Part 15

14

But there was still a chance, right? Celine just had to be patient a little longer until their hope became a reality.

"To be honest, Van, I'm exhausted with all of this, especially since your dad always follows me everywhere I go, sending people to spy on me to find out if we're in a relationship or not. I no longer feel comfortable," Celine lamented as she pulled away from his embrace. "Having a clandestine relationship on campus like this has worn me out, and having to hide every time I want to meet you is even worse. Just imagine for a moment what it feels like to be me. My family is pressuring me to get married, as you know, I'm of an age to have a husband. I also don't want your dad to change his mind and end up pairing me with someone else. Do you think you're the only one burdened by this issue? I am too."

For many years, they had been living together without approval, and every day was haunted by fear. Fear that Vano wouldn't be her destiny.

The wall between them was so high. Celine sometimes wished she could break it down or extinguish this relationship altogether, but Vano was still determined and said he would fight to the bitter end.

But what had happened? Five years into their relationship, there was still no glimmer of hope.

"But I love you so much," Vano continued to assure Celine that this wouldn't end in vain. "Or how about we get married? Or should we just do it so you get pregnant, and we can finally get approval?"

Celine pushed Vano's hand away from her cheeks. "You're insane. There are so many other ways we can do this, why do you have to choose those two paths? I don't want to get married without approval, let alone getting pregnant out of wedlock," she protested, pushing Vano away and leaving him alone in the room.

Celine was disappointed because Vano had taken her towards the wrong path, even though he had always glorified their pure love. If that was how he wanted to do it, it was no longer pure love but a wrong action. A relationship that started with a mistake, Celine feared that she wouldn't find happiness ahead.

Moreover, she was a lecturer who had to be a role model and example for her students. Vano gritted his teeth in frustration, squeezing his hair hard to vent his hurt feelings due to Celine's words. He felt like dragging Celine and scolding her for belittling all the sacrifices he had made.

But Vano tried to restrain himself from losing control with her. If he gave in to all his emotions and anger now, it wouldn't improve their relationship but would rather make it worse in the end.

Taking a deep breath, trying to neutralize the emotions that were raging inside him, before leaving the room, Vano walked calmly, trying to appear as if nothing was wrong.

Considering that their relationship with Celine on campus was also still hidden from the public eye, he had to seem like he had no problems at all with Celine, who was also her own lecturer.

Vano forced himself to smile and greet Celine as warmly as possible when they crossed paths at the classroom entrance. While Celine taught, Vano also tried to pay close attention to the material being presented. He didn't want this issue to further affect his grades and jeopardize his thesis this year.

"Dad, can't you just approve of my relationship with Celine this once?" Vano threw his bag onto the sofa, startling both Chelsea and Carlos. They were both in the middle of something, and Vano's sudden outburst disrupted their activities.

Naturally, they were perturbed by his presence. "Approve of what?" Carlos removed his glasses.

"Approve of my relationship with Celine. I want to marry her. Can't you fulfill just this one wish of mine?" Vano complained, saging his throbbing temples as he thought about the potential disaster looming over his relationship with Celine.

Hearing the threat from the girl earlier, this time Vano was genuinely afraid of losing the beloved person he cherished.

Carlos nodded, got up from his seat, and moved to the sofa. He sat right next to Vano and gently patted his son's thigh. "It's not that Daddy doesn't want to give you his blessing, it's just that Daddy can't accept that your mother died at Celine's father's hands."

"Dad, how many times does Celine have to explain to you that it was just an accident? Besides, Celine's father has received a fair punishment for that unintentional act. You should be more forgiving so that your son can find happiness.

Can't you all put aside your egos so that we can also find happiness? Don't be so selfish, especially when Celine's family is willing to accept me after that dark day."

"Of course, they all accept you because the one who died was my wife, not their family. If Daddy were in their shoes, he would give his blessing to her too. But this is different, Van. The one taken away was Daddy's wife, your mother, the woman who gave birth to you. So please understand. Daddy can't give his blessing if it's Celine."

