Chapter 288

Chapter 288

When Howard rolled up to The Coffee Nest, it was obvious Griffin had been camping out there for a hot minute.

"Here, what's your poison?" Griffin slid the menu across the table like they were old buddies.

Howard barely glanced at it before pushing it back. "Just an Americano."

"Boring personality, boring coffee order. I seriously don't get what Ms. Brown sees in you." Griffin's face scrunched up in disgust.

Howard's expression went arctic. "Griffin, this is your last warning—back off."

"And what gives Mr. Miller the authority to boss me around?" Griffin's smile never wavered as he looked up. "I figured you came here to thank me."

Howard didn't even flinch at Griffin's baiting. "Wonder what Sawyer would think if he found out you're not the real Griffin?"

This secret is Griffin's only weakness.

Sure enough, Griffin's whole body went rigid.

His fingers froze around his coffee cup.

He slowly lifted his head. "Is that supposed to be a threat? Never pegged the squeaky-clean Mr. Miller for playing dirty."

"Stay away from Chloe. Final warning." Howard's glare could've burned holes through steel.

"Someone as sweet as Ms. Brown—you think you've got exclusive rights?" Griffin's tone was conversational, like they were discussing the weather.

"Guess you wouldn't mind Sawyer learning your little secret after all."

Chloe is Howard's only weakness.

He'd burn the whole world down to protect her.

"Remy and Edward used to be a thing. You know about that, too, right?" Griffin suddenly switched gears, dropping Edward's name like a bomb.

So Teddy's intel was spot-on—Griffin was definitely digging into this.

"What's it to you?" Howard's knuckles went white around his cup.

"Just thinking—if Ms. Brown found out, it would absolutely destroy her. One's the dad she adores, the other's the teacher she looks up to. Think she could survive that kind of gut punch?" Griffin traced the rim of his cup, each word deliberate as a knife twist.

"What do you want?" For the first time in his life, Howard found himself backing down from a threat.

"Stay out of my way!" Griffin's mask finally slipped, revealing something vicious underneath. "Anyone who hurts Ms. Brown is gonna pay!"

"Are you doing this for Chloe, or just feeding your own obsession?" Howard actually looked amused. "This is exactly why you're not Griffin, and why you'll never measure up to him."

"Shut your mouth!" The veins in Griffin's neck practically popped.

He locked eyes with Howard. "I've busted my ass my whole life. Why? Why does everyone only care about the name Griffin?"

After ditching the coffee shop, Howard's mood stayed in the gutter.

Griffin had completely lost it.

"Keep tabs on Griffin." Howard hesitated before speed-dialing Teddy.

"You got it, Mr. Miller." Teddy didn't ask questions.

The Jenkins Family Mansion.

The mansion felt like a mausoleum.

Fresh off handling Sloane's funeral arrangements, only Remy and Flora rattled around in the massive house.

Flora stared at the empty rooms, then at Remy. The viciousness in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by something closer to desperation. "The Jenkins family is done for."

Remy said nothing.

"Why don't we just sell the company?" Flora kept pushing. "You suck at business anyway. What you actually love is design, right?"

Remy turned to stare at her. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Who knows when Dad's gonna wake up? Are we seriously just gonna keep bleeding money? Remy, get real. This isn't the time to play stubborn hero."

"What if Dad wakes up and finds out his life's work is gone—"

"Dad is old!"Flora cut her off mid-sentence.

"I'm not selling the company." Remy turned and stormed upstairs.

Watching Remy dig his heels in, Flora lost it. "Remy, have you forgotten? You still owe me a life."

Remy slammed his bedroom door so hard the whole house shook.

The Martinez Group, executive floor.

"Mr. Martinez, the Jenkins Group still hasn't responded."

"No rush." Griffin twirled his pen between his fingers. "Gotta let Remy have her little meltdown first. As a designer, emotions are quite rich, which is understandable."

"Understood." His assistant nodded.

"Oh, one more thing." Griffin's eyes lit up. "How's Ms. Brown been doing lately?"

"Her best friend's been staying over. She seems way happier."

Griffin's lips curved into a satisfied smile. "Perfect."

Then his gaze shifted to a photo on his desk, something dark flickering in his eyes. "You're next."

The Miller Villa was buzzing with warmth and laughter.

From the second he'd walked through the door, Kelvin's eyes had been glued to Adeline like she was his personal gravitational pull.

Watching Kelvin's puppy-dog stare, Chloe pressed her hand to her mouth to muffle her giggles.

"Chloe, what's so funny?" Adeline's cheeks went pink.

"Nothing! I'm just happy you're all here hanging out with me." Chloe waved her hands innocently.

"You better be." Adeline shot her a warning look.

While they were teasing each other, the front door opened and Howard walked in.

"All done at the office?" Chloe's face immediately brightened.

She bounced over to complain. "I've been third-wheeling it all day long."

Howard pulled her against his side and looked at Kelvin and Adeline. "You two are the worst."

Adeline's face turned tomato-red. "Chloe, quit making stuff up!"

After more playful banter, Adeline dragged Chloe out for a shopping spree while Howard pulled Kelvin into his study for some guy talk.

"So you're telling me the Martinez family's got the Jenkins family in their crosshairs now?" Kelvin's brow furrowed.

Howard nodded grimly.

"What's your play?" Kelvin asked.

"I'm thinking..." Howard dropped his voice to a whisper.

Kelvin nodded. "Got it."

A coffee shop at the mall.

Shopping bags scattered around their feet, Chloe and Adeline collapsed into cushy chairs, completely wiped out.

Adeline raised an eyebrow at Chloe. "Don't you have something you wanna spill?"

Chloe knew exactly what her best friend was fishing for.

Her face went full-on scarlet. "I..."

"So, where have you two developed to now?" Adeline's face was full of gossip.

"He's amazing to me, but that's just it—he's amazing." Chloe paused, then sighed. "Nothing more."

Even though she tried to push it away, she couldn't stop thinking about that mystery woman Howard had supposedly loved for years.

She got Howard.

He was loyal to a fault, devoted.

She also understood exactly why they were together.

So this fairy tale would have to end eventually.

"I actually think Howard's crazy about you." Adeline's tone went serious.

Chloe shook her head firmly. "No way. He's not."