CHAPTER 96: SOMETIMES, STORMS WERE WHERE MEN PROVED THEMSELVES

The front door creaked open, and a familiar face stepped inside.

"Uncle Daniel!" Harper shouted, springing up from the sofa with boundless energy. His feet pounded across the wooden floor as he bolted toward him.

Daniel laughed softly, bending down just in time to catch the boy as Harper flung himself forward. Daniel wrapped him in a warm hug, lifting him slightly off the ground before setting him back down.

"Hey, Harper," Daniel said with a smile, ruffling the boy’s hair in that way only uncles could get away with. "It’s been a while."

"Yeah, Uncle Daniel, it’s been a while. You came to see my dad?" Harper asked eagerly, his eyes shining.

"Yeah," Daniel nodded, still smiling. "There are some things I want to talk to him about. And I also need his advice on it."

Harper beamed, satisfied with the answer, and looped his arm around Daniel’s wrist as if to personally escort him into the living room. His parents were already watching, both smiling at the scene.

"Daniel," said his older brother, Marcus Conley, rising slightly from the sofa. His voice carried warmth, that subtle mix of pride and familiarity only an elder brother could have.

"Marcus," Daniel greeted, offering a warm smile in return.

Beside Marcus sat his wife, Anna, her features soft and welcoming. "It’s good to see you, Daniel," she said kindly.

"Good to see you too, Anna," Daniel replied, inclining his head with quiet respect.

Marcus stood fully now and crossed the short distance, wrapping his younger brother in a firm embrace. They both smiled faintly, but there was more than just brotherly affection in that hug. There was something unsaid, some weight Daniel carried that Marcus immediately sensed.

With unspoken understanding, Marcus gave a small nod toward the patio. Daniel responded with the barest tilt of his chin. The brothers excused themselves quietly and stepped outside, leaving Anna and Harper behind.

The cool evening breeze met them as they walked into the backyard. The sky was painted in soft hues of lavender and gold, the last rays of sunlight fading over the horizon. The air was still, broken only by the rustle of leaves in the garden.

Marcus leaned against the railing of the deck, arms crossed loosely. He studied his brother for a moment before speaking. "So, little brother," he said in that affectionate but serious tone he often used when they were children. "What’s the problem?"

Daniel smiled faintly but didn’t answer immediately. He sighed once, then smiled again, but the smile faded into another sigh. His body seemed restless, like a man caught between excitement and fear.

Marcus noticed. He didn’t push. Instead, he gave his brother time.

Finally, Daniel raised his head, his eyes tracing the sky above them, with a small, almost disbelieving smile on his face.

"I got an offer," he said quietly.

Marcus’s brow furrowed in curiosity. "An offer? From who?"

There was a pause, and Marcus caught the flicker in Daniel’s eyes. His breath stilled slightly.

"...Don’t tell me it’s from who I think it is?"

Daniel sighed, then nodded slowly.

Marcus’s brows shot up, his composure momentarily broken. He leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice.

"Wait. You’re telling me that person made you an offer?"

Daniel gave a short, almost reluctant nod of confirmation.

"Wow..." Marcus muttered under his breath. His gaze drifted ahead, unfocused, staring at nothing in particular. He needed a moment to process this.

He turned back. "What exactly did he ask of you?"

Daniel’s throat tightened before he spoke. "He wants me to set up a Family Office. And oversee it... as his Managing Director."

Marcus’s eyes widened in genuine shock. His breath caught. "A Family Office?" He exhaled heavily. "And not just any Family Office. His Family Office."

Daniel nodded again. "Yes."

Marcus shook his head slowly, rubbing the bridge of his nose. He understood now why Daniel had been sighing so much inside. Offers like this weren’t just rare. They were almost mythical. They weren’t made to just anyone.

For a man like him — with power, wealth, and influence stacked beyond comprehension — to entrust Daniel with such a responsibility meant he saw something special in him.

But Marcus also knew the darker truth: nothing with advantages comes without disadvantages. Especially when those advantages are enormous. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

But God, this was a tempting lunch.

He looked at his brother, who stood there looking both lost and hopeful, and Marcus placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. His voice softened. "Tell me, little brother... what do you feel about the offer?"

Daniel gave a small smile, hesitant but honest. "I want to take it," he admitted, his voice low. "But..."

He didn’t finish. He didn’t need to ask Marcus understood what the but meant. The risks, the dangers and the unknowns.

Daniel couldn’t but think: What if I fail him? What if I gamble my career at JP Morgan for something that crumbles?

Marcus nodded slowly, his gaze thoughtful. Then, after a pause, he said simply, "Take it."

Daniel blinked. He turned sharply to his brother, almost in disbelief. "What? Really?"

His expression was incredulous.

His older brother was meticulous, careful to a fault. Marcus was the kind of man who would calculate probabilities a hundred times before even making a small decision. And now here he was, telling him to take it.

Daniel’s voice trembled slightly with shock. "Why? Why would you say that?"

Marcus sighed, then smiled faintly, the weight of years behind his eyes. "Because while weighing risks and benefits is important, sometimes you just have to take the plunge. Some of my most profitable deals..." He chuckled softly. "...were my riskiest ones. Ones your sister-in-law told me to dive into when I was hesitating."

Daniel listened in silence.

Marcus continued, his voice firm now. "You can sit here and calculate the risks all day. You can convince yourself it’s too dangerous. Or you can take it, and see where the ride takes you. At the end of the day, you still have a career to build. JP Morgan is comfortable, yes. But don’t forget what Dad always said."

He paused, with his eyes softening as he quoted: "Comfort is a poison. The moment you settle into your comfort zone, you lose that fire inside you. You stagnate. Or worse, you regress."

Daniel chuckled quietly, shaking his head. "I can’t believe you’re quoting Dad at me right now."

"Why not? He was right more often than he was wrong," Marcus said with a shrug.

Daniel tilted his head back, looking at the sky. He let out a long breath, then nodded. He reached out and patted his brother’s shoulder.

"Thank you," he said quietly. "I know what to do now."

Marcus smiled and nodded. "Good. I’m glad I could help."

They stood in silence for a moment, the evening air cool against their skin. Finally, Marcus asked, "Are you leaving already?"

Daniel nodded slightly. "Yeah. I should go. But I’ll visit again soon."

Marcus gave him a knowing look. "Do that. Harper misses you."

A faint smile touched Daniel’s lips. "I’ll make the time."

Marcus nodded approvingly. "Good."

The two brothers embraced once more. Marcus stood at the railing, watching as Daniel walked to his car. He waved goodbye as the engine purred to life, headlights cutting across the driveway.

Daniel gave a small wave back before driving off into the evening.

Marcus stayed there for a long moment, watching the taillights fade. His mind was heavy but proud. Whatever lay ahead for his brother, he knew one thing: Daniel had just stepped into a storm. But sometimes, storms were where men proved themselves.

"I wish you all the best, little brother," he muttered as the car disappeared into the horizon.

***

Bellemere Mansion, Holmby Hills.

After checking out the games, Liam had finally settled in for the night, sleeping soundly like a baby with a small smile on his face.

But of course, he was using the device while asleep and playing Eternal Realms.