The Lust for Freedom
Zane cushioned both arms behind his head and started complaining, “I don’t understand how the two of
you grew up to be so different when you were both raised by the same father! I know that you aren’t
sisters by blood, but how did you turn out so good while she became so bad?! Were you taught
differently growing up?”
Sonia let out a chuckle at that. “Of course we were taught the same thing. The only different thing is our
genes.”
She then took a small pause as her eyes slowly fell on Jessica. “Sandra wasn’t a good person, either.
She only got married to Dad after her carefully planned pregnancy. Also, she… Never mind. Anyway,
the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. A daughter born from a woman like that can’t be much different
from the mother. Even if she was taught the right things growing up, it is impossible to remove the bad
genetics she had received from Sandra.”
“That is an interesting way to put it.” Zane nodded his head in approval. “Is that the reason why you are
insistent on finding a good man? So that you can erase Jessica’s bad genes?”
Sonia nodded in return and said, “That is about right. If we are going to make an heir for the Reed
Family, we can’t be sloppy about getting the right genes. I sure as hell wouldn’t want to raise a kid who
will eventually turn into a second Jessica.”
“You are doing a great job,” he supportively reassured her, but just as he was about to give her a pat on
the shoulder, he seemed to be stopped by his thoughts and only let his hand hover over her shoulder.
With a disappointed look on his face, he curled his fingers before nonchalantly tucking his hand into his
bag. He then continued asking, “Why are you raising Jessica’s kid for her after all the bullying she has
put you through?”
“I’m not doing it for her. I’m doing it for the Reed Family.” She shook her head as she lightly pressed
her throbbing temples. “I may be a Reed in name, but it is for a fact that we are not bonded by blood.
For Jessica to poison Dad and do all the other evil things, I’m sure she will stay in prison for life without
having the chance to get married nor have kids. Also, I don’t want to see her get married. She is
definitely too much for any man to handle. This is the only thing I can do to continue the Reeds’
bloodline.”
After listening to her explanation, Zane looked at her with a complicated look. “But really, the reason
you are doing this is because you feel guilty about continuing the family name yourself because you
aren’t related to them by blood, correct? I doubt you’ll ever feel at peace if you were the successor.”
Sonia lifted her gaze to look at him. Her red lips parted, but it took some time for her to finally say
something. “Mm,” she gave a hum of approval. “You are right. I’m the type of person who hates taking
things for free, and I absolutely detest ever owing anyone anything. I would have gladly inherited the
name if I hadn’t found out that I’m not actually a Reed. I wouldn’t even have the thought of letting
Jessica give birth to a successor when my own child will naturally continue the legacy, but the truth is
what it is. I’m not a Reed. Even if it is legal, the idea of continuing the Reed heritage doesn’t sit right
with me.”
Seemingly lost in thoughts, she let out another sigh. “I owe Dad everything for his care all those years,
but it is a debt that I can’t and never will be able to fully repay him. Who in the future would still
remember the Reeds’ true legacy if I or my future child inherited the family name? That is why I want
Jessica to leave a successor for me. I will raise the child and give them the right to inherit the Reeds’
name one day. This is the only way I can ever repay Dad.”
“I understand what you mean,” Zane said after hearing her view. “To be honest, I don’t see the need for
you to worry about all this. You may not share the same blood, but your father has always treated you
like his real daughter. I’m sure he thought of you as one, too. That shouldn’t make it a problem for you
to inherit the family’s legacy. You are a Reed. Not by blood, but by name. And that is what matters
more sometimes.”
She let out a smile and replied, “I know that, but this is what I have decided to do. I don’t want to
change my mind.”
“Are you okay with it, though?” he quickly asked with his eyebrows furrowed. “You worked so hard to
build Paradigm Co., and now you are just going to pass it to Jessica’s child instead of your own? Are
you really okay with that?”
Surprisingly, she shook her head and confessed, “That is not it. Growing up, I’ve never had the thought
of wanting to manage a company. I wanted to become a painter. I like to paint. It is a dream that no one
other than Toby knows about.”
“Oh?” Zane exclaimed, his eyes shining with interest. “Does this mean that I’m the second person to
know about this?”
Sonia softly smiled at that. “Yes, you are the second one. I never even told Dad or Charles.”
Zane’s smile had blossomed into a full-blown grin by then. Anyone could see that he was in an
extremely good mood. “What an honor!” he cheered.
Seeing him practically jumping with joy, Sonia let out a hearty laugh and shook her head. She
continued talking after the smile on her face gradually faded. “Actually, there is another reason why I
want to give Paradigm Co. to Jessica’s child. I never had the chance to pursue my dream of becoming
a painter. I want to someday let go of everything holding me back and chase after my dream. I want to
live life again, and this time, it will be for the sake of my dream.”
As she spoke, she slightly tilted her head upward and had a hopeful smile on her face. Even her eyes
seemed to shine with anticipation.
A captivated Zane could tell that Sonia really didn’t have the least bit of interest in Paradigm Co.. Sonia
liked to paint and she was going to become a painter.
She radiated at the thought of throwing everything aside to restart her life.
Her fight toward freedom against the weight of the family name was so passionate that heat started to
rise in his chest.
He slowly placed his hand over his chest to feel the rapid thumping of his heart, which seemed to have
its every crook and cranny occupied by Sonia.
How could he ever stop his heart from racing every time he saw this radiant, confident woman?
People like him were always envied for having been born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but who
other than themselves would truly understand the pain of coming from such families?
Ordinary people had the chance to choose a future they wanted, but people like him grew up having
every decision in their life made for them. The men were raised like poisonous bugs whose sole
purpose was to take the lives of their competitors whereas the women were raised to become tools for
tying two families together.
They were but people who had their wings clipped. Even their thoughts were constantly denied as they
were expected to be the puppets of their families. A lot of them longed for freedom to live their lives the
way they wanted to, but they weren’t allowed to do anything that didn’t bring benefits for the family.
They might even be cast out of the family if they had rebelled a little.
Those who were abandoned by their families, too, didn’t get to live the life of an average Joe. Instead,
they might be forced to leave the country and survive on their own. There were only bad endings
waiting for those who were forgotten by their families.
That was the reason why people like him always ended up the way they were. They might hate living a
life with no freedom, but they were unable to not do as their families had wanted them to. They
gradually turn numb from it and stop dreaming at some point. That freedom they once longed for was
only a faraway, unreachable dream. They had completely become the puppets their families were
shaping them into with the rest of their lives being dedicated to their families.
Zane was a prime example of it.
With Toby being the only exception, Zane and the rest of the rich bunch were people who needed their
families to live on.
Still, Zane was better than the others as he was never fully dependent on his family. He had always
been tempted by the idea of breaking free from them, but that was a well-kept secret only he knew.
And that was why his heart began to beat uncontrollably when he saw how uninhibited and optimistic
Sonia was about living the future she wanted.
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