The night had been a nightmare, one that would forever be etched in his memory after her shocking revelation. With a heavy heart, he departed from her home, unable to speak a single word. The journey back seemed like a blur, his mind consumed by a whirlwind of emotions. Numbness enveloped him, a deep emotional turmoil causing him to seethe with pain. Sitting in his father's office, Carlton let out a soft sigh, feeling as though every breath was a struggle. The now strained relationship with his parents had been a challenge, but as the heir to the family, he knew he couldn't escape his responsibilities.
As Carlton's thoughts drifted back to the fragile and sorrowful expression on her face the night before, he began to understand the depth of her turmoil. Her torn appearance now made sense to him. Another sigh escaped him, but his father's sudden and sharp movement jolted him out of his reverie.
"Care to explain how my son, a Callaway, ended up at a McLain event?" Harold's relentless scolding echoed through the room as he slammed the newspaper down in front of Carlton. His eyes were drawn to the main picture on the front page, and as he took in the scene, Carlton felt a sinking realization. Axel had somehow managed to once again draw attention to him and his sister. With a heavy heart, Carlton closed his eyes, bracing himself for the repercussions of his actions.
"Carlton, I've had enough of your reckless actions! Why do you insist on involving yourself in places you have no business being in? Can't you see that your ties to that family are causing us nothing but trouble?!" Harold's voice was filled with stern reproach, his resentment for the McLains evident in every word he spoke. In a moment of frustration, Carlton finally snapped, unleashing his pent-up emotions on his father.
"Because they are our direct competitors!??" Carlton's words were abrupt as he stood up to meet his father eye to eye. Harold's hands clenched into fists at the defiance shown by his son.
"Isn't that reason enough to stay away? Or must I remind you how the McLains have been the ones piling their bullshit on us, nearly driving us to bankruptcy in the past?" Harold's voice remained steady, his eyes unwavering. Carlton let out a resigned sigh and turned away, casting a brief glance back at his father before pacing the room.
"Yeah, I know all about that... you don't need to remind me! But this intense hatred and conflict between our families is really just between you and James McLain!" Carlton retorted, his frustration evident in his tone.
"Why am I, your own son, dragged into your ongoing conflict with a man I barely even know?" Carlton questioned, his confusion and exasperation clear in his words.
"I'm exhausted by this pointless feud between the two of you! I couldn't care less about your issues with him, or his issues with you! All that matters to me is my family's security and the woman I care about!" Carlton muttered with growing frustration, his voice rising in intensity. Harold felt his anger rising, watching his son and heir unraveling the bond they had painstakingly built over the years. The once strong and trusting relationship between father and son seemed to be crumbling before his eyes.
"So, you're saying you don't care about me? About what that man did to me and our family in the past? Do you even hear what you're saying?" Harold's voice was filled with disbelief, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. Carlton ran his hands anxiously over his face, searching for the right words to respond.
"I do care about you, father! I care deeply about our history and the legacy we hold as prominent figures in this country. But I struggle to understand how your desire for vengeance and animosity towards that family outweighs your consideration for me, your own son," Carlton expressed with a mix of frustration and hurt in his voice.
"I have urged you to move beyond that chapter in our history and consider the potential for building a new relationship that could greatly assist us in overcoming our current challenges," Carlton implored, hoping to convey his earnest desire for reconciliation and progress.
"Change is inevitable if we want to thrive in this country's economy!" Carlton's words carried a sense of urgency as he sought to make his father understand the necessity of adapting to new circumstances. Harold felt a mix of anger and realization stirring within him, knowing deep down what his son was trying to convey.
"You're only saying this because of that woman, the McLain!" Harold retorted, his disappointment evident in his gaze. Carlton sighed, feeling the weight of the ongoing tension between them.
"Father, please consider this for a moment! If I were to marry Elena McLain... we would have a powerful ally in our quest to hold James McLain accountable for his actions against us!" Carlton spoke earnestly as he moved closer to his father, his hand gently gripping Harold's arm. Harold's eyes narrowed, intrigued by the unexpected proposal from his son.
"Well... it's an intriguing idea, but I can't bring myself to intertwine our bloodline with that man's family. Carlton, you are my heir and the guardian of our family's wealth. It would be reckless for me to agree to have that woman as your wife," Harold responded with a mix of hesitation and firmness in his tone.
"She is still her father's daughter... and I fear she will act in his best interests, potentially sabotaging our family," Harold replied, attempting to inject some reason into his son's seemingly reckless notions.
"I will ensure every single detail is taken care of! I will make sure she understands the implications of marrying into our family. She must stand by my side, always!" Carlton declared confidently, his resolve unwavering as he sought his father's trust.
"I trust you, but it's her that I don't trust... she's a McLain, for God's sake! I fail to see how this could benefit us in any way," Harold muttered, his doubts lingering in his mind. Carlton, feeling the weight of his father's skepticism, tightened his grip on Harold's arm, compelling him to meet his gaze directly.
"How would you feel if you had to give up your only daughter to the son of your greatest enemy?" Carlton asked, his eyes reflecting the intensity of his emotions. Harold pondered the question, attempting to grasp the significance behind his son's question.
"I... I would feel like a failure, a defeated man in utter devastation," Harold admitted slowly, the weight of the hypothetical situation sinking in. Carlton's lips curled slightly at his father's candid response.
"Exactly! You would feel like your world was ending if you had to give up your own daughter! I know I would feel the same way! So, consider that, father," Carlton emphasized, trying to make his father see his point.
"How do you think James will feel if his daughter decides to marry me?" Carlton asked his father, a sly smile playing on his lips.
"The real question is, how will you manage to secure her hand in marriage? That man would never agree to it," Harold remarked, raising an eyebrow at his son. Carlton sighed and took a step back, feeling the weight of the challenge ahead.
"I may not know how, but I promise you, Father, I will do everything in my power to make Elena Lila McLain my wife. I give you my word that she will be mine," Carlton declared with unwavering determination and grace.
As Harold observed his son's determined expression and contemplated the challenge that lay ahead, a silent thought crossed his mind, "I suppose by then, James will finally be paying for what he did to me."