POINT

said, holding my hands up in surrender a

ole family at the family mansion that evening. He said he had something

ping with sarcasm. "We shouldn't have to wait for the baby of the house now, should we? It woul

ting of her words. Her words were subtle, but their meaning was clear to

ould speak up and caution her, but instead they pretended as if they didn't

"Something important came up at the office and I lost track of t

hat could be more important than your family, your own

Instead, I focused on the food spread out on

the lavish spread before me. "Is there something sp

I was pretty sure everyone was just ignoring me.

apkin, then dropped it on the table. "Father," he began, clearing his thro

n answer. Our father put down his cutlery, we all followed

ut firm. "Now that we're all here, I can tell you th

m about to break. Everyone was holding thei

my father continued, his voice still calm but tinged with sadness. "And today makes i

ur hearts. Regret and sorrow filled us, knowing that every bit of his words were

not spending more time with the family.

w how busy we all are. Even before the company started, we never had any time to spare, and no

id. "Despite the fact that we are always busy, shouldn't we have h

e. We promise to do better going forward, right guys

all I got were sneers and tau

said, giving me a warm smile.

t was just me and my father, connected by a bond that felt stronger than e

's not the only reason I've asked you all here tonight," he said, his

mposed. "Actually, I called you all here to discu

iles, and they tried to hide their delight, but I could see right through their facade. I knew they we

y, a total of thirty-five percent." He paused, and then continued, "I'm

ather?" Dominica's eyes glinted with greed and conceit as a sm

s, my brothers turned to look at her, th

ed. "Don't I get a share of your holdi

to have everything," Austin agreed. "

rds me. I felt their scrutiny, like a spotlight

ming with scorn. Their lips curled into mischievo

ughs, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "He t

eased even more. I felt ashamed for even sayin

n said, his tone mocking but with a cl

er. I clenched my fists beneath the table, my knuckles turning white. As I stol

ou can get your hands on those shares." Henry's voic

formed in the corners of their eyes. But then, my father's voice cut th

d, her voice brimming with a hint of fear

dn't have been asking me that question." My

aying," he said, "I called you all here to discuss who would take over the

e, father. Obviousl

wave through the room. Everyone's eyes widened in bewilderment. "The

everything from our father. It had always been a source of frustration and pain for us, and now our father was turning that on its head. A wave of hope washed ove

her?" Dominica's voice

father has thought this through carefully," s

can't do that! He promised to give me his sh

ge, sister." Austin said mischie

ned. "But that's not fair!" she protested. "

esponsibility," he said. "And those are qualities that I

nd my decision is final. Whoever gets married first will

any shares," my mother said, her voice calm but firm. "And I i

er in shock. We never saw this coming, neither from our father nor

hat kind of ridiculous rule is that?!" she sputtered. "How can

de it," my mother said, her voice stea

was heavy and ragged. "This is ridiculous!" she cried. "I can

is voice. "They want to see their grandchildren before they die, don't you understand, sister? We

but laugh out loud at the turnout of the situation. I dropped my napkin on

ed me," I said, a sense of satisfaction sett

air and stood up, h

n?" my mother asked, her

small smile on my lips.

ischievous smile playing on my lips as I walked ou