When Emma came home from school that day, she noticed her father sitting in the living room. There was a frown on his forehead as he leaned back against the couch. Emma could see all the signs of tension on his face.
Emma walked towards him.
Her eyes were filled with emotions. She raised her head to touch his forehead and gently began to massage him.
Her father opened his eyes and looked back at her. He smiled at her and said, "Emma, you're home. When did you learn to be sensible?"
A touch of melancholy was present in her eyes.
In her previous life, until her father died, she never got to properly appreciate this man. He was the only one who truly loved her and did his best to provide her with all the happiness yet she took it all for granted.
"Dad, I will be better in the future. I have grown up now," Emma voiced out, trying to keep in her intense emotions. She didn't want to alert her dad.
Emma's changes these days were clear as day to her dad. The man felt heartache at her obedient behaviour and wondered what could have caused such a change.
"I just need you to be happy. Leave all the worrying to dad," her father responded. His eyes reflected his concern.
Emma smiled and brought up, "I have decided to change my major. Can I do that, dad?"
The man furrowed his brows. "Why do you suddenly want to do that? Didn't you argue with me back then to study journalism?"
The eighteen year old Emma wasn't interested in studying. If it wasn't for her father insisting, Emma probably would have not enrolled for university and wasted away her life following the wrong crowd.
She chose journalism perfunctorily, hearing from her friends on how it was an easy degree to get.
But now that she has a different motive— with people to protect— she couldn't be a loser as before.
In her last life, she barely graduated with a degree. Her GPA crossed the passing mark by a little. And if it weren't for Daniel tutoring her, even that wouldn't be likely.
"I do not want to anymore," Emma answered.
"Then, what do you want to study now?" Her father asked.
Emma resolutely responded, "Business management. I have been slacking off too much. Now that I have enjoyed my life enough, it is time for me to share some of your burden, dad."
There were three more years since her father passed away, and the company went bankrupt. But from everything she gathered in her last life, the issues started early on, accumulating to something big eventually.
Her father laughed heartily at her words.
"I haven't become so incapable that I need you to share my burden, child. Study whatever you wish to. You will become an old woman if you keep on worrying like this," her father teased.
But Emma solemnly replied, "I am serious, dad. I don't want to hand over our family business to anyone else. Can I not learn to control it?"
"You, child, when did you grow these ambitions?" Her father sounded shocked.
Ever since Emma was a little girl, she was lazy and lacked proper direction in life. All she wanted to do were things that made her happy. Because he had the ability to spoil her, he let her do whatever she wanted.
Emma came forward and sat beside her father on the couch, grabbing his arm.
"Come on, dad, please agree. Is it wrong for me to be ambitious? Didn't you always want me to be more ambitious?" Emma pleaded.
Before her father was able to say anything, Jude Chen, her mother, spoke out, "What's the matter now? What is this girl throwing a tantrum about again?"
Emma clenched her hand into a tight fist, trying to suppress all her negative emotions towards her mother, so that no one noticed her abnormality.
Her father chuckled.
"I don't know where she got this funny new whim from. She wants to change her major to business management. Apparently, she wishes to take over the company," the man jokingly informed.
Jude frowned at that and shook her head.
"Stop making trouble, Emma. Your dad is already having a hard time at work. You have a hard time attending classes properly. What business are you going to take over, silly girl?
And, you, dear, spoiled this girl a little too much. Now that she is older, who is going to tolerate her like you?"
Creases formed between both of her brows. Emma stood up and placed her hands on her waist.
"I can do it once I set my mind on it. Why do you think I can't do it? If my dad can manage such a huge business, I can do it as well! Am I not my dad's daughter?" Emma argued.
"Look at you speak. Emma, are you forgetting that we are still your parents? I am saying it for your own good. From childhood, you haven't been able to endure a little hardship.
The company isn't a child's play. It concerns the livelihood of many people and your dad's decades of hard work. Do not act up now. You're old enough to understand," Jude scolded.
Emma felt funny when she heard those hypocritical words.
It seemed that Jude understood everything very well yet she placed her utmost efforts to murder her father and have his company bankrupt, just so that outsiders can take advantage.
Unable to control her temper, Emma raised her voice and said, "Why are you being like this? Aren't you my mother? You said that you will be supporting me in everything I do."
Emma's chest clenched tightly.
Even though she has been through enough to know how her mother was clearly and had no expectations for the woman, she couldn't get how someone could be so heartless.
She was willing to push her own daughter to death for a stranger.
How was she good at being the best mother for all these years?
Before Jude could respond, her father stood up and placed his hand on Emma's shoulder.
He stated, "Emma, your mother is right. You are still too irresponsible. Why don't you do this? If you can get minimum of B in all courses this semester, I am willing to let you change your major."
Although she hoped her father would directly let her change her major, she understood this was the most he was willing to concede.
Emma nodded. "Thank you, dad."
After that, Emma was about to rush to her room when her dad called her.
"Hold on, Young Lady," the man called.
"What's the matter, dad?"
"Now, apologize to your mom. There was no reason for you to be so rude to her. Next time, you act up like that towards her, you will be grounded," her father warned.
Emma clenched her hand into a tight fist— her nail digging into her palm— unwilling to apologize. However, there were no other options for her now.
"I am sorry, mom," Emma stated in a bored tone. Following that, she ran upwards towards her room.
"That girl..."
"I am alright. I am just worried. When will she grow up?" the woman voiced out.
Emma's father nodded.