### Chapter 164: A Glimpse of the Foundation

At that moment, Anson realized he had made a mistake; he had only completed half of the introduction, leaving it unfinished.

"Oh, sorry, my bad," Anson chuckled lightly. "But it's okay; Judy has been with our family for many years. How long has it been now? Six years? Seven years?"

Judy caught Anson's questioning gaze. "Seven years."

"Seven years," Anson repeated with a nod. "She can be considered a member of the Wood family. In fact, her children often come over as well."

Technically, Judy was the housekeeper, but unlike housekeepers in the true aristocratic upper-class households, Judy didn't live here. She simply came by daily to manage the place, overseeing the maintenance and operation of the entire building.

After all, this was a historical building, and daily upkeep was crucial. Just like yachts, castles, and estates—luxuries that seem out of reach—the cost of the items themselves is already astronomical, but the ongoing maintenance is where the real expense lies. It's a constant drain on resources.

Judy played that role for the Wood family.

Thus, Judy's relationship with the Wood family was not just a simple employment contract; it was more akin to a friendship. Sometimes, she would even sit down with them to discuss various topics, and she had tutored the two Wood brothers on their homework for a period of time.

At this point, Anson looked at Judy and asked about her children, "How are they doing?"

Judy responded with a polite nod—

In front of them was still a guest who looked like he wanted to disappear into the ground. They shouldn't delve too deeply into small talk.

Edgar felt a lump in his throat. Today had been a day of chaos after chaos, and he had lost count of how many mistakes he'd made.

This was unprofessional.

But Edgar didn't shy away. Making mistakes was okay; what mattered more was learning from them, and facing them head-on was also a form of growth.

"My God, I've been acting like an idiot, always picking the wrong thing to say at the wrong time. I apologize, please forgive my rudeness."

He was not only apologizing to Judy but also to Anson and the yet-to-be-met Mrs. Wood.

Judy responded in a way that was both clever and professional.

"Perhaps I should reflect on my work. Maybe I've become too comfortable, too complacent, and started seeing myself as the owner, which led to the misunderstanding."

Clearly, Judy maintained her professionalism, not allowing Anson's comment about her being part of the Wood family to make her overstep her boundaries. She remained clear on where the lines were drawn.

But if she had left it at that, it might have seemed too stiff, too rigid.

Judy added with a hint of playfulness, "But... shh. I think we should keep this a secret. No need for anyone else to know."

With this lighthearted joke, she took the blame for the unprofessional behavior upon herself, promising to keep Edgar's slip-up a secret, while also implying that she'd keep her own under wraps. In this way, their mistakes canceled each other out.

Judy then glanced at Anson, giving him a playful "warning" look.

The entire interaction was handled gracefully, lightening the atmosphere immediately.

Anson got the hint, raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender, then mimed zipping his lips, signaling the end of this little episode.

They all laughed it off.

Though it wasn't a significant event, Edgar noticed that the Wood family had a warmth and friendliness that was different from what he had imagined upper-class families to be. The ease of the atmosphere gradually helped him relax.

Unconsciously, Edgar looked at Anson again—

Perhaps this is what makes Anson so special?

Anson didn't notice Edgar's internal turmoil. Instead, he turned to Judy and asked, "Where are Mom and Dad?"

Judy replied, "You should have called ahead; they would have loved to see you. Mr. Wood is in London and will be staying there for a while. Mrs. Wood left for Paris two days ago, and her schedule is still uncertain."

The Wood family, while not exceedingly wealthy, had a solid foundation. By Anson's generation, they were only in their third, with the first generation being scholars with modest assets but rigorous upbringing and evident cultural depth. It was in the second generation that they began accumulating wealth.

Charles Wood, Anson's father, was an interior designer. However, unlike ordinary interior designers, he didn't focus on layout, decoration, or color schemes. Instead, he specialized in advising on the placement and selection of artwork and antiques.

For example, how can a painting enhance one's sophisticated image? Where should a particular antique be placed to demonstrate taste?

These details, seemingly trivial, are crucial. Newly wealthy individuals often lack this knowledge, throwing everything valuable into display without understanding the art of curation. This kind of interior design quickly exposes their lack of genuine refinement.

Thus, the "new money" urgently needed professional advice on how to flaunt their wealth tastefully and integrate into the upper echelons of society.

This was Charles's job.

He not only had a discerning eye but also the knowledge and cultural depth to back it up. Only someone who truly understood the upper class and the history and value of art and antiques could do this job—a true professional.

Because of this, he often accompanied clients around the world to auctions, dealing with both new money and old money, rising elites, and established aristocrats, seeking out noteworthy artworks and antiques.

In the eyes of these upper-class individuals, someone as knowledgeable and unpretentious as Charles was highly respected and in high demand at various parties and social gatherings. His cultural depth served as his passport into these circles.

In the original owner's memories, his father resembled a professor—erudite and courteous—yet without the aloofness often associated with scholars. He was willing to engage with society, and it was his social grace that contributed to the rapid accumulation of the Wood family's wealth.

Lucas, Anson's brother, bore a closer resemblance to Charles.

It seemed Charles's trip to London was likely for an auction, and since Judy mentioned he would be there for a while, he was probably accompanying an important client.

Such work could be brief or lengthy, depending entirely on the client's whims. In the original owner's memory, there was one time when Charles accompanied a client for three whole months, touring all of Europe. By the end of the trip, Charles's skin had tanned into a beautiful shade of brown under the Italian sun, making him almost unrecognizable.

Nora Wood, Anson's mother, was an art curator specializing in organizing various exhibitions, including but not limited to paintings, photographs, and antiques. Although her expertise was in painting, a field in which she had earned significant renown, she also dabbled in other areas, constantly challenging herself with new endeavors.

What's hard to believe is that Nora studied financial management, a field completely unrelated to art. However, her father was a master oil painting appraiser, capable of authenticating paintings from all eras. He remains one of the most respected and authoritative appraisers in the industry.

Nora combined her cultural background with her professional skills, carving out a unique path for herself in an unexpected career.

This reflects Nora's character, much like Charles, as someone who dared to break from tradition and defy convention. Their love story was also as intense as a movie, filled with romance. Their different backgrounds and personalities collided to create a perfect chemistry.

(End of the fifth update.)