FINDING THE BRIDE

A Father's Fear

Chapter 3 — A Father’s Fear

The rain returned that evening.

Cape Town’s streets shimmered beneath golden streetlights while luxury cars moved through the wet roads of the city. Inside his black Mercedes, Mr Henry Jones sat silently in the back seat, replaying the conversation with Jake over and over again.

The driver glanced at him through the mirror carefully.

“Home, sir?”

Mr Henry looked out the window for a moment before answering.

“No. Take me to Camps Bay.”

“Yes, sir.”

The car turned toward the coastal roads overlooking the ocean.

Mr Henry loosened his tie slowly, exhaustion settling deep into his chest. At fifty-eight years old, he had built an empire people admired across South Africa.

Money.

Respect.

Power.

Yet none of it mattered when it came to his son.

Jake was becoming someone even Mr Henry no longer understood.

Or perhaps worse—

Someone he understood too well.

The car eventually stopped outside a beautiful home overlooking the sea cliffs of Camps Bay. Warm lights glowed through the windows while jazz music played softly inside.

Mr Henry stepped out and walked toward the front door without knocking.

An older man looked up from the living room and smiled immediately.

“Well,” he said warmly. “You only visit me at night when something is wrong.”

Mr Henry sighed tiredly.

“You still know me too well, Maloi.”

Mr Samuel Maloi laughed softly as they embraced briefly.

Unlike Mr Henry’s sharp business appearance, Mr Maloi carried peace around him naturally. He wore simple clothes despite being wealthy himself, and his calm eyes missed absolutely nothing.

For over thirty years, the two men had remained close friends.

They met long before success found them.

Back when life was simpler.

Back when love still felt honest.

“Come,” Mr Maloi said, leading him toward the balcony overlooking the ocean. “You look troubled.”

“I am.”

Mr Maloi poured two glasses of expensive whiskey before handing one to his friend.

Mr Henry stared at the drink for a moment but did not touch it.

“You know,” Mr Maloi said calmly, “you used to drink like that whenever Elizabeth upset you.”

Pain flickered briefly across Mr Henry’s face at the mention of his late wife.

“Don’t,” he muttered quietly.

“Still hurts?”

“It always will.”

The wind blew softly around them while waves crashed below the cliffs.

Finally, Mr Maloi leaned back in his chair.

“So tell me,” he said. “What has Jake done now?”

Mr Henry exhaled heavily.

“He’s getting worse.”

Mr Maloi nodded slowly, unsurprised.

“I heard about the girl leaving.”

Mr Henry looked up immediately.

“You heard?”

“Cape Town’s wealthy circles speak too much.”

Shame crept across Mr Henry’s expression.

“He hurt her badly.”

“And you’re surprised?”

“No,” Mr Henry admitted honestly. “That’s the problem.”

Silence settled between them.

Mr Henry finally took a sip of whiskey before speaking again.

“I failed him.”

“No,” Mr Maloi replied carefully. “You failed to stop him.”

The words hit harder because they were true.

Mr Henry stared out at the dark ocean.

“When Elizabeth died… something changed inside Jake.”

“He was young.”

“He became angry at everything.”

Mr Maloi studied him quietly.

“And what did you do?”

Mr Henry laughed bitterly.

“I buried myself in work.”

There it was.

The truth.

While Jake mourned his mother, Mr Henry built more businesses, traveled more often, attended more meetings, and ignored the growing darkness inside his son.

He convinced himself money and opportunity would be enough.

But grief raised Jake more than love did.

“He worshipped Elizabeth,” Mr Henry whispered. “After she died, he stopped trusting people.”

Mr Maloi nodded thoughtfully.

“And now he hurts women before they can leave him.”

Mr Henry looked down at his glass.

“Sometimes when he loses his temper…” He paused painfully. “I see myself.”

Mr Maloi remained silent for several seconds.

“You were never this violent.”

“I could have become this violent.”

That honesty filled the air heavily between them.

Years ago, before Elizabeth changed him, Mr Henry had also been cold-tempered and controlling. Success came from dominance. Fear. Authority.

Then Elizabeth entered his life and slowly softened the parts of him he hated most.

She challenged him.

Refused to fear him.

Loved him without surrendering herself.

Mr Henry spent twenty-five years trying to become worthy of her love.

Now she was gone.

And Jake never learned those lessons.

“He needs help,” Mr Maloi said finally.

“He refuses help.”

“Then life will force him to change.”

Mr Henry rubbed his forehead tiredly.

“I made him a deal years ago. Marriage before twenty-six in exchange for funding his businesses.”

Mr Maloi raised an eyebrow.

“And now?”

“Now I intend to keep my word.”

Mr Maloi laughed softly.

“You want to arrange a wife for Jake Henry?”

“I want to save my son.”

“Those are not the same thing.”

Mr Henry finally looked frustrated.

“Then tell me what to do!”

The sudden anger surprised even him.

Mr Maloi remained calm.

“That anger,” he said quietly. “Jake inherited it from somewhere.”

Mr Henry immediately looked away.

The truth hurt because he could not deny it.

Mr Maloi continued gently.

“A woman cannot heal a man who refuses to heal himself.”

“I know.”

“Then why search for a bride?”

