In a particular office room on the top floor of the SOHO Headquarters, the expansive space boasted floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the bustling city below.Natural light flooded the room, illuminating the carefully arranged decor and elegant furnishings. The plush carpet underfoot added a touch of comfort and sophistication.Equipped with the latest technology and amenities, the office seamlessly blended functionality with class.A state-of-the-art sound system, a large flat-screen TV mounted on the wall, and a private en-suite bathroom completed the image of luxury.A middle-aged woman paced restlessly in the room, her face etched with anxiety. She possessed a timeless beauty, with striking features that reflected a life well-lived.Her expressive eyes, accentuated by delicate lines, shimmered with wisdom and worry.Her glossy hair, touched with strands of silver, cascaded down her shoulders, adding to her allure.As she paced back and forth, her attire exud
The woman did not care about Ivan's outfit as she held the grown-up Ivan in her arms like a toddler.Her embrace was tight, yet delicate, as though she was afraid he would vanish the moment she let go.Ivan could feel her arms trembling slightly, the weight of the long-lost years and missed minutes lingering subtly. Amidst the feelings, there was a staggering feeling of relief and glee.In that hug, he felt the heaviness of the past lifting from his shoulders. It was an embrace filled with unsaid words, a silent expression of remorse, and a commitment to a new beginning.That mother's embrace was a strong indication of the unconditional love that only a mother could give. It was a testament to the strength of their bond, demonstrating that even after so many years, it was never too late for a mother and child to find their way back to one another.Ivan, who believed that a man should never cry no matter what happened, cried for the second time. He was the one who knew how much he had
"Don't tell me they were rude to you? Liam, it seems that both of them are not competent enough. Just fire them," Elena said, making the two bodyguards anxious.They wanted to speak up to plea but didn't know where to start. If they lost their job at SOHO, they didn't think they would find a better one with as many benefits.They knew how many privileges they enjoyed while working at SOHO. No other company could afford them.Ivan was also shocked and couldn't help but speak up for them."It was just a misunderstanding, Mom," he said, but his explanation made Elena even more furious."A misunderstanding? Why should there be a misunderstanding when you are the one involved? So, that means they were rude to you?" she asked, and Ivan shook his head helplessly.Elena's logic was a bit twisted, but Ivan didn't really mind. He knew it was just her way of showing that she cared."No, Mom, just let them be. I'm here, right?" Ivan said, and Elena finally relaxed, dropping the matter."Be gratef
"You know that I don't need your apology. I just want to know why. Why did you do it?" Ivan asked in a grim tone.He did not want to hear any excuses. He was happy to see his parents after so many years, but that was all.Where were they when he was suffering and needed a place of solace? His mother's hug and his father's comfort? Where were they when he would stare at the ring hoping that something magical would happen and his parents would appear in front of him like in those fantasy movies?Where were they when he was being maltreated and bullied with no one to cry to?Where were they when he needed them the most? When his son died? Where were they when he became homeless?Where were they?Ivan started to get agitated when he thought about all this. His mother saw the condition he was in, and still, she was asking if he had been doing well. Does he look well?Does he look like he had been enjoying his life? Does it look like it?And here his parents were, enjoying their life, compl
"You guys are joking, right? A week after you left, the woman kicked me out of the house with the excuse that you guys had not paid the rent for years," Ivan said simply, and Liam opened his eyes wide in shock."What?!" he exclaimed."How is that possible? Even though we were not okay then, we made sure that we did not owe her any money for rent. We also never borrowed money from her, so how could she do something like that? We trusted her because she was older, but could she stoop that low?" Elena might look like a gentle mother with a gentle voice, but her temperament was like a firecracker."The old woman said that she needed money urgently, and since you guys were not around and she felt that no one would pay the rent that you owe, she thought I was too young to handle it. So, she said she could not wait anymore and heartlessly kicked me out, without even considering how I would live without a roof over my head.""I tried begging her, no, I did not try, I begged her countless time
"Listen to what? What other excuses do you have again? Did you call me here just to tell me stories? Then I should not have come. I should just continue to live my life with the mindset that I had for fifteen years, that I don't have any family members again. Isn't that even better?"By the time Ivan finished talking, he had already stood up. Liam and Elena stood up anxiously with him as they tried to calm him down."Ivan, listen, we will explain everything to you...""Then, what is taking you so long? What is the use of all the wealth you've gathered in all these years when I had just been suffering due to loneliness? Okay, I am also at fault for being a useless and a good-for-nothing son, but at least, you should not have made that action. It made me feel as if you guys never cared about my well-being at all.""In all these years, there was no particular day or time that I never worried about you. I knew your condition before you left and I could not help but have different worries
"How come? How is this possible? How did you guys do it? Both of you are the owners of SOHO, how does that work? How is it even possible? You guys are not pulling my leg, right? How could it be? SOHO has been in existence for years, even before I was born, so how did you both do it? If what you are saying is true, then it means that you guys have been the CEOs of SOHO for years, so why did we have to live like we were poor? What happened? What exactly is going on?"Ivan questioned in confusion. A look of sheer disarray washed over his face. It was as if someone had pulled the rug away from under him, leaving him suspended in a condition of bewilderment.The truth of the matter was so far-fetched, so unfathomable, that it seemed like a riddle with unaccounted-for parts, and he struggled to connect the dots and come to an obvious conclusion.Questions tumbled through his brain, each one more baffling than the last. How is this possible?His confusion was palpable as he searched for answ
Ivan listened to his Dad's explanation silently, but he was already going through many turmoils inwardly. He had started to believe that his parents were really the owners of SOHO, but he never expected that they had gone through so much.The whole matter was like a fairytale to him; it seemed unreal, but all the evidence was placed right in front of him, and the fact remained that his parents would never lie to him.They could keep the truth a secret like they did, but the one thing that he was sure of was that they would never lie to him.Ivan realized that it had also been very hard on his parents to make a name for themselves and do well in life. Thankfully, they had each other.If only Lucy could also...Ivan quickly pushed aside that thought, berating himself for thinking about Lucy in such an important matter. He cast his thoughts aside and continued listening to Liam. He wanted to know what went wrong after all the precautions his parents took."Anything we do, we do it secret