Ethan's POV
I stepped into Derek’s office, the air thick with the unmistakable scent of aged leather and faint traces of whiskey. My father sat behind his massive oak desk, his face as impassive as ever, though I didn’t miss the tension in his shoulders.
He gestured to the seat across from him, but I remained standing.
“You’ve looked better,” Derek said dryly, pouring himself a glass from the decanter at his side. “Though I suppose that’s to be expected, given the drama Chloe is stirring.”
“You brought me here to talk about her, not to trade barbs,” I replied, my voice clipped. “What’s she planning?”
Derek leaned back in his chair, swirling his glass absently. “More than you’re prepared for, I suspect. Chloe’s been weaving her web for years, Ethan. Her alliances with certain Council
