[Complete] Invisible Chains- Chapter 31
Chapter 31
He looked at me with a painful expression. It looked like he was disappointed with my words but I didn’t regret what I said. I believed in my words and didn’t think I said was wrong. It was the hard truth that he had to face. If he made excuses like he was making money for my sake or to create a future for me, it’s ridiculous. I would rather have a loving father than a rich one.
However, since I was born in this family, I took the opportunity and did what he asked me to. Now looking back, I think no matter what I tried, I would end up running back to the same job. I’ve been taught since I was young about the business world and how it works, that it has been running deep in my blood. I don’t mind working as an executive director. This job may be tiring and boring but it made me push myself further. I guess in a way, I’m thankful for my father for giving me this position and opportunity to work. If I was brought up as a spoiled rich kid like Hiroki, then I think I wouldn’t be able to handle the stress of living. I can’t even imagine what kind of person I would be if that happened.
I opened my mouth, readied myself to speak when my father got up from his seat. He started to walk towards me when he stopped halfway. Then he lowered his head before he shot his head back up. He stared at me and extended his hands out as if he wanted to hug me. By surprise, I took a step back. He then looked at me disappointedly. He said with weary eyes. “I thought… I did everything for you. If you feel like this towards me, then I should understand. You’re right. I never acted as a father towards you or a loving husband to your okaasan. There has been so many regrets that I’ve made and I guess I’m paying for them right now.” He slowly walked to the sofa to sit down. I bit my lip and continued to stay quiet, for some odd reason I wanted to hear what he had to say. I wanted to hear his side and see if he could justify his decisions.
“I wanted you to be able to be independent in our aggressive and competitive world. I knew that in order for you to become the CEO, you needed to prove to yourself and to others that you are capable for the job. You know those stupid stockholders… They think they know everything because they own shares of the company.” He let out a short chuckle before he continued. “I made sure to avoid you at certain times but continue to watch you from a distance. That’s why I’ve been slacking so much on my work as a CEO because I wanted you to get a head start and experience what it would feel like as the CEO. I didn’t want my presence to hinder you in any way. Also your okaasan supported my idea and tried her best to keep her distance as well. She was worried for your future as well. Then there was Mariko…” He trailed off and soon was lost in his own thoughts.
I clenched my jaw tightly as I made two fists. If he was so concerned about my future why couldn’t he thought about hers? Why did they choose me over her? I always wondered why they chose to send her away. He bent over and placed his hands on top of his head. He looked so pitiful to see him looking at him like that. “I was getting to much stress and pressure from your grandparents. They were expecting to have a grandson but when they found out that Mariko was a girl, they were threatening to make me get a divorce with your okaasan and to get re-marry with another girl. I loved your okaasan so much that I was willing to give up all my hard work for our family. However your okaasan didn’t want me to become estrange to my family so she made the difficult decision to give up Mariko. Because of her decision to abandon Mariko, she fell really ill. Sometimes she hid it from you and tried her best to be a mother for you but it was difficult. It had also left a huge hole in her heart.”
I let out a sigh and took a seat on the sofa. I was trying to comprehend everything that he said. Was he lying to me or was he telling me the truth? How could they abandon Mariko for such a ridiculous reason? I knew that my grandparents had never liked me when they were alive but why would do that to a few months old baby, just because it was a girl and not a boy. No matter how many times I tried to wrap my mind around their logic, it never ever made any sense.
“I’ve always regretted my decision to give up your imouto. I would sometimes have a hard time sleeping at night because I would constantly think about her-how she would look like, what kind of personality she has and so on. You know, when your grandparents died, I thought that I could bring back Mariko from the orphanage but I had already been too late. A family had adopted her a few years earlier. Only if I didn’t give her away…” I started to see a new side my father. Instead of the stubborn and arrogant I had called for a father, he was in pain, agonizing and regretting about what he did to Mariko.
Tears swelled up in my eyes that uncontrollably they started to run down my face. Why couldn’t I understand my father’s intentions? Why did he have to hide his true feelings when he could have told me in the first place? Why did he keep everything inside himself until now? “I tried even finding your imouto again. I used all the resources I had to find her whereabouts but that was to no avail. It was like she had disappeared into thin air. So I decided to make up for what I did to her, I would help you as much as possible. I even made sure I had eyes on you whenever you were not at the company.” He said as he sniffled. I widened my eyes and stared at him in shock. He what…? He kept eyes on me? How did he…?
