Responsibility

Remy sat in silence, feeling frustrated and defeated as the driver guided the car through the roads, taking her back to her family's estate.

She had tried to stop Sophia's swearing-in ceremony at Vaughn Glory, claiming she was the rightful president, but the board of directors demanded proof - a will stating her inheritance. Without it, she was powerless.

As she gazed out the window, her phone buzzed. Her father's name flashed on the screen. She rolled her eyes before answering, and his urgent voice greeted her.

"Remy, come home now. You can't stay with Deth Chris Kaidën. He's dangerous," he warned.

"Oh, he is? And why do you care?" She scoffed

"Remy you don't get to questi–"

"I'll be home soon," she said and ended the call, her tone neutral.

Remy's eyes narrowed, her father's nervousness around Deth at the wedding made sense now that his status was revealed, or did her father already know him?

But she wasn't intimidated. In fact, her father's disapproval only made her more want to have more contact with Deth.

As she hung up, a sly smile spread across her face. She would try to find the original will, and she would take back what was rightfully hers. And as for Deth, she was more curious about him now than ever.

She would rather make allies with her father's enemies than with his friends.

*

*

*

The Kaidën estate was a majestic lavish display of wealth and luxury. A sprawling mansion, with perfectly manicured lawns and sparkling fountains, exuding an aura of refinement and elegance. Inside, the lavish decor and exquisite artwork only added to the sense of magnificence.

In the sitting room, Deth sat with his laptop on his lap, his long, slender fingers flying across the keyboard.

A glass of deep red liquid sat beside him, and at intervals, he'd pick it up, twirling it elegantly before taking a sip. He seemed lost in his work, his eyes fixed intently on the screen.

But soon, the sound of approaching footsteps echoed through the hallway, Deth's head snapped up. He recognized the footsteps as his grandfather's and immediately closed his laptop, downing the remaining drink in one swift motion.

He stood up to leave, just as his grandfather's voice boomed from the other end of the hallway and he halted, damn! The old man had already spotted him.

"Chris!.. Christian!.. Christian!..Come back here! Where are you going?" The old man's voice was stern, and he sounded like he was scolding a disobedient child. Deth could almost picture him, his face red with annoyance, massaging his temples in frustration.

Feeling helpless, Deth sat back down, mentally preparing himself for another lengthy lecture. He knew it wouldn't end anytime soon, probably not in the next hour or two, unless someone intervened.

Deth sighed inwardly, thinking that while his father could be annoying at times, his grandfather was a whole different story - super annoying, all the time.

The old man Karl Kaidën, having grey hair and looking elegant, walked in holding his staff. His slightly sunken eyes seemed to hold a wealth of history as he stood before Deth. He raised his staff, ready to strike.

"Boy, you think you can just ignore me?" he growled.

Deth swiftly caught the staff. "Hi, Grandfather."

"Sit down when I'm talking to you!" the old man barked.

"I'm sitting, Grandfather," Deth replied calmly.

"But you weren't sitting when I called you," the old man retorted.

"I'm sitting now," Deth said.

"Ever since you came back, you've forgotten about your old man. No visit, no nothing," the old man scolded and wanted to hit him again.

Deth caught the staff again as the old man raised it. "Grandfather, we literally met this morning. I slept over in your room, last night. Not that I wanted to, but you insisted we spend 'quality time together'. Shouldn't grandma be the one spending 'quality time together' with you"?

The old man glared. "She traveled."

Yes, you miss your wife and you're coming to frustrate my life! Deth inwardly exclaimed.

"Grandma's coming back tomorrow," Deth replied. "And didn't we spend the quality time together last night, talking about all my experiences abroad? You insisted I sit down and talk to you, and we talked until you slept off and I slept off as well."

"And so..? We should still catch up"

"On what exactly? All your scoldings?" Deth looked tired already.

"Grandpa, this is a little weird you know, a third party might misunderstand the concept of both of us 'spending quality time together' huh"?

The old man raised his staff, and this time around Deth just let it land on his head but then, he regretted it instantly. "Hey! What's in that staff, old man? Iron?" he rubbed his sore head.

"Serves you right," the old man said. "Are you trying to call me ga–?"

"No, no, Grandfather, no!" Deth interrupted. "I didn't mean anything." He made a gesture of zipping his mouth.

"Dirty minded kid!" the old man snorted. "When are you getting married Christian?! You're already 25years! You're getting old!"

Bam! And here comes the million dollar question, just when he thought the old man has forgotten. "Grandfather, I'm still 25, not 80 like you," Deth said, exasperated.

"Acting like your father, I swear," the old man said, stomping his staff. "When are you getting married, Christian?"

"Why do I have to get married?" Deth asked, defensive.

"Your father was 32 before he married, and only because I persuaded him," the old man said. "You need to take responsibility for the Kaidën family. Get married, have children, and groom an heir."

Deth rolled his eyes. "You've told me this a thousand times."

The old man touched Deth's hair with his staff. "And what's with this hairstyle? And an earring? You don't look responsible! You should look ready to be a father soon!"

"Grandfather, please..." Deth trailed off, feeling a headache.

"Why is your shirt unbuttoned?" the old man continued. "Close it. You need to look very decent."

Deth sighed. "Kaida is still single, and she's not being pressured to marry. Why must I?"

"You're a man, not a girl," the old man, Karl, said. "The responsibility falls on your shoulders."

"It's not my fault, Grandfather," Deth said. "Father sent me abroad, insisting my identity be kept hidden."

Karl pointed a shaky finger. "I blame your father, Grey, for this. You're looking this way because of him."

Deth tried to calm Karl down, but he refused. "I won't calm down! I'll faint if you don't get married. I'm sick of you, Grey and Kaida's cold faces. I want great-grandkids to play with."

Deth raised an eyebrow. "You're lonely, Grandfather."

Karl's face turned red. "Get me great-grandkids! Marry within six months, or you might as well prepare for my funeral."

Just as Deth thought his grandpa would leave after his final warning, the old man adjusted himself comfortably beside Deth and asked him to open his laptop.

"What were you doing before I came?" Karl asked.

Deth looked frustrated. "Grandfather, I thought we were done here."

"I'm afraid we're not."

Just then, Grey walked in, and Deth called out, "Dad, can you please step in?"

Grey smiled slightly and faced Karl. "Father, let Christian be. He's still young."

"Grandpa you hear him?"

Karl scoffed. "You've been saying that since he turned 18. When will he become a man?"

Noticing the conversation shifting, Deth tried to sneak out, but Karl called him back. "Christian, come back here! We're not done!"

Deth begrudgingly turned around with a smile "My name is Deth, not Christian."

Karl scowled. "Deth? More like 'Death' You might as well die today. You gave him that name, didn't you?" He glared at Grey.

Grey threw up his hands. "I have nothing to do with that name! He added it himself, and there was nothing I could do about it."

Karl raised an eyebrow. "Why 'Deth'?"

Deth explained, "I got that name when I was dealing with the underworld business. I had to go undercover and change my name."

Grey's eyes narrowed. "Why did you have to go back there? I thought we were done with everything concerning that issue."

Deth's expression turned cold. "I had to make sure everything was truly clarified, and I knew who exactly to hold responsible."

Grey nodded, but asked, "Then why make the name public now?"

Deth's eyes flashed with a dark glint. "I don't care anymore. They can know it's me, Deth Kaidën. I want them to be scared, because they have every reason to be. I'm coming for them."

His expression shifted, his face cold and menacing.