Ethan's assistant interrupted his focus, "Sir, you have a visitor in the lobby." Ethan dismissed her without looking up, "Send them away, I'm not receiving visitors."
But she persisted, "It's your father-in-law, sir." Ethan's expression soured; he didn't want to deal with Luther's antics outside of the house.
Luther burst into the office, carrying a large grey folder and making a beeline for the fridge. He helped himself to an expensive wine, uncorking it without a greeting. Ethan shooed his assistant away, not wanting her to witness Luther's behavior.
Once alone, Ethan asked curtly, "What do you want?"
Luther got straight to the point, revealing a headshot of Cassie from the folder. "I'm about to secure a massive collaboration, and I think you'll be pleased."
Ethan rubbed his temples, expecting another request for funding. But Luther surprised him, "I'm not here for money."
Luther's eyes gleamed with excitement as he continued, "Have you heard that the Grayson heir is back and seeking an ambassador? This is Cassie's chance!"
Ethan's interest piqued, he leaned forward, intrigued by the unexpected turn in the conversation.
"Grayson?" Ethan repeated, his interest piqued by the mention of the influential family. "Where did you get that information?" he asked, his skepticism still evident.
Luther crossed his legs, a confident smile spreading across his face. "I have insider information from a reliable source. We need to act fast, before another agency gets to the heir." He emphasized, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
Ethan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his role in Luther's plan. "The heir is fresh from the States, looking to make his mark," Luther explained. "He'll need guidance, and who better to offer it than my capable son-in-law?"
Luther's proposal was clear: "I want you to host a party, celebrating Cassie's award, and extend an invitation to the Grayson heir." He laid out his plan, his intentions transparent.
***********
Doctor Anders, the Grayson family's physician, stepped into the elevator and ascended to the top floor of the mansion, bound for Thane's bedroom.
The unexpected summons had startled her, reviving memories of her last visit over fifteen years ago. Back then, Thane had been bedridden, struggling with a debilitating disease.
As she walked down the familiar halls, Doctor Anders wondered why she had been called.
Had Thane returned to the country?
Rumors of his treatment abroad had long since faded into silence. The Grayson family had always been reserved, nothing about them hardly made it to the internet.
Gilbert greeted her, gesturing toward the master bedroom. "Doctor, this way."
Bracing herself for the worst, Doctor Anders entered the room, half-expecting to find a frail, pain-ridden boy on a king-sized bed.
But instead found a badly bruised woman whimpering in pain on the bed.
The woman's head rested on the thighs of a striking man, who Doctor Anders believed was the most impressive specimen of masculinity she had ever seen.
As she approached, he raised his gaze, locking eyes with hers. His piercing blue eyes, laced with vulnerability and anger, stirred a familiar memory.
"T-Thane?" Doctor Anders gasped, surprised by the resemblance to her former patient.
Thane's commanding voice softened as he gazed at Brooke's frail body. "Help her, Doctor. She's in so much pain."
Doctor Anders quickly composed herself and rushed to Brooke's side. "Of course, please leave her in my hands." She announced, laying out the medical tools she brought on the bed.
After two hours of treating Brooke's wounds, Doctor Anders finally finished her work. Thane had stayed during the process but left the room when the treatment reached Brooke's intimate areas, giving her privacy.
"I've treated the obvious wounds, but I strongly recommend further tests," Doctor Anders advised Thane. "Her joints are swollen, and some bones are fractured. We may need surgeries."
Thane's eyes remained fixed on Brooke as he responded, "You'll run all the tests here."
Doctor Anders was taken aback. "Here?! That'll be troublesome. We need high-level equipment, and the cost of transporting and installing..."
Thane cut her off. "You don't need to worry about anything except conducting the tests. I'll take care of everything else."
Everything else?
Doctor Anders knew that his family was leading in biotechnology and healthcare technology, but wasn't this too much?
Why was the vengeful child from back then acting this way over a woman. He had always cursed everyone around him, he was a hateful child, or at least she recalled.
The only exception was...
Doctor Anders gasped, "Unless it's her." She muttered under her breath, she took one critical look at the dark haired woman in Thane's arms.
Could it really be her?
No! That was impossible!
But was it really?
Doctor Anders couldn't help but wonder as she took her leave to make the preparations for the upcoming tests.
********
As soon as Ethan and her father entered the house, Cassie excitedly ran to Ethan, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Ethan, you won't believe what happened today! All my friends are envious!" She chirped, tugging him down.
But Ethan ignored her, his gaze fixed on the stairs, his mind preoccupied with ensuring Brooke hadn't escaped.
However, considering how tight security was, he highly doubted that.
Laughing, he thought, she'd have to grow a pair of wings and fly to escape me.
Cassie's excitement was undeterred as she turned to her father. "Look, Daddy! I got an invitation to a special welcome party!" She signaled a maid to bring a white envelope and present it to Luther.
Ethan frowned, "A party? Have you forgotten you're pregnant?!" He scolded harshly.
Luther agreed wearing a disapproval look, "This party can wait. You're a high-class star now, you can't attend just any party."
But Cassie pouted, "But, he came in a helicopter!"
Luther scoffed, "So? Ethan is capable of doing the same. And soon, you will too."
Shaking her head, she insisted, "The man who delivered the invitation gave me this card!" She pulled out a black card with golden italics font from inside her shirt. "He said his boss wants me to specially attend."
Ethan seized the card, unimpressed, until his eyes read the name on the surface.
Grayson Inc.