Two days later after the incident...
Daniel looked at Gerald's grave.. He was about to be buried. Everyone close to Daniel all attended this funeral. They either want to express their condolences, or they just want to keep up a kind front with Daniel. Unfortunately, there was no way to tell if their intentions were pure or not.
One by one, everyone tossed flowers at Gerald's coffin.
Albert Vismont also attended. He isn't too close to Daniel, but he didn't want him to feel too much pain from his loss. After all, he doesn't even know if his daughter is safe or not.
He was also worried.
Everyone watched as soil was slowly covering Gerald's coffin.
Porter cried and looked at the grave with misery.
...
When Daniel got home, he felt gloomy. Instead of going back to work, he went to Carina's grave.
There, he fumbled behind the grave where flowers were beautifully dancing along the wind. He reached out his hand and picked up a recorder.
He went back to his room and listened to every word that Gerald said.
Click! He pressed the play button.
"May 12, 2018."
"... Do I really want to be a chemist like dad? Of course not. I wanted to become a musician someday and write songs once in a while. Mom, you told me that my voice was pretty good, so I'd like to give it a try ..."
Daniel couldn't hold back his tears as he heard Gerald's sweet and melodic voice. If only he heard this when he was still alive.
"December 1, 2018."
" ... Mom, father didn't even notice me today again. *Sigh* Why is he like this? Does he really think that his work is more important than me? When you were still here, I had the strength to keep going. But now that you're gone, I just feel lonely and useless. Porter was one of the only things helping me stay happy ..."
In the next recording, Gerald sounded drunk.
"May 12, 2019."
"... Money is important, we need that to live, blah blah blah, I listened to my father's speech again for the billionth time. I hate it. Seriously, it's like he loves his work more like a son than me! It's absurd... actually, he's the one absurd! But do I hate him? No... you told me that I should love him no matter what. Mom, I'll do what you *hic* said ... "
"April 20, 2019."
"... Mom, one time I looked at the comments online of one of my photos, and people were weird. They always say things that make me feel like an object that's supposed to entertain them. Yeah, the fame that dad gave me is good, but I'm not even seen as a person because of that. I'm just in their fantasies and it's just insane ..."
"October 25, 2019."
"... Mom, remember that time when you taught me how to play the violin? Yeah! I learned and mastered it! "
"January 2, 2020."
"... Today's photoshoot was weird. I had to wear so-called trending clothes to advertise them. And yes, it doesn't make sense even if you try to explain them to me..."
"May 12, 2020."
"... Hey Mom, I learned how to make my own pizza now! I shared them with the housekeepers and they loved it! Chester was eating chocolate again as usual, but he didn't know that I saw him snag a slice for himself! Hahaha he thought he was soooo sneaky..."
Daniel listened to them for hours until he got to the last recording.
"March 9, 2027."
"Dad didn't talk to me again.. I don't get it. I know he's a famous chemist known for his medicines like cure for many things and even cancer. But, does he really have to ignore his own son? *sniff* And as his son I was always interviewed by the media, asked about various things like, do I want to follow my father's footsteps? What will I do to achieve my father's legacy? Am I going to be as great as him one day? ... I always felt like I had no path, I had no dreams... It was always my father, his inheritance, his legacy to own one day but no one asked me if I even wanted to get all of it!"
"I always felt chained to him. I never felt that he even loved me. I was just there to answer interviews, look good for photoshoots, and other nonsense commercials that I have to appear in because it pays well... I never had a face at all... *sniff* However I went past those because you were there. You were always there for me... I felt loved, I felt important and unique and I didn't feel like I was just blindly following a path I never wanted in the first place. So why? Why did those demons have to shoot you instead of him? It's unfair."
...
The recordings ended.
"How did I allow things to go like this...?" Daniel's heart was aching. He felt needles pricking his chest every second. He felt suffocated.
"Why was I such a terrible father!? Why!? Why!? Why am I not with him when he needs me the most?!" Daniel slammed his desk.
"I could've helped him when he lost someone so dear to him yet I let him pass away thinking that I don't care about him." Daniel shouted.
"Gerald, I'm sorry! I've been a terrible father... I should've been with you... I'm useless... I could've been there..." Daniel sobbed.
"If only... you could receive a new life... then I'll be happy that you could finally follow your own path. This time, you have control over your life instead of following me. You can follow your dreams and your heart." Daniel looked at a family picture.
He really regretted everything.
But it was too late.
Too late that he realized his mistakes.