Chapter 41: The Hard Truth

IZZY’S POV

The room felt smaller the longer I stayed in it. I couldn’t stop staring at him, my father was sitting there in that wheelchair, helpless. His hands rested on the armrests, unmoving. I wanted to scream, to shake him, to make him move just once to prove it wasn’t real.

“Dad,” I said, my voice low but sharp. “Look at me. Really look at me.”

He blinked slowly. “I see you, Izzy.”

“No, you don’t,” I said, stepping closer. “You’re too weak to even react. How long am I supposed to stand here watching you like this?”

He sighed. “I know it’s hard to see me like this. Harder than I imagined.”

“Harder than you imagined?” I repeated, my voice rising. “You’ve always been strong. You’ve never needed anyone and now you can’t even move on your own?”

He tried to smile faintly. “I’m still me, Izzy. I just can’t move.”

I shook my head, frustration spilling out. “No! You’re not still you! You’re… you’re trapped. You can’t walk, you can’t stand, you can’t…” My voice broke. “You can’t do anything!”

“Don’t,” he said softly. “Don’t tell me I can’t do anything. I may not walk, but I still have my mind. I still have my decisions. That hasn’t changed.”

I pressed my hands to my face for a second, trying to stop the tears from coming. “Your mind? You think that makes it okay? It’s not okay. You’re useless like this!”

“Stop!” he said sharply. “Don’t say that. I am not useless!”

“Yes, you are!” I shouted, pacing the room. “You’re the man who built everything, who stood taller than anyone else, and now you’re sitting in a chair while I have to watch. I can’t do this, Dad! I can’t!”

He leaned forward slightly. “Yes, you can. You’re stronger than you know.”

I spun around to face him. “Stronger? Don’t tell me I’m strong! I’m angry! I’m furious! I’m terrified! And you… you’re sitting there telling me to be strong?”

He held up a hand. “Izzy, listen to me. I may not be able to move, but I can still guide you. I can still give you advice. You can’t fix me physically, but you can fix what needs fixing, our family, our business, everything I built. You can do that.”

I laughed bitterly. “Fix everything? You can’t even fix yourself!”

“You underestimate me,” he said calmly. “I may be paralyzed, but I am still your father. I still know how things work and I still expect you to step up.”

“I can’t!” I said, shaking my head. “I’m not ready for this! You’re supposed to handle it, Dad! You’re supposed to be the one telling me what to do, not the other way around!”

“I’m telling you what to do,” he said firmly. “I need you to take responsibility. I need you to fight, just like I fought before this happened. Do you understand?”

“I understand that you’re broken!” I shouted, tears streaming down my face. “I understand that the man I grew up with is gone and I’m supposed to pretend everything is okay?”

“Stop pretending,” he said, voice low but commanding. “Don’t pretend, be honest with yourself. Yes, this is hard. Yes, it’s frightening. But now you need to act. That’s what I need from you.”

I took a step back, my hands trembling. “You expect me to do all of this while you sit here helpless?”

“I’m not helpless!” he said sharply. “I may not walk, but I’m still in charge. I still know what’s right and I still have faith in you to handle this.”

I shook my head again. “Faith doesn’t change anything. Faith doesn’t make you walk. Faith doesn’t fix this. Faith… faith doesn’t do anything!”

“Faith is all we have sometimes,” he said quietly. “I know it’s hard to see me like this, I hate it too. But I need you to focus, you’re angry. Good, use it. Use it to drive you, to make sure everything doesn’t fall apart. That’s all I ask.”

I sat down across from him, exhausted from shouting. My chest heaved. “You don’t know what it feels like. To watch someone you love helpless. To see them like this, it's unbearable.”

He looked at me, eyes steady. “I know it is, I’ve felt it too. But Izzy, your anger can be useful. Let it guide you. Don’t let it destroy you.”

I wiped at my face. “I’m not sure I can do this. I’m not sure I’m strong enough to take over.”

“You are,” he said firmly. “You always have been. You just didn’t know it yet. Now you have to prove it to me, to yourself, to everyone who depends on us.”

I swallowed hard. “And if I fail?”

“You won’t,” he said. “You can’t fail. You have no choice but to succeed. That’s how we survive, that’s how we keep everything intact.”

“I don’t want this,” I said softly. “I don’t want the responsibility. I just want you back the way you were.”

“I know,” he said. “But life doesn’t work that way. You can’t turn back time, you can’t undo what happened. All you can do is move forward, and you have to do it fast.”

I clenched my fists. “Fine. I’ll do it. I’ll protect everything you built. I’ll make sure no one takes advantage of you while you’re like this. I’ll…” My voice cracked. “ I’ll do whatever it takes.”

He smiled faintly. “That’s my girl. That’s why I have faith in you. You can handle this.”

I nodded, determination rising through the fear. “I will. I don’t care how hard it is. I won’t let anyone take what’s yours. I’ll fight for you, Dad. I promise.”

He reached out his hand, and I took it again. “Good,” he said. “Now, listen carefully. There are things you need to do. The business, the people, the operations… you’ll need to handle them. I’ll guide you, but you’ll be making decisions.”

“I can do it,” I said firmly. “I’ll start now. Tell me everything, I’ll learn fast. I won’t let anyone walk all over us.”

He nodded, a proud look in his eyes. “That’s what I wanted to hear. I may be trapped in this chair, but my empire will survive. Because you’re leading it. That’s all I could ever ask for.”

I gritted my teeth, the anger turning into resolve. “It will survive. I won’t let it fail. You hear me? Not while I’m here.”

“You’ve got my full support, Izzy,” he said. “Even like this, I’m still in charge but you’re the one making sure everything stays in place. Don’t let me down.”

“I won’t,” I said, my voice steady now. “Not ever, I’ll handle it all. I’ll protect everything, and I’ll make you proud, no matter what.”

He leaned back slightly, breathing slowly. “That’s all I need. You’r

e my daughter. You’re strong, even when you think you’re not. And now you’ll prove it.”