fragment of resolve

A few minutes later, the young man knocked gently on the door. "The car is ready, sir," he announced from outside.

Ethan stepped out with a sense of urgency. "Alright, let's go," he said, following the man outside. The moment his eyes fell on the sleek BMW prepared for him, he froze momentarily in astonishment. The luxury car gleamed under the sunlight, its polished surface reflecting the surrounding environment. A wave of excitement coursed through him as his imagination ran wild.

So, this is what it feels like to sit at the back and ride like a boss. He couldn't suppress the wide grin spreading across his face. Sophia will be stunned when she sees me stepping out of a car worth millions. Even those who once mocked me would be struck speechless with disbelief.

As Ethan settled into the plush interior of the car, one of the security personnel jogged toward him, holding his bulletproof vest firmly in place. "Sir, would you like us to conduct a background check on Caldwell Horizon? If it's important, we can gather all the details for you in no time. That way, you won't need to stress yourself by going there in person. Just say the word, and we'll take care of it for you, sir," the man offered, his tone a mix of respect and confidence.

Ethan considered the suggestion, torn between wanting to see Sophia again and his promise to her family—to return only after proving himself a real man. "That's a good idea," he finally said, though his thoughts lingered on Sophia. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "Alright, gather all the details about Caldwell Horizon's current situation."

"Yes, sir," the security officer replied with a slight bow.

Just as Ethan was about to head back to the house, the driver approached him, his youthful energy apparent in his demeanor. "Sir, would you like to go shopping today? I can take you wherever you want."

"That sounds fun," Ethan replied, his smile lighting up his face. "By the way, I didn't catch your name earlier."

"Sam, sir. My name is Sam," the young man said, matching Ethan's smile.

"Sam, huh? That's a nice name," Ethan complimented, prompting both of them to laugh lightly. With that, Ethan excused himself and returned to his room.

Meanwhile, Mr. Caldwell had just returned home after an abrupt departure earlier in the day to attend a televised conference. He stepped into the house to be greeted by David, his ever-loyal son. "Welcome home, sir," David said respectfully, standing to the side.

"Is Sophia back yet?" Mr. Caldwell asked, concern evident in his voice.

"No, sir," David replied solemnly as Olivia emerged from her room, her expression sharp and accusatory.

"What were you doing at the conference today?" she demanded. "Do you still think you can reclaim Caldwell Horizon? You selfishly hid Sophia—the only ticket we have to save this family's legacy!" Her words were like venom, dripping with disdain.

"Mom," David interjected, his voice firm but calm, "Dad didn't hide Sophia. He was just asking if she's back home now."

"Be quiet, David. You know nothing," Olivia snapped. "I overheard your father whispering to Sophia one evening before dinner. I couldn't make out his words, but my instincts tell me he was scheming something—to help her escape and turn her against me!"

"Why would I want our daughter to hate you?" Mr. Caldwell replied with a sigh, his voice weary. "I don't have the energy for a fight right now. Please, Olivia, don't stress me." He moved toward the sofa and sank into it, visibly exhausted.

"Oh, you're exhausted?" Olivia mocked. "After bragging at the conference about handling Caldwell Horizon? Let me remind you, I paid the workers' salaries with Mr. Greyson's help. If he discovers Sophia is missing, he'll demand his money back instantly, and you know he won't show mercy. Let's see how you plan to fix this mess without Sophia!"

"I've already told you—I don't know where Sophia went," Mr. Caldwell replied, his voice soft but resolute. "And I'm expecting a visitor soon. John, my old friend from school, is coming over. Please don't embarrass me in front of him."

Olivia's eyes narrowed, but she said nothing more, retreating to her room with an angry huff.

Though he maintained his calm outwardly, Mr. Caldwell's mind was a whirlwind of worry. Where could Sophia be? he wondered. Despite his concerns, he reassured himself that Sophia was capable of handling herself. When this is all over, she'll return. For now, I need to focus on setting things right.

Later that day, John arrived at the Caldwell residence.

"John! Long time no see," Mr. Caldwell greeted him warmly, rising from the sofa to meet him at the door.

"Indeed, it's been too long," John replied, a broad smile on his face. "How's the family?"

"They're fine," Mr. Caldwell answered curtly, leading John toward the balcony. "Let's discuss business out here."

As they passed, Olivia emerged from her room. John greeted her politely, and she responded with a forced smile before retreating once more.

Once seated, John got straight to the point. "Here's what I'm offering—a deposit of $15 billion. Use this to stabilize Caldwell Horizon and your family's situation. I'll return after my upcoming trip to finalize our business arrangement and purchase the equipment I need."

Mr. Caldwell's relief was palpable. "Thank you, John. You have no idea what this means to me."

"Nonsense," John replied with a laugh. "You helped me twenty-six years ago when I had nothing. That act of kindness set me on the path to becoming a billionaire. Consider this my way of repaying you."

As they finalized the details, a notification lit up Mr. Caldwell's phone. He glanced at it casually but froze when he saw the sender's name—Lawrence, his mother. The alert was for a deposit of $3.5 billion.

"I need to get going now, my friend. There's still a lot I need to sort out before my trip tomorrow," John said as he stood to leave.

"Alright, I'll walk you out," Mr. Caldwell replied with a warm smile.

"The transfer will be completed to your account as soon as I return tomorrow," John added as they shook hands before stepping into his car.

Once John left, Mr. Caldwell immediately called his mother. "Mom, I saw the money. Thank you so much," he said, his voice thick with emotion.

"It's nothing, son," she replied warmly. "Use it wisely and put your house in order. And please, don't fight with your wife."

"I promise, Mom," he said, tears threatening to spill. "I won't let anyone take what I've worked so hard to build."

After the call ended, Mr. Caldwell hesitated for a moment before dialing Sophia's number. The phone rang, but there was no response. His chest tightened. Sophia has never ignored my calls. Could this mean she really doesn't want to come back? I hope she doesn't do anything reckless, he thought, anxiety creeping in.