Chapter 87
“Callum, can you help your father? I know you said you are stepping down as the CEO of the company and will never come back. Me and your father respected that but your father is getting older. He can’t run the company the same way as before. We can hire some professionals to help, but it’s a transition that can’t happen immediately,
Callum released a long sigh, the weight of his mother’s plea lingering in the air like a heavy mist. For weeks, she had been reaching out, pleading for him to reenter the world of corporate responsibility he had intentionally left behind.
“Mom, I told you that I will no longer do anything related to our company.”
The repeated assurances seemed to fall on deaf ears, and Callum found himself caught in a loop of the same expectations. A tangle of conflicting emotions gripped him as he grappled with the desire to honor his mother’s request and the resolute decision that he had made four years ago.
“I can ask Blake to help with the transition if Dad ever decides to appoint professionals to manage the company, but please don’t expect me to handle the company again. I’m sorry, Mom. I’ll call you again,”
The call ended, leaving Callum staring into space, contemplating the intricate web of inconveniences and problems that his family was currently facing. He tiptoed through the silent house, leaving Clara and Cara in the calmness of their dreams, as he prepared a quiet
breakfast.
Four years ago, Callum had vowed never to return to the rowdy world of the Sullivans‘ corporate empire. The memories of past misfortunes and the toll they took on his personal life served as a constant reminder of the pitfalls of unchecked ambition
In the quiet privacy of the kitchen, he leaned on the counter, his thoughts meandering through the maze of his past choices. The realization struck him like a gentle dawn- the misfortunes that befell him were rooted in greed for success that blinded him to the more meaningful parts of life.
“Ciara didn’t have to get hurt, and our unborn child didn’t have to die,” he whispered to himself.
The weight of those words hung in the air, a distressing acknowledgment of the irrevocable consequences of his past actions. Callum’s resolve solidified as he contemplated what truly mattered in his life.
He’s still hurting. It’s been years but it still haunts him. Even though Ciara had welcomed him into her life and he is with his daughter and Ciara here in Paris, the guilt of yesterday still haunts him.
He understood his mother’s plea now. His father, aging and weary, had poured his heart into building the company. The family duty called, yet the shadows of the past cautioned against his hasty return.
He is just so done with everything. He doesn’t want to do anything that will hurt his family again. Right now, Ciara and Cara are his priority and nothing else. Not the company, not the wealth and money they will lose if something bad happens
Additionally, it looks like not all of the Sullivans are happy with his return to Ciara’s life.
Despite him stepping down as the CEO, news still travels fast and he still hears things about the business world. He heard how Louis had been pressing a few of the investors of the Haynes‘ company to invest in them instead.
To him, it sounded like a warning, a warning to him that if he makes another wrong move, the Sullivans will not hesitate to crush them into dust.
“Is there something wrong with your company?”
Callum was startled when he heard Ciara’s hoarse voice from behind. He turned around and saw the love of his life wearing a nightgown with her hair still disheveled. It looks like she went out of the room almost immediately after opening her eyes
The way she was walking with her eyes half open as she could barely see while she headed straight to him made him want to laugh at how adorable she looked.
Almost immediately, she started walking towards her to meet her half away. His arms enveloped her as he pulled her closer while Ciara buried her face on his chest.
All the thoughts that were clouding her head seemed to vanish almost immediately with just the warmth of her touch. He couldn’t help but smile as the warmth of the sun basked on the two of them.
Their body slowly swayed along the music of rhythm that only the two of them could hear. And even without seeing her face, he knows that she is smiling.
It has only been almost a month since they started being like that and Callum can definitely claim that this has been the best month of
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Chapter 87
his life after so many years. It was the most peaceful and happiest he had been.
“You haven’t answered my question,” Cira mumbled as she slowly pulled her face away from him but did not remove her arms from his waist as well.
Callum stared at her beautiful face.
“Oh, god, you are so mesmerizing…” he couldn’t help but whisper.
Ciara could see how Callum’s eyes were shining like there were literal stars in his eyes while he was staring at her.
Soft chuckles escaped her lips at that..
“Stop diverting my attention, Callum. That won’t work, she pointed out and Callum ended up to which was an unusual sight for
Ciara.
The past month, she had seen different expressions showing in Callum’s face that she had never seen before.
She knows that four years was long but she didn’t expect to see such changes from him and yet she’s not complaining.
Or was it because of his interaction with Cara?
Callum didn’t have a choice but to answer, “It’s nothing. I will ask Blake for help so you don’t have to worry about it. I’m not coming back to handle our company again, Ciara,” he assured her.
He knows that Ciara is still traumatized by everything that has happened. Healing is a slow process for her and he will forever be guilty of causing her so much pain.
Ciara bit her lower lip as she realized what was happening. She knows that Callum stepped down because of her. She’s not stupid. It’s very easy to understand that every decision that Callum makes now is all for her convenience.
She knows that Callum loves doing business. And it makes her feel a bit guilty that he had to stop doing what he likes the most for her.
“Family hug!”
Both Callum and Ciara were startled when they heard Cara’s loud scream. And then the next thing they knew, Cara was already jumping towards them to join the hug.
The house was filled with laughter early in the morning.
They both know there are still problems along the way but being together now is what’s important. They are all happy being together and that’s what they want to focus on for now.
12:50 PM
Chapter 88
