Two men were standing on the balcony when Liam's car drove into the compound. One of them was Liam's father, while the other man looked younger. Elena didn't need to guess twice who it was. She couldn't see his face from the car, but with the energy the man oozed as he waved at the car, she couldn't wait to see him up close.Liam told Luke to drive the car into the main garage. Which was a rather slow process typical of Liam, who always had his car hurriedly parked at the front of the house, and was already jumping out. Elena decided not to stare too much or ask too many questions. She was going to sit back, mind her own business, and observe how friendly Liam was with his step brother, Ethan.When Luke stopped the car, Liam waited. He didn't jump out. Even the guard was surprised as he opened the door for him. Elena opened her side of the door by herself. Liam got out, and instead of heading out, leaned on the car, tonguing his teeth loudly."You're stalling," she whispered to him

Ethan was the opposite of his brother, Liam, Elena noticed. It was barely two weeks after his arrival, and there had been three parties in the house, one of them involving the whole relatives. Even Mr Paul, who Elena thought never laughed, was over himself with smiles and silly remarks at Ethan's jokes and energy. Not once did Mr Griffin grab Ethan's shoulders or swing a drunk arm over his neck, and exclaim, "Now this is what we're talking about!"The house was always brimming with the sound of Ethan's voice. He made new friends, entertained old ones who came calling. Loud music was never absent in his room. The maidservants were always on the move. Ethan rolled out dollar bills to the guards and maidservants at random, winning their smiles and reverence. Strange girls entered and left the house.His mother would stand by him during these, grinning warmly. The smile of a proud mother. His father would only smile and pass by to his business.Liam was always absent in these parties.El

Liam was solemnly sitting behind his desk in his office when his reinstated secretary called to tell him he had a visitor. It was almost 4 p.m. and Liam planned to go home early."Tell the visitor to return tomorrow; I am closed for the day," he said.There was a hesitation from her side, before she said, "It's Charlie, your friend.""Tell him I said I'm closed for the day," Liam retorted, setting the phone down with a loud thud.Did Charlie think Liam was a fool all this while? It had been over a month now and this was the first time Charlie was coming to him, after that incident with Mr Parkwood and his granddaughter."What nonsense," he snapped.He had scarcely recollected himself when his phone buzzed. The secretary again."Can I be at peace for once?" he shouted into the receiver. "Tell the motherfucker to leave, I said.""Sir, it's another visitor," she said. "A woman."Liam glanced at his watch. "Does she bring business?""Yes, sir. She's been coming for a while now.""If that'

"Mr Packwood runs a cult, and calls it his bodyguards," Charlie said as he sat on the couch, a bottle of cold beer in his hand. "He said he entrusted them all with his life, because they had — we had — gone into a devilish pact with him. We know all of his secrets. Even the ladies rubbing oil all over his thighs. They know he's a devil."He looked Liam over, who was listening too hard to this tale."I'm not saying this so you go and fight him," Charlie said. "It's their family shit. And if the police does nothing, it shouldn't bother you.""That's bullshit," Liam retorted, shaking his head. "I almost lost my life because of this man's trickery. There ain't no way I'm letting him go free with this."Charlie leaned forward, his eyes earnest and pleading. "Liam, listen to me. I know I've told too many lies and done lots of shits, and you don't trust me anymore. But listen to me this one last time."He dropped the bottle and clasped his hands

Liam floated in the swimming pool, the one tucked in the back of the mansion, away from the prying eyes of Ethan's endless stream of visitors.Even though the pool water was temperate enough to calm a suicidal man, Liam felt unsettled. He couldn't stop reminiscing about three days ago, when he was summoned by his father...***The room was darker than it should have been. His father sat in a shadowed part of the room, while Liam, and his brother sat on sofas, lit up with light. There was a prevailing silence, and even Liam, who had the impatience of a Gemini, sat still and waited for whatever his father had to say to him.Liam knew he was in trouble. Striking a bodyguard was an act of carelessness and indiscipline. And he was about to pay for it. Liam could only but wonder what his punishment would be. Whatever it was, he was willing to accept. Because the anger still burned in him; maybe a damn punishment would cool him down."What have you done, Liam?" his father's voice finally br