85 Concepcion Family (1/2)
When his brother died, Titus wallowed in self-guilt and opened his eyes just how much of a pain in the ass he truly was. Oddly enough, nobody ever blamed him for his brother's death. No one at all.
It was weird since he was used to people talking behind his back and his father treating him heavy-handedly. That went for when he made the tiniest mistakes.
Blow some cash in the casino? Slap. Blow some cash on a stripper? A thorough beating. Blow some cash to buy a boat? He was nearly disowned if not for his brother protecting him.
However, this time, there was none of those. It was utter silence, with his dad even comforting him. It was a truly strange phenomenon.
That was when, at December 29, 2057. He awakened as a wielder and discovering that his family was actually a clan of wielders.
What more, he inherited the Ability of his Level 3 wielder father, the Blackstone Golem. From that moment on, he was treated as a true son of heaven. It was as if he was a carp that successfully leapt the dragon's gate.
His life changed. All these wonderful and new things was brought to light. He was trained to become a fighter. He was trained to become someone who can withstand pain. And he found out that their Concepcion Family was a subsidiary of an organization named Kamay ng Lagim.
He also learnt that his brother was talented and powerful. The Concepcion Family and its members viewed his brother as the hope. He understood why he was treated that way. Compared to his brother, Titus was lackluster.
From his newfound view of life, his mind was more open about these things. He felt… He was reborn. Plus, there was no use having a grudge on this subject. He was the current 'hope' of the Concepcion Family. He was treated as a messiah!
This all became better when he was called by his father. Entering the meeting room, he saw the most beautiful woman he's ever seen in his life. He was speechless. She was too flawless.
”Son.” Angus spread his arms outwards. A huge grin was plastered on his face. ”Sit down. Sit down.”
Titus couldn't keep his eyes off of Ayesha's pretty face. For the past few days, Titus has been self-absorbed, his ego being boosted. Despite his recent growth in 'maturity,' he was pampered and respected as an emperor.
In the present, he desired Ayesha so bad that his face was beet red. Fortunately for him, he was able to control his own lust when he discerned that Jeremy was staring at him with intimidating eyes.
'Who is this guy?' Titus thought to himself. When he sat down and had a better view of Jeremy only then did he connect the dots. 'Ahh, she's her father.'
”Okay.” Angus had a wide smile on his face. ”Now that we're all here. Let's get down to business. Shall we Jeremy?”
…..
Back to Ayesha's perspective.
Instinctively, Ayesha inched closer to her father and seemed to shrink in the presence of the father-son duo.
”Of course, of course.” Jeremy's face lit up in delight. He stretched his hands to shake Angus' hands. ”The land. I'll sell it to you at a discounted price for old time's sake.”
Ayesha didn't precisely know what kind of connection her father had with this Angus, but she didn't like it one bit.
”Good. Good.” Angus' expression was that of satisfaction. ”What's your price, old friend?”
”The usual price is 100 million.” Jeremy reached for the Japanese tea cup and sipped on some hot tea. ”I'm willing to sell it to you at 50 million, give or take.”
Hearing this part of the story, Hayden was perplexed as the land price in the website was most definitely 40 million credits. '100 million? Was she just wanting to attract attention to get some help?'
As for Titus, he didn't recognize him from descriptions alone. How can he? No one will be able to paint an exact picture of a face with words alone, can they? There were more minute details than one that affects the face, such as symmetry. Why do you think most police sketches are imprecise?
”Sold.” Angus agreed with the set price without second thinking. Hurriedly, he followed up, ”Now that that's out of the way. Let me introduce my beloved youngest son.”
Titus slightly bowed forward without standing up. ”My name is Titus Concepcion. What about you, my fair lady? What's your name?”
Titus stretched his hands forward, clearly desiring a handshake. The thought of shaking Titus' hand made Ayesha's skin crawl.
Nevertheless, as they were guests, she remained respectful. She shook Titus' hands, ”I-I'm Ayesha Chase.”
Titus raised his head to face Ayesha, his eyes momentarily sparking. The second Ayesha let go of Titus' hands, a shiver went down her spine.
”I'll get straight to the point.” Angus' tone became solemn. ”I'll give you 500 million credits for the lovely hand of your daughter.”
