Chapter 4
1704 Words
Damian Wells’ POV
Finally, we were all seated at the dining table for dinner.
“So, Riona, why did it take you so long to come home, dear?” I asked, looking at her. She had arrived just before dinner. I also wanted to talk to her about her marriage plan with Ryan before officially announcing her going for university studies. And Ethan… god, how should I handle him?
“Oh, Dad, I was going to have dinner with my friends, but since you called me, I canceled my plans.” Riona smiled as she said this. My dear daughter canceled her dinner plans with her friends just because of one call from me. She didn’t even ask why…
“But you had told me something else when I called you, didn’t you?” I asked. Before she could answer, I glanced at Ethan and then back at her. “Also, I sent Ethan to you in the evening, but you didn’t come home with him either. Why didn’t you bring her with you, Ethan?”
Before Ethan could respond, Riona turned to him instead. “Wait! You came there? To my friend’s house? How come I didn’t know that?”
Ahh, again Ethan… he never does his work properly. I don’t know what problem he has with Riona.
“I forgot,” Ethan replied simply.
Really? As always, “expected.” I sighed and decided to move forward with my plan.
“Anyway, I have big news for you both! And I hope you’ll be as happy as I am.” I smiled, beginning my plan.
“What is it, Dad? I’m so excited!” Riona replied enthusiastically.
“So—” before I could continue, my wife interrupted.
“Honey, how about we eat first? The food is getting cold. We can continue talking later,” Sophie said, placing her hand on mine with a smile.
She doesn’t know about this, and I have no plan of telling her. She’s terrible at keeping secrets.
“Later? When?” I asked. “When do we ever sit together like this? We barely get time to eat as a family. Everyone is always busy with their own lives.”
Hearing my reasoning, Sophie shook her head but then nodded in agreement. “You’re right, I suppose.”
I looked at Riona and Ethan, one after the other, and began again. “The thing I want to tell you both is that you’re going to Boston for your further studies.”
And bang! The first person to react, just as I expected, was Ethan.
“But why? All of a sudden, to Boston? I mean, I’m in my final year—so why this sudden change?” His expression was just as confused as I thought it would be.
“Then don’t go if you don’t want to. But Riona will!” I said firmly. This would make things easier.
“But why her as well?!” Ethan asked again.
“Because Boston generally offers more top-ranked universities and has a stronger global reputation for higher education,” I explained, playing my first card to convince them.
“Also, I forgot to mention—there are excellent career opportunities too. And I always want the best for my children.” I smiled, sighing dramatically.
“Aww, honey, that’s very thoughtful of you,” Sophie said warmly.
Finally, Riona spoke. “If that’s what you want, Dad, I don’t have any problem with it.” She looked genuinely happy.
Great.
“Why so sudden, though? Why didn’t you have this thought when I started my university?” Ethan pressed again.
Before I could respond, Riona cut in. “What do you mean, why? Obviously, Dad says it when he has the thought. If he got the idea now, then what’s wrong with that?”
She then looked at me and smiled. “Don’t worry, Dad. I’ll go.”
My lovely daughter.
I sighed with relief. Everything was going well. “So start packing already. You’re leaving in two days, since classes start in fifteen.”
“Right! I’ll start now! By the way, which college is it? Am I going to stay in a hostel or rent a place?” Riona asked excitedly.
“You’ll live at my friend’s house—the Martin’s Mansion. His daughter also goes to the same university, so you’ll have company.”
As soon as I said it, Riona’s eyes went wide. She stood up immediately.
“Wait!! You mean… I’m going to live in the Martin house? Their house is big, but… do both their children still live there?” she asked, then sat back down.
“Yes, of course, it’s their house. Why? Are you excited to meet his kids? By the way, they’re not kids anymore.” I chuckled. “I still remember how well you all got along the last time we visited.”
I still remember that day—when my best friend told me how he wanted my daughter to marry his son someday. I was shocked then, because it was the first time he saw Riona, and the thought immediately came to his mind. Back then, Riona was only thirteen.
