Chapter 28: A useless son

"Why didn't you say anything, Jared?" Alice was still a bit in shock, but Jared's silence in front of Robert troubled her. Not saying anything wasn't the best solution because it allowed Robert's imagination to run wild. "He'll think we've always done this."

"I was as speechless as you, Alice."

"What if he refuses to give me a divorce now?! You have to talk to Robert!" Alice feared that Robert, with his arrogant and impulsive nature, might do something after what he had seen. If he informed her parents about her intention to divorce and her relationship with Jared, it wouldn't go down well with Mr. Taylor.

"I'll try to talk to him!" She ran out of the house, but Jared followed her, blocking her path.

"Why? He won't want to talk to anyone now, Alice."

"I just don't understand. Why did Robert come to your house right at this moment? What for?"

"He might have just found out about the divorce."

"Why come to you?"

"I have no idea. But Alice, it's best to leave him alone. Let him process things. Talking to him won't do any good."

"What should I do then? Wait until everything blows up in my face?" She asked in desperation.

"No! But going to talk to him isn't the best option either. You wouldn't even know where he is."

"And do you?" Jared remained silent. He was supposed to be her best friend; he might know where Robert was at that moment, but he wouldn't tell her. "Jared..."

"I'm serious, Alice. It's best to leave him alone. He won't want to be with anyone."

"He never imagined it, did he? He never thought it would be you."

"It's not you who hurts him, Alice."

"I know that. Robert doesn't feel anything for me, I'm clear about that. That's why I wanted you to talk to him. Every time he mentioned you, it was with great affection, Jared. He didn't have to find out like this."

"But it happened, no one planned it. Now we have to give him time and space. We can't do anything else."

"Do you think he'll... tell my parents?"

"No, he won't do that."

"And how can you be so sure?"

"I know him, he won't."

They returned home, but Alice remained very worried. She didn't trust Robert not to do anything; she was worried that he might go straight to her parents' house and tell them what he had seen there because that could change Mr. Taylor's opinion.

...

His steps were slow and heavy; he didn't know where to go. Going to his father's house would be a disaster from the moment he set foot there. He could call his friend and tell him what was happening with his company, all they were about to lose, but it was his friend who was with his wife, the reason why Graham Group would no longer exist, or at least no longer be in their hands.

He gently held the bouquet of flowers, his mother's favorite, as he walked among the graves. He knew this path like the back of his hand; he had been coming here since he was very young, ever since he could come on his own.

His mother died when he was just a child, and Tom threw himself into work. He loved his work, his company, what he had built. Since his mother was no longer there and his father was always absent, Katy filled him with love, but she also filled him with memories of his mother. She always spoke highly of her, how beautiful, kind, and happy she was. She also mentioned that her favorite flowers were carnations, so Robert learned to love those flowers too.

His feet stopped in front of his mother's grave. "I... I've lost a friend," he said slowly, placing the flowers on the grave. "And it hurts a lot, more than the company, more than fear, more than failure. Knowing that someone won't be by your side anymore, knowing that even if we try again, it will never be the same. I didn't know that I married the woman he loves until this moment. I feel guilt, anger, too much confusion, and a lot of pain. Just as I feel that everything is over between him and me. I just wanted to come and tell you before going home. Dad will be furious, I've failed again. I'll be back soon, I don't know when, hopefully with good news. Goodbye, Mom."

When Robert returned home, Tom was filled with rage. As soon as Robert opened the door, his father threw the cane he usually used, which hit his son's chest.

"You're useless! We've lost everything because of you! Why do I have such a useless son? Damn it, Robert!" He advanced toward him, grabbing whatever he could find and throwing it at him, while Robert remained motionless. When he finally reached his side, he grabbed Robert's neck and slapped his cheeks twice before repeatedly hitting him on the head.

"Useless! Useless! Useless! Robert! What did you do? What did you do? You only had to maintain a marriage! How was that so difficult or complicated? Damn it, Robert!"

"I'll talk to... the Taylors, I'll talk to Mr. Taylor to give us more time to pay off the loan."

"Don't you understand or see it? Why would they give us time when they can take the company? That's what they want! And you just handed it to them!"

"You're the one who gave it away by not letting me solve things and take a loan behind my back, by forcing me into a marriage I didn't want, Dad. I refused a thousand times. What did you expect? What did you want from me?"

"Why don't you serve a purpose for once in your damn miserable life? Why can

't you be useful?" Tom's words sent shivers down Robert's spine, and tears welled up in his eyes. He felt humiliated, helpless, and a flood of emotions and words stuck in his throat that wouldn't or couldn't come out. He was only now realizing that they would lose the company, and at the same time, he knew that his wife and his best friend loved each other.

"Yes, I suppose I am. I'm just useless."

"Of course you are! We just lost everything because of you. And when the company falls into the hands of the Taylors, I hope I never see you again. Never for the rest of my life!"

"Tom Graham!" Katy shouted from the kitchen. Those words were too harsh for a father to say to his son, very cruel. She took several strides towards them and gave Robert a tight hug while he remained motionless. He had always feared not living up to his father's expectations, ruining everything, and now they were left with nothing, while Tom insisted that it was all his fault. "You're very valuable, Robert. Even if you're not a businessman, you're far too valuable to be called useless. Don't forget that."

"Leave now, Robert," Tom said. "And leave with nothing. Whatever you had or was supposed to be yours just went into the hands of the Taylors. Now go. You're not welcome in this house anymore."

Robert hugged Katy tightly, gave her a sad kiss, and didn't look at his father again. He turned around and walked away while Katy cried, begging him not to leave in this state. But it was done.