Titus turned to his father in surprise. Angus knew Titus' taste in women that much? Or was he simply assuming? Or maybe there's something special with the Chase family. We'll never know.
One thing's for sure. Jeremy wasn't fond of this idea because his face hardened when he heard this. Ayesha was relieved that her father wouldn't sell her for money.
”What do you mean by that?” Jeremy's tone was ice-cold. An intense pressure was coming off from him that even Ayesha was marginally asphyxiated.
”It's a good offer.” Disregarding Angus' friendly tone, he was glowering at Jeremy. ”A life for 500 million credits.”
”You've always been this way, Angus.” Jeremy's gaze was cold. ”This is why I left you guys in the first place. I'm not going to sell you the land anymore. Ayesha, we're leaving.”
Jeremy grabbed Ayesha's hands. He led her to leave. Ayesha looked back and saw Titus was about to stand up, but Angus stopped him. ”Let them leave.”
These few words unsettled Ayesha deeply. Ayesha was lost from all the events. The most perplexing of all was that her father was part of this mafia-like world in the past. She suspected it already, but she didn't think that it was true.
She chose not to ask anything. It was clear that Jeremy had no intentions of narrating his past, nor did Ayesha have the desire to hear it.
Nobody stopped them from leaving. On the contrary, the people in suits quivered in terror. They were timorous of the presence of her father.
Upon exiting, they hailed and directly took a taxi to their house. The two didn't mutter a singular word on the way back. Even when they got back, they did not talk.
Ayesha darted for her room. Inside, she laed down on her bed. She endeavored to shake off the events that transpired earlier. ”I just want to forget these…”
An hour passed, with Ayesha attempting to distract herself. 6:09 PM. She was playing a single-player RPG when her dad knocked on the door.
”Sweetie.” Jeremy sounded distressed from behind the door. ”Do you have a moment?”
”Wait a sec, dad.” Ayesha paused her game and sighed. Opening her door, she asked, ”Yeah? What's up?”
”Can we… talk?” Ayesha couldn't quite put her finger in it at the time, but in retrospect, her father was irrefutably anxious at the time.
”Yeah, sure.” Ayesha invited her dad in and sat on her bed. Jeremy grabbed Ayesha's gaming chair and sat on it. ”What's up?”
”I'm transferring the land in your name.” Jeremy gravely articulated his intentions. ”I'm going to give you everything I have. Take care of your mom, okay? Sell the land to someone worthy. I… Love you, sweetie.”
”What… Why are you saying these things, dad?” Ayesha couldn't feel any emotion. Or rather, she was so overwhelmed by all these emotions to the point that her brain didn't register it. ”Can you tell-”
”Don't ask.” Jeremy caressed Ayesha's face. His strong eyes made her shut up. ”Your mom will be your greatest ally in the world. Do not trust anyone easily. Once something happens to you, something inexplicable… Tell your mom. She will explain everything.”
Before she could speak, Jeremy shushed her with a finger. He kissed her on the forehead. ”I love you, sweetie.”
Without giving her a chance to ask or say anything else, Jeremy exited the room. She was left with bemusement and sadness. The next instant, her phone dinged. Checking it, it was her dad's properties being transferred to her.
The house, the land, everything he possessed. It was as if he passed her his will.
…..
”I couldn't sleep that night.” At this point in the narrative, Ayesha's tears were trickling down ceaselessly. ”The next thing I know, somebody kidnapped my father without me even hearing anything in the house. The cameras didn't pick up anything. I can't fathom how they did it. There were no traces at all when I called the police… I couldn't distinguish what I had to do… That's when an e-mail came to me. Its contents were… Were…”
The first content of the e-mail that met her eyes was her father chained up in a gloomy stone dungeon. He was bloodied and was half-naked. His body had cuts and bruises all over.
Below that as the following message: We have your father. Don't ever call the police. Your father will be the bride price and 300 million credits. Also, give us the land. We have uses for that. You know where to find us. Don't call the police or we'll kill him.
'Finally.' Hayden thought as he finished his drink. 'It finally ended.'
”C-can you help me?” Ayesha stammered. ”I beseech you. I don't exactly comprehend it, but you can be trusted. If somebody can help me… It will be you.”