"Actually, I don't love Chelsea. I just want Celine to be my future wife, so I'm begging you, Dad. Give me your blessing, forget the past. It's been 10 years, Daddy should be able to move on by now. Move on from Mom's memory and find a life partner."

"That's precisely it. Daddy wants to marry Aunt Margaret."

"Okay, I will approve of Daddy marrying Aunt Margaret. When, now, tomorrow, the day after tomorrow? I'll approve it. But before you two get married, I'll marry Celine first. How about that?" Vano suddenly deviated from the plan he had agreed upon with Chelsea.

This made Chelsea widen her eyes, not accepting Vano's sudden request. If it was going to be like this, Chelsea would change her plans and join in destroying Vano.

Chelsea, a child who had grown up in an abundance of love and was suddenly forcibly taken away by circumstances, was undoubtedly not as stable as usual. Moreover, now that her father was gone, Chelsea no longer had a place to return to. She yearned for love and affection.

Carlos chuckled softly. "Let's see what happens once Aunt Margaret's waiting period is over. If Aunt Margaret's waiting period ends, and you're still insisting on marrying Celine, then I'll allow both of you to get married. But don't expect to come back home because everything will be handed over to Aunt Margaret and Chelsea, of course." Carlos gently patted Vano's head.

"W-wait, Dad, does that mean everything will be handed over to Aunt Margaret and Chelsea?"

Carlos nodded. "Of course, who else would enjoy all of this if not Daddy's son and wife? Especially the child who is willing to follow what Daddy wants."

"Dad, then it's not giving your blessing, it's kicking me out of your life."

"However you want to interpret Daddy's conditions, what's clear is that Daddy will grant one of your wishes, marrying Celine, right? So that's what Daddy will do. Forget all your other dreams and hopes."

Carlos raised one hand. "That's enough, Daddy won't accept any more objections, accept these conditions or not at all!"

"Dad," Vano complained, truly puzzled by how heartless Carlos could be towards him, especially when he was the only child born into this world for him. Yet, Carlos seemed to be more concerned with revenge and other matters.

Vano walked away. Being around his father for too long could make his emotions worse than they already were. Instead of causing a scene that would disrupt the entire office, Vano chose to leave.

Furthermore, he couldn't force his will on his father.

"I can't believe how to change Vano's mind about that girl," Carlos complained as he returned to his desk. Ready to continue the work that had been interrupted by Vano's recent arrival.

"What's going on, Uncle? Why are you so adamant about not approving Vano's relationship with his girlfriend?"

Carlos took a long sigh, his gaze fixed straight ahead. Chelsea's question had brought him back to the past when he was working and received news that his wife had been in a serious accident.

About ten years ago, his beloved wife had taken her last breath in a multiple-vehicle accident. It was all due to the carelessness of Celine's father, who suddenly overtook his wife from the side, causing the woman Carlos loved to go against the flow of traffic.

And thus, an unavoidable accident occurred. It was heart-wrenching to imagine the state his wife was in when she was rescued from the scene. Carlos had sworn right then and there that he would never have any kind of relationship with his business rival.

And to this day, Carlos believed, was convinced that it wasn't just a simple accident due to negligence. It had been planned long in advance to forcibly take his wife away. Carlos remembered vividly that one week before the tragic accident, he had successfully won a high-value tender that had propelled his company's rapid growth.

Carlos also remembered the heated arguments at the negotiation table with Celine's father, the insults they had traded, and the man's vow to destroy Carlos's life into the smallest pieces. True to his word, one week after the signing of that tender, Carlos's wife had departed from him forever, leaving him to raise Vano alone.

Five years had passed, and the wound was still fresh, gaping, unable to find the right time to heal. Carlos was surprised when he received a report from his subordinates, stating that his beloved only son was in a relationship with the daughter of his business rival. As a husband and father, who wouldn't be heartbroken to hear that his child was getting involved in a situation that could cause new problems?