The blind man's chronicle

Outrageous Test!

Cynthia and Zaiden found themselves alone in the quiet room. Cynthia paced back and forth, her face tight with regret. “I shouldn’t have accepted the bet,” she whispered, pressing a hand to her forehead. “Collins set it up to make me look like a fool, and now… I have two months to do the impossible. How could I be so reckless?”.

Zaiden stepped forward, reaching out gently. “Cynthia, don’t worry. We’ll find a way.”

But as his hand touched her arm, she jerked back, eyes flashing. “Don’t, Doctor,” she said, her voice edged with a sharpness he hadn’t heard before. “You need to understand that this—us—isn’t love. It’s just a promise made, nothing more. I only kept you close because… I pity you. You are blind, and that… that’s why I wanted to help you, nothing else. So please, don’t touch me unless I say so.”

For a moment, a shadow passed over Zaiden’s face, but he nodded slowly, a soft, sad smile forming on his lips.

“I understand, Cynthia,” he said quietly. “But I don’t believe pity alone could keep you standing by me this long. And I believe… in time, you will see me differently.”

"Maybe that doctor", She said.

"I am Zaiden, call me by my name." he told her and she nodded repeatedly.

A sudden knock interrupted the heavy silence between Cynthia and Zaiden. The door creaked open, and Fiona’s face appeared.

“The family is having another meeting. You both need to come right away,” Fiona said, her tone clipped as she gave them a dismissive look.

Cynthia let out a weary sigh, glancing at Zaiden. “Well, welcome to the family,” she murmured dryly.

Together, they followed Fiona down the winding halls, stepping into the grand meeting room, where the entire family was gathered.

As they moved toward two empty seats, Mr. Randall shot up from his chair, his eyes narrowing as he pointed to them with disdain. “Hold it right there,” he barked. “You are not family—not yet. You can stand. Only real members sit in these seats.”

Cynthia felt her jaw tighten, the sting of humiliation prickling at her. Zaiden remained calm beside her.

Mr. Randall's voice cut through the room like a sharp knife. “As you all know,” he began, his gaze landing on Zaiden, “the family doesn’t accept anyone lightly. And for a blind man like you, Zaiden, you are going to have to prove your worth to us—before you even think about sitting at this table.”

Cynthia scoffed, "Prove himself worthy, there is not any rules like that in the family"

Mr. Randall’s eyes flickered to her, "He is blind for godsake, and he has to do that".

Before was Collins' bet, now another test.

Zaiden stepped forward, his voice calm yet unwavering. “Bring it on, then. I will prove myself"

Mr. Randall nodded, "like your courage... The test is this: You will strike a deal with the Spearhead Gang.”

Cynthia’s head snapped up at the mention of the name, her heart sinking. "The spearhead gang?, what are you saying?, you are doing this because you don't like him, you are giving him the impossible!".

Mr. Randall's eyes cold. “Yes. I know"

Cynthia then narrated the gang to zaiden.

They are an official company-like group, but they run deep in the city. Every business, every company must pay them homage if they want to avoid trouble.

They make things... difficult for those who don’t comply. The Randall family, in particular, has always been harassed by them. And despite all our attempts to strike a deal, they have been refused at every turn. Every time the Randall try to play by their rules, they turn them away. It’s like someone is using them to keep the Randall family in check.

The last time Dustin tried to negotiate with them, they beat him to a pulp. He came back barely able to walk, but that’s the kind of trouble the Spearhead Gang brings.

Zaiden then confidently nodded, "okay, I will go!".

Cynthia angrily turned to him, "What the hell are you saying doc... Zaiden, this gang can kill in a brink of an eye, they don't care... and you are just a blind man, there is nothing you can do to convince them, you are not going anywhere!".

Mr. Randall then said, "If he refused, he will be send out away from this family, and you can follow him if you want".

Zaiden said again, "I will go and strike the deal".

Cynthia squeezed her hand in anger, "God, you must have made up your mind to leave this earth, even every single person in this family met with them and was dissapointed, some even got beaten to pulp, and you....".

"Rest assure, I can do this", He said.

Dustin chimed in, laughing very loudly, "Just for your information, the last time I went and was beaten, they said whoever come again, they will cut his fingers. but I think it is nothing to you, since you are just a blind fellow, an imbecile to begin with!".

"I will go and strike the deal and nothing will happen" Zaiden confidently said again.

"haha, look, I can swear my life on it, you won't survive talkless of striking any deal", Dustin said.

"What about we made a bet, if I strike the deal, I will take your position in the family's company", Zaiden said.

Dustin won't stop laughing, "Wow, wow, you are really a foolish one, yeah, I bet my position as the manager, I will give up the position to you!, but you know what, only in your dream you can strike the deal".

"Shut your mouth, since you accept the bet, let keep it on that", Zaiden said.

Dustin just kept laughing, nodding for what would befall Zaiden.

Then Mr. Randall said, "You must keep the deal under 3 million dollars, anything more than that, I am not doing, okay?".

He bowed, "okay father!".