ZAYN: FAMILY FALL OUT 2

I settled into the dining room, a familiar space where the aroma of freshly made food lingered in the air, as I caught up with Chloe. The fresh air flowing in through the large windows warmed the atmosphere, making it feel inviting despite the underlying tensions of family dynamics. After our brief but lively conversation, I retreated to my room, eager to catch some much-needed rest.

As I stepped inside, I was relieved to see that my room had been left mostly untouched. The chocolate bars I had bought during my last visit sat enticingly on the small coffee table beside the bed, as if waiting for me to indulge. A hint of cleaning had been done; the sheets, previously stained with coffee, had been replaced, and the floors glimmered without a speck of dust. It felt like a comforting embrace of familiarity in a space that held so many memories—both good and bad, joyful and melancholic. I flopped onto the bed, which welcomed me with its cold, comfortable, bouncy embrace, a stark contrast to the turmoil I carried inside.

I thought about all the memories tied to this space—laughter echoing off the walls, but also the shadows of past arguments. The good memories were often overshadowed by the weight of the bad. After a moment of reflection, I walked into the bathroom, where a bath had already been prepared for me. I quickly ran a warm shower, letting the water wash away both the fatigue and the remnants of stress. Almost as soon as I lay back onto the bed, sleep overtook me like a gentle wave.

A loud knock on the door jolted me awake. Groggy and disoriented, I chose to ignore it, hoping to drift back into my dreams. Minutes ticked by in silence until the knock came again, more insistent this time. I realized it was most likely the maids, reminding me of their presence despite my orders for them to leave me be. Just as I heard the receding footsteps and felt a moment of relief, my door creaked open. Only a few people in this house would dare to enter uninvited.

"Did you forget about your appointment with Dad this morning?" Chloe's voice rang out as she abruptly drew back the curtains, flooding the room with bright sunlight.

I gasped at the sudden onslaught of sunlight, holding my hands up instinctively to shield my eyes. "Ahh!"

"He's waiting for you in the conference room. Here's your suit and clothes; you have just thirty minutes to get there," she announced, dragging me out of bed with surprising force, causing my head to thud against the floor with an uncomfortable bang. Before I could protest, she dashed out of the room, leaving me in a state of disarray.

"WTF, Chloe!" I shouted, clutching my head. This girl never ceased to find ways to torture me. I padded into the bathroom, knowing I needed to hurry because my father's impatience was legendary. I took a brisk shower, rushing to scrub away the remnants of sleep before dressing.

Emerging from the bathroom in a hurry, I spotted the neatly laid out suit, shoes, and an array of accessories on the bed, all in my favorite brands and colors. Chloe must have done the shopping; she always had an eye for style that I lacked. I quickly applied some body lotion after drying off and slipped into the sleek black suit and matching shoes. Wrapping a stylish Rolex around my wrist, I performed a quick once-over in the mirror before making my way to the conference room.

As I entered, I was surprised to find my father alone. I had expected my mother or at least some of my siblings to be there.

"Good morning, Dad," I greeted him, taking a seat across from him.

"Morning, Son," he replied, his eyes fixating on a file he had pulled closer to himself, a sign of his professional demeanor.

"I have a proposition for you," he continued, his voice steady. "You need to do something worthwhile with your life—something other than car racing. I do not approve of that," he stated firmly, his gaze piercing me, searching for any flicker of reaction.

"I wasn't expecting your approval, nor do I need it. I'm going to pursue what I feel is best for me," I replied, standing my ground.

"Best? You think life is about convenience? I built this company for you, for this family. Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed to give you everything you wanted? Here you are, speaking of convenience," he retorted, his frustration evident. I bit my tongue, knowing that arguing with my father was a futile exercise. He never considered viewpoints other than his own.

"Your brother has been doing a commendable job running the company with me. He has his father's business to manage, and he won't always be here. It's time for you to step up. I am not condoning any more drama from you," he concluded with a finality that irked me.

"Is this really what this is about? You no longer have the trophy son who bows to your will?" I could feel an internal storm brewing, but I had learned to keep my tempers in check over the years.

"We both know you are my only son," he stated plainly.

"Yeah, you made sure of that. If you hadn't prioritized money and your damned business over us, you might've had another son. But no, you chose to neglect your family for the sake of your business trips," I felt the anger bubbling to the surface, and this topic was a tender spot for me that I could never quite overlook.

"I've apologized for that so many times. What else do you want from me? Everyone else has forgiven me, but you. What can I do to earn your forgiveness?" I watched as tears welled in his eyes, but that was nothing compared to the tears we, as a family, had shed because of his decisions.

"I don't expect anything from you because I will never forgive you. Do you really think you've been forgiven by everyone? Chloe has no idea about your past misdeeds. Do you think she'll ever forgive you after finding out? You don't get to play the perfect dad after the trauma you've put us through. Repentance doesn't equal forgiveness," I declared, standing up, ready to leave.

"Wait," he called, and I paused at his next words. "I'll be cutting off your credit cards and the privileges that come with being my son. If you want to live a lavish lifestyle, you'll need to work for it. You know where to find me when you decide to change your mind," he finished, but I walked out anyway. I wasn't going to be tethered by his demands. While I had anticipated this kind of ultimatum, part of me was still taken aback it's just coming now.