chains of obligation

At midnight, Mr. Caldwell lay awake, staring into the darkness as heavy thoughts weighed on his mind. The stillness of the room amplified his inner turmoil. Olivia, his wife, had become a different person since their finances had crumbled. His home, once a place where his word held authority, now seemed to operate entirely under Olivia's control.

He let out a deep sigh, his thoughts drifting back to the early days when he had struggled tirelessly to build a future. Back then, humiliation had been a constant companion, but he had endured it, fueled by the dream of creating a stable, prosperous life. Now, those efforts seemed to have crumbled overnight, leaving him feeling powerless.

Olivia stirred beside him, waking to see her husband lost in thought. "Honey, why aren't you asleep yet?" she asked softly, sitting up and placing a hand gently on his arm.

"It's hard to sleep when my mind is full," he replied, his voice heavy with emotion. "I can't stop thinking about how everything fell apart after my birthday. A few weeks ago, I was a man in control of his home, his family, his life. Now, I feel like a stranger—an outsider in my own house. Even you… the way you speak to me sometimes… It's as if I've become a nobody."

Olivia exhaled and shook her head. "You're overthinking things, honey. Everything I'm doing is for our own good. Dwelling on the past won't solve anything now. Try to get some rest. Good night." With that, she turned away and closed her eyes, leaving Mr. Caldwell alone with his thoughts.

He sighed deeply once more, the ache in his chest growing heavier.

The Next Morning

At dawn, Sophia stepped out of her room and stopped in surprise. "Dad, why are you in the kitchen?" she asked, narrowing her eyes as she glanced toward the living room, where her mother was leisurely filing her nails and chewing gum.

"Good morning, Sophia," Mr. Caldwell greeted her with a forced smile. "I just thought I'd cook breakfast for the family today. Since I don't have much to do these days, it's a good way to stay busy."

"It wasn't his choice," David chimed in sharply, stepping into the room. "I overheard them arguing earlier. Mom told him he could only eat if he prepared the food himself. She made it clear that neither Lila nor I would cook for him and that she wasn't his servant."

"David!" Mr. Caldwell scolded, gesturing for him to stop, but David ignored the signal.

Sophia's eyes narrowed further. "Is that true, Dad?"

Mr. Caldwell chuckled awkwardly. "David misunderstood. I actually enjoy cooking—I used to do it all the time when I was younger. Besides, the doctor advised me to get some light exercise, and cooking counts, doesn't it?"

"Oh, please," Lila chimed in from the living room, not bothering to look up from her phone. "Why is Dad cooking such a big deal? People cook for themselves all the time."

"It's fine," Mr. Caldwell said quickly, his tone dismissive. "Breakfast is ready. Let's eat."

As he began setting the table, Sophia hurried over to help. "Dad, I'll take care of this. Please, sit down."

Breakfast Tensions

As the family gathered around the table, Sophia broke the silence. "I've made my decision," she announced, her voice steady but laced with regret. "This entire mess is my fault. It started the day I foolishly brought James into our lives. If I could turn back time, I'd undo that mistake in a heartbeat. I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. I promise never to trust so blindly again."

Lila laughed mockingly. "Oh, so you finally realize how stupid you were?"

David's fist slammed onto the table. "Enough, Lila! Why are you treating Sophia like this? She made a mistake, yes, but she's the only one who stayed to handle the company when we abandoned it. She deserves credit for everything she's done! As for James, it wasn't her fault—if anything, we should have been more cautious as a family."

David's outburst silenced the room for a moment before Olivia spoke coldly. "Sophia is not some savior. Caldwell Horizon was already successful long before she was born. All she's done is destroy it. Don't make excuses for her failures."

"Stop it," Mr. Caldwell interjected, his voice calm but firm. "Sophia isn't to blame for what happened with James. She acted her age, and we, as her parents, should have guided her better. Sophia, you don't have to sacrifice your happiness to fix this mess. I won't allow it. Caldwell Horizon is my responsibility, and if I fail, so be it. You're young, and your life is ahead of you. Pursue your happiness. Don't let anyone force you into something you don't want."

Olivia scoffed. "She's already agreed to the marriage. Don't complicate things further."

Sophia's gaze lingered on her mother, a mix of disbelief and disappointment in her eyes. "It's fine, Dad," she said softly. "I've made up my mind."

A Deal with Mr. Greyson

That afternoon, Mr. Greyson arrived at the Caldwell home, warmly greeted by Olivia. "Welcome, Mr. Greyson," she said with a beaming smile. "As I promised, Sophia has agreed to the marriage."

"Haha, I must admit, I didn't think it would be this easy, especially with Mr. Caldwell involved. You've done well, Mrs. Caldwell," Mr. Greyson replied, settling into the seat offered to him.

As the family gathered in the parlor, Sophia's expression hardened. "Mr. Greyson, before we proceed, I have one question. Why are you forcing this marriage on me?"

Mr. Greyson leaned back and sighed. "Let me tell you a story," he began, his voice heavy with emotion. "Six years ago, I lost my family in a tragic explosion—my wife and three daughters. Only my son, Alex, survived, though the accident left him unable to walk. He was the only one who didn't blame me for what happened. His first words to me after waking up in the hospital were, 'It's not your fault, Dad.' Those words kept me going.

"Alex once told me he'd had a crush on you since school and had always planned to ask you out. But the accident took away his confidence. When he confided this to me, I promised I'd do everything to make him happy. That's why I'm here. This marriage is my way of fulfilling that promise."

Sophia's jaw tightened, but she said nothing, her thoughts swirling as tension thickened in the room.