KAYLA'S POV:
After school, I went home, freshened up, and changed my clothes. After the meal, I left with my stepfather, Yuichi, to go to my hotel.
In the car, there was silence for a moment. Then he spoke up.
"How is the hotel going?"
"Good."
He nodded, then spoke again.
"Did you visit it with your adoptive father as well?"
"Yes… every day. He loved this hotel so much. He used to say there were only two things close to his heart, first me, and second this hotel, because his father gave it to him… and then he gave it to me."
"Then it's very old," he said.
Some things never grow old. As time passes, they become more precious, worth more than gold.
"Should we make a deal?" he spoke up.
Deal? What kind of deal?
"You know the Hierarchy Group of Companies… they want your hotel, and they're ready to give any amount you decide for this old and cheap hotel."
No. Never.
"I'm not selling it," I finally spoke up.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me. I'm not selling my father's hotel for your greed."
I stopped the car in the middle of the road, got out, and took a cab.
Inside the cab, thinking to myself,
I will never sell my father's last memory. Even if someone begs me, I won't do it. I already lost my father, but not this hotel. It will remain as long as I live. He'll only get it over my dead body.
---
At the hotel, I saw Ryan, my manager, who runs the entire place in my absence. He greeted me and briefed me on today's reports and customers. I told Addie to bring my coffee to my office.
---
At night, when I returned from the hotel, my adoptive mother was sitting in the living room, frowning. She looked at me and spoke up.
"Why are you so stubborn?! Huh?!
Do you love that hotel more than your family?!"
"Family?"
"What family? I don't have any family. My family died with my adoptive father. I'm an orphan and orphans don't have families. You know that, right?"
I said coldly and went straight to my room.