Chapter 9

By the time Calvin pulled into the driveway of his parents’ home, the sky had turned a deep shade of blue, and the estate was illuminated by soft golden lights. He glanced briefly at the dashboard clock before switching off the engine and leaned back against the seat for a moment.

He was late.

Again.

The realization wasn’t surprising. Most evenings seemed to end the same way lately—buried beneath meetings, reports, and responsibilities that never truly seemed to end.

Straightening his tie, he stepped out of the car and headed inside.

The familiar warmth of home greeted him immediately. The rich aroma of dinner drifted from the dining room, accompanied by the sound of laughter and conversation. For a brief moment, some of the tension that had settled permanently across his shoulders eased.

It was a feeling he rarely allowed himself to enjoy.

The moment he entered the dining room, however, he knew his late arrival had not gone unnoticed.

His mother looked up from her seat and frowned.

“There he is.”

Calvin smiled as he approached the table.

“Good evening, Mum.”

Her expression remained unimpressed.

“Do you know what time it is?”

He pulled out a chair and sat down.

“I have a rough idea.”

“A rough idea?” she repeated. “I’ve been calling you for almost an hour.”

“Work ran late.”

A dramatic groan echoed across the table.

Calvin didn’t need to look to know it was Laura.

His younger sister sat opposite him, shaking her head as though she’d personally suffered from his behavior.

“Honestly,” she said, taking a sip from her glass, “if your office suddenly disappeared tomorrow, I think you’d go into mourning.”

A laugh escaped their mother.

Calvin pointed at his sister.

“You’ve become very disrespectful.”

“I learned from the best.”

Before he could respond, another familiar voice joined the conversation.

“Your sister has a point.”

Their father entered the dining room. Despite retiring years ago, he still possessed the same commanding presence that had once intimidated board members and competitors alike.

Calvin sighed dramatically.

“Not you too.”

His father settled into his chair and removed his glasses.

“Especially me.”

The table erupted into laughter.

“So tell me. What’s the excuse this time?”

Calvin already knew where this conversation was heading.

“Work.”

Laura groaned loudly.

“There it is again.”

His father shook his head.

“Son, one day you’re going to realize that work isn’t everything.”

“Dad—”

“No. Listen.”

The firmness in his father’s voice made Calvin reluctantly fall silent.

“When I was CEO, your mother complained about me constantly.”

His mother nodded immediately.

“Constantly.”

“I worked long hours.”

“Very long.”

“I traveled often.”

“Too often.”

His father shot her a look.

His mother smiled innocently.

Laura burst into laughter.

Meanwhile, Calvin was beginning to regret attending dinner.

He continued.

“But despite all that, I still made time for family.”

Calvin remained quiet.

“How many of your school events did I miss?”

None.

“How many birthdays?”

None.

“How many family dinners?”

Very few.

The answer was obvious.

His father leaned back in his chair.

“Exactly.”

A brief silence settled over the table.

Then the older man sighed.

“You need balance, son.”

Calvin rubbed the back of his neck.

“Maybe.”

“Not maybe.”

His father pointed directly at him.

“Definitely.”

Before Calvin could formulate a response, the dining room doors opened and dinner was served.

To his relief, the conversation shifted.

For a while.

Dinner passed pleasantly enough. Stories were exchanged, Laura spent most of the meal teasing everyone within reach, and their mother insisted on serving portions large enough to feed an army. By the time the plates had been cleared away, Calvin had finally begun to relax.

That should have been his first warning.

His mother cleared her throat.

The sound alone immediately put him on alert.

Across the table, his father slowly hid a smile behind his wine glass.

Laura’s grin widened.

Calvin narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

“What?”

His mother smiled sweetly.

“Nothing.”

“Mum.”

“Well…”

She exchanged a glance with Laura.

Calvin instantly knew he was in trouble.

“What?”

His mother folded her hands neatly on the table.

“One of the reasons we wanted everyone together tonight was to remind you that Laura’s engagement party is in two days.”

Calvin blinked.

“Two days?”

“Yes.”

“That’s Friday?”

Laura groaned. “Wow.”

Calvin didn’t respond. His attention had already drifted elsewhere, his mind quietly reorganizing itself the way it always did when something demanded precision—schedules, meetings, contracts, travel arrangements. Then, almost suddenly, his expression shifted.

“Oh.”

The change was so subtle that it might have gone unnoticed if not for the fact that everyone at the table knew him too well. Laura caught it immediately. So did his mother. Even his father, halfway through lifting his wine glass, paused.

“Oh?” Laura repeated, suspicious.

Calvin exhaled. “I have clients arriving from Singapore on Friday.”

Silence settled heavily over the room.

Laura stared at him. His mother stared at him. His father slowly lowered his glass as though bracing for impact.

“You cannot be serious,” Laura said at last.

“I am.”

“They booked the trip months ago,” he added quickly, as though that explained everything.

“Calvin.”

“It’s an important negotiation.”

“Calvin.”

“The company stands to gain—”

“CALVIN.”

He stopped. Completely.

Laura threw her hands up in disbelief. “You are not missing my engagement party because of work.”

“It’s not because of work,” he said, then immediately regretted it.

A beat of silence followed, and then Laura blinked slowly. Once. Twice. Before she burst into laughter.

“Oh my God.”

Even their father looked faintly amused now, while their mother pressed her lips together as if trying not to join in.

“It’s literally because of work,” Laura said between laughs.

Calvin rubbed a hand over his forehead. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Then what exactly did you mean?”

“I mean the clients can’t simply be ignored,” he said, turning slightly toward her as if careful wording might save him. “And neither can I.”

A pause. Then, softer, almost pleading, “Baby—”

Laura’s eyes narrowed instantly. “No.”

“Come on.”

“No.”

“It’s not even your wedding,” he added without thinking.

The room went still.

His mother made a small sound of shock. His father closed his eyes briefly, like a man witnessing something inevitable.

Laura stared at him. “It is not my wedding?” she repeated slowly. “That’s what you got from that sentence?”

“I meant—”

“You know what? Don’t explain.”

She pushed her chair back and stood abruptly.

“Laura.”

“No.”

“Laura.”

“No.”

Their mother was trying very hard not to laugh and their father wasn’t trying at all, he was openly entertained.

Calvin looked at him desperately.

“Dad.”

“No.”

“Dad.”

“No.”

“Help me.”

His father chuckled.

“This is your cross to carry.”

Calvin stared at him in disbelief.

“Seriously?”

“Absolutely.”He lifted his glass in a quiet toast.

“You started it.”

Laura pointed a finger at Calvin.

“You better be there on Friday.”

“I’ll try.”

“No.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You’ll be there.” And with that, she turned sharply and walked out of the dining room.

The silence she left behind lasted only a few seconds before it cracked—his mother breaking into laughter first, followed quickly by his father. Even Calvin, despite himself, let out a quiet breath of amusement as he sat there, staring at the empty space she had left behind, wondering how on earth he was expected to be in two places at once.