Mr. Wolfe sat in his study, the dim light from a single lamp casting shadows on the walls. His face was hard, his expression cold, as he swirled a glass of whiskey in his hand. He hadn’t slept all night, his mind turning over the chaos that Damian had caused lately.
Across from him stood Marcus, one of his most trusted guards. Marcus had been with the Wolfe family for years, a man of few words but sharp insight. He waited patiently as Mr. Wolfe stared into his drink, his silence heavy.
Finally, Mr. Wolfe spoke, his voice low and controlled. “What should I do about Damian?” he asked, his eyes still fixed on the swirling liquid in his glass.
Marcus hesitated before answering. “What do you mean, sir?”
Mr. Wolfe looked up, his piercing eyes meeting Marcus’s. “He’s losing control,” he said sharply. “All of this-this mess-is because of a naive, young girl. A 21-year-old who has no business being in his life.”
Marcus nodded slowly, choosing his words carefully. “It’s true that Damian has changed,” he said. “But is that necessarily a bad thing?”
Mr. Wolfe’s expression hardened. “A bad thing?” he repeated, his tone sharp. “He’s weak. He’s distracted. He used to be focused, ruthless. Now look at him. He’s lying in a hospital bed because he couldn’t handle his emotions.”
Marcus took a small step forward, his voice steady. “With respect, sir, Damian is still strong. He’s just… different now. Maybe it’s not weakness. Maybe it’s something else.”
Mr. Wolfe raised an eyebrow, leaning back in his chair. “Something else?” he asked, his voice full of doubt.
Marcus nodded. “Love, sir,” he said simply.
Mr. Wolfe scoffed, shaking his head. “Love,” he repeated, the word bitter on his tongue. “Love makes men foolish. It makes them soft. Damian is no exception.”
“Or,” Marcus said carefully, “it makes them stronger. Sir, you’ve always taught us that family is everything. Maybe Damian sees Aurora as part of his family now. Maybe that’s why he’s fighting so hard for her.”
Mr. Wolfe narrowed his eyes, his grip tightening on his glass. “Aurora,” he muttered, the name dripping with disdain. “That girl is nothing but trouble. She’s the daughter of Taylor-the man who betrayed me, who destroyed everything.”
Marcus held his ground, his voice calm but firm. “She’s not her father, sir. You don’t know her. Maybe if you gave her a chance, you’d see that she’s not like him.”
Mr. Wolfe’s jaw tightened. “Why should I give her a chance?” he snapped. “She’s a reminder of everything Taylor did. A stain on this family.”
Marcus sighed softly, his eyes meeting Mr. Wolfe’s. “Because Damian cares about her,” he said. “You’ve seen it yourself. She matters to him. And if you push her away, you’ll lose him too.”
Mr. Wolfe frowned, his mind racing. He didn’t like the truth in Marcus’s words, but he couldn’t deny them either. “Damian is my son,” he said firmly. “He’s loyal to this family.”
“For now,” Marcus said, his tone cautious. “But if you keep standing in the way of what he wants, that loyalty might fade. Sir, I’ve been with this family a long time. I’ve seen what happens when people push too hard. Don’t make that mistake with Damian.”
Mr. Wolfe’s eyes darkened, the weight of Marcus’s words sinking in. He took a long sip of his whiskey, the bitter taste doing little to ease his frustration. “You think I should just accept her?” he asked, his voice cold.
“I think you should give her a chance,” Marcus said simply. “Get to know her. See what Damian sees in her. You might be surprised.”
Mr. Wolfe let out a harsh laugh. “Surprised?” he repeated. “I doubt that.”
“Sir,” Marcus said carefully, “you’ve always prided yourself on being fair. You judge people by their actions, not their blood. Why should Aurora be any different?”
Mr. Wolfe didn’t answer right away. He stared into his glass, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts.
“From what I’ve heard,” Marcus continued, “she’s strong. She’s loyal. And she’s endured things most people couldn’t survive. That kind of strength could be an asset to this family.”
Mr. Wolfe raised an eyebrow, his lips curling into a faint sneer. “An asset?” he repeated.
“Yes, sir,” Marcus said firmly. “Damian is drawn to her for a reason. Maybe it’s time you found out why.”
Mr. Wolfe leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. He didn’t like being challenged, but Marcus’s words had struck a chord.
“She’s just a girl,” Mr. Wolfe said finally. “What could she possibly offer this family?”
“Sometimes, sir,” Marcus said quietly, “it’s not about what someone can offer. It’s about who they are. And from what I’ve heard, Aurora is someone worth knowing.”
Mr. Wolfe sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “You’re asking a lot, Marcus,” he said.
“I’m asking you to think about it,” Marcus said simply. “That’s all.”
Mr. Wolfe waved a hand dismissively. “Fine,” he said. “I’ll think about it.”
Marcus nodded, stepping back. “Thank you, sir,” he said. “I believe you’ll make the right choice.”
As Marcus left the room, Mr. Wolfe sat alone, his mind racing. He hated the idea of letting someone like Aurora into his life. But deep down, he couldn’t ignore the possibility that Marcus was right.