TERRY'S POV
I stared intently at the old, aged ceiling in Betty's room. After a passion-filled day that I wished would never end, I knew it was time for me to leave.
I wanted this moment to last forever. All it would take was for me to run away with Betty, somewhere we'd never be found, and just love each other effortlessly. It's all I've ever wanted. I've been the son my parents always wanted me to be, obedient and diligent, so that when the time came for me to announce Betty to my family, they would judge me by my good works and let us be. But, of course, I had been ignorant of their plans all along.
They made me the heir of Aveeno Group in place of my elder brother solely because he was adopted. My dad has a heart condition, and running away would surely kill him. My mother's threats to harm Betty if I didn't marry Tricia seemed far-fetched, but knowing how vicious and brutal she can be, there's no telling what she might do, especially when it comes to the empire she and my dad worked so hard to build. They've always wanted the perfect match for the benefit of their company, of course. This was no news, but being the second child, I never thought their eyes would be on me. I had so much to ponder, so few solutions, and even less time. But one thing I knew for sure was that if I didn't leave here soon, things would get messy.
I turned towards Betty, lying peacefully on the bed, and smiled faintly. So much beauty in one being. I caressed her face and pecked her gently before getting up and making my way to the main house.
I reached the stairway, and the looming presence of my mom halted me.
"Hey, Mom," I greeted coldly.
"Where are you coming from?" she asked.
"I didn't know I needed a police escort for my movements, " I countered harshly.
My mother's agitation began to brim. "You better lose that attitude, young man."
"Lose what attitude? You should be glad. You should be very glad I'm a good son, do you understand me, Mom? You should be really proud. There's so much I could have done that would rock your boat. Look at John, he doesn't give a flying fuck about all this company nonsense. He's the eldest son, so why should I?" I retorted, anger seeping into my words and disdain burning in my eyes.
"Honestly, I am really tired of your constant bickering. This is unbecoming of a man," she stated loosely, unbothered by my brimming outburst.
"Unbecoming of a man? Wow… Just wow. I've done everything possible to please both you and Dad. I've been a trophy son for you both. But just this once, the one thing I want to do for myself, you're still willing to take it away from me?" I questioned, pain etched in my words.
My mom moved closer, gently placing her hand on my face. "Son, I'm shocked you don't understand the unsaid responsibility of being a member of a bourgeois family. You can't just marry just anyone, let alone a maid. It is never done," she added.
I gently removed her hand off my face. "I guess you should call me a rebel because that is exactly what I am going to do. And that maid is the love of my life," I blurted with profound determination, shattering my mother's cold heart with those words.
After moving a couple of feet away from my mom, I turned back and met her gaze, boiling with fury. "And if you ever lay so much as a finger on her, you'll regret the day you gave birth to me." I warned, meaning every word I spewed and stormed off.
As I showered, I thought about my next move with Betty, getting a passport for her so we could leave the country. I was sure she would be elated when I told her about my decision, and I couldn't wait. Drying my hair with a hairdryer, I heard a knock on my door.
"Come on in," I said.
"Son," my father called out, walking into my room and making his way to the edge of my bed.
I was utterly shocked. My father rarely visited my quarters, but I was looking forward to whatever he had to say.
"Come, sit beside me," he said, tapping the edge of the bed, signaling me.
"To what do I owe this surprise, Dad?" I asked as I moved to sit beside him, a smile dancing on my lips.
"There is something I need to tell you," he began.
I felt a rush of emotions and wondered if everything was alright. His countenance was heavy with sadness. I had to ask.
"Dad, what's wrong?" I asked, concern evident in my voice.
"Son, Aveeno Group went bankrupt a year ago. A few of our board of directors rallied the company to the ground," my dad began to explain, hurt seeping into his words.
"Oh my God, Dad… I had no idea. I thought everything was great." My heart sank in sadness.
"It's not, son, it's not. Tony, my most trusted associate, was in charge of the company during my heart surgery a year ago. Your mother and I couldn't leave it in your or your brother's hands because you didn't have the experience yet.
"Tony had worked for us for years, so it was no question to put him in charge. He rallied over half of our shareholders and convinced them to invest in a project he thought would be profitable. He liquidated a chunk of the company's stock and invested it as well. He had told me about the investment before, but I said no; it was too good to be true. But he went ahead and did it behind my back. And just like that, we lost it all. Aveeno Group lost 70% of its stock and shareholders."
My mouth widened in shock. "I can't believe Mr. Tony could do such a thing to you."
"It turns out the investment was a scam, but by the time they found out, it was too late." My dad's voice trembled.
"Coming back to the company, your mother and I were welcomed with this news. I liquidated most of my assets to revive the company, but we couldn't because the production capacity had lessened to a great extent. Tony had mismanaged that as well. We were able to contain this news to avoid the press and public knowledge. Somehow, it got to Payne Corp, and they decided to partner with us to revive the company.
"A year later, we got back on one feet, and it wouldn't have been possible without Payne Corp. They still, however, hold a majority share. Payne has now requested to marry off his daughter to my son, Terry. If that doesn't happen, Payne Corp will withdraw from our company, taking the majority share with them, which means death for Aveeno Group. We'd risk losing everything outside the company—this house, cars, even health care services for my failing heart. Everything will be gone." My dad revealed the real reason behind the supposed marriage between Tricia and I.
"You now see why this union is necessary," his voice was soft and strained. "Terry, you could change everything, work from the inside and give this company a firm standing, revive, restructure, and rescue Aveeno Group from the hands of Payne corp for good." He continued, "Son, this is the truth."
For a moment, I couldn't speak. I simply lowered my head in exasperation. My father's words pierced into my soul, and the urge to rescue my family's empire swelled within me.
"You are the only chance we have… please, son, I beg you to understand." My dad pleaded, his words seeping with despair.
"Dad, this is a lot," I said, "but don't worry, we'll never lose our company, house, or your medical care. I'll fix it all, I promise." I concluded, instilling a sense of hope in my father's dim heart.
He tapped my shoulder and forced a faint smile. "Thank you, son. It's time for you to take responsibility."
"I know, Dad. I will protect both you and mom, and our legacy." I reassured him, at the expense of losing the woman I love, sadness encapsulated my soul as I buried my head in frustration.
I had to make a decision: run away with the love of my life and be truly happy, but abandon my family and turn a blind eye to the loss they'd all incur, losing our estate, company, and the ability to provide healthcare for my father; or marry Tricia and save my family, company, and my father's health.
I knew the answer, but I just couldn't make myself accept or admit it.
I took a deep breath and steeled myself as I came to terms with what needed to be done.