TAMING THE COLD-HEARTED BOSS

Chapter 02: Under the Weight of Responsibility

Chapter 02: Under the Weight of Responsibility

With a heavy heart and the pressure growing stronger every day, Maggie, the oldest daughter and big sister, had to carry a responsibility her parents had suddenly placed on her.

With one hand covering her mouth as she broke down, she remained frozen under the weight of her sadness, her eyes filled with tears.

For a moment, she let out a breath, even though it meant letting everything out.

Suddenly, little Lucie's voice could be heard at the end of the hallway. Like an alarm, a signal forcing her to swallow everything back down at once, Maggie immediately wiped her eyes.

In an instant, her tears disappeared. She used her clothes, her hands, anything she could to dry her eyes as quickly as possible.

Hearing the little girl's voice becoming more and more persistent, she hurried down the hallway to join her.

"Yes, yes, Lucie, I'm here, sweetheart," she said quickly as she reached her.

Lucie looked at her closely.

"Maggie, are you crying?" she asked when she noticed her sister's eyes were still a little watery.

"No! No, sweetheart. I'm not crying. I just got a little dust in my eye. Tell me, did you want to tell me something?"

"I'm done eating. Can I come with you?" she asked in her soft little voice.

Maggie didn't understand. Her eyes settled on her, confused by the surprising request.

"Dad and Mom are here, Lucie. And I'm going to work," she replied with a gentle smile.

Lucie turned away, avoiding her sister's gaze. Her expression became sad, and she crossed her arms as if she were annoyed.

"Maggie, I want to come with you! Dad and Mom don't talk to me! They don't play with me. They always leave me alone in the living room."

As she spoke, Maggie's expression immediately became sadder. All she could do was gently stroke the little girl's hair, trying to calm her down.

Suddenly, Lucie turned back toward her. Her little eyes grew wider with a firm determination that was unusual for a child her age.

"And I get bored all by myself here! I'm not allowed to go outside and play. I'm all alone, Maggie. Please let me come with you. Please, Maggie," she begged, tears gathering in her eyes.

Maggie didn't know what to say at that moment.

All she felt was sadness.

A sadness even greater than her own.

Seeing her little sister this unhappy broke her heart.

Deep down, Maggie understood exactly how she felt. Their parents weren't really there for her either. Yet somehow, she had already learned to live with it.

But for her little sister, it was even more painful.

Without realizing it, tears began to rise in Maggie's eyes again. She immediately turned her face away from little Lucie and wiped the corners of her eyes before turning back to her with a small smile.

"Listen, Lucie... I won't even be able to stay close to you at the orphanage, you know. I'm going there to work. And I can't bring you with me without asking Dad and Mom and Mother Superior for permission."

Lucie frowned, clearly unhappy with the answer.

"Maggie, please. Dad and Mom won't even notice... They don't care about me!" she added sadly.

"No! Lucie, don't say that, sweetheart. Dad and Mom love you. They're just very busy. Let's do something. You really like drawing, don't you?"

Lucie nodded.

"Then keep yourself busy by drawing, and once I get to the orphanage, I'll ask Mother Superior for permission. That way, from time to time, we'll ask Mom and Dad, and I can bring you with me, okay, sweetheart?"

"Okay," Lucie replied, with a little frustration in her voice.

Maggie looked at her.

She knew her sister's words were true.

But what could she tell her?

That she was right?

That their parents weren't really acting the way parents should?

That they were putting enormous pressure on her and leaving the weight of the whole family on her shoulders?

She couldn't.

That burden was hers alone.

She was twenty-two years old.

But Lucie was only seven. She had asked for none of this and deserved to live a much calmer and happier life.

Maggie leaned toward her and kissed her cheek.

Then, with a smile, she said:

"Make me some pretty drawings, okay? I'll bring you even more colored pencils."

Lucie still looked sad.

Her eyes were slightly lowered, and her expression remained almost blank.

Maggie placed one hand against her cheek and gently lifted her face so their eyes met.

