"Vivian, call your brother down here,"
Mr. Lawii Brown commanded.
Vivian glanced at her father.
Despite the sternness in his voice, his face remained unclouded by anger, settling instead into a mask of calm authority.
"What's wrong, Dad?"
she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Nothing serious," he replied smoothly.
"I simply have a few things to discuss with him." He then turned his gaze toward the rug.
"Milo! Milo, boy, come here."
Milo, a formidable Pit Bull with a heavy gold chain gleaming against his muscular neck, sprang to life at the sound of his name.
With a joyful thud and a rhythmic wag of his tail, the dog bounded up the grand staircase. Moments later, he reappeared, leading the way for a young man who followed with a languid, athletic grace.
Liam arrived downstairs clad in an all-white Alo yoga ensemble—short trunks and a matching tank top that clung to his sculpted physique.
A white towel was draped carelessly over one broad shoulder, the very picture of post-workout relaxation.
"I'm here, Dad," Liam said, his voice deep and steady.
Vivian's eyes, however, weren't on her brother's face. They were fixed on his ear, where the Apollo Blue—an 8-carat diamond earring valued at a staggering 24 million dollars—glinted with a blinding, celestial fire.
"Dad," Vivian complained with a playful pout, "why did you give that family heirloom to him instead of me?"
The patriarch let out a hearty laugh. "My dear daughter, even if I gave it to you, wouldn't you just end up handing it right back to your brother anyway?"
Vivian chuckled, her expression softening with genuine affection. "Hehe, you caught me, Papa. I've only got this one little brother, after all. I have to spoil him."
Liam ignored the banter, focusing on his father. "You wanted to ask me something, Papa?"
"Are you just finished with your training?"
"Yes, sir."
"And how is the business faring? Have you had a chance to check on the casinos and the car showrooms lately?"
"I was planning to head there today," Liam replied.
"Good, my son. But there is one more thing." Mr. Lawii's tone shifted, becoming more deliberate. "I've decided to offer a job to the daughter of an old friend—Auntie Eva. Since her mother passed away, the poor girl has nowhere to go. I'm bringing her here to stay with us."
Liam's relaxed posture vanished instantly. His brow furrowed in immediate distaste. "Oh, Dad, not this again. You know how I feel. You know I'm allergic to having women around."
It was a known law within the Brown estate. Ever since his mother had walked out years ago, Liam had transformed the house into a masculine fortress. From the housekeeping staff to the security detail—even his personal secretary—everyone was male. The only exception was his sister.
"Dad, I won't accept this," Liam stated, his voice dropping an octave. "If you bring her here, I'm moving out."
"Liam Brown!"
Mr. Lawii's voice boomed, the sudden thunder of his temper shaking the room. "You aren't going anywhere, and that girl is staying! Auntie Eva was your savior, boy! When your mother abandoned you after birth, it was Eva who nursed you until you were a year old. I've made my decision. She stays, and so do you.
That is final!"
Without waiting for a rebuttal, the man rose from the sofa and vanished into his study, leaving a heavy silence in his wake.
"Seriously, Sis? Of all the things..." Liam hissed, his teeth clenched in frustration.
"Liam, just calm down," Vivian urged softly.
"I'm not calming down," he snapped, turning on his heel.
As he stormed back upstairs, his two loyal shadows—Milo the Pit Bull and Ovaltine the Doberman, both sporting their signature gold chains—followed closely behind, their tails wagging in silent support of their master.
Vivian watched them go and let out a long, weary sigh. Even though Liam was seven years her junior, at thirty, he was a force of nature. Standing 6'2" with sun-kissed, bronzed skin and a body honed to perfection, he was the definition of rugged masculinity. With his piercing blue eyes and the way he habitually swept his dark hair off his forehead, he was the 'Thorned Rose' of the city—desired by every woman, yet interested in none.
"Caught between a rock and a hard place," Vivian murmured to herself.
"Sis! Sis! Sis! Sis! Sis! Vivian!"
The shouting brought her back to reality the next morning. "Liam! Why on earth are you yelling?"
Liam appeared, looking sharp and ready for the day. "I'm heading out to meet Light and the guys, then I'll be at the showroom.
I'm off!" He leaned in, planting a quick, dutiful kiss on her cheek.
"Wait! Aren't you going to eat breakfast?"
"No time," he called back over his shoulder. "I'll have Tuu Tuu grab me something when I get to the office."
"Alright, be careful, Liam!"
She watched from the window as the roar of a Red Bugatti Chiron shattered the morning quiet, the supercar streaking out of the gates like a crimson bolt of lightning.
Everyone had heard of the "Brown Group." They weren't just wealthy; they were legendary. If you looked at the Forbes list of the world's richest people, their name was always right there at the top. To most people, they were like modern-day saints—always building orphanages and donating millions to those in need. Their generosity was the talk of the town.
But behind all those fancy gala dinners and charity events, the Browns had a whole different side.
They held the keys to the city's most exclusive casinos and ran an underground empire that made even the toughest guys think twice before crossing them. In the world of business and shadows, the name 'Brown' carried a lot of weight. People respected them, sure, but they also feared them. Everyone knew that a single word from a Brown could either make your dreams come true or turn your world upside down in a heartbeat.