CHAPTER 138: WHO INVITES THEMSELVES?

Because it might be too much for someone like him right now; someone who was still recovering, someone who had lost his memory, someone who didn’t even know if he could trust her yet.

Heather stared at him, trying to read him. But he didn’t move. He just looked at her, still quiet. He didn’t look angry. Neither did he look afraid. He was just blank.

And she didn’t know what that meant. So she cleared her throat softly. Her voice came out calm but cautious.

"Caius... I know this may not sound serious right now. Or maybe it sounds confusing. But it is serious. And—"

Before she could finish, her phone made a soft chime, making her look down. She was distracted for a second.

It was a new message. And it was from Adams.

She opened it quickly.

[Adonis saw me with the luggages and he’s calling for emergency family meeting. He called the hospital and they said Master Caius was discharged. He wants to meet him.]

Fuck!

Heather’s chest tightened. Her hands started shaking just a little. She didn’t even think. Her fingers moved fast, typing a reply. She wanted to tell Adams not to let Adonis come to the house. She wanted to explain that it was too risky, that Caius wasn’t ready.

But before she could send her message, another one appeared.

[I’m sorry, but I’m bringing him over.]

Heather dropped her phone on the bed and cursed out loud.

"Damnit. Fucking Adams."

She paced around the room, moving quickly. Her anger showed in the way her hands ran through her hair and the way she breathed. Everything was faster. She was frustrated and unsure what to do.

Caius just watched her. He didn’t speak, but he looked confused. He wanted to ask what was going on, but he could tell by looking at her that it wasn’t the right time.

She looked like a storm was going on inside her, and he didn’t want to say something that would make it worse.

Heather grabbed her phone again. She didn’t want to text anymore. She needed to hear Adams’s voice. She needed him to hear hers too.

She found his number and called.

It rang only once before he answered.

"Adams, what are you thinking?" she snapped. "Why on earth would you bring that bastard over here? Did you not listen to anything I told you?"

She didn’t let him talk.

"He’s dangerous. He’s not just some curious family member. He’s a vulture. He’s always looking for a way to gain power. And right now, Caius is weak. This is exactly the kind of moment he’s been waiting for."

Adams tried to speak. "If you just let me—"

"Do not interrupt me!" Heather snapped again. "You will speak when I say you can speak. Do you understand me?"

"Yes, Mrs. Thorne," he said quickly.

Heather sighed and held her forehead. She wasn’t just angry. She was scared. Her voice dropped a little, but the urgency was still there.

"I need you to tell him something. Lie to him. Tell him we’re not home. Say we went to a doctor’s appointment or something. I don’t care what you say. Just don’t let him near this house. He is not walking through that door."

There was a small pause, and then her voice changed. She was still upset, but there was bitterness in her tone now.

"Who just calls last minute for something like this? Honestly, Adams, don’t you think he’s such a bitch?"

She frowned. "You may speak now."

Adams’s voice came through the phone, a little awkward this time.

"Thank you. But... the phone is on loud speaker."

Heather froze. Her eyes widened.

"Adams?" she said through clenched teeth.

"Yes, Mrs. Thorne?"

"Why is the phone on loud speaker?"

There was a long pause.

"...Master Adonis requested it."

Of course he did.

Heather squeezed her eyes shut and let out a slow, angry breath through her nose.

Then she raised her voice again, not holding back this time.

"Well, then he can hear me loud and clear," she snapped. "I hope you rot in hell, you son of a bitch. Who invites himself to someone else’s home without warning? Who the hell do you think you are?"

Then, from the other end, a familiar, smug voice responded.

"Oh, my. Why do you sound so angry all the time, Heather?"

She didn’t bother answering. She hung up immediately and tossed the phone onto the bed.

Caius, who had stayed quiet through it all, finally spoke.

"That was... some call," he said, his tone dry with sarcasm.

Heather turned to look at him. For a second, she wanted to roll her eyes, or even yell at him. But then she reminded herself—he didn’t remember any of this. He was still trying to understand everything. She needed him to help her now, not fight with him.

"That was Adams," she explained, walking toward him again. "He’s your butler. He’s worked for you since you were a boy."

Caius raised an eyebrow. "Now I feel bad that I don’t remember him."

There it was again—his sarcasm. Heather could hear it. But she didn’t take it the wrong way. She could tell he was using it as a way to cope, to hide the discomfort he felt about forgetting so much of his life.

"It’s not your fault. It’s this stupid accident." She knelt in front of him and took his hands gently. "But right now, your half-brother—Adonis—is coming over. He wants to see you. I don’t have time to stop him."

"Good. Let him come."

Heather stared at him. "Are you crazy? I just told you—he’s not a good guy. He’s waiting for you to look weak so he can take control of everything."

Caius looked confused but calm. "Then what do you want me to do?"

"I’ll tell you everything you need to know before he arrives," Heather said. "You just have to act like nothing’s wrong. Like you’re still the same Caius. He won’t question anything if you seem sharp and strong."

But Heather didn’t feel good saying it. It made her stomach twist.

It felt like they were setting up a performance.

Like Caius was some actor and this house was the stage.

And Adonis... Adonis was the one they had to fool.

"I don’t even know who I am," Caius said softly.

Heather’s heart broke a little. His voice wasn’t sarcastic this time. It was real.

"You still act like him," she said, trying to encourage him. "You don’t remember, but the way you carry yourself... it’s the same. You haven’t lost that."

He furrowed his brow.

"Did I say something wrong?" Heather asked carefully.

Caius was quiet for a while. Then he looked up again.

"It just doesn’t make any sense... Was Caius always this cold to his wife?"

Heather blinked.

The question caught her off guard.

She didn’t know how to answer.

The truth? Yes. The old Caius—the man she had married—was cold, distant, and rarely ever looked at her with kindness.

The second marriage? He had changed a little. Or maybe he just felt guilty. But either way, he wasn’t the same man she fell in love with. And she had never really known how to feel about that.

"I don’t think I want to talk about that," she said softly. "Right now, we have something more important to focus on."