A Desire to Last a Lifetime

3- "Debt."

"HOW could you do this, Paul?! How dare you betray your own family?!"

I stopped walking when I heard mom and dad seem to be having a serious conversation inside their room.

The door was half-opened, so I couldn’t help but hear their exchange of words.

I only intended to kiss their cheeks as I was going out tonight for Aubree’s bridal shower, and I might go home late. I wanted them to know.

Their room is right next to mine, but it is soundproof. In fact, all the rooms in this house are soundproof. Their door jamb happened to be ajar, and they didn't seem to notice that they hadn't closed it, so even when I was standing outside, I could hear what they were talking about.

"How will you explain this to our daughter?! How?!" Mommy kept half-shouting at dad.

My brow furrowed slightly. What could daddy possibly explain to me? Having no sisters means that I am the only daughter in this family. Yes, I have a brother, but it's so obvious that they're discussing something concerning me.

What's the problem? Is it so serious? It seems like it really is!

"Let me explain to her, Lydia. I know she will understand," dad answered, remaining calm and low-voiced.

What will he explain to me? What do I need to understand? What's really happening?

"Knowing Eliana, knowing our daughter, she's independent and always stands by her own decisions in life, so do you think she'll let us ruin her life like that?"

While daddy is gentle, mommy's way of speaking seems like she's going to have hypertension.

By the way, everything she told him was true. I'm self-sufficient, stand by my decisions, and never let anyone control my life! Never. But what do they mean when they say they're messing with me and my life? What in the world is going on here?!

Dad released a deep sigh. "It's all my fault, and I'll accept full responsibility and the blame."

My feelings were suddenly stung by what I heard, by my father's lethargy. Why should he bear all the responsibility and blame? Charge and blame for what? Just what did he do, anyway? Did he do something terrible and illegal?

Given what I know about my father, Paul Guzman, it is extremely rare for him to act in a less-than-exemplary way. As a result of being a family man, a husband, a successful businessman, and most importantly, a father. Literally, he’s truly good at everything he does.

Astonished, mom exclaimed, "What is wrong with your brain that you get yourself involved so much in gambling?!"

Gambling? Did mom just mention dad gambles? I don't want to believe it! But I do know him quite well. That would be the last thing he'd ever do in his life! To reiterate what I've said previously, he never does anything he considers negative. My father is not like that!

"You're addicted to gambling! I didn't even know you were at the Casino every night, and you have done that for almost two years now!"

Instantly, my eyes widened. As a result of his gambling addiction, daddy spends every night at the Casino. Really?! That just can't be right. No way! Surely, my dad wouldn't do something so silly! He wouldn't!

"I'm so sorry, Lydia..."

Sorry? After mommy accused him, that's all he could say? Sorry? Why would he be apologetic? Is he truly guilty of what she is saying?

"If I hadn't answered the call of the big-time gambler you owe, I wouldn't even have known!"

A move was made on my part. I attempted to walk away. I've had enough of overhearing mommy and daddy's private conversations, and I've had enough of listening to her anger.

I know it's bad to eavesdrop, and d*mn, I am eavesdropping on my parents' issues! I must respect them and their privacy. Perhaps, if there are truly serious matters, I will wait for them to tell my brother and me. I have no right to listen in on other people's conversations!

"So, Paul, what are you going to do? Sell our only daughter to the heir of the company who plans to save our business and pay off all your debts?!"

I once again came to a stop instead of fleeing.

Earlier, I had wanted to leave because, besides knowing that eavesdropping was wrong, I also didn't want my mood to be ruined before attending my best friend's party. However, after hearing the parting words that mommy said, I now feel even more compelled to intrude.

What the hell with it! They're talking about having a ‘to sell someone’ to pay off all the debts!

"I'm not selling our daughter, Lydia."

"Not selling? What exactly do you call what you're doing now? Paul, for f*ck's sake! You want our daughter to marry the heir to a huge business just to make up for everything you've lost!"

Marry? Marry a wealthy heir? How exactly do they intend to tell me about this? Obviously, no other daughter is in this family, so they are referring only to me! I mean, what exactly do they want me to do? My father wants what?

I don't like where it seems to be going, and I don't think I will like it once it gets there, especially since they've already brought my name in on this.

"Lydia, this is also for Eliana's good."

"That's only for your own benefit, Paul! You're just doing yourself a favor to be saved from all the troubles you caused in this family!"

I heard daddy take a heavy sigh.

I finally get why my mother gets so upset over things.

