(Chapter 94) Opening Up To Her Parents

No one was in the mood to talk about their days over dinner, as Astrid stopped eating and looked up at her parents. Who looked to be in relative shock.

"Well... Any questions?" Astrid asked lightly. Her mother especially seemed to have lost her appetite and looked at her with worry.

Mr. Tuhs put down his fork and looked at his daughter. He could feel the bloodthirst from her eye alone. But the girl he was looking at... Was his daughter.

"How did it happen?" Mr. Tuhs first needed to confirm that his daughter didn't get into trouble.

Astrid sighed. "That's the hardest question you could have asked dad." Astrid commented as she took the cigarette she brought into the dining room and put it far away from Anya.

Mr. Tuhs chuckled in response. While Mrs. Tuhs eyes her daughter.

Astrid smiled wryly. "I don't know. When I stopped having those soups full of blood packs I was fine at first. Then... I lost it." Astrid tried to explain in a way that wouldn't upset her parents.

They understood the way Astrid 'lost it' must have involved blood in some way. Probably her underworld activities. But none of them commented on it.

"When I woke up this eye was the way it was. Ever since I wore contacts." Astrid spoke slowly so her parents didn't become overwhelmed.

Mr. Tuhs nodded. While Mrs. Tuhs started to eat again. "How long?" She asked in a low tone.

Astrid looked down at her hands guiltily. "Almost three years." She left home so she could expand and not show her family her vile ways. When she was in England she was under immense stress, she had 'visitors' in her room almost daily. being her meals sexually and literally.

Mrs and Mr. Tuhs breath hitched. Three years? "Haven't you had it looked at?" Mrs. Tuhs asked immediately in worry.

Mr. Tuhs shook his head. "No, you couldn't. Could you?" He answered the question for his wife. He now understood why Astrid was gone for so long.

Astrid just couldn't risk going home. It wouldn't be abnormal for someone to find Astrid in Italy after she lost the protection of school. Especially if she was expanding her business. So she needed to go abroad, especially when she had just gained such a defining feature in her eye...

Astrid nodded in agreement with her father. "I couldn't. Jukovic Yuke is still looking for me. I believe you got a call from aunt last November right?" Astrid looked at her mother with a gentle smile.

Mrs. Tuhs nodded. "Yeah, your aunt seemed to be quite tired and asked about you. I told her you were studying for college..." Mrs. Tuhs then realized something.

Astrid hummed. "Don't worry, aunt is fine. Back then she still was being heavily watched by him. But since the new year. I managed to distract him so now aunt is safer." Astrid reassured her mother. But smiled at her with a shine in her eye.

"Wait. How much do you know Astrid?" Mr Tuhs asked with a piercing look. He didn't expect to hear that name from his daughter.

Astrid twiddled with her food. "More than you... There's no need to worry. I've got it under control." Astrid calmly spoke. Before she would have been a little worried about saying this to her father. But if she had the full support of Lewis as well... Then she wouldn't need to worry about anything.

Mr. Tuhs nodded listlessly. "Anything else?" Astrid then asked. She was sure they weren't the only questions they had.

Mr. Tuhs nodded. "Who else knows?" This was important, if anyone betrayed Astrid...

Astrid lowered her eyes. "Everyone here. Then Lewis." This answer earned a cough and a stunned look from Winoa.

Andrea looked at her sternly. While Mrs. Tuhs looked at Astrid. "Lewis knows?" She was quite surprised. Unless her daughter...

"Mmm, he accidentally found out a couple of months ago." Astrid replied. While everyone's looks changed.

A couple of months ago... Winoa remembered it well for Lewis calling her randomly. Asking about food. While her parents and Andrea remembered it for the way Astrid came home...

Mr. Tuhs closed his eyes. He was no idiot. The fact Lewis knows about such a thing and is still alive... He didn't expect his daughter to be a softy with him.

'I might need to talk to Elder Guilliano about some things.' He inwardly thought, as his thoughts were elsewhere.'

Mrs. Tuhs just nodded. She wanted to ask more... But some things she just couldn't ask. She was a parent first. This was her daughter, she was a little upset at first. Especially when she thought about the reason she seemed more distant lately. But she was calmed by the news of her sister. And she also needed to keep Anya in mind...

Anya was only a toddler and this news couldn't get released anywhere. Otherwise Astrid would have a massive target on her back. "All right, Andrea, put Anya to sleep please. I'm going to get some rest." Mrs. Tuhs spoke softly, as she stood up with food leftover.

Andrea left so only Mr. Tuhs, Astrid and Winoa were sitting at the table. "Since you told us this. Then you must have a plan right?" Mr. Tuhs was undoubtedly a sly businessman. He knew Astrid would never let this slip unless she had some plans alongside it. Since it was so risky.

Astrid nodded. She wasn't afraid of anyone letting this slip. But rather her enemies forcing a confession. But she had an idea for that. "Of course, I was thinking that I can take official control of Hanxi by the start of next year. I'll start showing my eye in public as well." Astrid spoke some of her plan.

Mr. Tuhs raised his eyebrow. "I can retire soon?" He asked somewhat excitedly. He loved his work. But he was tired all the same. And knew Astrid was better than him, Hanxi would be in good hands.

Astrid chuckled. "No, you will still be a major shareholder after all. I also can't control Hanxi all on my own. I don't have enough time." Astrid basically shut down her father's dreams.

*Cough* "What Miss means is that she is thinking to let Stephan take part of the workload. Since he has been by your side for so long, she felt it was worthwhile to reward him." Winoa then revealed Astrid's thoughts.

Astrid coughed Winoa to silence. While Mr. Tuhs seemed to nod in agreement. "I see... He would be a good decision. He knows the business and won't betray us... Not that he would get very far." Mr Tuhs seemed to be happy with the outcome, he wanted to spend more time with his family. His wife, and both his daughters.

Astrid then sighed. "I wanted to keep Hanxi for Anya. But what if she doesn't go into business when she is older? So I can only take it for myself." Mr. Tuhs then felt his eyebrows twitch.

'Oi! You don't sound very upset!' He couldn't believe his daughter had become so greedy...But he was relaxed knowing she would be in charge.

"Oh, one more question. Are you certain you can take down those Yuke's?" Mr. Tuhs asked with a slightly evil smile.

Astrid nodded with confidence. "Alright, I'll get Stephan to send you something in the morning. You'll like the contents. I think I will go and get some rest now." Mr. Tuhs stood up. Walking to his room where Mrs. Tuhs also went...

Only Winoa and Astrid were left. Astrid then went to smoke her cigarette, and Winoa followed.

Breathing out a cloud of smoke. Astrid finally calmed herself down. She might have sounded calm. But she was nervous. Guilty, worried. She was scared of what her parents would feel of her. But it seemed she was overthinking way too much. Thinking she had disobeyed her former parents. Instead of her parents now.

"Winoa, bring all the decoys here. I want to see them all at the Guilliano corp lunchtime tomorrow." Astrid finished her cigarette and spoke in a lighter tone. She was ready to reveal herself.

Winoa nodded with excitement in her eyes. She knew Astrid had planned for the eventual bringing down of Jukovic, but now it was starting!

Astrid was left to calm herself in the evening wind. As she sat with her eyes lowered. Constantly in thought...