"Honey, haven't you seen how your son behaved? I think he doesn't respect me as much as before,
and I think I deserved that as his mother..." Mrs. Conduibh took the newspaper from Mr. Conduibh's
hand and complained.
Brian Conduibh said, "I told you to discuss with him before you made this decision. He hadn't talked
with us for three years before because of Ophelia. You're taking the risk of driving him away from this
family this time."
Mrs. Conduibh paused for a while and argued, "Driving him away? I'm doing this for his good! Ophelia
has married into a rich family now! He should forget about her and marry Gracie. That's his only and
best option."
Brian took his newspaper back. Then he ignored his wife's babbling and continued to read.
Mrs. Conduibh became even angrier. "Honey, are you listening to me?"
He replied without raising his head, "Honey, I should really remind you that your son is no longer the
man he was four years ago. He had grown powerful enough to be the match of our whole family. You
should really maintain a nice connection with her and try to talk him back into our family's business.
That's your only way to keep this luxurious life. if our family business falls into someone else's
manipulation someday, you will never be able to live such a comfortable life. You should really think
about this."
Mrs. Conduibh sat down beside her husband sullenly.
"That's true, honey, but Gracie is so perfect. She had an excellent family background, education, and
career. She and Tassach will make a perfect match. Don't you want him to end up with a happy
family?"
"I do, but only if he wants it, too. Four years ago, we drove Ophelia away because we thought it was for
the best of him, and for that he left us for years. He didn't tell us anything, including his start-up
company. When we knew about the company, it has already grown big enough. He had planned it
earlier than we thought. I think he worked so hard to start his own business because he wanted to
leverage this to negotiate with us on his marriage.
Brian paused. He then got straight to the point, "We might be able to have an impact on his life four
years ago, but I'm afraid it will be more than difficult now."
Mrs. Conduibh sat on the sofa. She looked a bit lost.
Tassach came down from the stairs. He picked up his suit on the sofa and said, "Dad, Mom, I've got
things to do in my company. I'm sorry I can't finish dinner with you."
Mrs. Conduibh asked, "Tassach, are you mad at your own mother?"
Tassach answered without looking back, "Why would I, Mom? I just don't want you to make those funny
decisions for me in the future. I hope to marry the woman I love."
"Do you still want to marry Ophelia?"
"Yes, she's the only one." Tassach answered very firmly.
Mrs. Conduibh almost passed out. She asked, "Tassach, are you saying that just to piss me off?"
"Mom, you should stop doing this if you really love me. I don't like Gracie, no matter how beautiful or
talented she is. I won't marry her, and you'll get all of us humiliated if you keep pushing me."
Mrs. Conduibh's hands trembled. She repeated it again and again, "Tassach, are you saying that just to
piss me off...?"
"Mom, I've got things to deal with in my company. I have no time for your drama here." He said as he
turned away. Mrs. Conduibh was gasping in anger in the living room.
Tassach drove away from the house. At a quick speed, he approached a bar near downtown. His eyes
lit up when seeing the colorful neon lights. He tried to keep away from the crowd and get to the
bartender to get himself a cocktail. He held the glass in his hands and walked to the farmost corner,
where he unfortunately ran into the man he had been trying to avoid. It was Zach.
Zach was in a suit. He looked so tidy and attractive, which was very out of tune with the noisy bar.
Tassach was surprised because he never thought he would meet Zach in this place.
Zach glanced at him and said, "Take a seat."
Tassach across the table and asked, "What are you doing here? Where's Ophelia?"
Zach took a sip of wine and answered, "You just came up and asked about my wife, don't you think
that's a bit improper?"
Tassach also took a sip calmly. He looked at those crazy and twisted figures on the dance floor, and
then he mocked, "This is no place for a married man like you, especially when your wife's pregnant. I
asked because your wife happened to be my friend."
Zach changed his posture and looked at Tassach lazily. "You're really the most highfalutin person I've
met. I know you're prying into my relationship with my wife with dirty thoughts in the name of friendship.
I trust her, or I would've let her work with you."
Tassach's hands slowly clenched.
"Mr. Chambers, please don't impose your dirty imagination on me. I'm still innocent. I won't touch her
as long as she's your wife, but as soon as you're divorced, I'll have the right to pursue her. After all, she
is so beautiful. I felt pity for you for not knowing how to cherish her."
Zach’s eyes changed. He tried to hide it in the shining and colorful lights. He held the cup and took a
sip. Then he said, “You’re a very straightforward man. What kind of special service has my wife given
you to make herself so unforgettable?”
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