Chapter 8: Agreement

Words : 2665 Updated : Dec 20th, 2023

Brisa had barely hung up the phone when she heard a knock on the door. "Who is it?" "It's me. Open the door." Brisa couldn't believe her ears when she heard Fanix's voice. After a moment of hesitation, she opened the door. "How did you get here so quickly?" "What happened to Serin?" Fanix walked straight into the room, his concern overriding everything else. "She's sick and refuses to take her medicine." Brisa looked troubled, her frustration evident. "Then let's take her to the hospital. What are we waiting for?" Fanix moved to pick up Serin, ready to act. "She's had this condition for a long time. She'll be fine after taking her medicine, but tonight, she won't take it unless you give it to her." Brisa's voice was tinged with irritation. After all her years of hard work raising their daughter alone, it stung that Fanix had won Serin over so easily in just one visit. A wave of jealousy washed over her. "Serin, be a good girl. If you take your medicine, I'll tell you a story, okay?" Fanix's voice was gentle as he offered the medicine to her. "Okay, Daddy! Are you done with work? Will you give me my medicine every day from now on? I'll be very good if you do." Serin's little face brightened as she took the medicine, and her cough subsided. Color slowly returned to her cheeks. "Of course, I promise." "You're the best. It's a deal! I love you." Serin kissed him, her eyes still glistening with tears. Fanix stayed by Serin's side until she fell asleep, then quietly stepped out of the room. Outside, Brisa sat with a glass of red wine, frustration etched across her face. "Drinking this late isn't good for your health," Fanix said softly, reaching to take the glass from her hand. "It's none of your business. Where were you all these years?" Brisa snapped, glaring at him. "I'm sorry, Brisa. I'll find a way to make it up to you and Serin. I—" "Enough. I don't want to hear your excuses." Brisa cut him off, downing her drink in one gulp. Her hand trembled as she reached for the bottle again. Fanix gently took the bottle from her, noticing the tension in her expression. "What's wrong? Is it because of Serin? What exactly is her condition?" Brisa's eyes filled with resentment and sorrow, her lips trembling as she spoke. "She's been weak and sickly since birth. The doctors say she'll need surgery when she's older, but for now, she can only rely on medication." She paused, her mind drifting back to the day Serin was born. The pain wasn't just physical—it was emotional, a wound that had never fully healed. In the hospital, while other mothers had family and friends to support them, Brisa had been alone, watching over her daughter. She had never told anyone about Serin's birth. Her family had pressured her to abort the baby and marry someone else. But Brisa had been determined, even severing ties with her family to bring Serin into the world. "Why didn't you let my adoptive parents help you back then? It would have made things easier, and you could have focused on work," Fanix said quietly, guilt gnawing at him for not being there when they needed him most. "the Edwards family couldn't distance themselves from me fast enough, claiming I was carrying a bastard child. And your adoptive parents—they had already been cast aside by the family because of you. I didn't want to burden them further." Brisa wiped away her tears, a bitter smile crossing her face. "Why am I even telling you this? It's all in the past. I just didn't expect Serin to rely on you so much." "Of course. The bond between father and daughter is strong; blood is thicker than water. A child's heart is the purest," Fanix said, his gaze softening as he looked at his sleeping daughter. "Fine. I've seen it for myself. From now on, you can come every day." Fanix straightened up, his tone sincere as he said, "Thank you." "Don't get too excited. This doesn't mean anything beyond Serin's health. You can come daily to give her medicine, but that's it. Nothing more. We need to set some ground rules." Brisa grabbed a pen and paper, quickly drafting an agreement and handing it to Fanix. Without hesitation, Fanix signed it without even reading it, surprising Brisa. "Since you've signed, let me be clear. Serin needs a father now, or it will affect her development. You can temporarily play that role, but once she's grown up and had her surgery, you'll leave." "During this time, you'll follow my instructions in everything, and you must stay at least one meter away from me at all times." "You're only Serin's father in front of her, but it doesn't count in front of anyone else. As for other terms, I'll add them as needed. Do you understand?" "And if you cross the line, even once, you'll never see Serin again." "As long as I can be with Serin, I'll do anything. I couldn't be there for her in the past, but I'll be there for her future." Fanix's voice was resolute. "Alright. We'll see if you can stick to the rules." Brisa's voice was firm, but there was a flicker of something else in her eyes—something that reminded her of the man Fanix used to be. By the time Fanix left, it was already