Down in the living room, Rowan stared at Eli, leaning back into the couch cushions with a cold, deliberate composure.
He tilted his head slightly, resting an arm on the edge, and ran a thumb thoughtfully along his chin.
Eli offered an eager, forced smile.
“So, what do you say, brother?” Rowan didn’t hesitate.
“No.” Eli’s eyes widened in sudden panic.
“What?
No?
What do you mean, no?
Please, Rowan, I’m your only brother!” Desperate, Eli dropped to his knees and shuffled forward, reaching out toward Rowan’s shoes, but Rowan casually shifted his leg out of reach.
Eli looked up at him, pleading.
“Please, Rowan.
I have nowhere else to go.” Rowan tilted his head, watching the performance.
“What about Mom and Dad?” “They refused to let me stay,” Eli admitted, gulping nervously.
“Why?” Eli lowered his head.
“Because of my…
occupation.
They said I brought this on myself.” “Well,” Rowan replied smoothly, “they’re not wrong, are they?” Eli looked up, unable to counter.
Rowan shifted his gaze forward.
“What about your friends?
Your girlfriends?” Eli scoffed, waving a hand dismissively.
“Those fools?
They’re all crazy.
They told me to get lost.
And I don’t have a girlfriend right now.” A heavy silence stretched between them.
Eli stared up desperately, waiting for a lifeline.
Finally, Rowan let out a quiet sigh and looked down at his brother.
“What benefit do I get from taking you in?” Eli raised an eyebrow, genuinely bewildered.
“What?
I’m your brother, Rowan!” Rowan let out a soft, humorless chuckle.
“And?” “Why do you need something from me?” Eli asked.
Rowan leaned back, eyeing Eli critically.
“You would never survive in my world.
You’d bring more enemies than allies.” He paused, letting the silence settle before adding, “You can stay in the guest room downstairs.” Eli’s face lit up instantly.
“Thank you!
Thank you so much, Rowan!” Rowan pulled his phone from his coat pocket and stood up.
Eli quickly scrambled to his feet behind him.
“You won’t be staying here as a freeloading guest, though,” Rowan said, casting a sharp, up-and-down glance at Eli.
“You wouldn’t last a day in security with that soft, limpy body of yours.” Eli looked down at himself, taken aback.
“You can make yourself useful by cleaning my cars before I take them out,” Rowan continued.
“What?!” Eli blurted out.
Rowan turned, leveling a freezing glare at him.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Eli quickly swallowed his pride, forcing a smile.
“No!
Of course not, brother.
I’m just grateful you’re letting me stay.” Rowan glanced at his phone screen, then looked back at Eli with absolute seriousness.
“One rule.
Under no circumstance do you go upstairs.
The staff will show you to your room.” Eli nodded repeatedly.
“And do not attempt to flirt with the staffs,” Rowan added coldly.
Eli gulped, raising his hands.
“Come on, brother, I wouldn’t.” “I have a meeting to attend.
I’ll be back later,” Rowan said, stepping toward the foyer.
Eli’s eyes widened slightly.
“You’re going out now?” Rowan paused, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Is there a problem?” “No!
No problem at all,” Eli said smoothly, shaking his head.
Rowan walked out toward his waiting car, bringing the phone to his ear as the doors closed behind him.
The moment Rowan was out of sight, Eli’s posture changed completely.
His smile dropped into an ugly glare.
“You fucking bastard,” he muttered under his breath, looking down at his hands.
“Me?
Limpy?
I hope you get hit by a truck.” He clenched his fists tight.
“Making me wash your cars…
I’ll teach you a lesson.” A female staff member approached him politely.
“Sir, please follow me to your room.” Eli glanced down at her, distantly.
“What?” “Please follow me to your room,” she repeated calmly.
Eli looked around the vast estate, a smirk returning to his face.
“Big house, nice cars, beautiful staff.
This is real money.” He tapped a finger against his temple in self-annoyance.
“I should have joined the business.
Foolish me wanted to be a musician…
had to cancel all my gigs for this.” “Sir?” the staff member called again, trying to get his attention.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Eli looked at her.
“Right.
My room.” She led him down the left hallway.
As they passed the main foyer, Eli glanced toward the grand staircase.
“Where is Esme’s room?” The staff member didn’t break her stride.
“You mean Mrs.
Esme?” Eli scrunched his face at the title.
“Yeah.
Where’s her room?” “I am unable to disclose that information to you, sir,” she replied strictly.
Stopping outside a tall wooden door, she gestured forward.
“This is your room.
Please enjoy your stay.” With a polite bow, she turned and walked away.
Eli watched her leave, scoffing under his breath.
“Pretty face, ugly attitude.” He opened the door and stepped inside, whistling softly as he surveyed the space.
“Wow.
This guest room is as big as my whole apartment.” He shut the door behind him.
“Well, not literally, but close enough.” He walked over to the large bed in the center of the room.
“If the guest room looks like this, I wonder what their room looks like.” A dangerous smirk spread across his face.
“I’ll find it.” Opening the door, he slipped back out into the hallway and made his way toward the central living area.
Seeing the grand staircase clear, he started toward it.
“Sir, you are not allowed upstairs,” another female staff member warned, stepping into view near the landing.
Eli glared at her, stepping onto the first riser anyway.
“This is my brother’s house.
I can do whatever I want.” “Those orders came directly from Mr.
Carven,” she stated calmly.
Eli sneered, looking at her with total disgust.
“Puppets.
I’m going anyway.” Recognizing he wouldn’t listen, the staff member stepped aside, keeping her face neutral.
Eli smirked, tossing a condescending comment over his shoulder.
“You should’ve stayed in my way, idiot.” The staff member watched him head up the stairs without moving a muscle, thinking to herself, “I gave the warning.
Whatever happens to you now isn’t my problem and i’m safe.” …
Upstairs in her bedroom, Esme lay propped against her pillows, her eyes heavy and swollen from crying.
She stared aimlessly at her phone, scrolling through social media.
“This is all I wanted to do,” she whispered to herself softly, “before I got stuck in this marriage.” She reached up, pressing her hand against her temple as a sudden wave of dizziness hit her.
“Maybe I shouldn’t have yanked that IV line out…
my head is spinning.
I feel like I’m going to faint.” She let out a shaky sigh, looking back down at her screen.
“Maybe I should call Mom and Dad.
They’re still my parents, after all.” Before she could tap the screen, a firm knock sounded at her door.
Glancing at the bedside clock, it read 1:23 PM, Esme called out tiredly, “I’m not hungry, Silvia.” The knock came again, heavier this time.
She raised her voice, frustration lacing her tone.
“Didn’t you hear me the first time?
I said I’m not hungry!” When the knocking persisted, Esme groaned in annoyance.
Forcing herself up from the bed, she crossed the room and swung the door open.
“I told you, I’m not…” The words died in her throat.
The color drained from her face as her eyes widened in complete shock.
Standing right outside her bedroom door was Eli.