Demon CEO's Hidden Love: Mr Grayson Stole Me From My Abusive Husband Chapter 12: A Marriage Proposal

_Few Hours Earlier_

Luther panicked at Ethan's loud demand, he had also been equally stunned over the video Cassie posted, and was still trying to figure out how to quell the situation.

"Please, sit down-"

"How dare you co up with that story?!" He balled his fists, had it been just the two of them alone, Ethan might've blinded his father in law with punches.

Luther was at a loss.

He didn't want to throw his daughter under the bus and say she acted out, but at the sa ti he didn't want to face the wrath of the city's richest man.

In the middle of his contemplating, Cassie let herself into the office. Ethan's murderous gaze was pointed at her, he turned to pour his anger on her, but she cut him off.

"Please calm down, there are all sorts of gossips loitering outside. If soone hears you, we all suffer." She calmly spoke, closing the door behind her.

Luther seconded, "Yes, Ethan cool your head. No one here is trying to mock your wife."

"Infact, all this is for your benefit." Cassie claid, grabbing Ethan's attention. He unclenched his fists and let out a deep sigh.

"My benefit? How so?" He asked, gaining interest in what she had to say.

Cassie was inwardly relieved that Ethan was able to listen to her. She had gotten scared for a second that Ethan loved his wife enough to ignore her manipulative tongue, and think for himself.

Had that happened, she could very well kiss her career goodbye.

"Think about it, Brooke couldn't have escaped all on her own, a weak crippled likw her must have soone whose housing and feeding her. Maybe a friend...or a boyfriend." Cassie intentionally added the last bit to aggrevate Ethan.

"What boyfriend?" He clenched his jaw. "Brooke would never cheat on , she's not stupid." He said, sounding as though he was trying to convince himself.

Cassie sighed, "I used to think so too, but think about it, she doesn't have any friends, or any relatives from her dead father who'd take her in. She might just be living with a man-"

Sensing his daughter's drift, Luther picked on, "Won like that are quick to latch onto powerful n, you know. And that's Cassie released that video to lure her out of hiding."

Cassie grinned from ear to ear. "Yes. Her boyfriend can't possibly keep soone like her with him for too long, not when the entire city is enraged. Soone is sure to spot them, or better yet, he might just kick her out himself."

She strutted over to Ethan, and wrapped her arms around his neck, in a deep sensual tone she said, drawing a line with her index finger from his neck to his chest. "And when she's all alone and hopeless, who do you think she'll co crawling back to?"

Getting the picture Ethan half smiled. "That miserable woman, I guess she does need to be taught a lesson."

Luther couldn't hide his massive grin. His daughter's scheming had finally brought about a good result. He imdiately took action to further her plan.

"Leave it to Ethan, I'll smoke your wife out in no ti!" He swore, then dashed out of his office.

Grayson mansion

_Present day_

Brooke's jaw dropped when she listened to the interview between Cassie and the reporter.

-"Cassie crane, can you clarify who this woman is?" The reporter asked.

-"She used to work for my agency, up until a year ago, when she was fired."

-"Can you tell us the circumstances leading to that fire?"

-Cassie broke into tears in less than a half minute, as though she had tid it. "She used to stalk after work hours, and try to force a friendship between us. I didn't want to sound rude, so I acted nice to her. But then, she just wanted more..." She sniffled, then started violently jerking her shoulders.

-"When I reported her behavior, she attacked , and that was when she got fired. I just didn't think, that this crazy woman, would co back to assault in my own ho."

-The reporter shook her head in pity, "That must've been traumatizing. The nation is with you on this fight, we will all make sure that this woman is found and justice is preserved." The reporter tapped on her tablet, and several video ssages popped up.

-"Here, are so words of encouragent from the city..."

Brooke couldn't hold back her tears, when all of her coworkers from the agency gave their 'testimonies' of the tis Brooke had been abusive to Cassie.

"What is this?" Her voice broke into a whimper. These were the people who would push extra work onto her, and go out for lunch breaks. The sa people she covered for and helped with their deadlines.

Each and every one of them switched sides in an instant.

But that was far from what dealt the finishing blow.

Brooke's world ca crashing down, when a video ssage from the agency biggest sponsor was played, and her husband gave his ssage.

-"Cassie is a talented actress, it's no wonder nobodies will get jealous and try to ruin her success. I invested in her talent, because I have faith in her abilities. This woman, who dared to cross the line should co out and apologize, before legal action is taken. And I guarantee, I will be taking liberties to have her punished rightly for this."

"Apologize?" Brooke's voice trembled as she lifted her tear-stained gaze to et Thane's.

But instead of the expected sympathy, she saw a fierce protectiveness burning in his eyes. His face was set in a livid contortion, his jaw clenched in anger- unasurable anger.

She didn't have ti to dwell on the cause of his anger, as the final blow to her resolve ca on television.

-"Here we have so words of encouragent from the victim's mother, Serena Crane."

Brooke gasped and shook her head when her mother's video ca on.

No, please, don't do this.

Serena looked like she had been crying, with her puffy eyes and dried face.

-"My daughter Cassie has always been the sweetest person, she doesn't deserve all this. As her mother, nothing can hurt more than seeing my precious daughter attacked by so deranged fanatic!" She spat out with venom in her words.

A sharp pain shot at Brooke. She always knew her mother preferred Cassie, but wasn't this going too far?

The woman had just disowned her, just so she could wear prettier dresses for longer.

-"And to the woman who did this, co out of the shadows and apologize for what you've done! Don't be a coward! Stop hiding and face justice for your cris! You hear ?!" She turned to a violent charge.

Brooke had caught up to the live stream, and could see all the floating comnts.

*So people have no self control, how could she do that to another human being?*

*I've found her profile, I'm sharing it now!*

*This ugly bitch dared to do sothing so shaless! She deserves to be dragged out!*

*CEO Halton to the rescue! Don't you think he and Cassie make a good couple?! Ah! I ship them!*

*Apologize Brooke!*

*#Stophiding!*

*#Apologize!*

The comnts kept pouring in, so contained her personal information that had been dug up by Cassie's fans.

The insults and death threats spiralling around caused Brooke to have a panic attack. The tablet fell off her laps, as she struggled to catch her breath.

How did things end up this bad?

Why was her life always so miserable?

What would she do now? The whole city, no the entire nation hated her guts! There was no where for her to run!

What if Ethan found her...

She nearly fainted from anxiety, thankfully, a pair of firm hands wrapped their arms around her, pulling her into a tight hug.

"It'll be fine, I'm on your side." Thane spoke softly into her ears, patting the back of her head.

It was a first for Brooke, having soone not bla her and actually side with her. She didn't know when the tears she had been holding back started to flow freely, as she cried into his embrace.

"I hate them! I hate them all!" She spat out, with venom in her words. "They all deserve to burn in hell!"

She was done. Done with hoping, done with the second chances, and most of all, she was done with wanting the easy way out.

"They will pay for this," she vowed, her voice low and fierce, as she gritted her teeth.

"Every last one of them will face the consequences." With a newfound resolve, she broke away from the hug and locked eyes with Thane, her tear-filled gaze eting his fierce, angry glare.

For a mont, they just stared at each other, their shared outrage and conviction hanging in the air like a challenge.

"I'll do it," she declared, her voice resolute, as she grasped his hands with a fierce intensity. "I'll make them pay for every ounce of pain they've caused ," she vowed, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination.

Hearing her resolve co through, Thane crouched down on one knee, he took her hands in his, then made her an offer.

"If that's the case, then what do you say to becoming my wife?"