He hadn’t heard that name for years, pondered old Mr. Conduibh, and he never expected to have to
hear about it now. Could this Ophelia woman throw a bomb into the Conduibhs’ once peaceful life,
again?
“Isn’t she married?” asked old Mr. Conduibh nonchalantly, “as I recall, she married the oldest son of the
Chambers family. Isn’t she called a modern Cinderella because of that?”
Tassach had a sour look on his face.
“Tassach, did you quarrel with your mother about her?”
Clenching his fingers into a fist, Tassach said, “I didn’t quarrel with mom, grandpa. I simply wanted an
answer. She got way too worked up, is all.”
Giving him a quick look, the elderly man asked, “Is there a point to demand an answer after so long?”
But of course there is, mused Tassach. Because without your meddling, we would have become such
an admirable couple. Married with children, a happy family life. But look at me now. I’m still single, and
she’s become someone else’s wife and bearing his kids right before my eyes. Mom, grandpa, do you
even have the slightest understanding of my pain?
“Grandpa, Ophelia is the only woman I’ve ever loved in my life. If I can’t end up with her, I’d rather not
end up with anyone.”
“You fool,” enunciated old Mr. Conduibh, infuriated, “you are my favorite grandson, and the one I
directed most attention to. Everything you need in life, you’ve been given the best. You’ve received the
best education, and accomplished a lot at work, too. But now you’re acting out for a woman? Is that
how I taught you?”
Unbudging, Tassach replied, “She’s my emotion anchor, grandpa. I’ve worked hard at making
something of myself all these years because I wanted to be able to help her when she needed me. But
you broke my wings so that I couldn’t fly to her when she was in her most desperate stage. Do you
know how guilty I feel?”
Old Mr. Conduibh inhaled deeply. “So? Romance should be the least of priorities if you are to achieve
great things. You are the future heir of our business empire, and I wouldn’t allow anyone getting in your
way. Yes, I got rid of Ophelia Lowe from your life four years ago. So what? You would disown me as
your grandfather?”
Teary-eyed, Tassach felt betrayed by his closest blood relatives.
“I’ve always respected you, grandpa, but you…” clenching his fists, Tassach sounded hurt.
“Tassach,” said the older gentleman with a sigh, “you’re almost thirty now, and entirely capable of
handling all the responsibilities. I’m getting old, and your uncles and cousins are far less talented than
you are. You will have to run our family business, and that’s why your marriage has to be with a young
lady from an equally respectable family who will help your career.”
“I can and I will expand the Conduibh empire, grandpa, and I don’t need a young lady’s assistance. If
you really did trust me, you wouldn’t force marriage on me like this.”
He continued after a pause. “I’m not here to fight with you and mom, grandpa. I just wanted to make
myself perfectly clear: if you two want to see me married somehow someday, then don’t interfere with
my marriage.”
He left without a glance back after he finished speaking.
“Tassach, come back here!” shouted Mrs. Conduibh exasperatedly.
“Stop it and let him go,” said old Mr. Conduibh, waving his hand.
“He’s getting bold and presumptuous. If he continues like this, even your commands won’t be enough
to constrain him, let alone mine.”
But the elder man laughed at that. “He’s much like me, you know. He might look all gentle and polite,
but stubborn as a mule at heart. You should stop worrying about him; I’m sure he will be able to handle
his own work and life. If he doesn’t like Grace, then don’t try to force her on him. It doesn’t have to be
Grace since there are plenty of young ladies from prominent families to choose from.”
Tamping down her anger, Mrs. Conduibh said, “But I’ve made a pact with the Kings, and they came all
the way from overseas for him. I can’t really just spring the news on them that Tassach is in love with
someone else and that they should just go back home, can I?”
“Well, since you negotiated the deal, you should be the one to dissolve it, too,” said old Mr. Conduibh
as he rose, “I’m tired. I’m heading to my room now. Deal with the Kings yourself.”
And head to his room he did, leaving Mrs. Conduibh standing alone by the sofa, dumbfounded.
Tassach drove like crazy after he left the family residence. He pulled over by the riverbank after running
a few red lights. He carried the box of beers he’d bought on the way out of the trunk, and started
chugging a bottle of beer down by the river. As he gazed at the river sparkling gently under the bright
moonlight, he was stung by the bitter taste the liquid left on his tongue.
Maybe people tended to get drunk easier when they were in a foul mood. After God knew how many
bottles of beer, Tassach felt tipsy, and had a sudden impulse to hear the voice of the girl he loved.
Fishing out his phone, his finger hovered over the contact he named as “my love,” but eventually didn’t
dial after a long while of hesitation.
He dialed Madeleine’s number instead.
He dialed Madeleine’s number instead.
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