“Our department was short on teaching equipment. CE happens to make the best in the country, so our dean brought us along to meet with my brother-in-law to discuss it,” Jackson Birch explained. “That was the first time I met him.”

Ethan Lancaster nodded, a faint smile appearing on his lips. “We met a few more times after that.”

Ivy Collins, surprised, glanced curiously at Ethan. She knew he had visited her university to give a lecture, but she hadn’t ...