“I made sure I had background checks on every person that you came into contact with. Then I found out you had run-ins with Aiba Masaki-san, I started to suspect that you guys were dating. Of course I was happy that you were seeing a guy for the first time in your life but I was worried that his career may hinder your future at the company. So I had asked him if he was willing to marry you in hopes of becoming your right-hand man at the company.” He then let out a laugh as he was looking back at his memories. “He is a weird fellow. I don’t even understand why you have feelings for him…”
I rolled my eyes and sighed under my breath. I should clear up my relationship with Aiba-san with him. Clearly he can’t see that I have nothing with Aiba-san. I opened my mouth to tell him when he continued to talk. “He told me that he’s happy that I was thinking about you but he doesn’t think that he should have any part with the company. It’s not his place to get a chance to get a spot in the company. He told me that he loves what he does, and is not planning to change his career anytime soon.” I smiled. I never knew he said that, let alone have the courage to straight up tell my father what he felt. I always thought he would tense up in front of him like when he came over for dinner. But to stand up for his self, I was a bit impressed.
With his head hung low, I stared at my father. Now I understood how my father felt and why he made those decisions. Even though I don’t agree to what he did, I understood what kind of pressure and the battle he had within himself. I bit my lower lip as I hesitated. Should I tell him that I found Mariko? What will he do once he find out? Will he forcefully take her from a place where she loves so much?
Then he lifted his head and looked at me. I saw tears streaks on his face and his blood-shot eyes. They were frightening but at the same time, woeful. “You know, your okaasan left a letter for you. She told me to give it to you when you get married but I feel like this is a good time for you to understand how your okaasan felt. Go into my bedroom and the letter should be in the drawer of your okaasan’s vanity.” I slowly nodded my head and made my way into my parents’ bedroom.
I had only been into my parent’s bedroom once and it was when I was snooping around to find Mariko’s whereabouts. I thought that my parents had kept her location away from me. But in the end, I never found any evidence to prove that theory. I gave up and thus, hired some private detectives to do the work for me.
I followed my father’s instructions and went straight towards the vanity. Slowly I pulled out the drawer to see a light yellow envelope with my name on it. I grabbed it and started to examine it. The scent of my mother’s perfume had still lingered on the envelope, making me have flashbacks of my mother when she was alive.
I made a small smile to myself and opened the letter to notice a few pieces of paper were closed inside. I gently unfolded the papers and started to read what my mother had wanted to tell me.
He looked at me with a painful expression. It looked like he was disappointed with my words but I didn’t regret what I said. I believed in my words and didn’t think I said was wrong. It was the hard truth that he had to face. If he made excuses like he was making money for my sake or to create a future for me, it’s ridiculous. I would rather have a loving father than a rich one.
However, since I was born in this family, I took the opportunity and did what he asked me to. Now looking back, I think no matter what I tried, I would end up running back to the same job. I’ve been taught since I was young about the business world and how it works, that it has been running deep in my blood. I don’t mind working as an executive director. This job may be tiring and boring but it made me push myself further. I guess in a way, I’m thankful for my father for giving me this position and opportunity to work. If I was brought up as a spoiled rich kid like Hiroki, then I think I wouldn’t be able to handle the stress of living. I can’t even imagine what kind of person I would be if that happened.
I opened my mouth, readied myself to speak when my father got up from his seat. He started to walk towards me when he stopped halfway. Then he lowered his head before he shot his head back up. He stared at me and extended his hands out as if he wanted to hug me. By surprise, I took a step back. He then looked at me disappointedly. He said with weary eyes. “I thought… I did everything for you. If you feel like this towards me, then I should understand. You’re right. I never acted as a father towards you or a loving husband to your okaasan. There has been so many regrets that I’ve made and I guess I’m paying for them right now.” He slowly walked to the sofa to sit down. I bit my lip and continued to stay quiet, for some odd reason I wanted to hear what he had to say. I wanted to hear his side and see if he could justify his decisions.
“I wanted you to be able to be independent in our aggressive and competitive world. I knew that in order for you to become the CEO, you needed to prove to yourself and to others that you are capable for the job. You know those stupid stockholders… They think they know everything because they own shares of the company.” He let out a short chuckle before he continued. “I made sure to avoid you at certain times but continue to watch you from a distance. That’s why I’ve been slacking so much on my work as a CEO because I wanted you to get a head start and experience what it would feel like as the CEO. I didn’t want my presence to hinder you in any way. Also your okaasan supported my idea and tried her best to keep her distance as well. She was worried for your future as well. Then there was Mariko…” He trailed off and soon was lost in his own thoughts.
