Alyssa’s POV
The room was heavy with tension, the kind that pressed against my chest like a weight I couldn’t escape. My father stood by the massive desk in his private office, his silhouette outlined by the dim light filtering through the blinds. He looked calm, as though we weren’t about to discuss the skeletons buried deep in his closet.
But I wasn’t calm. I couldn’t be.
“Start talking,” I said, my voice cold and steady. “No more riddles, no more half-truths. Tell me everything.”
He turned to face me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I saw the man I used to idolize-the man who taught me how to ride a bike, who made me laugh until my sides hurt. But that image shattered the moment he spoke.
[Chat Exchange: Alyssa & Her Father]
Alyssa: “Why did you fake your death? Why did you let me believe you were gone while you pulled the strings from the shadows?”
Father: “To protect you, Alyssa. You were young, innocent. You didn’t need to know the kind of man I was or the enemies I’d made.”
Alyssa: “Don’t give me that ‘for my own good’ crap. You didn’t just disappear-you abandoned me. And now I find out you’ve been controlling everything, including me.”
Father: “You think I wanted this life for you? You think I wanted my enemies to use you as a pawn the moment they saw an opportunity?”
—
His voice rose, but I wasn’t about to back down.
Alyssa: “And yet here we are, me standing in the middle of your twisted game! You say you wanted to protect me, but what about Ethan? What about his father? You think I don’t know you had something to do with his death?”
His expression darkened, and the air in the room seemed to chill.
Father: “Ethan’s father was a dangerous man, Alyssa. He was reckless, volatile. If I hadn’t taken him out, he would have destroyed everything-and everyone-in his path.”
Alyssa: “So you killed him? Just like that?”
Father: “It wasn’t that simple. He was going to betray me, Alyssa. He planned to sell out the entire organization to the highest bidder. I did what had to be done.”
I took a step back, my chest tightening as the weight of his confession sank in. Ethan’s hatred, his obsession with revenge-it all made sense now.
[Internal Thoughts: Alyssa]
This wasn’t just a rivalry. This was blood for blood. Ethan lost his father because of mine, and now I’m caught in the crossfire. How many lies have I been told? How much of my life has been orchestrated by this man standing before me.
Alyssa: “Do you even realize what you’ve done? Ethan isn’t just coming for me, he’s coming for you-for everything you’ve built. And now Xavier’s in the mix, ready to burn it all down.”
Father: (narrowing his eyes) “Which is why I need you, Alyssa. Together, we can stop them.”
Alyssa: “Stop them? This isn’t some business negotiation! This is a war you started, and now you’re asking me to clean up your mess?”
Father: “I’m offering you a choice. Help me take down Xavier, and everything I’ve built-everything-will be yours.”
The words hung in the air like a loaded gun.
[Chat Exchange: Alyssa & Her Father]
Alyssa: (sarcastic) “Oh, how generous of you. I get to inherit your empire of lies and bloodshed? Gee, thanks, Dad.”
Father: “Don’t act like you don’t know how this world works. You’ve been playing the game, Alyssa. You’ve been surviving. This is your chance to stop surviving and start winning.”
Alyssa: “And what happens if I say no? What happens if I decide I don’t want to be a part of this anymore?”
Father: (shrugs) “Then you’re on your own. No resources, no protection. And trust me, Ethan and Xavier will tear you apart the moment they get the chance.”
My heart raced as I stared at him, trying to process his ultimatum.
[Internal Thoughts: Alyssa]
This is exactly what he wants-to manipulate me, to make me feel like I have no choice but to side with him. But do I? Can I afford to walk away and risk losing everything? Or do I take his offer and use it against him, just like I’ve done with everyone else?
Alyssa: “If I do this-if I help you take down Xavier-what happens to Ethan?”
Father: “Ethan is a loose end that will need to be dealt with. But I’ll leave that decision to you.”
His answer was calculated, designed to make me feel like I had control. But I knew better.
[Chat Exchange: Alyssa’s Inner Conflict]
Alyssa: (murmuring to herself) “This is insane. They’re all insane.”
Father: “Think it over, Alyssa. But don’t take too long. Time is not on our side.”
He handed me a file-a thick, ominous folder labeled with Xavier’s name. Inside were detailed accounts of his hidden assets, his operations, and his vulnerabilities. It was a treasure trove of information, the kind that could bring a man like Xavier to his knees.
As I flipped through the pages, my father’s voice broke through my thoughts.
Father: “Everything you need to destroy him is in there. But make no mistake-if you fail, you’ll lose more than just this war. You’ll lose everything.”
I looked up at him, the weight of his words settling heavily on my shoulders. This wasn’t just a battle for power-it was a battle for survival. And no matter which side I chose, the cost would be devastating.