"Now, I want to see you smile, sweetheart. You're so much prettier when you do. I don't like seeing you sad. It makes me very sad too," she said.

Suddenly, Lucie's eyes opened wider.

She placed her little hands over Maggie's hands, which were holding her chin.

"No! No, Maggie! I don't want you to be sad. Look, I'm smiling!" she exclaimed.

She immediately smiled, much to Maggie's happiness.

There was only one thing Maggie wanted, and it was the most precious thing in the world to her:

To see her little sister happy.

And her little sister, despite her young age, also knew that they could always count on each other.

"I'm very happy, Lucie. I won't be sad. Always smile like that. One day, the two of us won't be so sad anymore. And we'll be very, very happy with Mom and Dad. Okay?"

"Yes, Maggie," Lucie replied.

"Now I have to go. See you later, sweetheart."

Maggie stood up and walked toward the door.

Just as she was about to leave, she turned toward her sister, whose smile had already disappeared.

But as soon as their eyes met again, they both smiled... even though, deep down, it was hard.

Maggie waved goodbye, and Lucie waved back.

Then she turned around and walked through the door.

Before she could even take another step, the door at the end of the hallway slammed open.

"Maggie!" her mother's voice shouted.

Maggie turned around, frozen.

But as soon as she saw her sister's eyes, a small smile appeared on her lips.

Maggie immediately went back inside.

"Yes, Mom!" she answered quickly.

Her mother stepped in front of her.

In a harsh tone, her face tense, she said:

"Talk to that woman at the orphanage. We need the advance. Is that understood?"

Despite the uncertainty on her face, Maggie quickly nodded.

"Yes, Mom," she replied, finding a little inner strength.

"Then go."

Before leaving, Maggie still looked at little Lucie and smiled at her again to reassure her.

Then she left, more stressed than ever.

The moment she stepped outside, a flood of thoughts overwhelmed her.

She was walking, but it was almost as if only her shadow was moving.

She walked inside a bubble where everything around her had disappeared, leaving only her fears and the pressure...

"Maggie! Good morning, my child!" a mother called out to her.

Even the voices around her couldn't bring her back.

"Hey! What's wrong with her?" the woman wondered.

"Mom, what's wrong with her?!" asked a young woman who joined her outside, looking perfectly dressed.

"It's Maggie, Christelle. Every morning, she greets me, but today she seems completely lost in her thoughts."

"Mom, that's what money problems do to people!" the young woman said with a small laugh.

"If that's the problem, then help her. Help her find a job," her mother said.

"Me, help her? Who helped me? Besides, you can't force someone to do anything. If she wanted my help, she would have asked me," she replied while applying her lipstick.

"But Christelle!"

"Mom, please. See you tonight! Kisses!"

She walked away, her high heels clicking against the ground.

Maggie's Point of View

I don't feel like I'm doing enough for them.

I want to be a good daughter to my parents and a better sister, but I don't know how to make them happy.

I do everything I'm supposed to do, but I'm never enough.

Not even a small smile.

Not even the slightest encouragement.

I get none of it.

"Is this what family is?"

"Does it all come down to how much money you bring home?"

I'm still going to keep fighting, even if it means taking on several jobs.

Maggie's thoughts weighed heavily on her.

She walked as if nothing else existed... not even the road.

She was following a route she had known for years, but she didn't realize she was approaching a path that required much more attention.

The road.

Walking without looking, she had no idea what was waiting for her.

A moving car was only a few feet away.

She kept walking slowly, completely unaware of the danger.

Suddenly, the driver honked once.

Then twice.

Nothing.

The passenger in the back, an imposing-looking man, became intrigued.

"Paul, what's going on?" he asked firmly.

"Sir, excuse me, but there's a young woman in the road. She seems to be walking completely unaware of what's around her."

The man turned his cold, hardened gaze straight ahead and fixed it on her.

Then, in a sharp tone, he said:

"Keep driving," he ordered without hesitation.