The Last Time We Loved

Chapter 3

Harrison

I couldn’t move, I couldn’t say anything. No words could form in my mouth. I just stared at him, stared at his pale thin face. I knew something was wrong when I walked in to see how different he looked.

But dying?

That was the last thing I ever thought I would hear him say.

“You are lying.” I said finally.

I searched his face for any sign that this was another manipulation, a plan to drag me back into this place I had escaped from years ago, but judging by his weariness, he doesn’t seem to be faking it.

My father slowly stood up. “Do I look like a man who has time to tell lies?”

I glanced at Nate who looked stunned, and could barely speak. He just stared at my father, paled. I shook my head, curling my hand into fist as I turned my gaze back to my father.

“You’ve always been dramatic, father.” I said, taking a step close. “You tried it once seven years ago, and just like before, I won’t fall for it.”

I should have stayed back in Australia, ignored his message, than return to this shithole to hear this lies.

“I am not asking you to fall for anything.” He snapped. “I’m telling you the truth, my doctors have given me less than a year, and the company needs you to take over.” His voice trembled slightly.

I ran my hand through my hair, I didn’t know what I felt most, anger, fear, pain, grief, the belief that my father was telling the truth and wasn’t joking,

“Why me?” I clenched my jaw, trying to suppress the pain. “Why is it always me? Nate is right there, he has been at your side, hasn’t he? He knows the business, the people, he knows the company more than I do, and you’ve trained him for this.”

“Nate is capable, yes.” My father said without hesitation. “But I can only entrust this company to you.”

“Do you even remember what drove me away in the first place?” I shot back. “I have thought about it.” I held his gaze. “For seven years, I have thought about it every single time, and the answer is the same, I don’t want your company, father, I can’t be your heir.”

“This is what your mother would have wanted.” He said, and I curled my hand into fist.

“Don’t!” I shouted. “Don’t bring mom into this.” I stabbed my finger, I can’t go back to those suffocating memories, I can’t let him blame it on the one person I wish was still alive, to the one person I wish he hadn’t drove to her death.

“Harrison…” He slowly lowered his eyes.

“Perhaps Harrison is right.” Nate finally spoke, stepping between us. “If he doesn’t want the company, why force him?” He glanced from me to our father. “I’ve been here. I know every inch of this company. Perhaps it was always meant to be mine.”

My father’s gaze flickered to Nate. “You’ve done well, but Harrison is the rightful heir, leadership is not simply loyalty.” He said sharply.

I rubbed my temples. “I didn’t come here for this, like I said, I am leaving tomorrow.” I turned to the door.

“Harrison, please…” My father’s cough made me turned. He staggered, clutching his chest and my eyes dilated when he stumbled backward.

“Father!” I rushed over to his side, dropping on my knees beside him, the color drained out of his face, and sweat beads formed on his forehead, his lips parted, as he gasped for air.

“He is having a heart attack.” I reached to loosen his tie, and glanced at Nate who froze in shock. “Don’t just stand there!” I barked, gripping my father’s shoulder. “Call an ambulance, right now, Nate!”

Nate snapped back to reality, fumbling for his phone with trembling hands, my father’s fingers reached for my sleeve weakly, making me turn my gaze back to him, tears clustered in my eyes to see him like this.

“Harrison…” He wheezed.

“Don’t talk,” I ordered him. “Save your strength, help is coming.” I could hear Nate making the call already.

I pressed my hand against my father’s chest, feeling the fast thump of his heartbeat. I looked at his face, my thoughts turning back to the past when I sit with him, talk about business, about my hobbies, about things that made me happy.

I can’t lose him to, this expression, this paleness, it all reminds me of my mother, I can’t watch him die.

“Stay… please…”

“I am not going anywhere.” I assured him instantly. “Stay with me.” I whispered, leaning close. “Do you hear me? You are not allowed to give up now.” I turned to Nate. “Where is the f*****g ambulance!?”

“They are on their way.” Nate knelt down on the other side, and held our father’s hand tightly. “Dad, just hold on a little longer, please.”

I paced around in front of the emergency room, it has been an hour since he was taken in there, still no news from the doctors who went in with him.

“Are you happy now?” Nate asked and I halted, his brows furrowed as he looked at me. “You had to fight him? He just told you he has little time left to live and all you could do was push him to anger, seven years away and the first thing you do is break him all over, making him have a heart attack?”

“Don’t you dare put this one me.” I shot back.

“Who else should I put it on?” Nate stepped closer, clenching his hand at his side. “I stayed, I worked, I did everything he asked while you lived your perfect life somewhere else, and now you finally returned, one argument, and he nearly dies!”

“You think this is my fault?” I stepped closer. “You think I wanted to be dragged into this country, or be named an heir? I don’t want any of it!”

“Then why did you come back at all?” Nate spat. “If you hate it so much, why didn’t you stay gone?”

I wish I did, but even after seven years, the loyal, foolish, and stubborn part of me could never ignore my father’s call.

I turned around without giving him a response. I heard the door open, and I stepped forward. “How is he?” I asked.

The doctor glanced at us. “Mr. Kent is stable, we’ve managed to stabilize his heart for now, but I will be honest, he doesn’t have much time.”

I tried to remain calm, I have just confirmed my father wasn’t lying, he was saying the truth, and perhaps he needs me here.

“Can we see him now?”

The doctor nodded. “One at a time, he is conscious, but exhausted, keep it brief.”

I didn’t wait, I head toward the room, and the sight of my father made me halt. He lay on the bed with wires and monitors attached to his body. His face looked older than ever, the wrinkles on his forehead was deeper.

“Harrison.” He whispered and I pulled a chair closer, sitting beside him.

“You scared the hell out of me.” I muttered.

“I told you… I don’t have much time left and now you saw it for yourself.” He drew a sharp breath. “Don’t let my company die with me, take over, Harrison.”

I closed my eyes to deny the fear in my heart at the thought of losing my father just the way I lost my mother.

Why does tragedy always happen when I am around?