7. I Don't Need It

Hearing Nigel's answer, Sofia flinched. The aqua-eyed woman rubbed her ears to ensure her hearing wasn't wrong.

She had long missed his son. Now the moment is in sight, and Nigel is back to get a decent life instead of choosing to leave.

“Nigel, what did you say just now. You're not coming back here again? Why is that Nigel?” asked Sofia, not understanding.

Nigel shook his head, "My place is not here, Mom, but in Longbay City."

As he said this, Nigel's face showed a stern look. The expression that is always shown when his desire is not fulfilled. Nigel's jawline was so defined, his eyes were cold, and his chin was slightly upturned.

Now the golden brown-haired youth glanced at his father again.

“I'm grateful that you and Aaron helped me to free my friend, but I'm sorry I can't stay in this place any longer. If you don't have anything else to talk about, then I’d better go away,” replied Nigel politely and formally.

Bastian Parker is proud to see the change in his youngest son. Nigel's change was indeed something he wanted. Even though Nigel was born into a wealthy family, he did not fully depend on his parents' wealth.

Nigel's father also stood with his arms folded across his chest, occasionally glancing sinisterly at his now-grown son.

"You do not want to linger in this place? Where are you going, going back to Longbay and becoming a clown there? Huh have you lost your mind Nigel?” Bastian Parker satirized his son again.

Nigel, who heard his father's words, looked away and spat.

"If I become a clown, what does that have to do with you?" replied Nigel fiercely, and the young man was no longer afraid of his father, instead looking at the hazel-eyed man with a no less fierce gaze. His rough way of speaking started to return to how it was before.

Bastian responded to his son's challenge with a brief cynical smile, “Hmm now you are so sure that you can do many things without any help from the Parker Group? How sure do you have brat?”

Nigel cursed his father's arrogance inside. According to him, his father is blind because of the property he has now.

The brown-haired young man also repaired the black veil that covered his head and now reached into his pocket and approached Bastian Parker, and opened the man's palms.

"Here I return the platinum card you gave. I don't have time to play with a haughty guy like you. You may block my account again so I can't use it. Thank you for saving my friend!” cried Nigel, handed a black card to Bastian's palm, which was now open, then turned and walked away.

Both Bastian, Sofia and Aaron flinched at Nigel's behavior. The young man was completely different from the previous few years.

Sometimes ago, Nigel would be scared if he didn't get the facilities from his super-rich parents. Bastian repeatedly threatened Nigel that he would block his card, but Nigel immediately stopped being a spoiled child, but only a few days after that, he returned to his habits.

Until one day, Bastian couldn't hold back his anger at Nigel's behavior. His son was secretly throwing wild parties with a variety of alcohol served and also featuring strippers, and Nigel was still underage at the time.

The wild party was carried out when Bastian and Sofia had to arrange compensation for the destruction of one of the city's facilities that Nigel hit. They were embarrassed by Nigel's behavior at that time. Luckily they have a lot of money, so they can silence the media from exposing this problem. Then, the billionaire couple discussed with Aaron and planned to pretend to be bankrupt and expel their only son.

Sofia seemed ready to chase after Nigel; she didn't want to be separated from her son again. Aaron is now married and, of course, living with his small family.

“Nigel!” cried the old woman softly.

“Leave him be, Sofia!” said Bastian preventing his wife from leaving.

But Sofia pushed away her husband's hand, which prevented her from moving forward. The slender woman stepped out wide, half running and didn't care that she was wearing high heels, which made her uncomfortable.

“Nigel!” she called again, this time in a louder voice.

Bastian stood where he was with his hands folded in front of his chest. He glanced at Aaron for a moment and nodded. Bastian loves his wife so much; of course, he can't bear to see his wife constantly in grief.

It was enough for him to see Sofia lose heart and smiles all day. After all, he had also promised Sofia that if Nigel had changed his attitude and behavior, he would no longer be a spoiled child, then Nigel's sentence would be lifted.

Now everything is covered. The child is no longer spoiled and loves to splurge. Nigel has become a strong and independent person.

Even though he kicked Nigel out, he secretly asked Aaron to take care of the young man and report what happened to him. However, he is a father who does not want his child to be destroyed. Moreover, Bastian's past could have been better too.

Bastian Parker lived a simple life and ate leftovers. He also has to become a matrilocal son-in-law who lives with her parents-in-law. Finally, his father's assistant found Bastian's whereabouts and turned things around.

Bastian knows what happened to his son and where he lives, including what happened a few hours ago. Bastian is proud of Nigel's bravery.

"Plan B, Dad?" asked Aaron to make sure.

“Do it now Aaron!” Bastian ordered.

The young lawyer ran and caught up with his adoptive mother, who chased Nigel and preceded the blonde woman, who was now stumbling.

“Nigel! stop! Did you not hear your mother calling you earlier! You saw how hard he ran to catch up with you!” stopped Aaron when he grabbed Nigel's shoulder.

Nigel looked around momentarily and found that Sofia kept raising her hand for Nigel to stop and return to her. But Nigel just snorted.

“He does love me, but he couldn't help it when that rich and arrogant man kicked me out, right? Then why should I come back and approach him?” replied Nigel.

"You first listen to the mother's explanation!" he asked.

"Is there anything you want to explain? Do you want to say that what that man did was for my good, huh, I'm tired of hearing things like this," sneered Nigel.

“Nigel!” called Sofia, who was now approaching her son.

The beautiful-looking woman was panting and seemed to catch her breath before talking to her son. At the age of fifty, he is no longer agile.

“Nigel, do you want to live like that again? Can you sleep well in your cramped apartment? Then how can you enjoy your day while you also have to pay for your studies?” asked Sofia, worried.

"I'm used to doing it; I've even done rough work," replied Nigel, then showed his palms which were no longer smooth and even started to harden. Nigel did work on some building projects and began his career as a bricklayer until eventually being able to lay bricks and build a wall.

"You? What are you doing Nigel?” asked Sofia, filled with worry.

She turned to her husband with a look of disappointment. He thinks Bastian is heartless and lets Nigel have a very bad day.

“Huh, why? Didn't that arrogant man say I couldn't do anything? But I used to work in construction as a manual laborer. I hauled stones and cement and even broke rocks. My daily job as a food delivery also makes me often run up and down the stairs carrying bags of food,” explained Nigel, raising his voice because, at that time, his father walked closer to his mother's position.

That's when Sofia's aqua eyes filled with tears; she couldn't stand hearing Nigel's explanation. How hard Nigel struggles to survive. The boy who always used to be served by the maids.

“Go to Longbay City if that's what's best for you, but remember one thing Nigel, you can't just leave! There are things that must be,” said Bastian coldly.

Nigel snorted as he stared at his father in disbelief, "Then what do you want from me, Sir?"

Nigel's expression was full of hatred and loathing for his father. His hands were balled into fists beside his thighs, ready to punch his father.

Bastian chuckled, but his gaze said. Otherwise, there was a longing he wanted to show his son. "Can you act normally and respect your parents?" asked Bastian sarcastically.

Nigel took a deep breath. "Hmm well tell me why can't I just leave?"

Bastian's hands clenched, and his lower lip was bitten, but not out of anger. He was holding himself back from dropping his pride. Finally, Bastian Parker couldn't stand embracing his son and showing how happy he was as a parent with the changes experienced by Nigel.

"If you think Longbay is your place, then you must conquer it, don't be a coward!" Bastian's whisper made Nigel stunned.

"What does it mean?"

“Yeah, conquering Longbay? Do I also have to teach you vocabulary so you understand what I mean?” Bastian asked.