Rise of the Worthless Son in law

10

Damon softened his gaze as he watched Vivan struggle to keep her composure. He could see the struggle and pain in her eyes, and he could relate perfectly, having experienced family drama and the urge to meet your loved ones expecting.

He couldn’t let her go, not like this—in this state.

“Vivan,” he called firmly as he stood up. “I’m driving you. You’re not in the right state to be behind the wheel.”

Vivan looked up at him, feeling exhausted. “I can drive myself. I don’t need anyone holding my hand.”

Damon took a step closer to her. “I’m not here to hold your hand. I’m here to make sure you get there safely. You’re not thinking clearly, and I won’t let you drive like this.”

Her lips trembled, and for a moment, she seemed to consider his words. Her hand fell to her lap, and she let out a small, frustrated sigh.

“Fine,” she muttered as she ran her hand through her hair.

Vivan tossed the car keys to him, and he instantly grabbed them before they both walked out of the door and left the suite.

****

Damon drove to Klaus’s office as quickly as possible.

As soon as they got to Klaus’s office, Vivan barely let him park when she grabbed the bag and stomped out of the car.

Damon immediately parked and followed her, walking as fast as he could to keep up with her pace.

Her security guards, as soon as they saw her, bowed their heads in respect, recognizing who she was, but she barely paid attention to them as she stomped off.

As soon as she spotted an open elevator, she was about to step in when she saw Klaus down the hallway.

She froze in surprise but soon moved past it, her eyes locking onto him as she saw him standing near the end of the hallway.

Damon, who was a few steps behind her, noticed the shift in her stance.

"Vivan," he called softly, but she was already moving toward him, her pace quickening.

Klaus noticed her too and started walking toward her in shock. His expression was unreadable, but his posture was stiff.

"Vivan, what are you doing here?" Klaus's voice was cold. He wasn’t surprised, but his tone suggested it wasn’t the best time.

Vivan stopped a few feet away, her chest rising and falling as she tried to steady her breathing.

Damon immediately caught up with her and stood behind her, offering her support.

"I need to talk to you," she said, with an edge of frustration.

Klaus looked at her, then glanced at Damon, his jaw tightening. "Now's not the time."

"I don’t care," Vivan shot back. "You didn’t even remember your wife's death anniversary today?"

Damon stayed quiet as he watched the tension build.

Klaus finally sighed, his face softening just a fraction. "We can talk later, Vivan. This isn’t the place. We have a meeting.”

"I don’t care," Vivan shot back. "You didn’t even remember her death anniversary today. You’ve ignored everything, and I can’t take it anymore."

Klaus finally sighed, seeing Vivan’s defiance, as she wasn’t ready to back down. He stared at the few people who were actually beside him before returning his gaze to Vivan. “Come on, Vivan. Let's talk inside.”

“You don’t want people here to know how much of a horrible father you are?”

Everyone who was standing there looked at Vivan in shock, wondering what was going on.

Klaus’s heart sank at how things were spiraling out of control and the tension that filled the air.

Klaus’s face paled, his body swayed slightly as Vivan’s words hit him hard.

He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing seemed to come out. Instead, he felt a sharp pain around his chest, and suddenly his breathing increased. As he started breathing heavily, he reached out to steady himself against the wall, but his knees buckled.

“Daddy!” Vivan screamed as he collapsed to the ground. She ran to him with her heart pounding.

Damon instantly ran to Klaus's side too, kneeling by him. He quickly checked his pulse. “He has shallow breathing,” he said calmly and urgently. “Someone call an ambulance, now!”

One of Klaus’s assistants grabbed his phone and dialed the number. Vivan knelt by her father, her hands shaked as she cradled his head.

“Daddy,” she whispered in panic, as tears welled in her eyes.

She had never seen her dad in this situation. He had always been sharp, healthy, and agile. What suddenly caused him to pass out? What was going on? “I shouldn’t have said those things,” she cried.

“Stop,” Damon said firmly. “This isn’t your fault. Let’s just focus on him.”

The hallway was chaotic, with murmurs and gasps from onlookers. Within minutes, paramedics arrived as they pushed through the crowd with a stretcher.

“We need to take him to the hospital,” one of them said. “Are you coming with us?”

“Yes,” Vivan said without hesitation, gripping Klaus’s hand tightly as they lifted him onto the stretcher.

Damon placed a hand on her shoulder. “Go with him. I’ll follow in my car.”

She nodded, climbing into the ambulance.

Soon they raced to the hospital. Vivan held Klaus’s hand in tears. “Please, Daddy, wake up. Don’t leave me like this.”

When they arrived at the hospital, the paramedics rushed Klaus into the emergency room. Vivan stood frozen for a moment, then began pacing the waiting area as tears streamed down her face.

Damon came in shortly after, walking straight to her. “Hey,” he said gently. “He’s in good hands. The doctors will take care of him.”

Vivan turned to him shakily. “What if he doesn’t wake up, Damon? What if this is my last memory of him—us fighting?”

Damon grabbed her shoulders, forcing her to look at him. “Don’t think like that. Klaus is strong, Vivan. He’ll pull through. Right now, you need to believe that.”

She nodded weakly. “I hope so. I really do.”