Chapter 513 - FAMILY SECRETS: PART I

"Jackie, Steven, thank you for the lovely dinner. I'll see you both tomorrow." Elizabeth was still locked in the girl's embrace as she bid them farewell.

"Babes, promise me you'll shop around with me tomorrow." 

"I already said yes, and dad did give us some budget." 

"Ah, thank you, Uncle." 

"Hmm, no problem."

"Then, Jackie, will be off. You have a lovely evening everyone." Lady Zhao kissed Jackie in the forehead as she was escorted by her husband in the car. 

"See ya." Elizabeth said as she got inside the car as her father then soon after. 

In a blink, the group of cars vanished as they soon left the Goldsmith's residence. 

"Jackson, you've been sighing here, what's wrong?" Jackie asked as he found his brother irritating already. 

"You don't know how I feel right now. Have you already forgotten what we planned?" 

"Ah, you mean Cris?"

"That's right, thank God, his father came for him. I didn't expect Uncle to be here. If he was here, I'm sure the trouble those snakes caused can't compare to what might happen." 

"Ah- that's all your fault." Jackie pointed at as she felt goosebumps all over her body. 

"It's both of your fault. Next time, if you both plan to do something stupid. Inform me beforehand so I can honestly tell Uncle and not be a part of it." James added as he walked back inside the house. 

"I wonder though, how do you think Cris is?" Jackie looked worriedly as he thought terrible things might have happened to him. 

"Don't worry, his father won't do anything to him. He is just like Liz, no matter how troublesome they can be. There men can't do anything against them."

"Why is that?"

"Since Cris is the only heir to their family."

"Ah, but still, I worry for him." 

"Jackie, let's not worry about that now. You need to get some rest since you'll have to go out tomorrow will Liz." Steven said as he escorted her inside. 

"Hmm…" 

Meanwhile, in a high end residential village on top of a mountain, a group of cars arrived at a very large and extravagant mansion. 

"Ah, when was the last time I came here?" Cris said as he couldn't recall any good memory at the familiar estate. 

"It's been more than ten years, Young Master."

"And you thought of bringing me here than to my apartment." 

"Young Master, please…" 

"Yeah, I know, he wanted to see me." 

Cris got down the car as he was being well guarded by the guards. Despite him being their master, they don't really trust him for who knows what he'll do. 

"Young Master."

"Welcome Home." 

The servants were all lined up as they welcomed him, but the man showed no care for any of them. They were people whom he was not acquainted with apart from the head butler. 

"Where is he?" Cris asked directly as he really wished to leave at once. 

"The Master is waiting for you at his study."

"He really means business then." 

Cris followed the old butler who has been serving their family for years. As they were only the three of them, the old butler started to open up on what has recently been happening. 

"The Master has not been feeling quite his usual self lately." 

"He's old, it's normal." 

"Hmm, but, I hope you can be there for him." 

"Why would an old man want me for? I mean, he can go around and find himself a new wife. Isn't that the reason why my mother left?" 

"Please, Young Master, the Master has never cheated on the Madam."

"Yeah, yeah, you all said the same excuses all the time. Then tell me, why did my mother leave?"

"Young Master, we don't know."

"Whatever." Cris was in no mood to talk to anyone, especially his father. 

The old butler knocked on the door and announced, "Master, the Young Master has arrived."

"Bring him in." 

As the three of them walked in, a tall American man was standing by the window with a glass of whiskey. When he turned and saw the boy who has the exact image as his wife, he turned to the servants and said, "You all can leave us." 

"Old man, there is no need for that. Just spill it, what do you want from me?" 

"Can you at least show some respect?" 

"Respect! Ha-"

"Cristopher, I am your father, why can you be…" 

"Father, when have you even acted like one. Since when? Tell me!" 

"Master?" 

"I told you all can leave." 

"Then, I'll be going to." Cris said as he started to head to the door. 

"Goddamn it, sit down before I do something worse than yell at you!" 

"WHAT?" 

The man clenched his hand into a fist for he wouldn't dare lay his own hand on his son. It was a promise he made as a man and to his wife. "Please, sit down." He spoke in soft down as he was pleading for his son to stay. 

Cris really didn't want to stay, but seeing his father's desperate moves made him willing to say. "Look at that, you actually know how to act like this. I wonder why mother left when you can beg like a dog." 

"You-" 

"Stop wasting my time, tell me what you want." 

"Since you are like this then I won't keep you long, it's time for you…"

"NO!" 

"I didn't…" 

Cris chuckled as he found his father so humorously to look at, as his cold eyes looked him directly in the eyes, he said, "You want me to take over the company. Isn't that obvious. And my answer is no."

"Why are you being so hard, it is yours to begin with." 

"Do you really think I'm interested in a company which has no meaning to me…"

"You- you have said enough. Without the company do you think you'll be able to live the life you have now?" 

"I rather not live a life like this. Being a beggar in the street is much better than living in such a hellish life."

"Enough, you are to stop wasting your time!" 

"Why should I, I'll never stop searching for her." 

"Who are you even searching for anyways?" The man got angry as he slammed his hand on the desk. 

"Who else, my mother." 

"Cris…" 

"Please, none of you will tell me what happened during the time I was in a coma. You and grandfather aren't speaking to each other. Mother vanished and so did uncle. What's worse, here I am hearing all sorts of stories about grandfather's side. Yet, everyone continues to act as if nothing is happening, just like back then… Everyone acted as if what's happening is nothing important. What's important is the heir is alive and the business can continue to progress?"

The man steadily walked closer to his son to comfort him, he felt like his son was slowly disappearing in front of him as he said all those hurtful words. "Cris, please…"

"Yeah, like everyone always said. You did everything for me. It was for my own good. I know, I heard it a thousand times too many already."

"Cris, please, let's talk." 

"No, there is no need for us to talk. I'm tired, if you don't mind. I'll be resting in my room." 

Cris left, leaving his father all alone whilst the servant outside watched in dismay of what was happening. 

"Master?" 

"Don't say it, like him, I have heard what you have to say a thousand times as well."

"Then, a million times I'll say it. Master, why are you really doing this?" 

"Why does everyone see me as the bad guy?" He sighs as he goes back to his desk and pours himself another glass. "Do you all even know how much I have suffered all this year? You all don't know how much I wish I can turn back time to that day." 

"But, Master, we cannot turn back time. Which is why we must learn to move on?" 

"Why is it so easy for you all to say that. How can one forget so easily, when it was a life of someone precious to me. While they live a life filled with happiness, while my family is living a life in hell." 

How the old man wishes to say something more, but he realizes no matter what, he'll say the man won't listen. 'It is you who is making your family life like hell.'