Echoes of Love

Chapter Two

"Sister," Alistair murmured in a hushed tone.

Kinsley chuckled and approached him, tapping his shoulder while wearing a slight smile.

"You've changed significantly. You're no longer that naive child," Kinsley remarked, bursting into laughter. Alistair remained composed and returned the smile.

"I see that you're still the same, the same arrogant individual," Alistair retorted, provoking annoyance in Kinsley.

Xantheus couldn't help but burst into laughter, but Kinsley shot him a glare, causing him to abruptly stop. Alistair shook his head and continued towards the house, but then he heard Kinsley's voice.

"Just because you own the company doesn't mean it will be yours forever," she paused, turning to face him. "Remember this, Alistair. I am the firstborn daughter, and I will claim that company of yours," she declared confidently.

Alistair disregarded her words and proceeded inside, leaving Kinsley irritated. He would never allow her to seize the company.

He had worked tirelessly to nurture and expand it, and he would not let someone like her take it away. It was the sole inheritance from his grandparents, and he was determined to do whatever it took to protect it.

Upon their entrance, Alistair's parents greeted him. For the first time, his mother and father embraced him. They had never shown him such affection when he was younger, leading him to question their love for him.

And who could blame him? Their affection seemed to surface only after he inherited the company. He wasn't going to be easily swayed by their words now.

"How are you, my son?" his father inquired.

Alistair took a seat on the couch before responding, "Fine, I guess?" He ran his fingers through his hair as he spoke.

His sister also entered and took a seat beside their parents. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward as silence filled the room. As time passed, dinner was finally served.

Xantheus clapped his hands in anticipation of the meal, which was another reason he had accompanied Alistair. They all moved to the dining room and took their respective seats.

Alistair chose to sit next to Xantheus, deliberately avoiding his sister to prevent another potential argument.

As the maids served their food, Alistair couldn't help but sigh. Being in this place felt challenging for him, as it had been a long time since his last visit. He felt a sense of discomfort lingering in the air.

Alistair reached for the glass of water on his left to calm himself. They began eating once all the dishes were presented. Alistair could sense his parents' gaze fixed upon him, which made him uneasy.

"Why are you staring at me? Is there something wrong?" he asked, breaking the silence. His parents exchanged glances before shaking their heads.

"There's nothing wrong. We've just noticed how much you've grown. We didn't even know how you took care of yourself," his mother replied in a soft tone.

Alistair calmly responded, "It's simply because you didn't fulfill your responsibilities as my parents. My grandparents were much better than the two of you."

Kinsley slammed the table slightly, expressing her disagreement. "You should learn to respect your parents, Alistair," she said, giving him a sharp glare.

Alistair chose to ignore her and continued eating.

"Do they even deserve it?" he asked Kinsley.

She remained silent and took a sip of her water.