Patrick, Jennifer and Nicholas were alone now, outside Christabel's room and wondering what they were going to say to each other.
"You have been away from home, son," Patrick was the first to speak. "We miss you!"
Nicholas scratched his head as he searched for the exact words he would use to explain to them that it was not his intention to make them to be worried about him, but he needed to be in the same room with Christabel Bloom, making sure she was getting better after the incident that happened to her on the track some days ago.
"I am sorry, ma," Nicholas said first. "I am sorry, pa. Before I left, I told ma that I wanted a life free from your wealth, pa. I want some freedom and changes in my life. I am tired of living under your favour, pa. I am tired of people seeing me as a favoured child because I don't have to go through all the pain they have to go through every day of their lives in order to make a living for themselves. I want to be able to work, pa. I want you to understand that I am tired of this kind of life I am living every day of my life."
"You are favoured, son," Patrick cleared his throat and moved closer to his son. "First of all, you have to accept you are favoured and there is absolutely nothing anyone can do about it. I am not afraid to say you are going to feel the heat coming at you at every angle in your life. I am not afraid to inform you that to be the kind of man I am, you have to face several challenges on the road that is going to build you up and make you strong," he paused. "Forgive me, son, but I don't understand your request. I don't understand what you are asking your mother to do for you. If I must confidently remind you, you are the sole heir to everything I own. You are the reason why I have worked very hard during my youth. You are the motivation behind my struggles. I can't just stand here and watch you say you are not going to partake in my wealth because there are some bunch of losers, sitting in one corner and condemning you for taking part in what your father has worked so hard to achieve. If they are so confident in themselves, why don't they come outside from their hiding place and tell me straight in the face that you do not deserve to reap from the tree that I have worked hard day and night to sow?"
"Calm down, honey," Jennifer tried to calm her husband down. "You are raising the tone of your voice. And, if you continue talking in this way, Christabel Bloom might assume we are fighting because of her. It may ruin our reputation if the wrong idea of our conversation gets into the wrong ears of someone who is willing to bring us down."
Patrick listened to his wife as he tried to ease the tension growing between him and his son. Even though he had a lot of things to say, he decided to keep his mouth shut so he wouldn't end up feeling bad or regretting the words he had said.
"I want independence from you and ma," Nicholas went on with what was the root of his departure from his father's grand house in the first place. "I want to work for myself. I want to take care of myself, pa. Didn't ma tell you about my decision?"
"She didn't tell me you wanted to be independent," Patrick lied. "Although she informed me you were tired of being a sprinter and you wanted a change of profession which I totally understand. You have to let me help you, son. I have connections scattered around the whole of New York City. I have people in high places who are willing to listening to me with one phone call. You don't have to put too must pressure on yourself as an adult. You still have a good number of years with us before you can decide what you want to do with the rest of your life."
Nicholas frowned as the words of Pam struck his ears. He could hear the woman's voice all over again as she reminded him about his lack of worth. He could still hear the woman's voice all over again as she questioned him about the transparency of the process that got him to be declared as the winner of the state championship the previous year.
"Why do you want to quit your career as an athlete?" Patrick asked as he noticed his son was in no way interested in replying him after all he had said to him.
"I want a fresh start, pa," Nicholas said slowly. "I want a start where both of you won't be involved in my life and won't be credited with my success."
"What are you talking about?" Jennifer stepped in. "You can't throw us away from your life as if we don't matter to you at all. We are your parents, Nicholas Wild. We decide what is best for you whether you choose to listen or not. We are not going to sit here and watch you waste your life because of some sick bastards who knows nothing about our family. We must stay together as far as I am concerned."
"I don't want us to stay together," Nicholas rebelled openly for the first time in his life. "I don't know how I am going to make both of you understand. But, since you don't want me to make a decision for myself in my life, I guess I will have to walk this path alone."
Patrick held Jennifer on her wrist and told her to let him be. She was surprised about her husband's submission but didn't say a word until they got home and he told her to sit down.
"I know how to handle him," he assured her before making an important phone call.