Cole jerked his head back as he looked at his grandmother with wide eyes.

"There's nothing to be so surprised about, Cole," said Lily. "You are too young to understand the complications of business. Dawn is nothing but a competitor to you. Being a legal heir of her father's business, she can always challenge you in the court to snatch her fair share of money. But all this money, this wealth, it belongs to you and not her."

​​

Cole narrowed his eyes. "And why have you suddenly become so benevolent towards me?" He sipped his orange juice again as he visibly relaxed and supported his body on his hand at the back.

Lily liked that he was asking questions, because the more he asked, the more she would be able to convince him. "I always loved you Cole. It was Dawn who took you away. She made you run with her when all we wanted was to be with you. She made you believe that you are unwanted by the Wyatt family. The truth is that the Wyatt family needs you. Dawn fed you wrong information. Don't be fooled by her. Come back to us and I will assure you that I am going to give you the best of the school and university education. No one can stop me from that."

Cole frowned. "So you mean to that it was Dawn who separated me from you."

"Yes!" Lily nodded. "She hates us – don't you know that? Can't you see what games she is playing? She knows that we love you, so you are her trump card to claim some of her father's business. She is kind of keeping you a hostage to trade with us. And you have willingly walked into her trap." Lily covered her face with her hands as if in agony. "Come back to me Cole. Don't be a pawn in her game of chess. You are only fifteen and very young. On the other hand, Dawn is twenty-three. She is a sharp woman and can manipulate people easily."

Cole finished his juice. He kept the glass on the bedside table and said, "Grandmother, if you love me so much, why didn't you ever find me? I remember being chased by goons who wanted to kill us. If the Wyatt family wanted me so badly, why did my father think that he should hide us? Why did he hole us up in a hospital, away from everyone to protect us?" He smirked at her. "It was Dawn who protected me after the goons sniffed us. While you sat in this manor and used my father's wealth to have fun, both Dawn and I struggled to live." Then he glared at her. "Never, and I mean never—ask me to go against Dawn." Saying that, Cole got up from his place, when suddenly his head reeled. He sat back on the bed. His vision became blurry and he looked at Lily. She was smiling.

"What have you done to my drink?" he asked in a slurry voice. His body couldn't take his weight and his brain fuddled. It seemed as if his head would roll away from his body.

Lily gave a small, soft laugh. "Cole, you are such a lovely child but a fool. Once you are in my house, I won't ever let you leave." She got up and stared at his limp body. "That juice had a tiny amount of drug in it just to make you sleep until tomorrow morning and by that time everything will be done. I will take you away from here and admit you in a boarding school in Switzerland."

Cole stared at her with his eyes half-open. He couldn't even speak. A tear came out of his eye. This woman deceived her to this extent. And then his eyes closed.

Lily opened his shoes and pulled his legs on the bed. She turned him to the side, covered him with a blanket and then left after switching off the light. Her first mission was complete. She chuckled lightly and closed the door behind her. As soon as Daryn and the rest would leave, she would ask her men to take Cole to a secure location.

When she came out, she found Anne talking to the servants on how to lay the table properly. She joined her.

Back in the main hall, Cecilia was taking huge interest in the conversation between her father and Daryn. She would occasionally glance at Neal. She tried to show her knowledge when she interjected her thoughts courteously. Whenever Daryn looked at her, she smiled more than required.

David couldn't help but praise his daughter. "My daughter is doing her graduation in liberal arts. She is pretty intelligent."

Cecilia blushed. "Oh Daddy! It's nothing," she said as she waved a hand in front of her delicately.

"You do underestimate yourself," said David. Then he turned to Daryn and said, "Cecilia has been actively coming to my office to understand the tricks of business but feels that it is better to stay at home and serve the family rather than trying to fight the business world. On her own volition, she has joined a finishing school. You know, her mother feels that it is important to have proper education in order to move in an elite society. She is not the uncouth type who hasn't had a chance to get a good education."

Cecilia tittered. She glanced at Daryn to see if he was impressed or not. He had a faint smile on his bow-shaped lips, which that made her bite her lower lip.

"That's a nice thing," he said politely. "Girls should learn that."

Cecilia was ecstatic that Daryn acknowledged her choice of education. It would be a matter of time that she would pluck Dawn out of his life.

"If it were for me, I'd rather be at home and pregnant with my husband's child," she added with a blush, lowering her eyes shyly.

Daryn was bereft.

Neal stared at her with wide eyes and raised eyebrows. "That's so ancient!" He couldn't help commenting.

David narrowed his eyes. He rose from his place and said, "Neal, would you come to the bar? I have a really nice collection of Napa Valley wines, which I would like to flaunt."

"Sure," Neal replied flatly and walked with David, leaving Daryn and Cecilia alone.

Daryn looked around while Cecilia's gaze fixed on him. There was an awkward silence.

"What interests you Mr. Silver?" Cecilia asked sexily to break the ice.

"Plenty," he replied. "I like playing golf and pool and—"

"Oh that's awesome!" Cecilia cut him short. "We own a golf course and I'd love to challenge you for a round. But my stakes are high. Every time you lose, you have to take your clothes off."

Daryn cringed. "I'll take a rain-check on that."

Anne's voice came from behind, "Dinner is ready." She looked at Cecilia and said, "Get Mr. Silver for dinner."

"Sure mum!" she replied and rose in a sexy way. With a smile plastered on her lips, she walked up to Daryn. "Please come." She wound her hands around his arm delicately.

Dawn walked in the main hall by then. She saw her cousin and when their eyes met, Cecilia held her head high arrogantly, as if boasting her victory.

As soon as Daryn saw Dawn, he removed Cecilia's hand from his and growled, "Baby! Where were you?"