The Proposal
1839 Words
A drop of tears fell from my eyes when I saw the message from Emma, my stepsister
My phone buzzed and it was a call from my stepmother
Our relationship was cordial, at best, without any open conflicts. Ever since my mother passed away, she had moved into our home with her daughter, making me feel like an outsider in my own family.
My father, reserved with his affections, clearly favored his younger girl over me. The only significant request I had ever made of him was financial support for my boyfriend’s business—a thought that now mocked me as I recalled the betrayal.
Hesitating for a moment, I wondered if I was ready to talk to my stepmother, but something about my father's fragile state and the guilt I felt for not being there for him sooner made me answer the call.
"Hello," I said, trying to sound calm and composed. My stepmother's voice was laced with concern, but also a hint of accusation.
"Erika, where are you? I've been trying to reach you for hours. Your father's condition has taken a turn for the worse." I felt a pang of guilt and regret for not being there sooner.
"I'm at the hospital now," I replied, trying to keep my emotions in check.
"I'll do everything I can to make sure he gets the best care possible." There was a pause on the other end of the line, and for a moment, I thought I heard a hint of softening in her tone.
"See that you do, Erika. Your father needs you now more than ever."
“We’ve lost everything..our company is in debt now,” My stepmother said
My heart sank, feeling a wave of shock and disbelief.
"What? How did this happen?" I asked, trying to process the news. My stepmother's voice was laced with desperation.
"Your father's business partner betrayed him, embezzling funds and leaving us with nothing. We're on the brink of bankruptcy." I felt like I had been punched in the gut, my mind racing with the implications. My father's company, his legacy, and everything he had worked for was gone. And I had unknowingly contributed to it, by convincing him to invest in Felix's business. The weight of my mistakes crushed me, and I felt tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.
"What can I do?" I asked, feeling helpless.
“It was said that early today, the Latest CEO Felix Hernandez has acquired McCoy Empire” A female news caster's voice could be heard from the radio.
My eyes widened in shock as the news sank in. Felix, the same man who had betrayed me, had acquired my father's company.
The company that had been in our family for generations was now in the hands of the person who had hurt me the most. I felt a surge of anger, mixed with a deep sense of loss.
My stepmother's voice brought me back to reality.
"Erika, we need you to fix this. You need to talk to Felix, and convince him to help us." I laughed, a bitter sound.
"Convince Felix? After what he did to me? To us?" I shook my head, feeling a sense of resolve.
"No, I'll find another way. I won't beg Felix for anything."
My mind raced with determination as I spoke those words. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I was willing to fight for my family's legacy.
I thought about my father, lying in the hospital bed, and the thought of him being taken advantage of in his vulnerable state only strengthened my resolve then I took a deep breath and began to think of a plan, any plan, that would help me save my family's company.
Picked up my phone and clicked Felix's number, he picked up on the first ring
“Baby...I was expecting your call” He said
I felt a surge of anger at his condescending tone, but I kept my cool.
"Felix, don't play games with me. I know what you've done. You've acquired my father's company, and I want to know why." My voice was firm, but controlled.
"Oh, Erika, you're so quick to assume the worst. I did it to help your family, to save the company from bankruptcy." His words were smooth, but I knew better.
"Save it, Felix. I'm not buying it. What do you want in return for not destroying my family's legacy?" I asked, getting straight to the point.
“Marry me..you know how much I love you, so be my mistress,” Felix said
I felt a wave of disgust wash over me.
"Marry you? Are you kidding me? After what you've done, do you think I would ever agree to be your wife? And mistress? Do you think I'm just going to be okay with being your side piece? No, Felix. I'll never be yours again.
And as for my family's company, I'll find a way to get it back, without selling my soul to you." My voice was firm, and I could hear the anger and determination in my own words. I knew that I had to stand up for myself, and for my family, and I was ready to fight tooth and nail to protect what was rightfully ours.
“What will you do without my help..your father is dying and you’re still acting stubborn” Felix laughed
His words felt like a slap in the face, but I refused to back down.