"Come on, Lydia! Please!" Dad begged, frustrated. "I'm not doing this for no good reason. Certainly, I recognize that I erred, and I am taking this step to make amends. It's not just that I'm doing this for our family, but also for you. Can you not see that I need to be rescued? Do you really want to have me imprisoned? Moreover, don't you worry if our firm survives or not?”

"Of course, Paul, I want you to be saved from all this mess." Even mommy's voice was beginning to wane. "I don't want you to go to jail, and I also want our company to survive... And yet, could there be no other option? Paul, you can't fix a mistake by making another one."

"I know... I know, Lydia." Dad nodded submissively, admitting to his shortcomings.

Dad hugged her, and she couldn’t do anything but sadly embrace him, too.

"But trust me on this one. This time, I know it's not a mistake. I will make our daughter wed my colleague's son."

What my father said turned my earlier feelings of pity into abject outrage. Am I supposed to marry his rich business colleague's son? To the company's heir who intends to save our commerce and pay off all his debts? Why? What does he think of me? It makes me feel like I am a used item that can be easily sold to anyone! It’s truly sickening!

"Is this the only choice we have? What stops your buddy from helping us without expecting anything in return? Especially not our daughter's heart."

"Their family, Lydia, is centered on a massive corporate empire. They always see returns on their investments."

That's right. Nowadays, no one in business will lend a hand to another businessman without expecting a return.

I shook my head bitterly. This is getting insane!

"Besides, they have their own reasons for wanting our daughter to be a part of their family. Believe me when I say that their reason is beautiful. No harm will come to our daughter."

Now that mommy seemed persuaded by dad's words, she stopped talking and let dad soothe and convince her.

I can't take this anymore! I need to leave now before I go insane and do something stupid as a result of what I heard from them!

It was time for me to leave before what I heard from them caused me to completely lose my sanity and do something I would later regret.

What have I just found out and heard? To begin with, dad has a gambling problem he's been hiding from us for nearly two years. Secondly, he's racked up many debts to various gamblers, which could lead to the bankruptcy of our business. Finally, I've heard he wants me to marry some son of a large business I've never even heard of!

Brother Oliver arrived just as I was done marching down the grand staircase.

"Hi, sis. Going somewhere?" he asked me coolly.

Whereas my face used to exude an air of uncontrollable wildness, he is calm and relaxed.

He had obviously just returned home from work, given that he was clothed in his business suit.

"Brother, do you know about daddy's gambling that he started two years ago?" I immediately asked him.

He's the first son in this family. Therefore, I conclude that he knows everything that's happening here!

He was startled as if he couldn't believe what kind of question I was asking him this time. "How did you know about it—"

"So, you knew?!" My blood boiled even more. "Why did you hide it from me? I don't understand why all of you here are trying to keep this secret from me!"

"Eliana—"

"Now that he has developed a dependency on debt, his actions could put our entire business at risk. Am I right?"

An audible sigh escaped my brother’s lips.

Come on! He will inherit our company in this generation, so I know he knows everything that is happening and what could happen more in the next few days!

"You also know that to save our business, dad plans to send me off to marry the son of a wealthy friend. I'm assuming you're aware of this, as well." The tone of my statement was more accusatory than questioning.

He blinked, appalled by what I said. "What? Excuse me, but what did you just say, Eliana? Dad intends to give you off to marry an heir of the company that seeks to save our business?"

He now appears perplexed and blameless. So, he has no idea, huh?

"Eliana, I don't know about it. Is that even true?"

"How I wish it’s not!” I ran my fingers through my hair frustratedly, feeling bitter. “I don't know, but that's what I've heard from their conversation." I rolled my eyes as I walked past him.

He watched me when I was about to leave. "Wait. Where are you going? Don’t tell me you’re going out to run away—"

"Relax. Just popping out for Aubree's party." I abruptly cut him off to clarify his conclusions. "Don't worry. I won't rebel yet, my dear brother. Not until Dad confirms that everything I heard tonight is true." As soon as I finished speaking, I walked out of the house briskly.

He didn't say anything else nor try to stop me because, aside from knowing that I wouldn't be stopped once I decided to go, he also had trust in the people I went to. My best friends are Aubree and Layla, and this family knows them, so they don't mind if I hang out with these girls late at night.

I dashed into my red car, tossing my purse inside. I sped as fast as my ride would go to get to the bar immediately where Aubree's bridal shower would be held.

Many terrible things have happened, and I have heard them all tonight. I feel like I need to drown my exasperations in a hard, great amount of liquor!