C5 Debt For Love

Olivia POV

Every minute I spend with my father on his sick bed is another time to renew my hatred for Ethan and his father. My father suffered a cardiac arrest after receiving the news of his sweat going down the drain.

Sooner did I realize Ethan's father played him all along, only to get his signature on the company transfer. He is such a cunning man.

"Olivia, I am sorry, for putting you through all this," my father says, slowly opening his eyes.

"No father, you dont need to be sorry, you did what you thought was best."

"No, I made you suffer for my misjudgements. Like you said, I have no idea what you go through there."

His voice is rasp, using all his strength to speak.

"All you have to do now is get better and fight back for what is yours, don't give up yet, father."

A roll of tears trickles down the side of his face.

"I failed your mother, and now I failed you. I promised her I would keep her happy, but I was unable to. I thought I would fulfill that promise through you, only for me to realize how much of a loser I am."

"Stop it, Dad. You have not failed, when you get out of this place, you gonna the heat to them and show them who is boss."

I can light up his face.

As father regains his health, he instructs Julian to set up a meeting with the press, and my stomach flutters with butterflies. It gives me joy to see him able to walk and work.

I hate myself for speaking to him rudely like that. I decided to do everything to help him regain his dignity. That is the only way I can be free from the hell I am trapped in.

I crossed paths with Ethan's father at my father's press conference; this will be my second time seeing him since Ethan and I married. He imposed so much duty on his son that he had to work his butts out to prove to his father that he was worthy of taking over. Sometimes, I wonder if that is why Ethan is so cold.

Ethan's father walked up to meet my father before the press conference started. He asks me to excuse him while he speaks with my father. I watch my father's countenance change to a gloomy one, and I become worried for my father. What is Ethan's father probably saying to my father to make him look like that? I pray he has not shown tares in the wheat with his words.

Immediately, I walk over to meet them as I am barely ten feet away from them.

"I believe you will make a good decision tonight, it is for your good."

That is the last sentence I hear Ethan's father say to my Dad before he struts away with a loud chuckle and a proud look. He pats my father on his shoulders.

"What was he saying?" I ask my father.

"It's nothing important, let us go."

My father's countenance remains sullen till the press conference commences.

"Good evening to you all," my father says as he leans forward to his mic, "I have a very important announcement to make."

My father begins.

I watch the cocky expression on Mr. Stone's face and try to picture if it is related to my father's announcement. His expression ushers in a harbinger of the most ominous circumstances I can imagine.

I start to worry.

"As you all know, for the past few months, ZPatch has not been able to maintain its finance setbacks due to some miscalculated investments and failure of my duties as the CEO," he pauses, clears his throat and continues, "However, we have had such an impressive run even in our difficult time. Nonetheless, that does not change the fact that the company is in such a dire state, and the best we can do is to make a change ---"

I glanced at my father as he made his speech and realized things were about to go haywire. My father has gotten a change of my mind. Whatever Mr. Stone whispered to his ears outside has gotten into my father's head.

"--- We have prayed. We have hoped. We have fought. But all to no avail. We realized a change is what we need. A change in power. A change in leadership---"

My face freezes for a moment. It must be a dream, and this is not real. It is. Every single word he speaks is very real.

"--- due to the need for change, there has to be a restructuring, a rebuilding of the company. And there is only one building that breaks down first.

In my sound mind and health, I announce that ZPatch would plead bankrupt. Also, to ensure that the company gets out of bankruptcy, I now announce that the full ownership of ZPatch and all its assets is transferred to the leadership of Stone group of companies immediately."

The whole crowd murmurs in shock.

I gasp, then behold the teary look on my father's face. I see a scornful smirk glued to Mr. Stone's face, and I know it is all his doing from the very start. It is exactly what he wanted all along.

"What is your reason for doing such, Mr Wilson?" A journalist questions from the crowd.

"I realize to steer a ship safely out of a storm, you require a skilled captain. Similarly, I am not qualified enough to steer ZPatch away from the storm it is in right now, regardless of taking it to its destination."

My father walks out of the conference room. Everything still floods my consciousness without giving any signs.

It is two months since my father's shameful exit from what he built with his sweat and blood, together with my mother.

As usual, Ethan is already gone by the time I wake up.

I check my phone to see a notification of seven missed calls. It is Julian.

He calls back, and I pick up.

"Olivia?"

"Yes Julian, what is it?"

"Your father, h-he-"

"What happened to my father?" I ask, jumping out of my bed.

"Your father is d-dead, Olivia."