late. As he exited the apartment building, he noticed a military vehicle parked outside. Aila was waiting for him. "Mr. Edwards, you should rest. It's very late." "Alright, take me back to Brisa's company dormitory." Fanix climbed into the car, casting one last glance back at the apartment. Aila shook her head slightly, pity in her eyes. "Mr. Edwards, why not check out the house you bought? How can you live in a company dormitory?" "I'll be staying at the company often from now on." "You haven't even visited the building you bought. You said you wanted to give it to your sister Faela and your adoptive parents." "You're right. I almost forgot. Alright, let's go take a look." As they drove through the city, Fanix gazed out at the night sky. The city had changed a lot over the years, but even more changes were coming with his return. "This is the building. What do you think?" Aila asked as they arrived at Norston Tower, located in the most expensive part of the city, where even a single apartment cost millions. Only the wealthiest and most powerful could afford to live here. But Fanix had bought the entire building, intending to give units to his adoptive parents and close friends as a gesture of gratitude. "Water, roads, greenery—it's all good. This will do," Fanix said after a brief inspection, trusting Aila's judgment. "Mr. Edwards, why not stay here? It's fully furnished and ready to move in," Aila suggested. "It's better if I stay at the company dormitory. It'll make it easier to see Brisa and Serin." Fanix climbed back into the car and closed his eyes, signaling the end of the conversation. Aila didn't press the matter further, quietly driving him back. When they arrived at Brisa's company dormitory, Aila hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Mr. Edwards, Frenetos has invited your adoptive parents to the Dean family's house tomorrow. They're probably going to discuss the marriage." "Where are they heading?" "Prosper Restaurant." "I'll check it out tomorrow." Fanix returned to the dormitory, where only his bed remained in the room that had once been shared by over a dozen people. "He's back!" Curious employees from neighboring rooms peeked out, whispering among themselves. "Is he really our CEO's ex-husband?" "Not exactly. I heard he got arrested before the wedding could be completed." "So what's he doing back?" "Who knows? It's better not to mess with him. He's been to prison, and did you see how he beat someone up last time? It was terrifying. Let's just keep quiet and go to sleep." Fanix ignored them, lying down and closing his eyes. After years of being hardened by battlefields and constant vigilance, it had been a long time since he had slept so peacefully. The next morning, Fanix dressed neatly, rented a shared bicycle, and headed straight to Prosper Restaurant. Located in the most exclusive hotel in the city, Prosper Restaurant was a place frequented by the elite. Fanix parked the bicycle and was about to enter when Frenetos, sitting in a private room upstairs, spotted him through the window. "What is Fanix doing here?" Frenetos mused, looking at Fanix with disdain. He quickly pulled out his phone and sent a message to the lobby manager. Just as Fanix was about to walk inside, the manager intercepted him. "Where do you think you're going?" Following Frenetos' instructions, the manager was deliberately obstructing Fanix. "What's with the attitude? Isn't this place supposed to welcome guests? I'm here to eat," Fanix replied, sensing something was off. "You rolled up here on a broken bicycle, and you think you can afford to eat here? Do you even know how many bicycles you could buy for the price of one dish here?" The manager sneered, looking down on him . "Get out of here! We don't serve people like you." "And what if I insist on going in?" Fanix asked calmly, his voice low but filled with authority. He wasn't in the mood for games. The manager hadn't anticipated Fanix's commanding presence. In a panic, he moved to block Fanix, only to be effortlessly pushed aside. Security guards rushed over, but Fanix moved like a force of nature, easily dispatching them. At that moment, Frenetos appeared with Faela. "Look over there. Isn't that your brother? Getting into trouble again—how barbaric." Frenetos had orchestrated this scene, hoping to humiliate Fanix in front of Faela, further turning her against him. "My brother? What is he doing here?" Faela asked, confused. "Mr. Dean, I'm so sorry for the disturbance," the lobby manager groveled, hurrying over to explain. "This man tried to sneak in for a free meal. When we tried to remove him, he resisted and started attacking people. He's a brute." Faela looked more closely, her expression turning to disappointment as she recognized Fanix. "Fanix, what are you doing here? Why are you always getting into fights? Haven't you learned your lesson yet?" Before Fanix could respond, Frenetos interjected, "Fanix, this isn't right. If the police get involved and arrest you again, it'll be worse this time. You've already got a record, after all."

Chapter 8: Agreement

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