[GIOSEFFO]
The door to the room opened, and Dario walked in, handing me something to read. “Astrid Pearce’s death has been announced, and her husband claims it was due to a severe illness,” he said in an interview.
At first, I couldn’t understand why Enrique Pearce portrayed his wife’s death in such a way, knowing well that she had been shot. However, my questions about it were soon answered.
Astrid Pearce had been abusive towards her husband. Although it may not have been obvious, Astrid would physically and emotionally harm her husband whenever he displeased her. I also learned that their marriage was forced because Astrid had become pregnant, and she had even raped Enrique, which resulted in Millie. Despite Enrique’s reluctance to be tied to someone like Astrid, he had no choice but to comply to avoid any potential scandal.
I knew Millie’s mother was far from an angel, but I hadn’t realized she had more skeletons in her closet. Perhaps for Enrique, it was a relief that his wife had passed away, and he might even be grateful rather than seeking justice.
Thinking that Millie’s life might finally find peace, I stopped visiting their home. Besides, I had become increasingly preoccupied with other matters. Nevertheless, I still managed to gather information about Millie, albeit limited.
“She has many suitors, including Rory Green. Among all her suitors, he’s the closest to her, and she gives him the most attention.”
I paused in my activities. I had already graduated from college with honors in Customs Administration and was currently reviewing for my board exam. After that, I intended to pursue a Juris Doctor degree, but I was also considering obtaining my master’s degree before the board exam.
I looked at the person delivering the news to me, furrowing my brow, displeased by what was said. I sensed fear in her due to the way I looked at her.
“Why are you grumpy now with the news? Jealous, huh?”
I turned to see Gianna approaching me.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Europe.”
“I’m on vacation.”
She took a seat, signaling for my personnel to leave. When we were alone, she spoke again.
“You sounded like a jealous boyfriend when you found out she has suitors. Shouldn’t you have stopped pursuing her a long time ago, Gio?”
I merely stared at my sister, not uttering a word.
“Do you even know that you become a different person every time that woman is mentioned, Gio? And I don’t like the look on your face. It won’t do you any good to get involved in a relationship. You are the future of this organization. I thought you made that decision. It came from you that you wouldn’t let anyone into your life so no one would be your weakness. With all your adversaries, a woman would only hinder you. She could be used against you.”
“And who said I’m planning to have a relationship with her? I’m just checking up on her. Nothing more, Gia. My decision hasn’t changed. I’ve already decided that no matter how much I want to have Millie, I will never let her into my life. Her life is peaceful now, and I don’t want to bring her into my chaotic world. She’s a flower in a beautiful field, and I don’t want to pluck her and let her wither. It’s better for her to stay in the bright side of the world and not in my dark one.”
“You’re still a stalker, after all these years, huh? Pathetic, Gio. I really don’t know what’s happening to you.”
I, too, don’t know what’s happening to me.
No one else knows about Millie except Taddeo and Gia. In my family, only the three of us have any knowledge about her.
I became busier in the following years. I continued to gather information about Millie, which was the most important thing for me. I passed the board exam and even became a top-notcher. I prioritized getting my master’s degree over pursuing a Juris Doctor. When the time came, I entered law school, which left me with even less time for Millie. However, I still kept tabs on her.
When I heard about the downfall of her family’s company due to her father’s foolishness, I had considered investing in it. However, my irritation grew when I learned that Enrique Pearce was looking for a man to marry his daughter, which I believe was his solution to saving his failing company.
I entered various investments in companies owned by people who might catch Millie’s father’s interest. If they were chosen, I would make sure to bring them down. Maybe this would stop Millie’s father from thinking that marriage was the answer to his problems.
Taddeo and I were playing chess when Dario arrived with two pieces of news.
“The name of the man Miss Millie will marry is Marion Huff, Sir Gio.”
Ever since Dario and I had grown older, they had shown me respect. You wouldn’t hear them calling me by my first name anymore.
“Pull out all the shares, the others will follow. It will surely destroy their company.”
Dario promptly followed my command and left, likely to contact my associates to initiate the share pull-out. It was a dirty trick, but was there anything clean left in this day and age?
“Nice move, huh? Undermining their company. Why don’t you offer to marry her to stop what you’re doing?” Taddeo grinned, but I didn’t acknowledge him.
I made a move, and Taddeo winced as he realized I was about to defeat him in our game.
“You know very well I’ll never get married, Taddeo not to anyone. It’s better for me to be alone in life, with no one my adversaries can use against me.”
I had long accepted that I would never have Millie. No matter how much I wanted to have her, it was impossible. She didn’t belong in my world, and I was born to be alone at the top.
Someone like me would only endanger her life, and that was something I could never accept.
I thought Millie’s father would quiet down after the Huff family’s downfall and the failure of the agreement between the two families. But it seems I was mistaken.
Taddeo and I were together again, playing and conversing. Dario entered the room once more and said something to me.
“He’s planning to marry her off to another man, Sir-”
I paused in the middle of making my chess move and looked at Dario. His expression hadn’t changed, and he gazed at me.
“Oh, now what? Are you going to sabotage another company because of this?” Taddeo asked sarcastically.
That’s when I realized that no matter who I targeted, Enrique Pearce would never stop selling his own daughter to save his company or to lift their business back up. I clenched my hand and let out a harsh breath.
“If that’s the case, Dario, send them an offer.”
I saw Taddeo raise an eyebrow, but I didn’t pay him any mind.
“What kind of offer, Sir?”
“A marriage proposal. Tell them I am interested in marrying her oldest daughter, Amelie Pearce.”
Quickly following my declaration, Dario left with the message.