As the CEO of Phantom Investments, Ethan Westbury was an indomitable character. He was the man who had set up the foundation of his company at the age of twenty-five and today it had reached new heights under his leadership.
He was the man who dealt with billions with ease but when it came to his siblings, he was always at a loss for words and actions.
At thirty-three, he had to raise his two grown-up brothers who had refused to grow up. Liam was not ready to come out of the shell that he had locked himself up in when his wife died in an accident and Rowan still wanted to run away from his problems rather than face them.
Ethan could leave his brothers to their situations, couldn't he?
He could but he wouldn't because these people were his only family. And he had learned to protect his family at all costs. He wanted to show his grandfather that he knew the meaning of family. Alas, the old man was not here to see this.
"Mr Westburry, Miss Westbury is waiting for you in the garden, " The housekeeper said with a polite smile as he entered the threshold of the house that he had been crossing too often after the death of his grandfather.
Before the death of his grandfather, he would seldom drop by as he preferred to live at his penthouse which was closer to his office than the family estate that was an hour away from his office.
He would rather stay away from home than be late for work. He didn't know anything else but work in his life. He practically worshipped his work. Work was his only pleasure and solace.
Now he was walking to the back garden where his little sister, Selene was waiting for her. The Garden was her favourite spot in the entire estate where she could look at every important spot of the estate.
As his eyes fell on Selene who was giving instructions to the stable workers, he realised how his little sister wasn't so little anymore. If the estate was still running efficiently and smoothly after the death of his granddaughter, it had to be because of her. She had grown up a lot after losing the only father all four of them knew.
"Ethan?" Selene stilled as her dark eyes fell on him and her lips tugged to form a genuine smile. She was the only person who would look at him as if he had hung the moon for her. The only person who would remind him that he was still capable of feeling the softness.
"En, "Ethan smiled back and patted her head. "How are you?"
The twinkle in her dark eyes dimmed for a moment and then she looked at him again only to say, "I have been doing better. How are you? Did you have meals on time? Were you too busy? Were you taking care of yourself?"
"Easy, tiger, "Ethan chuckled and she flustered. If soft was a person, it would be her.
Selene poured a cup of tea for him as they took their seats. It was only now his gaze fell on the third empty cup and he raised his brow in question.
"Liam bro is coming, "Selene replied, trying to appear nonchalance. But only if it was as easy as she thought. Liam's arrival was a big deal for both of them. "It's mom's birthday, I asked him to accompany us."
Ethan wasn't surprised that Liam came to Selene's words as none of the three brothers could say no to her. She was grandfather's heartbeat and the princess of three brothers.
"I baked a cake for mom, "Selene announced and Ethan narrowed his eyes on her. She was never allowed in the kitchen and strict instructions were made to the estate staff to never let her enter the kitchen. "Bro, you know I always want to cook on mom's birthday."
"I'm sure Aunt Kate will be happy to see you doing something like cooking on her birthday, "Ethan said and she sadly smiled.
Kate Westbury was Ethan's aunt. His mother Crystal and Kate were sisters. Kate died during childbirth twenty two years ago and Crystal died in a car accident when he was only fifteen.
His grandfather had taken Ethan and his brothers under his wing a lot before the death of Crystal while Selene stayed with her father because Abraham Westbury did not want the little girl to be devoid of her father's love. But who would have thought letting Selene stay with her father was going to be the biggest mistake of their life?
When the girl was brought home by their grandfather she was a shell of a person who would tremble in their presence. Lord knows what the asshole father of hers and his wife had done to her. But the girl lived the most terrible life among the four of them.
However, she is a lot better now. She had been with them for ten years now.
Selene was telling Ethan about the renovations she was thinking of making in the family Estate when Liam decided to grace them with their presence. He watched her face blooming like she had just seen spring in full bloom. She sashayed inside to bring the cake that she had made for today's occasion.
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A/N: I love family oriented books where I can write romance, friendship, family relations, love and children along with twists, betrayal, mysteries etc. I write heavy books in a very laid back tone.