23: SHOULD I CALL?

SHOULD I CALL?

It was already late at night when Ingrid went home. Since the company's turning over is fast approaching, some paper works needs to be done before that happens. She was exhausted and so worn out, but when she looked upon her sleeping son's face, all her burdens lighten, knowing that everything she does is for him. She kissed her son before going to the bathroom.1

But then she stopped in her tracks and then decided to get a bottle of wine. She feels like drinking a little bit of it tonight. She took one of her favorite red wine, took a sip, and went straight to the bathroom. She took off her clothes and stepped on the bathtub. The warm water sends calming effect on her tired body.

Her bathtub is near the window, which gives her the perfect view of the moon when it shines at night. She has been longing for moments like these, lying on the bathtub, drinking wine with nothing to think about.

Luckily, the moon shines brightly, which gave her some melancholy mood. She saw the leaves danced at the gentle whiff of the wind. Then, she stood up and opened the sliding door to feel the soft breeze brushed against her face. The serenity that the wind brought is truly calming inside her. She wallowed her body in the tub.

Her mind wanders endlessly, thinking of the happy memories she and her son has. She smiled at her son's thought, but then her happy mood gloomed when she remembered that her son is now looking for her father.

"Should I call Dr. Sam about the details of the father or I shouldn't? If only you're here dad, mom.."

She ran away from her home when she was forced to marry a person she hasn't even met yet. She remembered that fateful day...

11 YEARS AGO...

Ingrid was reading her favorite book when she heard a knock on the door.

"Young miss, you have been summoned by your father in his study."

Slowly, she closed the book, hugged it and whispered, "As much as I want to finish you, but my father needed my presence," she smiled, leaving the book behind.

Ever since she is a daddy's girl, even then, she doesn't want him to spoil her because she wanted everything to be presentable but straightforward. When he entered the study, his father was reading a document.

"Dad, you summoned me?" his dad put down the document and then looked at her.

"Ahh yes, dear. Come here..." She let out a smile upon hearing the endearment. Her father would always call her.

"What is it, dad?" his father sighed deeply as if it's hard for him to utter the words.

"Ingrid, dear, I know you're still young, but I already had thought about your future. I am not getting any younger and there's no one in the family that I could pass on the companies." Ingrid made a hunch that her father will not hand the company to her in the future.

"...I am so sorry, but I could not pass the company to you. It has been the family's tradition that the company should be passed on to the family's firstborn male heir. That's why, I arranged a marriage for you which will happen in six months time after your graduation."

The moment she heard her father's announcement, Ingrid was dumbfounded.

"A-are you serious dad?" she said, controlling her tears.

"Unfortunately, I am."

"But why? Am I not good enough to inherit the company?"

"You are, dear. But I could not go against the elders' wishes. Please consider it, I beg of you." She lowered her head and did not say anymore. Her father stood up and went over her embracing her.

"If only I could do something about it... For now, just bear with it, okay?" she nodded.

"But I have one thing to request dad."

"What is it?" he pulled away from her and looked at her lovingly.

"I don't want to meet the man you have arranged that I should get married with until my graduation day, and let's avoid talking about the marriage in six months time." Her father agreed to it, suspecting nothing.

However, she is determined to one thing: to run away.

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