Chapter 9 The Price of Loyalty

Elena closed her eyes, trying to calm the storm raging in her chest. Her breath came in shallow bursts, as if her lungs refused to cooperate.

It felt like racing against time with chains around her ankles.

She looked down, gripping her phone tightly, as if it could offer her the answers she so desperately needed.

Her father's employee's voice still echoed in her ears: "They said... a week is too long."

She drew a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Once she felt a bit more composed, she spoke again.

"All right... how much time are they giving me?"

"At the very least, they're asking for half of their wages to be paid within the next three days. The rest can be settled on the date you proposed yesterday," the employee replied, his voice laced with concern that clung to Elena like a weight.

She remained silent for a long moment before finally whispering, "Okay. I'll try to make it happen."

She ended the call slowly, then headed toward the nearest subway station.

Inside the nearly empty train, she sat motionless, her soul feeling like it was floating somewhere far from her body.

Doubt filled her mind. Even when she reached the ICU-where her father lay-there was still no light in her eyes.

She stared at her father, her gaze heavy and dim.

"Dad... why does this feel so unbearable?"

The wires and tubes attached to his frail body stabbed at her heart like silent accusations.

After standing there for a while, she finally turned and walked slowly toward the hospital garden. There, she pulled out her laptop and the documents she'd brought along.

Her fingers moved swiftly as she accessed the payroll data. She would use her own remaining funds to pay her father's employees.

There was no other choice. Even if it drained every last dollar she had-this was what she had to do.

---

While Elena was still trying to piece together a plan to pay her father's employees, elsewhere, a much larger decision was waiting to be made.

At the Caython residence, Narima's husband had just returned from a business trip and was now approaching her with a file in hand.

"Is she the girl you've chosen, darling?" Jonathan Caython's deep voice broke the quiet as Narima turned to face him.

He flipped the folder lightly in his hand-the one containing the background report on Elena and her life. Of course he had access to it. Narima had deliberately placed it on his desk, wanting to discuss her chosen daughter-in-law as soon as he got back from his trip.

Narima gave him a small smile and nodded.

"I think we have an even stronger reason now," Jonathan said, his tone thoughtful.

"A stronger reason?" Narima raised an eyebrow in question.

"Yes," Jonathan gestured for her to join him on the couch. "I just finished reading it, and I truly believe we should help her. Especially because..." he tapped his finger on a photograph tucked inside the file. "Alberth Johnson. He's an old friend of mine. Without him, I wouldn't have been able to start our company."

Narima's eyes lit up at his words.

"Remember when I told you about a college friend named Albert?" Jonathan asked, trying to jog her memory.

"Oh-yes! The one who helped you land that job after you were fired from your first company, right?" Narima's voice warmed as she recalled the story.

"That's the one. During college, he even gave up all his savings from his part-time jobs to pay for my mother's surgery. He was supposed to use that money to start his own business."

Narima's expression softened. "Is he... Elena's father?"

Jonathan nodded. "Yes, sweetheart."

"Well then," Narima said firmly, "we have even more reason to arrange this marriage. That stubborn son of ours won't be able to refuse now."

Jonathan let out a long breath. That wasn't what he'd meant. To him, helping the girl meant just that-helping her, not pushing her into a forced marriage. But seeing how hopeful Narima was, how invested she'd become, he didn't have the heart to crush her excitement.

Narima had tried for years to find the right match for their second son. In her eyes, he had made a terrible choice with his current girlfriend. But none of the women she had vetted seemed to fit her ideal-until now.

Now that she finally found someone she truly believed in... could Jonathan really say no?

"That must be him," Narima said suddenly, her voice laced with excitement as the sound of a car pulling into the driveway reached them.

She rushed toward the front door with a gleam in her eye, just as her second son stepped out of his car.

"Hello, sweetheart! How was your day?" Narima beamed, looping her arm through his affectionately.

The young man stared at his mother, puzzled. This was... unusual. His mother hadn't acted this warm in years. Not since three years ago-more precisely, not since a few months after he had introduced Natasha to them.

"What's gotten into you, Mom?" Elvano asked, his tone laced with suspicion. Just yesterday she was furious with him-now she was acting all sweet?

"You little brat! Acting like I've lost my mind?" Narima playfully smacked his back.

"Elvano," his father called from the living room sofa.

Elvano turned his head toward the voice. "Hmph... figures. The tamer's back," he muttered under his breath, though Narima clearly heard it. She chose not to respond.

"Sit down. Your mother and I need to talk to you."

He took a seat, sensing that something was definitely off.

"What's going on, Dad?"

"Let's not beat around the bush," Jonathan began, his voice firm. "Your mother and I have decided to arrange a marriage for you-with the woman she's chosen."

"Dad!"

Elvano bolted up halfway but froze when his mother gripped his arm tightly. He clenched his jaw, struggling to contain the frustration bubbling inside him.

First his mother, now his father too? Why couldn't they understand how he felt? He only wanted to marry one woman-his woman-Natasha.

"You don't get to refuse this, Elvano," Jonathan said sternly. "We gave you time to leave that girl. But you haven't. So don't blame us for stepping in now."

"But why?" Elvano snapped. "Why do you hate Natasha so much? What did she ever do to you?"

"I've told you the reason many times. She's not the kind of woman you think she is."

"That's nonsense! Then prove it! Show me if she's so bad!" Elvano's glare was sharp, his voice unwavering.

The truth was, both Jonathan and Narima did have proof. But they weren't ready to show it to their son-not yet.

They knew how much he loved Natasha. And they knew that if he saw the truth all at once, it could break him.

Especially considering his history-how he fell into depression during middle school after losing his childhood friend. They couldn't risk something like that happening again.

So no, they weren't hiding the truth out of fear. They were waiting-for the right time, and the right person to catch him when he fell.

"You don't have to believe us," Jonathan continued. "But you're not walking away from this marriage."

"Why the hell not? I don't even know her! And I'm sure she wouldn't want to marry some guy with a history of mental illness either!"

"You do know her, Elvano. Very well, in fact," Narima chimed in, her eyes locked on her son's face. Her lips curled into a faint, unreadable smile-not the excited one from before, but something quieter, deeper.

"Who?" he asked, confused. For a second, his thoughts flashed back to Elena. Could it really be...?

"You can read her profile here," Jonathan said, handing him the same folder from earlier.

Elvano took it slowly, his eyes scanning the front page. Then they widened.

"Elena?" he breathed in disbelief.

"Yes. Isn't she one of your employees?" Narima asked with a single raised brow, her expression smug and satisfied.

Damn it.

So she came here to manipulate my parents? That's low.

Elvano's jaw tightened.

"You're going to treat her well," Jonathan added, voice unyielding. "Because she's going to be your wife."

Elvano turned to his father again. Without reading any further, he snapped the folder shut. His face hardened.

He would do anything for his parents-anything. But this?

This crossed a line.

Why were they always trying to decide for him who he should marry?

"If you refuse this engagement," Jonathan said firmly, "then pack your things and leave this house. You're no longer my son. I'll erase your name from this family-forever."

To be Continued ...