Chapter 104 - Take it or leave it

"I am not going to make the decision for you. You know how we work. I can only offer you the options and you get to choose." Tye stood up again. "I have treated you for a long time. As a friend and your doctor, I think this is your best choice. I feel ashamed of myself that someone is better than me at making you better. You know I don't do well with competition."

Kris looked at Collin, but his face was neutral as always whenever Tye and Kris were talking. "Give me some time to think about it."

"Aight… but remember, it's your time and your mother's birthday doesn't change." Tye taunted Kris a bit more. "Now leave both of you. I have things to do."

Tye kicked both of them out of his house. Both of them went inside the car again. Tye opened the car door to speak on the last thing he had forgotten to say. "One more thing. If you do decide to go ahead with it, you need to tell her."

Tye closed the door and watched as the car pulled out of the long dirt road and back to the main road.

"I only created the door for you to escape, you'll need your own strength to open the door and leave the hell you are in." Tye spoke. He scratched his head and went back inside.

Kris was silent in the car. Collin sighed. At least this was calmer than when Kris was on his raging stages. But he felt like this was just the calm before the storm.

"You know, I agree with Tye." Collin broke the silence. "And it is not only me. Hugh's not here much but he knows. We're not asking you to sleep with the woman… it just more physical interactions. And even so, you know you won't hurt her so there is no reason to not try."

Kris unlocked his phone and dialed a number. The phone rang a few times before a voice picked up.

"Hello."

"Are you still there?"

"No. I just left. Why? Do you want your bread now? Well, I can't. I already passed the Li company."

"No. Tye will pick you up early in the morning for you to go see Gary."

"Tomorrow? But I have my LUX meeting tomorrow, can it be the next day?"

"Tomorrow only. Take it or leave it." Kris hung up before Lena could complain.

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Lena was left with a dead phone call tone. She was driving today. It was the first time in a long time that she was out by herself. The meeting for LUX was important tomorrow, she did not want to miss it. Decisions… decisions…

"Lexi, Call Diane."

Lexi: Calling Diane.

Lena was using Bluetooth because she was driving. Her parents would be home in an hour and she needed to be home. She missed them. Diane picked up the phone.

"Miss. Shen?"

"Hey, Diane. I have an emergency tomorrow, I won't be there for the meeting tomorrow. Can you take the lead on it?"

"Sure, I can."

"I was not planning on releasing the complete project to them but since I am not there, go ahead with that."

"Yes."

"And with everything else, reschedule them. I will personally deal with the advertising for the next release when I come back."

"Alright."

Lena hit the end button on her earphones. "Lexi, Call James."

Lexi: Calling James.

James picked up quickly. "Hello, Miss. Shen."

"Change of plans for tomorrow. I am going to visit Gary tomorrow. Can you pick up the items I wanted to bring to him at my apartment? Bring them with you tomorrow. I will be staying at my parents tonight."

"I can do that."

Lena hung up on him and sped her way to the mansion. When she reached the place, Aunt Mary came out to help Lena carried her baked goods. Aunt Mary was pleased with Lena's skill. She did not disclose specifically that Madam Li helped her with it.

She put all but one of them on the table. She took a small box and carried it up back to her room. She placed the box on her desk and head to take a quick shower. She had been baking all morning and smells like them.

She dried her hair using a hair drying and went down. It was too late to eat lunch and too early to have dinner, but Aunt Mary was still cooking something for her parents. They must be hungry from their long trip. Lena was helping Aunt Mary cooked a few dishes. It has been a long time since she cooked with her.

Aunt Mary was still nagging about Lena's cooking. "You're doing this wrong. Cut this smaller. You need to make it look like this." Who cares about the look, as long as it tastes good!!

"If you don't practice well, you won't be able to please your future mother-in-law." Aunt Mary spoke.

"Aiya… It's ok. As long as my husband knows how to cook!" Lena joked. Of course, second leads know how to cook, don't they always?

"Husband cook?! Where can you find a husband who can cook?!" A strong voice could be heard from the doorway. Lena turned and saw her pretty mother standing there. "Let me tell you, your dad is the best man out there and he cannot cook."

"Mom!" Lena rushed in for a big hug.

"Cook?! I can boil eggs!" Shen Mao bragged.

"Boiled eggs? Even a toddler can do that."

Shen Mao complained to his sweet daughter. "Lili! Look at your mother. She has been grouchy so much lately!"

"Maybe mom is pregnant?"

Shen Mao eye's perked up. "Milli, are you ---"

Shen Milli knuckled his head and Lena's. "Pregnant?! Who would get pregnant if her husband can only feed her boiled eggs?!" She walked off to their room and left them.

Shen Mao quickly followed his wife. Lena laughed at her loving parents. She wished she will have a long-lasting marriage like them.