“Nicholas will train you at his office after marriage and then you will take over from me. I can’t pull any longer,” said her dad sternly. Alyssa gaped at all three of them. So they had planned and plotted against her back and decided her life for her without even consulting her. Blood boiled in her veins and she took a step backward, feeling like a piece of trash that could be easily trampled upon by all.
“How is it I do not know about this? All three of you have already decided my life while I’m left in the dark. I really can’t believe this.” She whirled around and ran up to her bedroom, upset with all of them. Her parents had always been this way, but Nicholas could have told her about his plans before talking to her parents. She felt betrayed and dashed into her room, upset and close to tears.
“You’re overreacting, Alyssa. I didn’t have a choice,” said Nicholas as he followed her inside.
“Yeah, I understand, Nicholas. Go away and plot with my parents behind my back. What are you doing here, anyway?” she said in a bored tone, refusing to even turn to look at him. Nicholas sighed and sat down on her bed beside her.
“I never plotted behind your back, Alyssa. I just took your parents’ permission before whisking you away to Oyster Island with me.” Alyssa gaped at him in disbelief. How did her parents give him permission to abduct her? What was going on?
“Did you ask my parents for permission to abduct me?” she asked, shocked to see him nod at her.
“Yes.”
“How did they agree?” she asked, looking baffled.
“They didn’t have a choice. I’m the only one who is unaffected by Alexander’s wrath. They need someone who will train them to take over the business as soon as possible. I’m just helping them out.”
Alyssa seethed with anger. “Wow! You’re such a kind-hearted soul! What makes you think you can force me to train under you? I won’t undergo any sort of training and neither will I take over the business. They can appoint a manager for all I care,” said Alyssa, getting up to leave the room. She didn’t have any wish to argue over this issue with Nicholas. She had discussed this with her family and her decision would never change.
“Don’t be so self-centered all the time, Alyssa. I will train you and you will take over from your dad. He can’t pull it any longer, and why would he hand it over to a paid employee when his own children are quite capable? Alexander has too much already on his plate. So why can’t you do your duty towards your parents?” said Nicholas, displeased with her stubbornness.
“Am I being self-centered? What about their interference in my life? Can’t I make my own decisions for a change? It’s my life, after all. I have a right to do what makes me happy,” argued Alyssa.
“No one is stopping you from being happy. All they want is that you to take over the business. I will help you in case you have doubts. I will teach you everything, Alyssa. What’s your problem?” he asked. There was a pleading note in his voice that Alyssa couldn’t miss. What could be his motive for helping her parents out?
“Why are you helping my parents? What will you get out of it?” she demanded, narrowing her eyes with suspicion.
“They really need my help. Your dad needs rest now,” he blurted out and then got up abruptly to escape her curiosity.
“Why would he need rest? He’s not that old,” she said, getting up with him.
“You can ask him that. I’ll be on my way. Be ready tomorrow evening for our engagement.” She grabbed his wrist, refusing to let him go.
“No, answer my question or I won’t marry you,” she threatened. Nicholas watched the defiant look on her face and hesitated a little. He had promised uncle Daniel to tell no one. How was it that Alyssa didn’t know of her father’s condition?
“I’ve promised your dad that I wouldn’t tell anyone else,” he admitted. Alyssa’s interest was piqued, and she tightened her hold on him.
“I’m not just anyone. I’m his daughter and I have a right to know what’s going on,” she reminded him. Nicholas sighed, knowing that it was true. Maybe if she knew the truth, she would understand the urgency for her to take over the reins of the family business.
“Your dad has been diagnosed with lung cancer.” Alyssa released Nicholas, her face paled with shock.
“Which stage?” she whispered, dreading his answer as tears pooled in her eyes. Daniel Van Every might be her stepdad, but he has brought her up like his own daughter. She just couldn’t believe that he could be so unwell. Why didn’t they tell her?
“First stage of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Don’t worry, his treatment has started and I’m sure if he takes rest, his condition would improve.”
“Does Alexander know about it?” she asked curiously, although she already knew the answer to that question.
“Yes.”
“Of course. So I’m the only one who doesn’t know,’ she said, her voice choking with hurt.
“You kept your distance from him.”
“Then how do you know about it?” asked Alyssa angrily.
“The last time I came over to visit them, your dad’s condition wasn’t good and I forced them to tell me what was going on. Your dad made me promise to not tell a word about it to you. They wanted to tell you themselves.” Alyssa sat, shocked like a statue.
“When? I’ve been here for so long!” she looked up at him.
“Just take the reins of the business from him, Alyssa. He loves the company so much, he can’t pass it on to anyone else but Alexander or you. I would have helped him out, but I have my business to handle. I can only train you,” he pleaded. Tears fell from Alyssa’s eyes. She had never thought this could be the reason her dad wanted her to handle his business. She had been so selfish. She should have tried to find out why he couldn’t pull the business any longer instead of overreacting. Her dad had dropped hints many times, but she always failed to notice them.
“I’ll take up all his responsibilities. I’ll train well and handle his business,” she said, wiping the tears away. Nicholas smiled and pulled her into his arms, holding her close.
“Thank you, Alyssa. You’ve made me so happy.”
“But I’m not at all happy with you. Where did you disappear off to? I was waiting for you. I thought you went to attend Eva’s wedding,” she demanded.
“No, I was at the other end of the island, talking to Maxwell. The wedding didn’t happen as you might have heard already. He was upset and needed help,” he said.
“Oh,” she gasped, her eyes widening with realization. She had been so foolish to jump to her own conclusions.
“But I loved the love letter you left for me,” he winked before releasing her. Alyssa gaped at him and then remembered the note she had written. She had absent-mindedly confessed her feelings there. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, and she looked away from his probing eyes.
“Oh, that,” she breathed.
“Yes, that.” There was a knock on the door and Nicholas went to open it. Her mom came inside hesitantly, her eyes searching hers.
“Aunt Jodie, I’m taking Alyssa home with me tonight. Tomorrow we’ll come down for our engagement. Will that be a problem?” asked Nicholas and her mom smiled.
“No problem at all, my boy.”
“Alyssa has agreed to take over uncle Daniel’s business. So I’ll want my treat tomorrow,” said Nicholas with a cheeky grin. Alyssa’s eyes widened as she watched her mom and Nicholas interact with one another. How did he get so close to her parents when she herself never could?
Her mom laughed and hugged Nicholas while Alyssa gaped at the two of them. “Of course, my boy. Wait for your special treat tomorrow,” she said, turning her attention to her daughter.
“I’m glad that you’ve finally decided to help your dad out, Alyssa,” she said with tears in her eyes, holding her arms out to her for the first time in ages. Alyssa hugged her close, her eyes filling up with tears.
“You could have told me, mom,” she said, wiping her eyes.
“Daniel didn’t want to tell you both. It was by accident that Alex found out,” she said with a sigh. They discussed the ongoing treatment.
“You can always take a second opinion, aunt Jodie. I’ll talk to my brother, Lucas, and we can take uncle Daniel to see a senior oncologist and a pulmonologist. At stage one, there is hope if we get the best treatment available,” said Nicholas.
“We’re seeing the best doctor, but I think we could go for a second opinion,” said her mom.
After a while, Nicholas loaded all her luggage into his car. “This is the last time you’ll be shifting, Alyssa. Do you know why?” he asked, and Alyssa smiled.
“Yes, I’ll be going home.”