Chapter 90 Don't ask me to do this.
CHAPTER 90
Don't ask me to do this….
Leo remained standing beside the bed, his eyes fixed on his father as the silence in the room stretched longer than expected. There was something unsettling about seeing him like this weak, slower, almost fragile. It didn’t sit right with Leo at all.
His father shifted slightly against the pillows, exhaling before speaking again.
“There’s a conference coming up,” he said.
Leo’s brows drew together faintly. “A conference?” he repeated.
His father nodded slowly. “Yes. A very important one. All major partners will be there.”
Leo didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he studied his father’s face, trying to understand where this was going.
“And?” he asked after a moment.
His father’s gaze hardened just slightly not with anger, but with seriousness.
“And you’ll be attending in my place.”
The words landed firmly. Leo’s expression changed instantly. “No,” he said.
It was immediate, no hesitation or consideration.
His father didn’t look surprised. “I expected that response,” he said calmly.
“I’m not going,” Leo added, his tone firmer now. “Not right now.” His mind flashed briefly to Ruby. Her fragile state, the progress she was just beginning to make.nLeaving her now? No.
“I have other things to deal with,” he continued. “More important things.”
His father watched him carefully. “I know,” he said.
Leo’s jaw tightened. “Then you should understand,” he replied.
“I do understand,” his father said quietly. “More than you think.”
That made Leo pause slightly, but not enough to change his stance.
“Then don’t ask me to do this,” Leo said. “Not now.”
His father sighed softly, shifting slightly as if gathering what little strength he had. “This isn’t just about you, Leo,” he said.
Leo’s expression darkened. “And it’s not just about you either,” he shot back.
The room fell silent again.
The tension between them thickened but it wasn’t explosive. His father looked at him for a long moment before speaking again.
“This is about the Carter family,” he said firmly.
“Our name, reputation and everything we’ve built.”
Leo didn’t respond, but his silence wasn’t agreeing. “I would go myself if I could,” his father continued. “But as you can see…” He gestured weakly to himself. “That won’t be possible.”
Leo’s eyes moved slightly.
“I need you to represent us,” his father added. “Not as my son but as the man who will take over everything one day.”
That hit differently. Leo looked away briefly, his mind conflicted. “I’m not in the right state for this,” he admitted.
His father nodded. “I know.”
Leo looked back at him, frustration creeping into his expression. “Then why push it?” he asked.
“Because sometimes,” his father said, his voice low but firm, “you don’t get to choose when responsibility comes.”
The words settled heavily between them. Leo exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair again.
“This isn’t fair,” he muttered.
“No,” his father agreed. “It isn’t.”
“I heard about your girl,” his father added gently.
Leo’s expression shifted instantly.
“She lost her father,” his father continued. “That’s not something easy to go through.”
Leo said nothing, but his silence confirmed everything.
“And you’ve been there for her,” his father said. “That matters.”
Leo’s jaw tightened slightly. “She needs me,” he said quietly.
“And you’ve been there,” his father replied. “But stepping away for one night doesn’t mean you’re abandoning her.”
Leo didn’t look convinced. “It’s not just one night,” he said. “It’s everything around it.”
His father studied him carefully. “You care about her,” he said.
“Yes.”
His father nodded slowly.
“Then trust that what you’ve built with her is strong enough to hold even when you’re not physically there for a moment.”
Leo looked away again, his thoughts clashing.
He didn’t like this, he didn’t like any part of this, but at the same time he understood the responsibility, family and expectation. Things he had never truly escaped.
His father shifted again, his voice softer now.
“I’m not asking you to choose between your life and your duties,” he said. “I’m asking you to balance both.”
Leo let out a quiet breath. “That’s easier said than done.”
“I know,” his father replied. “But that’s what makes you who you are.”
Silence followed.
Leo finally spoke. “When is it?” he asked.
His father’s eyes moved slightly. “Tomorrow evening.”
Leo closed his eyes briefly, of course it was soon. Everything always was. He stood there for a few more seconds before finally nodding.
“Fine,” he said.
His father’s expression softened slightly.
“I’ll go.”
A small, tired smile appeared on his father’s face. “Thank you,” he said.
Leo didn’t respond to that.
Instead, he shifted his weight slightly, his gaze moving over his father again. “You should be in the hospital,” he said. His tone was firm.
His father shook his head immediately. “No.”
Leo frowned. “This isn’t something you ignore,” he insisted.
“I’m not ignoring it,” his father replied. “I’m managing it.”
Leo didn’t look convinced. “You look weak,” he said bluntly.
A faint chuckle escaped his father. “That’s because I’m getting old,” he said.
“That’s not an excuse,” Leo shot back.
His father sighed. “I just need rest,” he said. “That’s all.”
Leo crossed his arms slightly. “I can take you to the hospital right now,” he said.
“No,” his father repeated. This time, firmer.
“I’m not going.”
Leo stared at him. “Why?” he asked.
His father met his gaze. “Because I know my body,” he said. “And I know when I need a hospital and when I don’t.”
Leo didn’t fully agree. “I’ll have a doctor come here,” he said instead.
His father considered it for a moment before nodding slightly. “That’s acceptable.”
Leo exhaled quietly, at least that was something. “You should take it easy,” he added.
His father smiled faintly. “That’s exactly what I plan to do.”
Leo stood there for a moment longer, the tension in him slowly settling but not completely. His mind was already moving. The conference, Ruby, his father, everything overlapping at once.
“I’ll handle the conference,” he said finally. “But after that, we’re dealing with this properly.”
His father nodded. “Fair enough.”
Leo gave a small nod in return before stepping back slightly. “Get some rest,” he said.
“I will, Leo”
Leo turned toward the door, pausing, briefly when his dad called.
“I want you to know that I'm always proud of you, and I'm the happiest dad in the world” He said slowly.
“Thanks dad.” He gave him a little nod, before he headed out. The words continued ringing in his heart and he felt happy.