Chapter 4

William was already fast asleep after a long and tiring day when his phone suddenly started ringing in the middle of the night. He tried reaching for it, which he remembered he had placed on the bedside table. With his eyes closed, he grabbed the phone.

His forehead wrinkled after seeing an unregistered number calling him that late. He got skeptical about who owned the number instantly, knowing he wasn't the type who handed it out to random people without getting their phone numbers as well, especially the number they were calling only for personal use.

He answered the call, thinking it was from someone he knew, only to discover it was from a police officer, informing him that his son was in jail after getting involved in a drug raid at a party. Besides this, Lennon and his friend got sued for parking illegally and destroying private property.

William was left speechless. His son had disappointed him again, but he tried setting that aside, and the thought that Lennon had asked the officer to call him for help made him feel quite happy deep inside.

He sat on the bed to answer the sheriff. "I will send my lawyer to settle everything right away. Thank you for calling, officer." The sheriff ended that call and dialed his lawyer's number to fix the problem immediately.

Sighing, William suddenly remembered the day Lennon told him he never felt his father cared about him. Still, it was a lie because he had been giving him everything he needed and wanted. Providing the best life possible was something that not everyone had, but Lennon couldn't see his father's efforts.

William couldn't sleep anymore after that. He waited, although he wasn't expecting Lennon to come home that night.

He knew very well his wife, wherever she was, wouldn't feel happy once she discovered what was happening to the two. He was already losing hope. He didn't know how to make his son fix his life anymore because it seemed his words weren't enough.

William didn't know for how long he had stayed sitting on the side of his big and cold bed while profoundly thinking about what to do to his son when he suddenly heard a loud car engine, and it stopped. He was sure it came from outside his window. He stood up and went to the nearest window to see whose car it was.

He saw a familiar vehicle. It wasn't the new car his son had been using, but the door on the shotgun seat opened. William was a little surprised to see his son go out. After Lennon closed the door, the car left. It was William's cue to rush downstairs to open the door for his son. He knew the maids were already asleep, and they had closed the doors.

From the outside, Lennon's every step was too heavy. He asked his father's lawyer to take him to the nearest hotel, but he drove him off to his father's ranch. He fell asleep, and when he opened his eyes, they were already inside the property. Left with no choice, he stepped out of the car and walked straight to the front door to knock when it suddenly opened before him doing so.

He was taken aback when he realized who had opened it for him.

"Son," his father uttered, looking worried, but Lennon didn't care. He started walking, and his father called him again when he was already inside.

"Can I have your minute?" his worried father asked, and Lennon stopped.

"Here we go again," his son thought while rolling his eyes.

He was already exhausted, and it was evident in his face how much. He lost his phone during the raid, and his car got impounded. Thankfully, his father's lawyer offered him a ride, though he took him to the wrong place.

Everything that happened the whole day already consumed most of his energy. All he wanted was rest and no more stress.

Lennon turned around to face his father. With the look on his face, William tried guessing what was inside his son's mind.

"I'm not here to scold you, Lennon. I want to offer you something. Just a starter for you to change your life in case you change your mind this time after you get out of jail," William calmly said.

Lennon gave him a confused look. His dad knew what kind of life he wanted. He had already told him many times, and he didn't want to change a thing.

His blood started boiling; he already knew where that conversation would take them, but Lennon didn't burst into anger immediately because his father was calm. He tried to make himself relaxed as well. After all, his dad was the one who helped him get out of jail. Even though he lost his phone, he still remembered his personal number.

"Who wouldn't if it was the phone number that kept ringing his phone the most every day?" he thought, but none of his calls were returned.

Lennon got curious about the offer his father wanted to talk about. His curiosity distracted him from the fact that he was already irritated with his father. He asked him what it was, and he was stunned by the answer he had got.

"If studying is not in your interests... Putting you in the field might help, I think. Why don't you work in our company? After your training, I will give you a prominent position and put you on the best team. You could lead a team of your own if you want. What do you think about that?"

His father had always told him to finish his studies so he could help manage their massive company, but this time, it was a total upgrade.

"Prominent position, my a**?" the rebel son asked, grinning. He wanted to laugh at his offer. Lennon wasn't impressed at all.

"Give that to someone more deserving, old man. I'm not interested," he replied and was about to turn his back when William suddenly raised his voice.

"Don't dare turn your back on me again, Lennon! I don't know what to do with you anymore! You have been disrespecting me like I'm not your father!" William could no longer control his anger. His son was a real pain.

Lennon faced him. His eyes didn't show enough emotion when their eyes met, making it hard for William to guess if he was angry, sad, or what.

"When did I ask you to do something for me?" Lennon asked, which dumbfounded his father.

He wasn't expecting this from him. He asked himself when as well, and he just did it. He helped him get out of jail. William wanted to remind his son of this, but he suddenly changed his mind, and this is what he said instead in his calm voice, "No matter if you wouldn't, I would still send help if you needed it. That's what fathers do. You are my son, after all."

Lennon couldn't help but laugh. He couldn't believe those words had come from his father's mouth. "Is that what you think fathers do?" Don't try mimicking what other fathers do. No matter how hard you try, you will never be like them." These words were like daggers, disrespectful, but William saw the pain in his son's eyes that he tried covering up with a smile after a quick chuckle.

He was left speechless for a while and got enveloped by thoughts.

Blaming his son wasn't right. He knew in himself what he lacked. For so long, he wanted to provide the best for the people.

He wanted to create the greatest airplane engine and the safest ride possible for everyone. His company achieved this goal and was already successful, but all those things were useless because he lost one great gift his wife left for him—his son.

When his wife died, this was how he distracted himself. He could admit it, but he was blaming himself for her death. He let her attend an event on his behalf.

His wife had often done that to help ease his schedule. They had been a team. They moved as one in everything, but he didn't know it was the last he would ever see her.

He had been missing her. William didn't love again after losing his wife. To honor his beloved and hold on to his promise that he would only love her until the end. Thinking about her made him feel down.

"I'm sorry I made you feel alone because of my dreams. I'm just concerned about what will happen to you once I'm gone," William said, but Lennon hadn't calmed down yet.

"I don't think you're concerned about my well-being. You only cared about one thing, and that's your company." His voice became louder. The way he pointed his finger at his father was something William couldn't ignore.

"Why shouldn't I? Nobody could handle our business but you. I will leave it to you someday. If you don't care about all the efforts I made for the company, at least have some for your mom's efforts—"

"Don't use her in this!" Lennon shouted, interrupting his father's dialogue, but it wasn't enough to stop him.

"You're already old enough to understand this." William firmly said.

"You're right! I'm old enough to understand things, and I'm old now to decide for myself. So stop mingling with my life anymore," Lennon stated.

William already felt defeated. If only his wife was still alive, he knew they wouldn't be at that point in their lives. He wanted to change his son's mind and help him take the right path, but how?

He just followed him walking hurriedly up the stairs. He couldn't even remember the last time they had a pleasant conversation with him.

"Come, think of it. My offer won't expire, Lennon, and the offer will remain even if I'm already gone." He didn't want to give up.

"I'd rather marry a maid and live in a slum than work for your freaking company!" Lennon left this statement out of anger for his father, and these words lit a bulb above his head after he remembered Anita, the servant who Linda asked him a few days ago to help.