⸻
6 Years Ago
Boston, Massachusetts
At Martin’s Mansion
After a long time, I finally visited my best friend, along with my family.
It had been almost ten years since we last met—that’s far too long, yet I still remembered him clearly.
He and I sat in the garden, while Sophie was busy with Mrs. Ava Martin, his wife. Ava was showing Sophie around their house, and we learned she had designed the interiors herself since she was a home décor specialist.
Our kids were also in the garden, but except for Emma, no one seemed to be playing. She was older than Riona but behaved more childishly, which made me laugh.
“What are you laughing at, Damian?” my friend asked, side-eyeing me.
“Haha, nothing. Just looking at our kids. By the way, where’s your son, Ryan?”
As soon as I asked, he turned toward the gate. “He should be arriving soon.”
Then he frowned. “But tell me—why didn’t you ever mention that you have a daughter?”
I waved my hand dismissively. “Nah, it’s not like that. It’s just… we meet so rarely. The last time we met was ten years ago.”
“That time, too, you never said anything about a daughter. And judging by her, she’s clearly older than ten.” He had me there.
He didn’t know about the accident… about the adoption. It was better he didn’t.
“I might have forgotten to mention…” I trailed off. He looked at me suspiciously.
“Forgot to mention? And yo—” Before he could finish, a car pulled up at the gate.
Thank God. “Looks like Ryan has arrived, Adrian,” I said quickly, cutting him off.
“Wait a second,” Adrian said as his eyes landed on his son stepping out of the car.
“Ryan! Come here for a moment. I want you to meet my childhood best friend, Damian Wells—the co-founder and CEO of Silver Lake—”
I didn’t know why he had to brag about my company while introducing me.
“I’m not interested in any of your business friends,” Ryan muttered before turning to walk away.
Just then, Riona came running toward me.
“Papa! Look what I found! A bright and colorful butterfly in the—”
Smack!
Before she could finish, she bumped into Ryan.
“Ahhh!” Riona yelped. “Ouch, that hurt…” she said softly, rubbing her head.
“Can’t you see where you’re running, little girl?” Ryan smirked before leaving.
Riona pouted, muttering only one thing after he left. “He’s too tall, Dad!”
At that moment, Adrian’s eyes lit up like stars. He looked at me with hope.
“Don’t you think they’d be cute together?”
“Who?” I asked stupidly.
“Your daughter and my son,” he said with a smile.
“Wait, don’t tell me… They’re too young—”
Before I could argue, he cut me off. “That’s when most parents make mistakes! Just think about it. In the future, if they marry, how much it would benefit us both! Our companies could merge—the Majestic Holdings and Silver Lake. Just imagine it!”
And that’s when my eyes shone brighter than ever.
A business deal—the biggest one ever. Who wouldn’t want their company to merge with the largest in the US? Who wouldn’t want their daughter to marry its only heir?
But… would he accept Riona if he knew she wasn’t my biological child?
“I need to tell you something… before we finalize this—this marriage deal,” I started.
“Oh, come on! Just seal it already. Ryan is the only heir. Think of it as a business deal if you want. Promise me—when Ryan takes over the company, you’ll have them married.”
He looked at me with such hope that I couldn’t say no. So I agreed.
Without telling him the truth. But it wasn’t a lie either. Because Riona is my daughter. I never once treated her as anything less than my own.
⸻
Knock Knock
“Yes, come in.” I was in my study when I heard the knock.
It was Ethan.
“Hmm? What is it?” I asked, confused. He never came to my study.
“Dad, I want to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“I also want to continue my studies at Boston University.”
What? Why, all of a sudden, does he want to study there?
“Why? You just said you’re in your final year. What now?” Please, just stay here…
“I just feel like it would be good to get my degree from there.” He smiled and left before I could ask anything more.
Damn it. What about my plan now? I hope he doesn’t ruin everything.
To Be Continued…
- Writer
