1- "Something in return…"

"HOW could you do this, Peter?!"

I stopped walking when I heard mom and dad having a serious conversation inside their room.

The door was half-opened, so I couldn’t help but hear their exchange of words.

What I only intended to do was to kiss their cheeks as I was going out tonight for Celyn’s bridal shower, and I might go home late.

Their room is right next to mine, but it is soundproof. In fact, all of the rooms in this house are soundproof. Their door jamb happened to be ajar, and they didn't seem to notice that they hadn't closed it, so I passed right by.

"How would you explain this to our daughter, huh? How?!" Mommy kept half-shouting at dad.

My brow furrowed slightly. What could daddy possibly explain to his daughter? Mom is definitely asking him how he can explain something to me. Having no sisters means that I am the only daughter in this family. Yes, I have a brother, but it's obvious that they're discussing something concerning me.

What's the problem? Is it so serious? Oh, it seems like it really is!

"Let me explain to her, Lucille. Maybe she will understand and go through it," dad answered, remaining calm.

What will he explain to me? What do I need to understand and accept? What's really happening?

"Knowing Tamara, knowing our daughter, she's independent and always stands by her own decisions in life, so do you think she'll let us ruin her life like that?"

While daddy is gentle, mommy's way of speaking seems like she's going to have hypertension.

By the way, everything she told him was true. I'm self-sufficient, I stand by my decisions, and I never let anyone control my life! Never. But what do they mean when they say they're messing with me and my life?

What in the world is going on here?!

Dad released a deep sigh. "It's all my fault, and I'll accept full responsibility and the blame."

My feelings were suddenly stung by what I heard, by my father's lethargy. Why should he bear all of the responsibility and blame? Charge and blame for what? Just what did he do, anyway? Did he do something bad?

Given what I know about my father, Peter Davis, it is extremely rare for him to act in a way that is less than exemplary. As a result of being a family man, a husband, a successful businessman, and most importantly, a father. Literally, everything he does, he’s truly good at it.

Astonished, she exclaimed, "What is wrong with your brain that you get yourself involved in gambling?!"

Gambling? Did mom just mention dad gambles? I don't want to believe it! But I do know him quite well. That would be the last thing he'd ever do in his life! To reiterate what I've said previously, he never does anything he considers negative. My father is not like that!

"You're addicted to gambling! I didn't even know you were at the Casino every night, and you have done that for almost two years now!"

Instantly, my eyes widened. As a result of his gambling addiction, daddy spends every night of the week at the Casino. Really?! That just can't be right. No way! Surely my dad wouldn't do something so silly! He wouldn't!

"I'm so sorry, Lucille..."

Sorry? After mommy accused him, that's all he could say? Sorry? Why would he be apologetic? Is he guilty of what she was saying? Is he?

"If I hadn't called and answered the call of the big-time gambler you owe, I wouldn't even have known!"

A move was made on my part. I attempted to walk away and get away. I've had enough of overhearing mommy and daddy's private conversations, and I've had enough of listening to her anger.

I know it's bad to eavesdrop, and d*mn, I am eavesdropping on my parents' issues! I must respect them, as well as their privacy. Perhaps, if there are truly serious matters, I will wait for them to tell my brother and me. I have no right to listen in on other people's conversations!

"So, Peter, what are you going to do? To sell our only daughter to the heir of the company who plans to save our business and pay off all your debts?!"

I once again came to a stop instead of fleeing.

Earlier, I had wanted to leave because, in addition to knowing that eavesdropping was wrong, I also didn't want my mood to be ruined before attending my best friend's party. However, after hearing the parting words that mommy said, I now feel even more compelled to intrude.

What the hell with it! They're talking about having a ‘to sell someone’ to pay off all the debts!

"I'm not selling our daughter, Lucille."

"Not selling? What exactly do you call what you're doing now? Peter, for f*ck's sake! You want our daughter to marry the heir to a huge business just to make up for everything you've lost!"

Marry? Marry a wealthy heir? How exactly do they intend for me to know about this? Obviously, there is no other daughter in this family, so they are referring to me! I mean, what exactly do they want me to do? My father wants what?

I don't like where it seems to be going, and I don't think I will like it once it gets there, especially since they've already brought my name in on this.

"Lucille, this is also for Tamara's good."

"That's only for your own benefit, Peter! You're just doing yourself a favor to be saved from all the troubles you caused in this family!"

I heard daddy take a heavy sigh.

I finally get why my mother gets so upset over certain things.