I clenched my jaw tightly as I made two fists. If he was so concerned about my future why couldn’t he thought about hers? Why did they choose me over her? I always wondered why they chose to send her away. He bent over and placed his hands on top of his head. He looked so pitiful to see him looking at him like that. “I was getting to much stress and pressure from your grandparents. They were expecting to have a grandson but when they found out that Mariko was a girl, they were threatening to make me get a divorce with your okaasan and to get re-marry with another girl. I loved your okaasan so much that I was willing to give up all my hard work for our family. However your okaasan didn’t want me to become estrange to my family so she made the difficult decision to give up Mariko. Because of her decision to abandon Mariko, she fell really ill. Sometimes she hid it from you and tried her best to be a mother for you but it was difficult. It had also left a huge hole in her heart.”
I let out a sigh and took a seat on the sofa. I was trying to comprehend everything that he said. Was he lying to me or was he telling me the truth? How could they abandon Mariko for such a ridiculous reason? I knew that my grandparents had never liked me when they were alive but why would do that to a few months old baby, just because it was a girl and not a boy. No matter how many times I tried to wrap my mind around their logic, it never ever made any sense.
“I’ve always regretted my decision to give up your imouto. I would sometimes have a hard time sleeping at night because I would constantly think about her-how she would look like, what kind of personality she has and so on. You know, when your grandparents died, I thought that I could bring back Mariko from the orphanage but I had already been too late. A family had adopted her a few years earlier. Only if I didn’t give her away…” I started to see a new side my father. Instead of the stubborn and arrogant I had called for a father, he was in pain, agonizing and regretting about what he did to Mariko.
Tears swelled up in my eyes that uncontrollably they started to run down my face. Why couldn’t I understand my father’s intentions? Why did he have to hide his true feelings when he could have told me in the first place? Why did he keep everything inside himself until now? “I tried even finding your imouto again. I used all the resources I had to find her whereabouts but that was to no avail. It was like she had disappeared into thin air. So I decided to make up for what I did to her, I would help you as much as possible. I even made sure I had eyes on you whenever you were not at the company.” He said as he sniffled. I widened my eyes and stared at him in shock. He what…? He kept eyes on me? How did he…?
“I made sure I had background checks on every person that you came into contact with. Then I found out you had run-ins with Aiba Masaki-san, I started to suspect that you guys were dating. Of course I was happy that you were seeing a guy for the first time in your life but I was worried that his career may hinder your future at the company. So I had asked him if he was willing to marry you in hopes of becoming your right-hand man at the company.” He then let out a laugh as he was looking back at his memories. “He is a weird fellow. I don’t even understand why you have feelings for him…”
I rolled my eyes and sighed under my breath. I should clear up my relationship with Aiba-san with him. Clearly he can’t see that I have nothing with Aiba-san. I opened my mouth to tell him when he continued to talk. “He told me that he’s happy that I was thinking about you but he doesn’t think that he should have any part with the company. It’s not his place to get a chance to get a spot in the company. He told me that he loves what he does, and is not planning to change his career anytime soon.” I smiled. I never knew he said that, let alone have the courage to straight up tell my father what he felt. I always thought he would tense up in front of him like when he came over for dinner. But to stand up for his self, I was a bit impressed.
With his head hung low, I stared at my father. Now I understood how my father felt and why he made those decisions. Even though I don’t agree to what he did, I understood what kind of pressure and the battle he had within himself. I bit my lower lip as I hesitated. Should I tell him that I found Mariko? What will he do once he find out? Will he forcefully take her from a place where she loves so much?
Then he lifted his head and looked at me. I saw tears streaks on his face and his blood-shot eyes. They were frightening but at the same time, woeful. “You know, your okaasan left a letter for you. She told me to give it to you when you get married but I feel like this is a good time for you to understand how your okaasan felt. Go into my bedroom and the letter should be in the drawer of your okaasan’s vanity.” I slowly nodded my head and made my way into my parents’ bedroom.
I had only been into my parent’s bedroom once and it was when I was snooping around to find Mariko’s whereabouts. I thought that my parents had kept her location away from me. But in the end, I never found any evidence to prove that theory. I gave up and thus, hired some private detectives to do the work for me.
I followed my father’s instructions and went straight towards the vanity. Slowly I pulled out the drawer to see a light yellow envelope with my name on it. I grabbed it and started to examine it. The scent of my mother’s perfume had still lingered on the envelope, making me have flashbacks of my mother when she was alive.
I made a small smile to myself and opened the letter to notice a few pieces of paper were closed inside. I gently unfolded the papers and started to read what my mother had wanted to tell me.