Penelope heaved a sigh, leaning back slightly.
"Adrian, you are just overthinking this. Nothing bad is waiting for you at home. Only good things, I promise. Just believe that." She said to him.
Adrian chuckled dryly.
"You say that because you don't know what I have been through with that man, in that house." He maintained, his voice sullen.
Penelope frowned in disagreement.
"I know your dad is strict, but maybe things have changed. It has been a whole year. People can change, Adrian." She pointed out optimistically.
"Not him. He is not like other people. I know the father I have." Adrian replied, shaking his head slowly.
"Maybe... it was your mom's death. It probably hit him hard. Maybe he didn't know how to handle it, and it spilled over to you. Now, he might have realized how he has been treating you and wants to make amends." Penelope suggested softly.
Adrian let out a bitter laugh.
"You sound just like someone who doesn't know him." He stated and scoffed.
Penelope opened her mouth to say more, but her phone buzzed. She glanced at it and a small smile spread across her face.
"It's my mom. I need to take this." She told him.
"Go ahead." Adrian muttered, looking away as she stepped aside.
Left alone, he stared at the ground, his mind drifting as he thought of the neglect and harshness he had witnessed from his father.
"That man isn't someone who can change..." He muttered as he relived a memory.
*FLASHBACK*
It was six years ago. That fateful day, Adrian's life had scattered as he had lost his beloved mother.
While his ever busy father was always away at business trips and all sorts, it was his mother who had shown him love and incomparable care.
"Mom, what do I do now that you have left me all alone..." He wept bitterly.
All alone!
The funeral house was cold and silent and Adrian sat in a corner, his eyes swollen from crying but there was no one to comfort him.
He had been alone the whole day, mourning the loss of his mother, as his father was away, as usual.
"You need to understand. Business doesn't stop. I will handle things when I'm back. At least you are not a toddler, you should be able to get the funeral done alone." Victor's voice had echoed through the phone when Adrian called earlier that day.
Adrian hung up on him, feeling sad and completely lost.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
"Such a father!" Adrian scoffed after reliving the sad memory. And he couldn't help drifting to another memory instantly.
*FLASHBACK*
It was three years ago. Adrian held his admission letter in his hand, his heart swelling with pride.
"Dad! I got into one of the top universities!" He said, sounding so eager.
Victor barely glanced up from his laptop.
"That is expected, Adrian. It is nothing worth celebrating." His father had maintained firmly, sounding as strict as ever.
Adrian blinked, feeling embarrassed.
"But—" He wanted to say more, probably give reasons to why it was worth celebrating but Victor cut him off.
"But nothing. You are already behind. Your age mates are almost done with school, and you are just starting. If you want to be my heir, you need to stop falling short." Victor told him sharply.
"I'm not even sure you are tough enough to handle the family business... For someone that actually became a shadow of himself for a whole three years and forfeited his admission, mourning the death of his mother." Victor had added that more to himself but Adrian heard him and his excitement fizzled instantly.
"Don't disgrace me by failing in school. That is the least you can do." Victor spoke up again, this time raising his head to give him a cold look.
"I am not going to fail." Adrian had said through gritted teeth, clenching his fists.
"Good." Victor said, turning back to his laptop as though the conversation never happened.
*END OF FLASHBACK*
"Are you okay?" Penelope asked as she returned, her voice dragging Adrian back from the dark memory.
Adrian stood abruptly, grabbing his bag.
"Yeah. Let's go. I will drive you to your apartment first." He said and Penelope nodded in gratitude.
~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, later that evening in the mansion:
Emilia moved quickly, her heart literally racing, at just the mere thought that Victor would be back soon.
"Make sure the dining table is perfect. You know he is going to be angry if any little detail is amiss." She said to the maid, her voice firm but weak.
"Yes, ma'am, I understand." Ava, the maid replied, hurrying off into the kitchen.
Emilia placed her hand on her head, wincing slightly.
"This headache that has been nagging me all day is getting worse..." She observed but didn't bother to do anything to it.
"Well, there is no time to tender to a mere headache right now. Victor will be home soon and that is what is important..." She mumbled as she glanced around the dining area, checking for perfection.
The plates were neatly arranged, as well as the cups. Everything looked in place. But something felt off.
"Wait... His favorite cup for wine!" She muttered to herself, realizing what was missing.
With that, she spun around and hurried toward the kitchen.
As she reached the doorway, she heard the faint sound of a car pulling into the driveway and her heart dropped.
"Oh, no. He is here!" She whispered in panic.
"Wait, I don't think I have sprayed the air freshener into the living room so the smell of cooking won't be too overwhelming for him. I can't afford to make that mistake again..." She noted and quickened her pace, but the dizziness she had been ignoring all day hit her like a wave.
Her vision blurred, and she stumbled.
"Ma'am, are you okay?" The maid's voice called from behind her.
But before Emilia could respond, her knees wobbled, and she collapsed onto the cold, tiled floor.
The maid let out a terrified scream.
"Somebody help me!"