"Come on, Lucille! Please!" Dad begged, frustrated. "I'm not doing this for no good reason. Certainly, I recognize that I erred, and I am taking this step to make amends. It's not just that I'm doing this for our family, but also for you. Can you not see that I need to be rescued? Do you really want to have me imprisoned? Moreover, don't you worry if our firm survives or not?

"Of course, Peter, I want you to be saved from all of this mess." Even mommy's voice is beginning to wane. "I don't want you to go to jail, and I also want our company to survive... And yet, could there be no other option? Peter, you can't fix a mistake by making another one."

"I know... I know, Lucille." Dad nodded submissively, admitting to his shortcomings.

Dad hugged her, and she couldn’t do anything but sadly embrace him, too.

"But trust me on this one. This time, I know it's not a mistake. I will make our daughter wed to my colleague's son."

What my father said turned my earlier feelings of pity into abject outrage. I'm supposed to marry his rich business colleague's son? To the heir of the company who intends to save our commerce and pay off all his debts? Why? What does he think of me? It makes me feel like I am a used item that can be easily sold to anyone! It’s truly sickening!

"Is this the only choice we have? What's stopping your buddy from helping us out without expecting anything in return? Especially not our daughter's heart."

"Their family, Lucille, is centered on a massive corporate empire. They always see returns on their investments."

That's right. These days, no one in business will lend a hand to another businessman without expecting a return.

I shook my head bitterly. This is getting insane!

"Besides, they have their own reasons for wanting our daughter to be a part of their family. Believe me when I say that their reason is beautiful. No harm will come to our daughter."

Now that mommy seemed to be persuaded by dad's words, she stopped talking and instead let dad soothe and convince her.

I can't take this anymore! I need to leave now before I go insane and do something stupid as a result of what I heard from them!

Now is the time for me to leave before what I heard from them causes me to totally lose my sanity and do something I'll later regret.

What have I just found out and heard? To begin with, dad has a gambling problem he's been hiding from us for nearly two years. Secondly, he's racked up many debts to various gamblers, which could lead to the bankruptcy of our business. Finally, I've heard he wants me to marry some son of a large business I've never even heard of!

Brother Shaun arrived at the house's entrance just as I was about to descend the grand staircase.

"Hi, sis. You gonna go somewhere?" he asked me, cooly.

Whereas my face used to exude an air of uncontrollable wildness, his is calm and friendly.

He has obviously just returned home from work, given that he is clothed in his business suit.

"Brother, do you know about daddy's gambling that he started two years ago?" I immediately asked him.

He's the first son in this family. Therefore, I conclude that he knows everything that's happening here!

He was startled as if he couldn't believe what kind of question I was asking him this time. "How did you know about it—"

"So, you knew?!" My blood boiled even hotter in my head. "Why did you hide it from me? I don't understand why all of you here are trying to keep this secret from me!"

"Tamara—"

"Now that he has developed a dependency on debt, his actions could put our entire business at risk. Am I right?"

An audible sigh escaped my brother’s lips.

Come on! He will inherit our company in this generation, so I know he knows everything that is happening and what can happen more in the next days!

"You also know that in order to save our business, dad plans to send me off to marry the son of a wealthy friend. I'm assuming you're aware of this, as well." The tone of my statement was more accusatory than questioning.

He blinked, appalled by what I said. "What? Excuse me, but what did you just say, Tamara? Dad intends to give you off to marry the heir of the company that seeks to save our business?"

He now appears perplexed and blameless. So, he has no idea, huh?

"Tamara, I don't know about it. Is that even true?"

"How I wish it’s not!” I ran my fingers through my hair frustratedly and I was feeling so bitter. “I don't know, but that's what I've heard from mom and dad’s conversation, bro." I rolled my eyes as I passed him.

He watched me when I was about to leave. "Wait. Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going out to run away—"

"Relax. Just popping out for Celyn's party." I abruptly cut him off to clarify his conclusions. "Don't worry. I won't rebel yet, my dear brother. Not until Dad confirms that everything I heard tonight was true." As soon as I finished speaking, I briskly walked out of the house.

He didn't say anything else nor try to stop me because, aside from knowing that I won't be stopped once I decided to go, he also has trust in the people I'm going to. My best friends are Celyn and Yasmine, and this family knows them, so they don't mind if I hang out with them late at night.

I dashed into my red car, tossing my purse inside. I sped as fast as my ride would go to get to the bar immediately where Celyn's bridal shower would be held.

Many terrible things have happened, and I have heard them all tonight. I feel like I need to drown my exasperations in hard liquors!