It was past midnight, yet Rhaegon still hadn't returned home. Grandpa Philip had dozed off on the couch, waiting for his eldest grandson. Groaning, he rose and called out, "Tamara?"
Tamara, the family caretaker who accompanied Grandpa everywhere, looked up. "Yes, sir?"
"What time is it?" Grandpa asked.
"It's past midnight," she replied.
"Past midnight?" Grandpa muttered. "And this boy still isn't back… Oh, Rhaegon…"
"Grandpa, maybe we should just stay over," Tamara suggested cautiously.
"No, we must go," Grandpa said firmly. He walked to the door, locking it behind him and carefully placing the key in its secret spot, as per the family tradition. "Tamara, you head home. I'll return soon."
"But Grandpa—"
"Go. Head home," he insisted.
The night was quiet and eerie as Grandpa drove toward the Hale Corporation. The building stood almost deserted, its halls cold and silent. Every step echoed as he walked through the empty corridors, flanked by his bodyguards. Yet, in the distance, the lights of Rhaegon's office remained on.
Gently, Grandpa pushed open the door. There sat Rhaegon, buried under piles of files, his laptop open, eyes still focused on the work before him. He hadn't noticed the hour, hadn't noticed the world.
"Would you work to this hour, this boy?" Grandpa whispered, a mix of concern and exasperation in his voice.
Rhaegon turned sharply at the sound of the voice, his eyes flickering with shock. "Grandpa? What are you doing here?" His hand still hovered over his documents and laptop, frozen mid-motion.
"I should be asking you that," Grandpa Philip burst out, his face tight with frustration. "If you had a wife, you'd know you should be home by now."
"Grandpa, not now… don't do this," Rhaegon said, trying to keep his composure.
"Here we go again," Grandpa interrupted, a sharp edge in his tone. "You'll be too tired. When are you planning on marrying? You're already of age, Rhaegon."
"Hang on, Grandpa… you have to go home," Rhaegon insisted.
"Not without you," Grandpa replied firmly.
Rhaegon exhaled, closing his laptop with a soft click, his eyes narrowing in concentration. "Grandpa, you're interrupting me. This… this is important. I have to finalize this project,this deal is crucial to me. It's critical."
Despite having thousands of employees under him, Rhaegon worked harder than anyone, scrutinizing every report, every detail, as if a single mistake could destroy everything. He never allowed himself to falter."Let's go home," Grandpa insisted.
"Grandpa, stop fussing! I'm not ready yet," Rhaegon said firmly.
"Let's go home," Grandpa insisted again, stepping closer. "This is exactly why you need a wife to understand that by this hour, you ought to be home."
"I'm not ready yet," Rhaegon said firmly, his jaw set.
"You'll never really be ready," Grandpa shot back, shaking his head. "You have money, you have fame… what else do you want?" His eyes held a mix of amusement and concern, his words cutting yet affectionate.
"If you're not going home, then I'm not going," Grandpa Philip grumbled stubbornly, dragging himself from the door to the nearest couch. He collapsed onto it, muttering under his breath.
Rhaegon ignored him, opening his laptop and resuming work as if Grandpa's presence was just another distraction.
"Oh! My chest!" Grandpa suddenly screamed, clutching himself.
Rhaegon immediately closed his laptop, carefully arranging the documents on his desk. "Grandpa, you need to go home right now," he said firmly.
"No… not without you!" Grandpa insisted, still panting and shaking.
Rhaegon sighed, realizing there was no reasoning with him. He gently took Grandpa's hand and helped him to his feet, guiding him down the stairs. Grandpa, never one to stay quiet, continued shouting: "You need a wife, Rhaegon! You need a wife!"
Rhaegon rolled his eyes but kept walking. "Pfft. Is it only when I go to my ancestors that you'll let me see my great-grandkids?"
"Oh, Grandpa… not now. Let's just go home," Rhaegon replied, signaling the bodyguards to open the car doors.
Grandpa Philip climbed in, his face a mixture of fury and exhaustion. "When will you get… married?!" he muttered, barely catching his breath. Rhaegon ignored grandpa Philips questions
The bodyguards fell into formation entering the other vehicles behind Rhaegon's Rolls Royce. Halfway the drive, Rhaegon switches car, "get Grandpa home safely" he orders. "Yes sir!!" ,the bodyguards chorused.
Grandpa glanced at Rhaegon. "Aren't you coming with me?"
"No, I have to go back home," Rhaegon replied.
"To finish your work ?" Grandpa asked.
"No… my laptop is at work. I can't do anything from here. You better get some rest," Grandpa said, his voice softening, concern creeping in.
Rhaegon glanced at him, seeing the worry etched across his grandfather's face. Grandpa had always understood him—maybe better than anyone else. Since the death of his parents, Rhaegon had thrown himself into his work, becoming a relentless workaholic. And perhaps this was why Grandpa had always trusted him more than his own son, Uncle Louis.
Martin noticed how much Rose Liu had been studying. Her dedication was undeniable, her focus unrelenting. She studied from the early hours of the morning, long after completing her chores, poring over her notes and assignments until 11 p.m., sometimes even past midnight. To keep herself alert, she occasionally sipped hot coffee, letting the warmth chase away the fatigue.
Naomi watched from a distance, unease knotting her stomach. The way Martin looked at Rose—it wasn't the usual cold, indifferent gaze he reserved for her. His eyes softened, concern and something else glimmering in them. Could he… be developing affections for her?
Her whole body tensed, her mind screaming in alarm. This wasn't how it had been before. Something had changed. Something was different. Naomi's heart raced, and a cold worry spread through her. She muttered under her breath, barely audible: He's too concerned. Too… attentive. This could be a problem.A very big problem,I have to do something about it definitely.
Rose, oblivious to Naomi's scrutiny, continued her studies, lost in the world of books, codes, and dreams.