Mr Henry leaned back heavily.

“Because I’m running out of time.”

For the first time that night, fear entered his voice.

Real fear.

“He’s becoming reckless,” he admitted. “Employees are terrified of him. Investors complain constantly. He drinks too much. And now women are beginning to talk.”

Mr Maloi’s expression grew serious.

“That could destroy your family name.”

“It could destroy him.”

The older man sighed quietly.

“Do you remember what Elizabeth told you before she died?”

Mr Henry froze slightly.

Of course he remembered.

Every word.

Every tear.

Every moment.

“She told me not to let Jake grow up angry.”

“And?”

Mr Henry swallowed painfully.

“I failed her.”

The ocean wind blew harder across the balcony.

Mr Maloi stood slowly and walked toward the railing.

“Perhaps not completely,” he said after a while.

Mr Henry looked at him carefully.

“What do you mean?”

Mr Maloi turned slightly.

“Maybe Jake doesn’t need a woman to save him.”

“Then what does he need?”

“A woman who refuses to be destroyed by him.”

The words lingered in the air.

Mr Henry thought carefully.

Strong.

Fearless.

Someone impossible to control.

Someone like Elizabeth once was.

“You really believe someone like that exists?” he asked quietly.

Mr Maloi smiled faintly.

“Oh, she exists.”

“Then where do we find her?”

Mr Maloi chuckled softly.

“Cape Town is full of beautiful women, Henry. But very few have strength.”

Mr Henry stood up and joined him near the railing.

“So we search.”

Mr Maloi looked amused.

“You sound like we’re hunting treasure.”

“In a way, we are.”

The older man laughed quietly before becoming serious again.

“But understand this clearly.” He looked directly at Mr Henry. “If Jake refuses accountability, no woman will stay. Not even the strongest one.”

Mr Henry nodded slowly.

“I know.”

“Good.”

For a while, both men remained silent while staring at the dark ocean below.

Then Mr Maloi suddenly asked, “Does Jake know the truth about Elizabeth?”

Mr Henry stiffened immediately.

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because it would destroy him.”

Mr Maloi’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“Or perhaps it would finally explain him.”

Mr Henry looked uncomfortable.

“We agreed never to discuss that again.”

“And yet here we are.”

Tension filled the balcony briefly.

Mr Henry’s voice lowered carefully.

“If Jake ever discovers what happened before Elizabeth died…”

“He’ll hate you?”

Mr Henry said nothing.

Which was answer enough.

Mr Maloi sighed quietly.

“Secrets always return eventually, my friend.”

Mr Henry stared into the distance silently.

Deep down, he already knew that.

Back at the Henry mansion later that night, Jake sat alone in his private bar downstairs.

The nightclub music from one of his own clubs played softly through the speakers while half-empty whiskey bottles covered the counter.

A blonde woman sat nearby scrolling through her phone awkwardly.

Jake barely noticed her presence.

“Are you okay?” she finally asked carefully.

Jake drank another shot silently.

“You’ve barely spoken since we got here.”

“I didn’t invite you for conversation.”

The woman looked offended immediately.

“Well, maybe I should leave.”

Jake shrugged without looking at her.

“Then leave.”

She stared at him for a second before grabbing her purse angrily.

“You’re an asshole, Jake.”

The front door slammed moments later.

Jake remained completely emotionless.

Lately every woman irritated him.

Too loud.

Too fake.

Too easy.

None of them challenged him.

None of them interested him.

Except—

Teresa’s terrified face flashed through his mind again.

Jake cursed under his breath and poured another drink.

Why did he keep thinking about her?

Because she escaped.

That was all.

Suddenly his phone buzzed on the counter.

Father.

Jake ignored it.

The phone rang again.

And again.

Finally, irritated, Jake answered.

“What?”

“You’re coming to dinner tomorrow night,” Mr Henry said calmly.

“No.”

“That wasn’t a request.”

Jake laughed bitterly.

“You really enjoy controlling people.”

“And you enjoy hurting them.”

Jake’s expression darkened instantly.

“Careful.”

“Or what?” Mr Henry asked coldly. “You’ll threaten me too?”

Silence.

Jake gripped the glass tightly.

“I’m not in the mood for this.”

“You will attend dinner tomorrow.”

“Why?”

“Because Mr Maloi will be there.”

Jake rolled his eyes immediately.

“That old man again?”

“He’s helping me.”

“With what?”

A pause followed.

Then Mr Henry answered clearly.

“Finding your wife.”

Jake nearly laughed.

“You’ve lost your mind.”

“Eight o’clock tomorrow.”

The call ended immediately.

Jake stared at the phone in disbelief before throwing it onto the couch.

Marriage.

The word alone irritated him.

The idea of some obedient woman entering his life because his father arranged it sounded ridiculous.

Jake finished another drink before standing up and walking toward the massive glass windows overlooking Cape Town’s glittering skyline.

The city looked beautiful from up here.

Cold.

Untouchable.

Controlled.

Exactly how he liked things.

Yet for some reason, his father’s words unsettled him tonight.

A woman who refuses to be destroyed by him.

Jake smirked faintly to himself.

No such woman existed.

And if she did—

She would never survive loving a man like him.