A Debt Repaid
1288 Words
Eric scrutinized her for a long moment before he finally spoke, his voice slow and measured, “Are you so eager to sever ties with me?”
He paused briefly, then added, “Or is this some kind of reverse psychology?”
“Eric, what do you mean by that?” she asked, her voice carrying a hint of frailty.
Eric snorted, drawing a cigarette from its pack and lighting it, the white smoke curling up slowly from his fingers.
“What do I mean? I just got back, and your parents went to great lengths to invite me here under the guise of reminiscing. You must know better than anyone else what their real intentions are, right?” His voice was low and melodic, yet the words he spoke were sharp enough to wound.
Eric was right—Anna had no response, as her family’s intentions were anything but pure.
In their aristocratic circle, marriages were seldom matters of personal choice; they were often strategic alliances to ensure the greatest benefits for both families. And for Tianyi Group to overcome its current difficulties, a union with a prestigious family like Eric's was the best option.
Because of Eric's visit, Kevin, who hadn’t been home for half a month, had made a special trip back. The recent months had left him utterly exhausted from dealing with the company’s affairs, and now he needed to cling to the Eric family as a lifeline.
At the dinner table, Kevin, emboldened by the alcohol, deliberately shifted the conversation to Anna, “Eric, you might not know, since you’ve been abroad for so many years, but Anna has entered the entertainment industry. She always loved performing, even as a child, and I never imagined she’d actually pursue it after graduating college. I heard you recently invested in an entertainment company, so maybe you two can have a good chat privately.”
Eric glanced at Anna, his voice distant and indifferent, “Sure, if anything comes up, feel free to contact me.”
Anna could easily tell this was nothing more than a polite remark—they didn’t even have each other’s contact information.
Throughout the entire meal, Anna remained distracted. If she could, she would have fled—the atmosphere was suffocating.
“Anna's father, Anna's mother, I’ve finished eating. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving now,” Eric spoke at last, having already put down his chopsticks a while ago, merely waiting for an appropriate moment to speak.
“Eric, you've finished so soon? Why not stay a little longer?” Ron wanted to keep him there a bit longer.
“No need.”
Ron gave Anna a pointed look, “Alright then, Anna, go see Eric out.”
Hearing Ron call her name, Anna snapped out of her daze, “Sure...”
Eric walked briskly, and Anna, in her high heels, struggled to keep up.
Suddenly, the figure in front of her came to an abrupt halt, and before she could react, her head bumped directly into his back with a dull thud.
“Sorry.” Anna rubbed her forehead, stifling the pain as she looked up.
“Can’t you watch where you're going?” Eric turned back, his face filled with annoyance.
“I didn’t do it on purpose.”
Eric didn't bother to continue arguing, one hand casually shoved into his pocket as he strode out.
Watching his retreating figure, Anna felt an inexplicable emptiness, as though a part of her had been hollowed out.
Once, they had been the best of friends. Eric, three years her senior, had doted on her, always taking care of the little girl who trailed after him, indulging her in everything.
He used to love pinching her cheeks and calling her “Little Pumpkin,” and with such a brother by her side, Anna had enjoyed significant sway at school.
But as they grew older, the distance between them grew as well—especially after what had happened, their relationship had become utterly strained.
Thinking about it now, Anna couldn’t help but feel a stabbing pain in her heart.
When she returned, as expected, Ron and Kevin were sitting on the sofa, waiting for her.
Anna clenched her teeth but still approached them.
Kevin looked at his daughter of over twenty years, his voice sincere and earnest, “Anna, I’m sure you’re aware of the situation our family is in right now. Tianyi Group is my life's work, and I can’t just sit back and watch it collapse. If you can marry into the Eric family, they certainly wouldn’t stand by and do nothing, and then Tianyi could be saved.”
Though Anna had long been aware of their intentions, hearing these words still caused a pang of sorrow in her heart.
“And you're willing to sacrifice your daughter’s happiness for that?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
“You and Eric grew up together. I doubt he’d mistreat you,” Kevin paused briefly before continuing, “Besides, don’t you love acting? Eric owns several talent agencies. If you’re with him, your career will surely soar.”
Seeing Anna remain silent, Ron, growing impatient, spoke up, “We’ve raised you for so many years, given you the best education, the finest clothes and food—consider this a way to repay us. You wouldn’t want to see your father’s hard work of so many years go to waste, right?”
Ron had always been cold toward her, and after Alan was born, she cared even less for Anna.
Anna had thought that when her mother said these words, it wouldn’t hurt her. But why did it still hurt so much now?
“Alright.” Anna barely managed to choke out that one word.
Her mother was right. She couldn’t just stand by and watch the company her father had painstakingly built fall apart.
The bar was loud and raucous—the pulsing beat of the music, the crowd’s laughter, and the mix of smoke and alcohol hanging in the air. The music blared at full volume, and under the influence of alcohol, young men and women danced wildly in the center of the floor.
Eric had lost count of how many gatherings he had attended since his return, but today, nearly all his childhood friends were present.
The group gathered, some drinking, some playing cards, and the atmosphere was lively.
Most of them were prominent figures in New York, each accompanied by a beautiful young woman.
These women were clever and well-versed in pleasing men, having worked in such an environment for so long.
Amidst the lively chatter, the conversation shifted to Eric.
“Eric, you've been back for a few days now. Does Anna know?” Michael, one of Eric’s closest friends, asked. He was the only one brave enough to mention Anna in front of Eric.
Eric sat at the center of the group, rarely speaking, yet still commanding everyone's attention.
The woman by his side was at least tactful, behaving obediently without being clingy, unlike some of the others.
Someone teased, “Michael, your information is outdated. Eric went to Anna’s house for dinner the day after he returned.”
Eric’s expression remained indifferent upon hearing this. He slightly lifted his head and poured himself another glass of whiskey.
Michael paused for a moment, then leaned closer to Eric, speaking just loud enough for only the two of them to hear, “I heard Anna's family intends to arrange a marriage between the two of you. What do you think about it?”
Now that Eric was fully in charge of his family, whether or not there would be a union rested entirely on his decision.
- Writer
