19. Second Male Lead

The next morning, the classroom felt monotonous, a mere repetition of the daily routine. Nothing could break Karel's boredom, especially since his boyfriend, who was supposed to teach him today was absent.

With a blank stare, Karel rested his chin on his left hand while his right hand moved steadily, jotting down notes in his notebook.

The pages filled with a list of companies he'd researched, businesses specializing in medical equipment such as masks, oxygen cylinders, face shields, and even Ashorf Pharm, a pharmaceutical firm set to profit during the pandemic.

He had instructed Tristan to start contacting some of these companies, though he was careful not to overload him with all the tasks. To ensure efficiency, he had also recruited several professionals to help manage his investments and business ventures.

When the final bell signaled the end of the day, Karel promptly rose from his seat. Without wasting time on small talk with his friends, he headed straight for the car waiting in the parking lot.

His destination was clear: the office he had just rented as the headquarters for his investment management.

"Bruk!"

The sound of a stack of books being slammed onto Tristan's desk rang out loudly, breaking the silence of the room. Tristan, absorbed in an investment report, furrowed his brow as he glanced at the scattered books now littering his workspace.

His eyes quickly scanned the titles: Let's Go to College, The Guide to Successful University Entrance Exams, and several other business books related to college admissions.

Raising an eyebrow, Tristan looked up at his boss, now seated comfortably in his own chair with a relaxed expression.

"What's up, Boss?"

"This year, you're coming with me to Velmot University."

Tristan fell silent for a moment, processing the remark before finally frowning. "Huh? For what?"

"I've already enrolled you in the Business Faculty. As the perfect assistant, you must attend college. Experience is important, but the right theory can't be overlooked."

Worried, Tristan bit his lip. If he went to college, who would manage all these investments? Carefully, he stepped closer to his boss.

"Boss, if I go to college, what about the company? Its foundation isn't strong enough yet."

Leaning back in his chair and raising an eyebrow with confident ease.

"Relax, I've got it covered. I've prepared everything. Just focus on your studies and work when you have time; I'll handle the rest."

Karel was certain that a global pandemic was imminent. Soon, all activities school, college, everything would be conducted from home. A sly smile crept onto his lips. It was like killing two birds with one stone; Tristan could still attend college without neglecting his responsibilities at the company.

Karel lifted his hand to support his chin, knowing that the novel's plot was soon to come to life, and he had already prepared every meticulously planned detail for it.

Tristan, watching his boss lost in silent reverie, could only let out a heavy sigh. He was long accustomed to seeing Karel submerged in his own thoughts. Without another word, Tristan turned and left the room, heading for the kitchen to fetch a cup of hot coffee for his boss.

Meanwhile, inside the room, Karel continued to ponder as he tried to recall the storyline of a novel he had once read.

"So the protagonist and the second male lead will soon appear" 

A slight smile played on his youthful red lips. Once all the main characters gathered, the novel would reach its climax, and then he could return to enjoying life in comfort, naturally with Arthur by his side.

"Alison Daniel has been found, but what about Alison and Leonard? It seems they still need time. And what about Mile? Have they met yet? Ah, one more...Jery. And as for this pandemic… Alison and Max should be meeting soon."

He calculated in his mind: in about four months, the outbreak would spread, upending countless lives, and Alison would serve as a volunteer at the hospital. That is where the next encounter would occur, between Alison and Maximilian.

Maximilian, a man who had lost his sight in a tragic car accident, was undergoing treatment at the same hospital as Alison.

Not only had he lost his vision, but he had also lost his family, not because they had perished, but because they cared more about the inheritance than his well-being.

Even the lover he had once trusted and loved dearly chose to abandon him after the accident, leaving him with a deep, lingering pain.

In his solitude, Maximilian was accompanied only by his loyal assistant. As he walked along the hospital corridor, he heard the gentle laughter of a woman—a sound that was familiar, warm, and imbued with a sincerity rarely found in his bleak life. 

That woman was Alison, the famale lead of the novel. They crossed paths often, and each time, Alison found a way to cheer him up and show her care.

One day, his assistant informed him that Alison had voluntarily donated most of her money to help the pandemic victims. Hearing this, Maximilian felt a warm surge spread through his chest.

Alison's kindness stirred something within him, compelling him to contribute the remainder of his savings to the foundation she had established.

Max only contributed a small amount because, after the incident that befell him, all of his company's assets were taken over by his wicked uncle. As a result, the blind Maximilian was sent to the countryside to prevent him from rebelling.

In the countryside, the only person by his side was a maid. Yet instead of caring for him, she frequently tormented him. The blind Maximilian could only endure his suffering, with no one truly showing him any compassion.

"Damn, his fate is more pitiful than mine—as the villain"

Karel thought, feeling an unusual surge of pity as he recalled Maximilian's story, which only deepened his awareness of how harsh the world could be for those who have lost everything.

o0o

The dinner scene at the Whitmore family residence cast an ominous atmosphere. Only the clink of spoons and forks against plates pierced the oppressive silence.

Alison, seated beside her father, felt the weight of the moment. She bowed her head, hoping to make herself as inconspicuous as possible amid the unwelcoming surroundings. Her fingers trembled as they gripped her spoon, struggling to contain the anxiety gnawing at her heart.

After a while, the food was cleared away by the server, leaving the dining table empty and cold, a reflection of the increasingly strained bonds within the family.

"Do you know what your antics have gotten you into, Alison Whitmore? Why can't you just hang on a little longer?"

Charles Whitmore's voice was heavy with anger as he pronounced his daughter's full name. His gaze was sharp, as if piercing through Alison's fragile defenses.

"Ever since your father became mayor, you've thought you could do whatever you please!"

Charles erupted in frustrated shouts as he recalled his daughter's misdeeds, his face flushing with barely contained emotion.

Alison remained silent, lowering her head even further. Her fingers clutched the tips of her long nails as she struggled to stifle the creeping fear that was beginning to overtake her.

Then Charles turned his fury toward his wife, his expression just as fierce. "It's all your fault, Margaret! You couldn't even give me a son! How much money have I wasted on Alison? I sent her to that expensive school to build connections, and what did it get us?"

Brak!

A sudden, loud noise shattered the silence as Charles slammed his hand onto the table, startling both his wife and daughter. Margaret immediately lowered her gaze, unwilling to meet her husband's furious eyes.

Charles fixed his glare on Alison, who remained mute. "I don't care how you do it. If these campaign funds vanish, you're going back with your grandmother" he warned, his tone laced with menace.

At the sound of the ultimatum, Alison's heart pounded in her chest. The very thought of life in a remote village, devoid of modern electronics, was unbearable, not to mention the loss of all the luxurious belongings that had defined her life.

Her grandmother was a stern, unyielding traditionalist who still nursed old grudges against their family for failing to produce a male heir.

Being the only granddaughter, Alison knew she would inevitably become the target of her grandmother's wrath if she were sent back.

"Dad, just relax. I can convince Karel again"

She pleaded, her voice trembling as memories of her painful childhood in the village surged forth. She couldn't bear the thought of reliving those hardships.

But Charles dismissed her words, his gaze remaining icy and detached, as if Alison were invisible.

Desperation overcame her, and she turned to her mother, silently pleading for a glimmer of sympathy or support. Yet Margaret recoiled instantly, unwilling to involve herself or risk incurring her husband's ire.

All hope seemed to vanish in that moment. Alison's thoughts immediately turned to Karel, and she clenched her teeth, fighting back a surge of anger.

"It's all because of Karel!" 

 o0o