Chapter 283: A Clash Of Egos
Cassie was the first one to notice Julian. She sharply ran past the guards, and rushed to hug him. "Daddy! I was so worried!" She came crying, trying to use Julian as a distraction.
Little did Cassie expect Julian to have his nurses hold her back.
"What...Daddy?! Why are you doing this?" She laughed, trying to cover up her tensed nerves.
But Julian was unfazed, he reached for the side of his neck and gave the bandage over it a little rub. He turned to Brooke, and plastered a smile on his face.
"Brooke! I’ve been waiting to meet you!" He cried out in recognition, his arms stretched out.
Brooke in turn went over to him and gave Julian a tight hug, "I have been too! I was so worried about your health."
He pulled away and gave her head a gentle pat, "I’m glad you weren’t harmed." His gentle words forced Brooke’s eyes to water, the memory from that night replayed in her head.
"I should apologize, I let you get stabbed-" she was saying, but got cut off by a screaming Cassie.
"Haa? Why the hell are you fucking lying?! You stabbed him!" She accused, struggling against the nurses.
She raised her voice, "Say the truth! Brooke say the-"
"Cassie, that’s enough out of you!" Julian scolded, "Did you think I forgot just who it was that plunged the knife into me? It was you, Cassie, and I’m going to make sure everything is rectified."
Disbelief spread across her face to hear his words, calming down she tried to reason with him. "D-Daddy...you...you can’t say that. Are you taking her side?"
But Julian ignored Cassie, to Brooke he asked, "Did you come here alone?"
She shook her head, "No, he’s right outside making a phone call."
Julian grinned, "Let’s go outside, I need some fresh air, I’ve been couped up in the hospital all day."
Brooke nodded, "Right this way."
"Daddy! Wait!" Cassie struggled, her face reddened in anger. "You can’t leave me!" She turned to Serena and Scott for help.
Serena quickly tried to intervene, "Julian, what are you doing? Cassie is your daughter, how could you abandon her like this? She’s been waiting outside for so long to see you, but Brooke only just got here..."
Julian cut her off, "I invited her, I didn’t invite the person who stabbed me here."
Serena was left dumbfounded, she turned to her brother, only to see him standing still, awfully quiet. Her eyes went round, "Scott?" She called out, but he pretended not to hear her.
To Brooke, Scott flashed her a smile, "Let me take your bag, you must be tired from carrying it around."
But Brooke held tightly onto her purse, "I appreciate the gesture, but I’m fine." She said, placing her guard up.
Kayden walked over to the both of them and joined them to the elevator headed to the grand floor. Before leaving however, he gave the order, "All of you, make sure to keep them here, not a single one must be missing by the time I get back."
They nodded, "Yes, sir!" And proceeded to block all three of their paths.
Brooke handed her bag to her driver once the elevator reached the grand floor, she held onto Julian’s arm, guiding him to the area Thane had parked the car. A part of her wondering why he took so long to answer the phone.
Just as they arrived by the car, Thane emerged from the opposite direction, holding a brown envelope in his hand.
What was that? Brooke questioned at the back of her mind.
"Young Grayson, I thought you weren’t a gentleman and made Brooke come all the way here by herself." Julian said the moment Thane got close.
Kayden frowned, Grayson? Wasn’t this man the other sponsor for Brooke’s movie? Placing that aside, he knew the name, and the big reputation that followed it.
Thane eyed Brooke’s hand on Julian, "I don’t need you to tell me how to treat my wife."
Brooke inwardly rolled her eyes at the two of them, "Thane, where were you?" She asked.
Julian answered for him, "Apparently busy with business."
Thane kept a straight face, "And what would a retired old man know about that?"
"Thane!" Brooke scolded. Hoping to get him to back down.
Julian sighed, "It’s alright Brooke, the Graysons are infamous for how they treat their spouses."
Thane glared at him, "And what’s that supposed to mean?"
Julian retorted, "I don’t mean to be rude or to overstep, but isn’t it too much to have your wife parade with the scratches on her face?"
Thane rolled his eyes, "She’s filming, she can’t afford to wear bandaids, that’s why we had to settle on makeup."
Julian frowned, "You mean keeping appearances is more important than your wife’s safety?" He accused.
Kayden hissed, "You’re crossing the line old man. He’s her husband, he knows what’s best for her."
Brooke blinked twice, wondering what had gotten into the both of them all of a sudden.
"That’s enough, I’m fine-"
But Thane wasn’t finished. "If we’re talking about her safety, you should be the last person to lecture me about that. Who nearly got my wife stabbed? If you were even the slightest bit cautious, you would’ve avoided this."
"Thane! That’s enough!" Brooke unhooked her arm from Julian and stood by Thane, she tugged on his arm, "Let’s leave, please." She begged in a pleading voice.
To Julian, Kayden scolded, "Not another word, you were the one who let that deranged girl into the house. If you and aunt Susan hadn’t been so adamant-" he recalled not having seen his aunt, and realized how much time had been wasted.
To Brooke, he said, "I think you should go home, I’ll handle things with Cassie."
Brooke nodded, "Please let me know once any new development happens-"
In the middle of her sentence, Kayden’s phone rang. He stared at the unknown number and after a few seconds of contemplation he picked up.
Turning away from them he answered, "Who is this?" His voice, near-distant.
Brooke sighed, "Come on Mr Grayson, let’s leave-" she tried to lead him away, but both Thane and Julian stared each other down, each one refusing to look away.
She tried to persuade him one more time, but her attempt was made futile when Kayden screamed into the phone.
"My aunt is dead?!" He yelled, drawing everyone’s attention to him.