His laughter echoed through his empty laboratory. Slightly unhinged, definitely not the sound of a stable man, but who cares?
But he couldn't help it. The irony was too perfect—too beautiful.
He had laughed out loud, unrestrained, hysterical even as he was watching Grayson make a fool of himself.
That's right, Ethan thought with a satisfied smile. You don't know Neville like I do.
Because that was the difference between them, wasn't it?
Ethan had observed Neville for a long time. He had been studying him since their first meeting, every micro-expression and behavioral pattern subjected to intense focus that turned curiosity into devotion and meticulous documentation.
Grayson had done the same, of course. He had the power, the position, and a certain charm that let him keep Neville within reach. But Grayson was an idiot, a man too blind and too cowardly to even recognize his own desires.
Since he couldn't name the feeling, Grayson did everything but name it.