"You may have manipulated me before, Felix, but not this time. I'll find a way to save my father's company, and his legacy, without your help. As for my father's health, that's not a bargaining chip, that's a personal matter. You may have bought his company, but you'll never buy my loyalty or my love. And as for acting stubborn, I'm just getting started." My voice was firm, and I could feel a sense of empowerment rising inside me.
I knew that I was taking a stand, not just for myself, but for my family, and I was ready to fight for what was rightfully ours.
“Let’s see you do that then,” he said and hung up and I started crying
Tears of frustration, anger, and sadness streamed down my face as I held the phone, feeling defeated and helpless.
Wiping away my tears I took a deep breath. realizing that Felix's cruelty and manipulation were not going to bring me down.
I was stronger than that. I looked around me and saw the hospital room, my father lying in the bed, and I knew what I had to do. I took a determined step forward, and with a newfound sense of purpose, I began to make plans to take back what was rightfully mine. The tears were gone, replaced by a fierce determination to fight for my family's legacy.
My stepmother was standing beside the ICU and after a long wait I was finally summoned in
I took a deep breath, bracing myself for what I might see.
As I entered the ICU, my eyes immediately went to my father's frail figure lying in the bed. His eyes were sunken, his skin pale, and his breathing labored. My heart ached at the sight, and I felt a lump form in my throat.
My stepmother approached me, her expression somber.
"Erika, he's been asking for you. He needs to see you." I nodded, trying to compose myself, and slowly made my way to his bedside. His eyes flickered open, and he weakly smiled when he saw me.
"Dad," I whispered, taking his hand in mine. "I'm here. I'm not going anywhere."
“My...Dau..Daughter” He stammered weakly and I couldn’t help but cry
Tears streamed down my face as I held his hand, feeling a mix of sadness, love, and regret. I had been so caught up in my struggles and anger that I had neglected the person who needed me most.
My father's eyes, though weak, held a deep love and longing, and I knew at that moment that I had to make things right.
"I'm here, Dad," I whispered, my voice shaking. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll take care of everything. You just focus on getting better." My father's eyes seemed to relax, a small smile on his lips, and I knew that he was at peace. I held his hand tight, pouring all my love into that moment, and praying that it wasn't too late to make things right.
“The doctor will stop their treatment on him soon..we owe them a lot already and now we have nothing left...Emma will be sent out of school too” My stepmother started crying and I knew it was fake
Her tears had been fake, ever since I was a kid
I felt a surge of anger and resentment towards my stepmother, knowing that her tears were just a manipulation tactic. She had always been skilled at playing the victim, and I wasn't buying it.
“And we’ve also found a solution to our problem,” My stepmother said and I raised my head
“What is it..” I asked
I’m ready to do anything, as long as my father will be alright
My stepmother's eyes gleamed with a calculating intensity, and I knew that I wasn't going to like what she had to say.
"We've found a potential investor for your father's company," she said, her voice dripping with sweetness.
"But they require one condition, you have to marry their son." My heart sank, and I felt like I had been punched in the gut. Marry a stranger? It was a desperate move, and I knew that my stepmother had already agreed to it, without even consulting me. I felt trapped, with no other options, and my mind raced with the implications.
But I knew that I had to do whatever it took to save my father's company, even if it meant sacrificing my happiness.
Despite never feeling close to my father, seeing such a strong man reduced to this state was heart-wrenching. I had always been immersed in my art, lacking any real means to make money, but I was now ready to face any hardship to amend my mistakes. Then came the shocking revelation from my stepmother,
“We’ve decided to marry you off to that comatose Man” She said
The words felt like a slap in the face.
"Marriage" was a sacred institution, not a business transaction. And to a comatose man, no less! It was absurd, inhumane, and heartbreaking.
I felt like I was being forced into a life of servitude, trapped in a loveless marriage with a stranger who couldn't even consent to it.
My mind raced with protests, but my stepmother's cold, calculating gaze silenced me. I knew I had to think carefully, to find a way to escape this fate without sacrificing my father's well-being. But for now, I was trapped in a nightmare from which I couldn't wake up.
- Writer
