Chapter 4: Funeral and Mysteries

Ethan POV

It had been over a week since I'd last visited the hospital. Work at the office had been relentless, a constant stream of meetings and reports that left me feeling drained. But I couldn't get the mysterious girl out of my mind - the one I'd pulled from the river that night.

I was about to call Mr. Roberts for an update when Noah burst into my office like a human tornado.

"Dude!" I exclaimed, nearly dropping my phone. "Ever heard of knocking? This isn't your office, you know."

Noah grinned, rapping his knuckles on the open door. "Knock knock," he said, way too cheerfully for a Monday morning.

I couldn't help but laugh. "Get out of here, you goof."

But Noah's smile faded as he flopped into the chair across from me. "Your father called," he said, his tone suddenly serious. "We've got a funeral to attend."

I felt a knot form in my stomach. "Whose funeral?"

"Mr. Brooks."

The name didn't mean much to me, but I could tell from Noah's face that it was important. "I'm guessing he was one of Dad's business associates?"

Noah nodded. "Yeah, and apparently it's a big deal. Your dad wants us there to represent the company."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "I thought his death was still under investigation?"

Noah shook his head. "The detective concluded that his daughter killed him. The family's gone ahead with the burial plans."

"What are they saying about the daughter?" I asked, dreading the answer.

"They're saying she's dead too. They're going to bury an empty casket alongside her father."

I slumped back in my chair, my mind reeling. "Noah," I said slowly, "I think the girl I rescued... I think she's Brooks' daughter."

Noah's eyes widened. "What?! Are you sure?"

I nodded, I saw the news, it's her. I know someone was trying to kill her," I said. "I just don't know why."

"How are you going to keep this a secret when she wakes up?" Noah asked, running a hand through his hair.

"I don't know," I admitted. "For now, she's still unconscious. We'll figure it out when she wakes up."

Noah nodded, then suddenly brightened. "Oh, I almost forgot. I ordered us new suits for the funeral."

I raised an eyebrow. "I have plenty of suits in my closet, you know."

He winked at me. "It's a gift. You're welcome."

I balled up a piece of paper and threw it at him. "Get out of here, man."

As Noah dodged the paper projectile, his phone buzzed. He glanced at it, then looked back at me. "We need to be there around 1 PM. I'm thinking long, warm bath before we go."

I closed my laptop and stood up. "Alright, let's head out."

We made our way to the parking lot, but as I reached for my car door, Noah shoved past me and hopped into the driver's seat.

"What do you think you're doing?" I asked, incredulous.

Noah gave me his best puppy dog eyes. "My car stinks of alcohol. Please, let me drive you?"

I tried to drag him out, but Noah could be as stubborn as a mule when he wanted to be. Finally, I gave up and got in the passenger side.

"Fine," I grumbled. "But we're stopping to pick up those suits you ordered. And you're buying me coffee."

Noah's face lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Deal!"

We swung by the tailor to pick up our new suits, then headed home. As soon as we walked through the door, the mouthwatering aroma of food hit us.

"Liam's back!" I called out.

Before I could take another step, Noah had kicked off his shoes and was sprinting towards the kitchen. "Daddy made food for us!" he yelled, tackling Liam in a bear hug.

"Get off me, you overgrown puppy!" Liam protested, but he was laughing.

I leaned against the doorframe, watching as Noah chased Liam around the kitchen island. Noah was always like this - a bundle of energy and mischief wrapped in an expensive suit. It was like living with a hyperactive golden retriever sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

"What's on the menu, chef?" I asked Liam once he'd escaped Noah's clutches.

Liam grinned proudly. "Lobster thermidor with truffle risotto and asparagus spears."

I whistled low. "Fancy. What's the occasion?"

"No occasion," Liam shrugged. "Your mom made a bunch of side dishes when I was over at your parents' place yesterday. Dropped off some legal documents for your dad and ended up staying for dinner."

Noah's eyes lit up. "Man, I miss your mom's cooking, Ethan."

I snorted. "You were so wasted on Sunday you slept in your car. I doubt you could have appreciated any kind of cooking."

Noah's face fell. "Don't remind me. I picked up the wrong girl at the club. Took her back to the hotel, but I passed out as soon as we got there. When I woke up, she was gone - along with my Patek Philippe watch and all the cash in my wallet."

I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. "You got robbed by your one-night stand?"

Noah's face turned red. "It's not funny, man!"

"It's a little funny," Liam chimed in, grinning.

Noah grabbed a handful of bread crumbs from the counter and threw them at me. "Shut up!"

"Alright, alright," I said, trying to catch my breath. "I'm sorry. But you have to admit, it's pretty hilarious."

"Guys!" Liam called out, his tone suddenly serious. "Let's eat and get ready. We've got a funeral to attend, remember?"

The mood in the room sobered immediately. We ate quickly, then went to get dressed in our new suits.

As I adjusted my tie in the mirror, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about this whole situation. why couldn't I stop thinking about the girl in the hospital?

The drive to the funeral was quiet, each of us lost in our own thoughts. As we pulled up to the Brooks family estate, I saw a sea of black-clad figures moving towards the large tent set up on the lawn.

"Remember," I murmured to Noah and Liam as we got out of the car, "we're here to pay our respects, not to make any business moves. My father might want us to scope out the situation with their hotels, but now isn't the time."

They nodded, and we made our way into the crowd.

The service was somber and elegant, befitting a man of Mr. Brooks' stature. But I couldn't focus on the words being spoken. My eyes kept drifting to the two caskets at the front - one containing Mr. Brooks, the other supposedly for his daughter.

The daughter I knew was still alive.

As we filed past to pay our final respects, I noticed a woman standing apart from the rest of the family. Her face was hidden behind a black veil, but there was something striking about her presence, the way she held herself apart from everyone else.

On our way back to the car, Noah nudged me. "Did you see that woman in the veil?" he whispered. "She gave me the creeps."

I nodded, glad I wasn't the only one who'd noticed her. "Yeah, there was something... off about her."

"I need to go back to the hospital tomorrow," I said suddenly.

Liam, who was driving, glanced at me in the rearview mirror. "The girl you rescued?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I can't explain it, but I have a feeling she's important somehow. I need to be there when she wakes up."