Part 91

91

Carlos could only shake his head, waving to his wife, who had been more affectionate and somewhat sensitive lately. He knew that he had to comply with whatever Chelsea wanted, to avoid any problems with her.

"It's been a while since both of you kept this issue hidden from Daddy. Back then, Daddy asked Vano about it, and he said he would try to resolve it himself first. But what happened? Up until now, I see that the problem hasn't been resolved but has been dragging on as if neither of you has any intention of finding a solution to it," Carlos scolded, as Vano and Alexa had just taken their seats in front of him.

He had said so much already to encourage Vano and Alexa to open up to him about the Amber issue.

"Not that I didn't want to tell you, Dad, but I believed I could solve this problem myself," Vano replied, avoiding eye contact with his father.

"Could you?" Carlos responded. "If you could, then today I wouldn't have seen you both giving each other the cold shoulder for the umpteenth time. It's better to tell me everything clearly; I'll listen. And if you're closed off and don't want to be honest, then fine. You'd better resolve your marriage with Alexa because..."

"It's not good to be in an unhealthy marriage, and you're acting as if you're not bothered by what makes her comfortable in this house, but you're busy with your own affairs. I know you have your thesis defense, but this isn't the way."

"But, Dad..."

"Don't argue with me again, Vano. Do you want to go back to being the Vano who used to argue after all these years of being a good and obedient son?" Carlos narrowed his eyes, intimidating Vano, who was still trying hard to hide his problems.

"What do you think, Alexa? Are you comfortable living in a marriage with a cowardly man who won't open up to his parents and tries to solve problems that he hasn't found a solution to yet? Let alone finding a solution, you haven't even discussed it in the past few days, have you?"

Alexa bit her lip tightly, not wanting to bring to the surface how troubled her marriage with Vano was.

"There's no need to answer; Daddy already knows that you're not a good husband, more concerned with your ego and not using your brain when thinking," Carlos continued to berate Vano, who had been silent.

"Okay, if that's what Daddy wants." Vano took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, starting to explain the problems he and Alexa were facing. Carlos, who had already known about the issue for a long time, simply nodded, as if he were listening and surprised that such a problem existed outside.

Although he had known all along.

"To what extent have you resolved this issue?" he asked, wanting to know how Vano had tried to solve the problem.

Vano shook his head. "Maybe Daddy is right. I'm not capable of being a man. I haven't found any solution to resolve my issues with Amber."

Carlos leaned back on the sofa, suspecting that Vano would respond this way. It was no wonder Alexa had been rather quiet and reluctant to talk at all, even just to greet him. Who wouldn't get tired of seeing a husband who had no good intentions to fix the marriage?

"If that's the case, from now on, I'll take charge of this issue. You and Alexa just live your married life as it should be. And please, no more conflicts between the two of you. Alexa has been struggling so hard all this time to make your marriage work. Unfortunately, you didn't appreciate any of it, but let's make it clear that you should both focus on your married life and not let it spill over anywhere else. I don't like that."

"But, Dad, do I have to ensure that this issue is resolved without harming anyone?"

"Leave it all to me, and you don't need to teach me how to solve problems. I'm not like you who solve problems by creating more problems, or even avoid them like a coward without any strength." Carlos stood up and left Alexa and Vano still in silence.

Maybe Alexa wanted to make peace with Vano, but he felt hesitant due to pride. Carlos wasn't sure how he would reconcile them. Perhaps after this, Carlos would talk to Chelsea about speaking with Alexa so that the issue could be resolved without anyone getting hurt between Alexa and Vano. As for Amber, it's up to her whether she wants to get hurt or heartbroken.

"Sorry for making you wait, Mr. Carlos." Amber immediately sat in the chair in front of Carlos's desk. He had been waiting for Amber's arrival to address the issue.

He didn't want this issue to drag on and cause problems in Vano and Alexa's marriage. After all, they got married suddenly, and it wouldn't be fair for them to separate suddenly.

"No need to beat around the bush, let's get straight to the point." Carlos folded his hands in front of his chest. "As you know, I've never come here unless there's a special occasion or an important invitation. But because of the issue you're facing with Vano, I had to take some time off and postpone all my work at the office to discuss this matter."

Amber tensed hearing Carlos's words. He said that there was an issue that needed to be resolved between him and Vano, which meant Carlos was already aware of what happened a few weeks ago.

Amber felt like he wanted to forget it, why did it have to be brought up again and again? He had tried to distance himself from Vano to avoid any more discussions about it.

"Didn't I already tell Vano and Frans that they don't need to feel sorry for me because this is all my own foolishness and carelessness?"

"I know that too. You did it all on your own accord, and it had nothing to do with Vano. However, I want to ask you one thing: why did you choose Vano, out of all the people in the world, to contact and ask to come to your apartment? If that night Vano didn't have any special plans with Alexa, I'm sure he would have come to see you."

Carlos continued, "If that had happened, my son would have been the one to resolve it, just like what Frans did. My question is, if it were Vano who came that night, would you have still done it?" Amber's face lifted as she processed the question.

Her face paled upon hearing Carlos's words. It was true, she realized it. She contacted Vano and asked him to come. She was also convinced that it was Vano who had been with her that night. She couldn't deny that a sense of comfort had grown in her heart when she received so much attention from Vano.

So, she felt that he had the same feelings for her. However, Vano had been kind to her only out of pity for Amber, who didn't have anyone to confide in when her wedding was called off. And that was only because Celine had asked him to get closer to her. When all the relationships between Vano and Celine ended, he got close to Amber, not out of genuine feelings, but out of a sense of obligation for opening up his past, which had been sought after by his father.

So, Vano felt that there was nothing wrong with being friends with Amber to make her feel appreciated for all her sacrifices.