striking gold-red hair.
From their looks, it was clear they were closely related.
Both of them had narrow faces, deep-set eyes beneath pronounced brows, and slightly hooked noses.
Even their small, polite smiles mirrored each other perfectly.
"Mr. Luthor, welcome," Charlie greeted the middle-aged man with a handshake and then turned to the red-haired young man beside him, "And this young man should be Luthor Jr."
The young man quickly extended his hand with a modest smile, shaking Charlie's hand, "Hello, Mr. Hargreaves. I'm Lex Luthor, but please, just call me Lex."
His tone was quite peculiar.
Every word seemed to float, like a bobber drifting on water, giving off a faintly nervous edge.
Soren perked up when he heard the name.