UNCONTROLLABLE TEARS

CHAPTER 6 The First Crack

A few weeks had passed since Elizabeth and Suzita moved into our house.

I was still trying to get used to them being there.

Sometimes, I would wake up and forget for a few seconds that Mom was gone.

Then I would hear Elizabeth's voice downstairs.

And I would remember.

Things had changed.

Dad had changed too.

He seemed to spend more time at work than before.

There were days when he left before I had finished breakfast and returned when I was already in bed.

At first, I thought it was because he wanted to stay busy.

But one evening, I heard him arguing with someone on the phone.

"I told you I'll make the payment."

I stopped halfway down the staircase.

Dad was standing in the study with his back toward the door.

"I understand the agreement," he said. "But the payment from our client has been delayed."

He listened.

"No, I'm not refusing to pay."

His voice became firmer.

"I said I'll pay you. I just need some time."

There was silence.

Then he lowered his voice.

"Please. Give me until the end of the month."

I had never heard Dad sound like that before.

He sounded worried.

I quietly moved away from the staircase.

I didn't want him to know I had been listening.

When I reached the dining room, Elizabeth was there.

She looked at me.

"Where have you been?"

"Upstairs."

"You've been upstairs for quite a while."

I didn't answer.

She looked at me for another moment before turning her attention back to the dining table. She moved one of the plates slightly, then adjusted the glass beside it as if something about the arrangement bothered her.

"Go wash your hands. Dinner will be ready soon."

I nodded and walked away.

I didn't know why, but I didn't like the way she spoke to me.

It wasn't loud.

It wasn't exactly rude.

But it never felt warm either.

That night, Dad barely touched his food.

He kept checking his phone.

Elizabeth noticed.

"You should eat," she said.

"I will."

"You've barely eaten anything."

"I said I'll eat."

Her face changed slightly, but she said nothing.

Suzita was sitting beside her, quietly eating.

I looked at Dad.

"Are you okay?"

He looked at me and forced a smile.

"I'm fine, sweetheart."

"You look tired."

"I've just had a long day."

I nodded.

I wanted to ask what was wrong with the company, but I didn't know how.

So I stayed quiet.

The next morning, Dad left before I woke up.

And the morning after that, he did the same thing.

Soon, it became normal.

---

At the office, things were getting worse.

Edward sat behind his desk while several documents were spread across it.

His financial manager stood in front of him.

"We're behind on three supplier payments."

Edward looked up.

"How much?"

The man gave him the amount.

Edward stared at the figure for a moment.

"And the salaries?"

"We can cover this month's salaries."

"This month?"

The man hesitated.

"If the expected payment from our biggest client comes through, we'll be fine."

"And if it doesn't?"

The man didn't answer.

Edward leaned back in his chair.

"What about the new contract?"

"They haven't signed yet."

Edward rubbed his forehead.

"So we're waiting on them too."

"Yes, sir."

Edward looked down at the documents.

For years, the company had given him a comfortable life.

Now, every number seemed to be telling him the same thing.

They were running out of time.

His phone rang.

One of the suppliers.

Edward answered.

"Hello?"

The voice on the other end was firm.

"Yes, I know about the outstanding payment."

He listened.

"I understand your position."

Another pause.

"I said you'll be paid."

The supplier continued speaking.

Edward closed his eyes.

"Give me a little more time."

The call ended.

Edward dropped the phone onto his desk.

He sat there silently.

Then he picked up another file.

A few minutes later, his secretary knocked.

"Sir?"

"Yes?"

"Mr. Victor is here."

Edward looked up.

"Victor?"

"Yes."

"Send him in."

A few minutes later, Victor entered the office.

He was a longtime business partner of Richard and someone Edward had known for years.

Victor took one look at him.

"You don't look well."

"I'm fine."

"Your company isn't."

Edward didn't respond.

Victor sat down.

"Richard told me things have become difficult."

Edward's expression hardened slightly.

"I can handle my company."

"I didn't say you couldn't."

Victor leaned forward.

"You need help before the situation gets worse."

Edward sighed.

"What exactly are you suggesting?"

Victor explained the kind of support he could provide and the conditions attached to it.

Edward listened carefully.

He didn't like needing help.

But he also knew he couldn't keep pretending everything was fine.

After Victor left, Edward remained at his desk.

He stared at the contract in front of him.

Then he thought about Maya.

Her school.

Her future.

The life he had promised Natalia he would give their daughter.

He couldn't let the company collapse.

Not now.

Not when Maya had already lost so much.

---

That evening, Edward returned home later than usual.

Elizabeth was waiting in the living room.

"You're late."

"I know."

"You haven't been eating properly either."

Edward loosened his tie.

"I'm fine."

"You keep saying that."

She walked toward him.

"You should take better care of yourself."

Edward gave a tired smile.

"I'll try."

Elizabeth looked at him for a moment.

"There's something else."

"What?"

"Maya."

Edward's expression changed.

"What about her?"

"She doesn't seem to like having us here."

Edward looked toward the staircase.

"She needs time."

"I understand that."

Elizabeth paused.

"But sometimes I wonder if she thinks I'm trying to take her mother's place."

Edward frowned.

"I don't think she thinks that."

"I hope not."

Elizabeth lowered her voice.

"I don't want problems between you and your daughter."

Edward said nothing.

"She needs you," Elizabeth continued. "Especially now."

"I know."

"And maybe she needs to understand that things have changed too."

Edward looked at her.

Elizabeth gave him a small smile.

"I only want peace in this house."

She walked away.

Edward remained standing there for a moment.

He didn't know what to make of the conversation.

He loved Maya.

That hadn't changed.

But he also knew Maya had never accepted Elizabeth or Suzita.

Maybe she only needed time.

Maybe.

---

The following days became even more difficult.

Edward's workload increased.

He stopped sleeping properly.

He skipped meals.

Sometimes he would sit in his office long after everyone else had gone home.

One afternoon, his secretary entered with another stack of documents.

"Sir, these need your signature."

Edward looked at the papers.

"Leave them there."

"Sir, you haven't eaten since morning."

"I'll eat later."

"Are you sure?"

Edward nodded.

After she left, he tried to continue working.

He signed one document.

Then another.

His vision suddenly became blurry.

Edward blinked several times.

The words on the page seemed to move.

He leaned back.

His breathing became heavier.

He reached for the glass of water on his desk, but his hand missed it.

The glass fell to the floor and shattered.

Edward looked down.

The room seemed to spin around him.

He tried to stand.

His knees gave way.

He reached for the edge of the desk.

"Someone..."

His voice was barely audible.

He tried again.

But before he could say another word, everything went dark.