C245 The Price Of Arrogance

Kelvin looked toward Sarah. "My child..." "I've seen the article." "I know you're angry." "But there has to be something we're missing." Sarah simply smiled. "There is." Kelvin sighed. "Then tell us." She slowly shook her head. "No." She looked directly at Nicolas. "Mr. Heaps should explain." Once again... Every pair of eyes landed on Nicolas. He swallowed hard. He had delayed this long enough.

Taking a deep breath, he slowly stood. "Mrs. Chambers..." "I came here because I wanted to apologize." His voice was noticeably quieter than before. "This morning..." "I allowed my emotions to control me." "I said things..." "...that were completely beneath my character." "I.." Sarah interrupted before he could finish. "Beneath which character?" Nicolas blinked. "...What?" Sarah looked directly into his eyes. "The character of a father..." "...or the character of an elder?"

The entire room fell silent again. Even Ben stopped glaring. Everyone wanted to hear his answer. Nicolas' lips moved ...but no words came out. For the first time... he couldn't answer. Seeing him struggle, Samantha smiled bitterly. She slowly looked toward Lindsey. "Mom..." "Do you still remember..." "...that I'm your only child?" Lindsey's heart skipped. "Sam..." Samantha then looked back at Nicolas. "And Dad..." "I'm very interested in hearing your answer too."

Nicolas avoided her gaze. He suddenly found the floor far more interesting. Ben sighed loudly before standing again. "I have enough problems already." He rubbed his forehead. "You all continue." "Dad..." "When you're done, come find me." "I need to discuss something important." He turned toward the stairs. Before he could leave... Sarah's calm voice echoed once again. "If it's difficult for Mr. Heaps to say it..." "...then perhaps I'll help him." Ben stopped walking.

Everyone looked toward Sarah. She looked at Nicolas before speaking slowly. "This morning..." "Mr. Heaps threatened me." Her words landed like thunder. "He said..." "...he would destroy me." She paused deliberately. "...and my entire family." Ben immediately turned around. "What?" He walked back to the table. "Destroy us?" He stared directly at Nicolas. "Who exactly are you to say something like that?" Kelvin froze. Tracy's eyes widened.

Even Lindsey looked at her husband in disbelief. "What is she talking about?" Ben looked between the two families. Then another thought suddenly crossed his mind. His eyes narrowed. He pointed at Nicolas. "Wait..." "Were you the one who took those photographs?" "Were you the one following me and Natalie?" Lindsey became even more confused. Only moments ago... Ben and Sarah had been arguing. Now... The two siblings were standing on the same side questioning Nicolas.

She couldn't understand what was happening anymore. Nicolas finally lowered his head. "This morning..." "I saw those articles." "I became angry." "I immediately called Samantha." "My intention was to question my daughter." "But..." "...the person who answered wasn't Samantha." He looked toward Sarah. "It was Mrs. Chambers." "I had no idea..." "...that she belonged to the Wood family."

He laughed bitterly. "I thought she was simply one of Samantha's friends." "I lost my temper." "I threatened her." "I told her..." "...that if she didn't tell me who she was..." "...I would destroy her family." He slowly bowed deeply. "I'm ashamed of those words." "Mrs. Chambers..." "I sincerely came here today to apologize." Kelvin and Tracy exchanged shocked glances. Neither of them had expected something this serious.

At that exact moment... A sarcastic smile appeared on Samantha's face. "So..." "You didn't really come because you were worried about me after all." Her words pierced Nicolas' heart. He couldn't answer. Lindsey quickly stood. "My child..." "I truly came because I was worried." "I only learned about your father's phone call just now." "I didn't know he had threatened anyone." Samantha simply looked at her quietly. She said nothing. But her silence hurt Lindsey more than any accusation ever could.

Nicolas Heaps slowly lowered his head. The pride he had carried into the Wood residence had completely disappeared. In front of him sat the most influential family in Scotland, yet the person making him feel the greatest pressure was not Kelvin Wood or Tracy Wood. It was Sarah. A young woman who spoke with unwavering confidence, refusing to give him even the slightest chance to twist his words.

After several long seconds of silence, Nicolas finally spoke. "...Mrs. Chambers..." His voice was no longer as loud as before. "I... came here today to apologize." Sarah folded her arms and leaned back against the sofa. "For what exactly?" Nicolas blinked. "I... apologize for speaking to you disrespectfully." Sarah slowly shook her head. "No." Everyone looked at her. "You are still avoiding the real issue." Nicolas frowned. "What do you mean?"

Sarah smiled faintly. "You insulted me, yes." She then pointed toward Samantha. "But before that... you insulted your own daughter." "Or have you forgotten what you said in the call?" The room became silent once again. Samantha lowered her head, her fingers tightening around each other. Sarah continued calmly, "You accused her." "You shouted at her." "You even threatened the person who answered her phone."

She looked directly into Nicolas' eyes. "So tell me, Mr. Heaps..." "Are you apologizing because you offended the Director of Wood IT Company..." "...or because you hurt your daughter?" Nicolas' lips parted, yet no words came out. He had no answer. At that moment Samantha finally spoke. Her voice was calm, but every word carried years of disappointment. "Dad..." "I heard everything." "I heard every single word." "You don't have to pretend anymore."

Everyone slowly turned toward her. "The phone was on speaker." Nicolas' face instantly turned pale. Samantha continued, "So..." "...don't ruin yourself even further." The atmosphere grew unbearably heavy. Even Ben, who usually enjoyed watching arguments unfold, remained unusually quiet. Nicolas finally bowed once more. "My daughter..." "I apologize." "I shouldn't have spoken to you that way." Samantha stared at him quietly. A bitter smile slowly appeared on her face. "My father..." "...apologizing to me."

She laughed softly. "That's something I never thought I would live to see." No one laughed with her. Her smile was simply too heartbreaking. After a long pause she continued. "But don't you think..." "...it's a little too late?" Those simple words struck Nicolas harder than any insult could have. He swallowed hard. Across from him, Lindsey could no longer remain seated. She quickly walked over to Samantha and gently held her daughter's hands. "My child..." "You know your father." "He has a bad temper." "He speaks without thinking." "Please don't be too harsh on him."

Samantha slowly looked at her mother. Tears gathered in her eyes once again. "Mom..." "It has always been you." Lindsey looked confused. "What do you mean?" "You are always the one apologizing." "You are always the one asking me to understand him." "You are always the one cleaning up after him." She slowly shook her head. "But who understands me?"