Veil of Deceit

ry'

and the heaviness in my limbs. For a brief moment, I lay there, trying to piece together t

of the house in a haze, fueled by a cocktail of emotions and a desperate need to escape. Th

uestion lingered in my mind. The answe

Tricia, babies, Betty. The realization hit me like a ton of bricks: I needed to talk

the storm brewing within me. My mom approached and kissed my cheeks affectionately. "Good

..." I began to apologize, but she cut me off with a gentle shush. "It's fine.

" I asserted firmly, my voi

mom added, "You really do

ut loud! I will choose who I want to be with and there's nothing y

to your mother like that," My dad's stern voice

dify our family lineage, the right union must be made," my dad explaine

I retorted bitterly, unable to contain my frus

mom interjected, her

ioned, my mind still grappling with

ion grave. "Son, you know John isn't exactly the administrative ty

to do this. You've always loved coming to the office when you were younger, you studied administration becaus

he heir," I countered, struggling to

that child would handle the family's legacy and not run i

frolicking around with women. But running a company is not his forte," m

nterest for the business and thought of taking up a managerial position, not

d I know you'd make us proud," my dad reassured

the enormous partnership Payne Corp. He is Tricia's father, and what's best to solidify this partnership than t

company from the ground up, to give you this life, a life of regal and opulence

appy and at peace with the people I love," I interjected,

, wealth enough to sustain your generations to come. Tell me who wouldn't want this," my dad

ys taught you: whatever you do, do it for the benefit of your family because they are the most i

just as important. Think about this, son," my father a

knew the right thing to say at the right time, and sometimes I wondered how a

d we want what's best for you," my mom said, her

't love. Weren't you and dad in love

laughter echoing through th

But somehow, someway, we grew to love each other. It doesn't always start with love, but it just might end with love, alr

h determination. "She's everything to me, and I can't imagine being wit

er expression grew stern. "Listen, child, don't test

ith the woman I love and there's nothing you can d

as a fragile heart. If he learns of this, it might lead to his death, and you'll be the one respo

you'd regret forever," she concluded, her voi

r began, her voice dripping with disdain. "I would have sent her away when I fou

ever see that dimwit little maid girlfriend of yours ever again," she threatened, her eye