Chapter 2: The Decision of Three Children
908 Words
"Everything is ready, Lord."
A middle-aged man announced as he entered through the leafy doorway.
"Got it."
His response was cool and steady.
"And remind the old man for me—if he’s planning to matchmake me, he should try sitting in this chair first."
The striking man rose and tossed these words over his shoulder as he headed to the door.
Half an hour later aboard the Donney family's private jet.
In the luxurious, expansive cabin, the attractive man lounged on a couch, legs crossed, casually flipping through his phone, a hint of amusement playing on his face as he listened to the other end shout.
"You stubborn kid, I'm already in my sixties, when are you going to settle down? Whenever you do, I won’t interfere, but your mom and I are eager to meet our grandchild. Heck, even a quick fix would do—we’re pretty open about these things."
His tone initially severe, softened considerably by the end.
"Maybe seven or eight more years," the man replied with a slow, teasing drawl.
At twenty, all responsibilities had been thrust upon him, and he whisked his beloved off around the world, leaving his once leisurely life replaced by unexpected chaos. The most infuriating part was the old man, despite being off enjoying himself, still managed to interfere by sending women to his room. Sometimes, he couldn’t help but think the old man was overdoing it.
But at twenty-three, he'd had enough. One wild night, he succumbed to passion with a woman, her delicate fragrance and sorrowful cries leaving a lasting impression.
Regardless of his thoughts, that night was undeniably wonderful—an unprecedented, intoxicating experience.
He'd had his share of encounters, but only she managed to truly captivate and perplex him.
The morning after, the woman was gone, leaving behind only the disorder of their encounter and the scent of their night together—if not for the vivid traces, he might have believed it all a dream.
It was the first time someone had left so abruptly, without him asking them to leave.
Even after seven years, the memory of her touch lingered, an undeniable fascination with the mysterious woman remaining.
"By that time, I might be dead already," the voice on the phone grumbled.
"Don’t worry, if that happens soon, I’ll make sure you get a grand send-off. As your son, I’d also find a thoughtful partner for the widow Donney’s old lord, so just relax."
He ended his statement with a vision of the listener's shocked expression, his own irresistible smile broadening.
"Dream on. Kid, I'm not going anywhere early! And don’t you dare try to matchmake your mother, or else, if I find out, you’ll regret it," the voice retorted with a mix of irritation and threat.
"Old man, you just talked about dying—do you plan to make Mrs. Donney mourn forever?"
He smirked slightly, a playful spark in his eyes.
That old tactic of yours is getting old. If you ever think of leaving, it’ll only be when you can part with the woman you adore.
"Ridiculous, I'll live a long life. And listen, Donney Richard, if you come back from M city without a bride, I'm setting you up myself."
A voice, self-assured and slightly smug, came from the phone.
"Keep out of it. This is my life."
His reply was icy, resolute.
"I don’t care, I want grandkids."
The old man was being stubborn.
"I’m not in a rush to tie the knot. Let’s wait a few more years."
To him, marriage at thirty still felt a bit premature.
"I’ll give you three more years, max. If you don’t have someone by then, I'm dragging you down the aisle myself."
The voice was stern, its displeasure clear.
"Agreed."
If you can find someone by then.
Richard silently added.
In an apartment at Demon Complex number seven, a serious discussion took place.
"Bro, I just got word. Richard is heading to M City to take the reins at Warner Corp as the new CEO," Cathy informed Sammy, who was lounging on the couch.
"Is Dad coming to M City?" Vivian chimed in, looking up from her dessert binge, her lips tinged with a bit of cream, her words slightly muffled.
"We don't really know him that well," she observed curiously, though her voice carried a chilly, youthful detachment.
"It was merely a fleeting connection. Really, if you think about it, besides a thin thread of blood that's barely there, we're practically more strangers than actual strangers."
"That means Dad is just Dad in name for now," Vivian noted, her eyes shifting around, face expressing clear realization.
Poor Dad! He's still not officially recognized.
Vivian silently empathized deeply with the father she hadn't yet met.
"Basically," Cathy quickly added before Sammy could speak.
"Being just a namesake Dad must be tough," Vivian commented empathetically.
"You're way too innocent. The man is a lord of the Donney dynasty, practically a king in America. How could he be anything but formidable?" Sammy countered with a hint of mockery.
Sammy's remark won Cathy and Vivian's full agreement.
Watching his sisters rally to his perspective brought a slight grin to Sammy’s face.
"So, I want to know from you two—if Richard finds out about us and decides to bring us into the Donney fold, would you choose to stay, or would you go with him?" Sammy asked, his tone grave.
- Writer
