It's Painful to Love You

Family Secret

“You chose the wrong daughter.”

Kai kept hearing Emily’s last words to him. What did she mean?

“Sir, Ms. Amelia Chiu wants to talk to you.” 

Why is she here? Kai thought. 

“Let her in.”

Amelia looked furious but composed as she tread her way to him. He motioned her to sit on the sofa.  

“Why do you come, Amelia? Does Philip know this?”

Amelia looked at him straight in his eyes. “It doesn’t matter whether he knows this or not. What matters is I get to say what I want to say to you, you asshole!”

“Be careful with your words, Amelia. I might forget that you are my friend’s wife.” He threateningly said to Amelia. 

Amelia did not look scared at all. She’s William Fort’s daughter, all right. 

“Ha! You consider that I am Philip’s wife? Did it not cross your mind that Emily is Philip’s sister-in-law?!”

Kai just looked at Amelia with a serious face. He understood her anger. She could accuse him all she wanted, but it wouldn’t change anything.   

“Maybe you’re thinking that you’ve won, Kai Stevens. But you’re wrong. Yes, you were able to get my mother’s company, but no, you did not succeed in personally hurting our father. I feel sorry for you. You hurt my sweet innocent sister for nothing. May you rot in hell.” Amelia stood and was on her way to the door when she heard Kai’s question.

“What do you mean?” 

Amelia turned to look at him and said,

“Not all parents love their offspring.”

*

“I don’t wanna talk to you, man. You’re an asshole.” Philip looked pissed at Kai. 

“Me being an asshole has been established even before this happened, Philip.” 

After talking to Amelia, he cancelled all his meetings and went straight to Philip’s hospital. 

“Why the hell are you here? Amelia might show up, and if that happens, I’m gonna kill you.” Philip looked so irritated at him. 

“I need to ask one question then I’ll leave, Phil.” He looked damn serious that Philip decided to give his attention to Kai. 

“What is it?”

“What is Emily to William Fort?”

*

Kai was driving dangerously while he was on his way to his mansion. Whenever the traffic light turned red, he would punch the steering wheel and would keep muttering.

“Damn. Damn. Damn.”

“Emily is the least favorite daughter. Or should I say, my father-in-law resents his youngest daughter. According to my wife, William blames Emily for the death of his wife. Two days before Emily’s birthday, she vehemently asked her mother to come home to celebrate. Elise was in Rimeca for a business event. She was supposed to be back here a day after Emily’s birthday. Then, the crash happened.”

Kai was just listening, and was clenching his hand into a fist from time to time. 

“William has never given much attention to her and would always snap at her when she does something that he doesn’t approve of. All her life, she only wanted to please her father. That’s why you’re a jerk. She risked everything that she had worked for just to be with you. And now, William doesn’t want to do anything with her. No, man, you did not cause him pain. Embarrassment, yes. Not pain. Good thing, Brother Marcus came. He took Emily to live with him in Rimeca.”

When he reached his mansion, he went straight to his room, ignoring Nan. 

When he got inside, he sat on his bed, exhausted. He felt physically, mentally and emotionally drained. 

No, it didn’t matter that he failed in causing William Fort any pain. 

It pained him as reality struck him,

He hurt the only woman who made him feel genuinely happy. 

His beautiful and sweet Emily. 

“Emily. Emily. I’m sorry.”

But it was too late.  

***

4 years later…

Emily was getting ready for her staff meeting when the door of her office suddenly opened. 

“Albert!” She stood and was inside Albert’s arms in just a second. They both hugged each other very tight, and Albert was putting a kiss on her head. 

“This is a surprise!” She led him to the sofa and sat beside him. 

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, you succeeded! I’m used to seeing you thrice in a month that’s why I wondered why you didn’t visit me last month.”

“I had been so busy. My sister had launched her own clothing line and she wanted me to be there to support her.”

“Such a darling. Let me see samples of her clothes, Al. I’d like to be her customer.”

She winked at him. 

He laughed and told her that he was going to remind his sister Lizzie. 

“Em.” 

“Hmmm?”

““Marcus told me that you do not plan to attend the Business Elites Ball next week. Why not, Em?

She sighed. “Brother has been pestering me about it. I don’t know, Al. I just don’t feel like attending the party. You know I don’t like parties that much.”

“Yes, I know. But, Em, it isn’t just a ball. You will be recognized as the  Businesswoman of the Year. A lot have been vying for that award.”

"I don’t need to be recognized, Al. I’m happy enough that my business is doing great, and that I am helping my family’s business to maintain its position in the global business arena.”

“Em, is it because of him? Are you worried that he’ll be there?”

She looked at him straight in the eye. “No, Al. I have moved on already. That man has no effect on me anymore.”

She could still remember how she used to cry every night for her baby, and for the pain Kai Stevens had caused her. It took her almost more than two years before she could finally say that she had moved on.

“I’ll believe you if you’ll go back to Centuria with me the day after tomorrow.”

“Al!”

“Come on, Em. You’ve been here for 4 years and you have never even gone home. Not even once. This is the perfect time, Em. You’ll come with me and you’ll attend the ball. You left Centuria with so much pain, it is only fitting that you come back with a smile. You deserve it, Em. More than anyone.”

“I’ll think about it.”

“Emily.”

“Al, please. Give me time, ok? I’ll call you when I have decided already.”