The Deal (Jenlisa x Chaennie Fanfic)

XXXVII - Before Dawn

At the sudden death of the industrial titan, darkness had fallen to the hearts of people who loved and respected him beyond his power. Yet with the certainty of dawn, they looked forward to the promise of tomorrow, the beginning of a new regime.

But as true as before dawn is the darkest of the night, even the brightest of the stars is powerless for the mourning empire and for the only daughter, Jennie Kim.

The first thing she did after finding out the miserable news was to fly to where her father was, reported that he died in his hotel room. Heart failed as he sleeps, a painless but a sorrowful unexpected demise. Jennie brought him home, and since then, she filled in his role and became the strongest pillar for the merged empires. The board unanimously decided to make her the CEO, boosting the company's morale.

And with the overwhelming responsibilities, taking away her right to grieve and sulk, she worked zealously that days passed she hardly even see her wife, who's also busy taking charge of her father-in-law's funeral.

Condolences, memorial flowers offered by different kinds of people ranging from the country's leader, industry's huge names up to ordinary individuals flooded the then-Chairman's wake. With Jisoo and Lisa receiving them wholeheartedly, grateful for all their prayers for the family.

Still, truth holds that for other's sorrow is another's glee.

Lisa saw her parents arriving at the funeral, and just when she thought her father was humane enough to pretend he's saddened by the news, she was summoned to the family room, leaving Jisoo and her family to accommodate the visitors.

"Jennie Kim is now at her weakest point, I hope you're smart enough to waste no time."

The new chairman stated as cold as freezing hell, and Lisa was too exhausted to care. Done, is written all over her face.

"I thought you would at least give condolences, is this a part of your plan, father?"

Mirroring his daughter, her father stated as lazy as Juan,

"You must thank me then if I did, I helped you in your simple task you're taking lifetime to finish."

The chairman's face screamed you're dumb as fuck at her only daughter.

"I didn't know you could be more evil than you already are." Lisa muttered under her breath, disappointed but not surprised.

"What did you say young lady?!"

"I said, I'll make you proud in my own way father. Just leave my wife alone. She's gone through a lot."

The chairman looked at her in disbelief, laughed amused then became the father of all evils, all in a blink of an eye.

"Stupid! I told you to make her a fool for you and then you're here, being the fool that you are! This conversation is over."

The chairman growled quietly, afraid to disturb the solemnness outside the room. Raging, he turned his back on his daughter and signaled her quiet wife, they're leaving.

"I swear, if you lay a finger on her, you will never see me again. You'll have no choice but to leave all these bullshit to people you don't trust. Oh! I remember, you don't trust anyone but yourself."

Lisa just declared a war just before her father could leave the hell he made.

Furious, he dragged himself towards her daughter with difficulty, gripped her tight in the arm, pointing at her with his free hand.

"How dare you threaten me, you ingrate! Do you think you'll have all these luxuries if not for me?! These bullshit made you who you are!"

"I never asked for these! I could have been grateful if you were a good father to me!"

A loud sound of a back-hand slap echoed around the room.

"I sold my soul to make your life better than I had. And I can do worse, don't you ever test me Lalisa."

He hissed through gritted teeth. Angry tears falling freely from Lisa's eyes.

"Then do it! Kill her! I'd rather be dead! I never wanted this life! I never wanted you to be my father!"

Another back-hand slap was aimed towards her already swollen face but her mother placed herself in the middle, embracing her child, landing the sharp slap at the back of the lady's head.

Colors drained from her father's face. But they know he will never say sorry to anyone.

"Talk some sense to your daughter! It's your fault for being so soft with that brat!" He spatted, and stubbornly made his way out, feeling strong.

Lisa hugged her mother tight, hand pressed at the back of the latter's head, hoping it would ease the pain. Respect for her father gone.

"Shh don't cry. I'm sorry baby. Forgive your father, he didn't mean that." Her mom comforted leaning back, wiping her daughter's mad tears.

"I don't care about him mom. I'm worried about you. Is he always hurting you? Since when?" She hurried, loathing every fiber of her father's being.

"No baby, he's not. Trust me, he never raised a hand against me." 

She studied her mother's eyes, looking for a hint of lie, or sorrow hidden under the sweet smile. That, she didn't find.

Her mother then lead her on a chair, not minding the pain at the back of her head.

Lisa couldn't remember the last time they had a conversation, but even so, she still regarded her mother as the strongest woman she ever knew of.

"How could you still stay with him mom? He's evil." Lisa asked, scoffing the last sentence.

"You wouldn't be born if I know the answer. Besides, who is not?"

Still smiling, her mother caressed her face, tucking the disarrayed hair in their places.

"There's just people who see the world like it's a wild jungle, sweetheart. Toughening their skin, adapting to survive."

"But mom he's a hopeless case, no matter what we do he would never change."

"We can't change anyone Lisa. We love them, not to take away the venom or their guards. We stay, until they realized we won't cause harm."

"Even if they would hurt us?" Lisa let out a breath, exasperated.

"Yes baby. But who wouldn't?"

Silence enveloped the mother and child.

"Sweetheart, not everyone sees beauty in darkness because by instinct, we would always search for the light." Lisa's mother smiled thoughtfully, cocking her head at the side. "And sometimes we are that light we're trying so hard to find."

Lisa pretended to think then nodded just to finish the conversation. She can't digest anything, the week had been too much.

"Don't mind your father baby, be strong for your wife. She needs you now, more than ever."

To be continued....