Her voice came out with a hint of disdain. It made the whole room feel tense.
Mia didn't seem bothered by any of that, though. Instead, she started walking closer to the throne, each step carrying weight to it as if she was taking charge of the whole situation.
"This is why I never liked dealing with you. You always thought yourself above everyone else just because you have money."
A deep laugh echoed from within the chair before a voice answered in return, "And I see that you're still as straightforward and headstrong as I remember you."
The man leaned back a bit and tilted his head up so that they could get a better glimpse of him. He had gray-white hair with a hint of blond mixed in and piercing blue eyes, looking sharp and intelligent.
Mia scoffed at this and crossed her arms under her bust, pushing her breasts up a little higher while doing so. She was about to snap back a response when she noticed something strange.
There was a long and thin tube connected to his nose and a machine pumping oxygen nearby. He also had a tube connected to the back of his hand.
It was at this time when Mia realized that he looked frail and sick. In the past, he'd been a muscular man. Someone who could take care of himself. However, now he looked like he hadn't eaten enough in years. His complexion was pale, and his cheeks were sallow. The skin on his hands was wrinkled and dry.
Seeing this, a thought came to her mind, 'Could he be...? No, that's impossible.'
The old man caught her gaze and smirked. "Don't stare at me like that. This is a consequence of having my own body betray me."
He shook his head as if he was disappointed. "I'd always prided myself on staying fit, but sometimes nature is just too strong..."
He coughed out a little and then leaned forward to grab a glass filled with water, bringing it up to his lips before drinking from it.
Then, the old man spoke again, "...I never wanted it to end this way. But what can I do? Fate decided it for me."
Mia didn't respond right away, choosing to keep quiet as she watched him sip at his glass. His hands were shaking while he did so, making it difficult to hold onto the glass without dropping it.
This sight reminded her of all the times when he'd been rough with her and forced her to do things she didn't like. She hated him for it then, and even now she couldn't forgive him for the things he made her do.
Yet there was something about his current appearance that made her heart ache. The hatred that burned deep within her was extinguished as she felt her eyes water with tears threatening to come out.
The man glanced over and saw this change. He gave her a smirk and shook his head. "That is why I always say women are just weak. Even when facing someone who treated her like shit, her emotions would sway once she saw him like this."
The old man scoffed as he finished drinking his water and turned to look out of the window. "Women always like to think that they are the ones in control of everything, but in the end, their emotions always lead them astray. They aren't as strong as they pretend to be. All that they show is an illusion."
"Shut up! What do you know?! Just because you don't understand the feelings of seeing a family member dying in front of your eyes..." Mia yelled back angrily, her voice rising, before continuing with more conviction, "It doesn't mean that others won't feel anything either. You are just a stubborn man who locked his emotions after the death of your wife. All because of your fear of love, you are pushing everyone away from your heart, just like you did with your own daughter..."
The old man's face twisted into rage. However, he did his best to remain calm despite feeling frustrated by her response. He kept staring straight ahead through the window, refusing to look in her direction anymore.
"It doesn't matter what you think... Anyway, the reason why I invited you is to discuss an urgent matter. Something that involves your son and my grandson Oliver," he replied with a serious tone.
Upon hearing this, Mia frowned while Oliver and Adam's eyes widened in shock.
They stared at the old man with bewilderment while processing his words. It was hard for them to believe that this frail-looking man and Mia were father and daughter.
They had never heard anything from Mia about her side of the family. She just said she grew up alone without anyone but her.
Now finding out about their relationship and how they both treated each other, Oliver couldn't help but think what kind of childhood Mia had and why they had such animosity towards each other.
Mia glared at him while she took a step forward, her fists clenched tight. "What do you mean? What are you trying to do? If you dare hurt my son in any way or form...!"
"Calm down, girl! Just because I haven't been good to you doesn't mean I will do the same to your kid." The old man laughed derisively and pointed at Oliver. "After all, he is a man of my blood. My grandson. You think I would treat him badly?"
Before Mia could say anything, Oliver interjected, "Wait. I'm sorry, but what exactly are you talking about? You're my... grandfather? But why didn't Mom ever mention anything about you before? And why do you both treat each other like enemies?"
[ Hey everyone! As promised, here's a 4-chapter mass release based on your power stone votes! (Counted from the announcement)
Let's keep up this momentum — continue voting daily for a week, and I'll do another mass release next Saturday and Sunday!
You guys can do this! The rule is simple: the more votes, the more chapters you get!
30 Power Stones = 1 Chapter ]