Chapter 3 : Jace

The sun is up and the sunlight greets me in the morning. I slowly opened my eyes and slowly sits up, gently rubbing my eyes in the process. As I leave the bed, I turned the alarm clock off before it goes off and went to the kitchen to drink some water.

As usual, this big house is quiet. I stopped drinking when I felt my cat rubbing her body on my feet making me chuckle at this simple affection. I kneeled in front of her and gently pat her head.

“How's your sleep? Is it good?” I smile when she gently licked my nose. I continued to play with my cat when my phone suddenly rings.

I stood up while carrying my cat and placed my cat on top of the counter and answered the call.

“Jace Donovan!!”

I immediately pulled the phone away when I heard someone shout my name. I sighed, “Yes? Father?” I asked and pinched the bridge of my nose.

‘It's still early for this..’

“How long do I have to wait for you to be matured enough to not let your hell of a brother handle this company and to settle down?!” he shouted at me from the other line, and I swear I could see his veins that are about to pop out.

“Father, you already know that I'm not planning on getting married soon, and also I'm just trying to test him, I know he's got potential,” I replied while fighting a yawn.

“Don't give me that answer!! Settle this already! And I arranged another date for you with that woman, go! And please I don't want to hear any more whining from that child!” He groaned.

I rolled my eyes and immediately ended the call, it's too early for me to start this day as if I woke up on the wrong side of my comfortable bed. I closed my eyes for a bit and when I opened it, I stood up and went to the bathroom to start my daily routine.

As I put on my suit, I went to the kitchen to feed my cat. After feeding her, my driver knocked on the door signaling that I need to start this stressful day anytime soon making me sigh. 

"Take care of the house while I'm away," I said to my cat and smiled then I planted a soft kiss on her forehead. 

When I stood up, I fixed my suit and started to walk out of the house. Once I'm out I was greeted by my driver, Felix. He's been working with us since I was born. Now that I'm 28, He's still working with us for 3 years now. He's very loyal to my family and  We've been treating him as a family ever since. 

"Good morning, sir. your father instructed me to drive you to Mr. Glendale's house." He smiled at me while opening the door to the car, "Yes, we'll go there today. Is there any more instructions that my father gave to you?" I asked as I entered the car. 

He chuckled, "No, sir I believe he did not say anything more." he replied making me sigh in relief as I sat comfortably on the car, leaning on the backrest. 

Once he started the car, I stare outside the window looking at the busy crowd. It has always been like this, I never even had the chance to decide for myself because of my father's wishes. I am his only son and the only family he has. which is why I've always been so considerate of him. I lost my mom when I was young so I took the path to maturity instead of embracing the kid that my mother wants me to be. A free and cheerful kid...

I closed my eyes trying to look back to where my mom bid her goodbyes while lying helplessly in her own bed. 

The cold, rainy night envelops me, everything is blurry... the only thing I can see is the face of my frail mother, trying to save her breath as she opened her mouth to say her last words.

"My sons... Take care of your father," She paused and smiled but her eyes are slowly losing their own light, "He's a workaholic person, but even so... I want both of you to know that he loves you dearly." A tear escaped from my eyes. 

"That's a lie!!" My younger brother shouted while tears are falling from his eyes. "Why is he not here then?!" He continued to shout. My mother looked at him with worry that he might hate our father. 

"Atticus! do not shout at mother like that.." I looked at him with sad eyes and he bit his lips and sat beside me as our mother caressed our cheeks using her frail hands.

"Do not be too hard on your brother, Jace... teach him well and be there for him, like always." my mother smiled at us as our tears continued to fall from our eyes.

"Mother, why must you go?? stay.. please stay a bit longer, mother," I begged her, as I've always been begging her when she told me about her sickness. 

"Bloom, my son... Do not be sad, be the person you've always wanted to be... grow strong, and do not let others define you, not even your father... I want you to grow and be the most outstanding person you wanted to be... that's a mother's wish." she continued to smile as she slowly closed her eyes. 

I held her hand and continued to beg for her to stay then I heard her single breath come out of her frail lips... My mother joined the light. At that moment I continued to cry, I didn't even hear my father calling for me, everything starts to move ever so slowly. My father barged into her room while tears are falling from his eyes. He embraced my mother while saying her name as he cries. 

I was only 7 years old at the time, I stared at her name engraved on the stone, my father who was crying that night--had lost the light in his eyes. It's almost as if he's also dead. 

Many people came but half of them are women from different families hoping that one of them could be a better replacement for my mother, but my father turned them down and shouted for them to get out of our house. 

After a few more days, My father who did not leave my mother's room suddenly walks out and starts to find me. When he saw me, he kneeled and placed both of his hands on my shoulder as he opened his mouth to say something, words that I never expected him to say. 

"It's only the three of us... let's count on each other from now on, my sons." he smiled at us, and we were was overjoyed. 

Everything came back to where they belonged, but not until we met Mr. Glendale, a poisonous snake. A man who's trying to influence my father in order to get him to give my father's company to him. I expected him to choose the right path but no, That's when everything starts to crumble to the point that we have to sell our home and we started to live in a small house. we don't have much food so I started to work at a very young age. And when I turned 25, I regained our family's fortune. I became the youngest CEO of the company that I have been working for because the woman who's the COO of the company had trusted me more than I ever expected, her last will and testament seemed like a holy grail for me, because without it? I am still on that damned restaurant whose manager is a fucking pervert. 

I frowned and opened my eyes almost immediately and that's when the car stopped. "Sir, we've arrived... To Mr. Glendale's house."