Chapter 290: A Secret Visit
"Congratulations on finishing your movie!" Thane announced over the sound of wine being transferred into a glass. He reached over the table for her hand and gave it a tight squeeze.
Brooke had wanted to smile, but her eyes could not help but dart across the room, at the waiters lined up at the entrance. She lowered her tone to ask, "Is it really okay for us to be here? What if someone takes a photo."
But her husband was relaxed, "It’s okay, I know the owner of the restaurant, and I made sure we have our utmost privacy."
Another owner he knew. Brooke had recalled him saying the same thing about another restaurant, and she was genuinely curious how Thane was meeting these people.
"Thank you, I really couldn’t have done any of this without you helping me." She replied, her tone soft and gentle.
After the table was set and ready, Thane had the staff excuse them for the rest of the evening. Once they were gone, he reached under the table and pulled out a brown envelope.
"Brooke, there’s something I have to discuss with you." He said, sliding the envelope over the table.
She noticed the shift in his tone. He could’ve told her this at home, why did he feel the need to lead her out for it? Brooke had wanted to believe that Thane took her out to congratulate her, but she had a feeling something was amiss. Ever since the funeral, an unsettling feeling nagged at the back of her head.
"What is it?" She dropped her fork, her appetite completely vanished. She picked up the envelope and slowly ripped it open...
*Flashback*
It rained heavily that night.
The night preceeding his sister’s funeral. Julian had imagined he would keep to himself the entire time, using the memories of his sister to keep him sober.
He stared at the bottle of whiskey he had asked a maid to run out and get him. It had been years since he gave into temptation, and for good reason.
Had he not grieved the way he did back then, perhaps he wouldn’t have gotten involved with Serena and Scott. And none of this would’ve ever happened in the first place.
*Knock*
Three knocks at the door stole his attention, he fully intended to ignore the person who dared go against his order to be alone. However, the door was promptly pushed open and in came the young Grayson heir, wet and gloomy.
"What are you doing here?!" He got up. He quickly dashed for his closet he took out a towel, and handed it to Thane, to dry his damp hair.
On getting closer, he noticed the envelope he had tucked under his armpit, sealed in a transparent bag.
"What were you doing out in the rain? You’ll catch a cold! Did Brooke come with you? You know she’s filming, if she catches a cold..."
Thane cut him off. "I’m alone." he stepped inside and closed the door. "And I’d like for you to keep this visit a secret from her."
Julian narrowed his eyes, "Depending on what you’re here for, I may or may not tell her. Secrets are never good for any relationship." he tried to advise him, but Thane had no interest.
Getting straight to the point, he said, "Do you trust Cassie is your daughter?"
Julian chuckled, but his voice was dry and humorless. He reached for his bandage and scratched at it. "Is that supposed to be funny, young Grayson?"
The thunder barked loudly, nearly drowning his voice. "That girl had my sister killed!" He gritted his teeth, and balled his fists, the rage he had been suppressing wallowing in his throat.
Thane waited a half minute, letting the sound of trees slapping the window and rain hitting against the ceiling speak. He then took out the envelope, and raised it to Julian’s line of sight.
"And what if I tell you I have the DNA test in my hand?" He asked, raising the tension.
"W-What?" Julian could not believe what he was hearing.
Thane explained clearly, "These are the DNA results that Susan obtained that day. She had two done, one for Cassie and the other for Brooke."
Julian rested his fingers at the side of his head, "I don’t understand, why would you have those?" He tried to process what was happening and why it was happening.
If the young Grayson had them with him all this time why did he only step forward now? And more importantly, how could he have been linked to his sister?
"I assure you that I have nothing to do with the accident. Now, back to my question, what would you do about these results? What if the report in my hand said otherwise, that Cassie was indeed your daughter, what would you do then?" He asked him.
"Wait a second! Answer my question first! Why do you have those? And how can I trust them-" he was saying, but Thane cut him off by reaching into his coat and pulling out an emerald broach.
Julian immediately recognized it, it was their mother’s broach. He didn’t need any more convincing to know that Thane had somehow gotten in contact with Susan the day of the accident.
"What do you want from me?" Julian placed his walls up, his suspicions on the rise.
"I simply asked a question. What would you do if Cassie was your daughter?" He repeated.
Julian mindlessly answered, "I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. The guilt that me missing out on her life had caused her to turn out this twisted would overwhelm me." He zoned his gaze on the bottle of whiskey and gulped.
"I see." Thane replied.
Julian shook his head, "And what about Brooke? You said a test was conducted on her too. Tell me, what did the results say?" He eagerly asked.
But Thane replied him with a question, "And what about Brooke? What would you do if she ended up being your daughter?"
Once more, he mindlessly answered, "I would take her away from here! From everything! Serena, Scott, Cassie, everyone! She’d move with me and Kayden, and start a new, happy life! I’d do anything in my power to hide her away from this cruel world!" He swore from his heart.
After listening to him, Thane replied, "I see."
Restless, Julian approached him, "Young Grayson! It’s taking everything in me to be this calm! Don’t test my patience! Tell me already! Which one of them is my daughter?!" He demanded, his eyes pointed at the brown envelope.
The envelope that held the truth to all of this.
Thane sharply inhaled, he reached for the envelope and slowly unfolded it...