Chapter 103 - Story (2/2)

I blinked. Slow and hard.

”I can give you the painting as a gift. I got it for free anyway,” I said without a care.

Uncle Luke remained silent as he avoided any eye contact.

. . .

. . .

”That's it?” I asked.

He sighed, heavier than the last. ”Do you want to hear a story?”

”I'm listening.”

I sat straight, ears perked, ready for the story.

”In the past . . . ,” he started, ”when I was starting Jansen Conglomerate . . . I fell in love with a woman, a middle class born woman.”

He paused and shot me a side-eye. When I didn't react, he continued, ”The usual tragedy. My parents were against it and wanted me to marry a woman of important background. They threatened to disown me if I didn't. I didn't mind being disowned, but what I couldn't bear to let go . . . all my hard work. My life's work. Jansen Conglomerate, leaving it to ruins.”

Uncle Luke closed his eyes for a moment. His eyelids trembled, jaw tightened. As he opened his eyes, I never saw a face full of regret like I did now.

”So, I agreed. I married the woman and let the woman I love married another man. She had a daughter, but life was never good to them. She died together with her husband in a car accident, leaving her daughter behind. I secretly helped her daughter until her daughter married a rich man, but that also didn't work out. The man had an affair with another married woman, and her daughter suffered depression and died not long after . . . leaving a small child behind.”

My eyelids fluttered. I didn't know why Uncle Luke was telling me all of this. I stared at him, confused.

”The small child is Zoe Collin, and the granddaughter of the woman I love.”

”. . .”

I was lying if I said I was not shocked at the sudden revelation.