Chapter 33

"Don't brag old man, it turns out that hanging out too much with people from the Norine family has really molded your mind into a conservative and disgusting person just like them."

"You're acting like you can beat me. Have you forgotten who your father really is? There's nothing I can't do while I'm still standing and holding my power. You should start waking up to the fact that you won't be able to save your partner if I take action to get rid of him," Mr. Jerry said.

Gerry and his father continued to fight because of their different opinions and their vastly different backgrounds. What I know from Gerry is that since childhood he and his father never got along well. As a child he was always pressured by his father and received unpleasant treatment from his father as a form of upbringing in order to form a strong mentality for Gerry.

However, it not only forms a strong mentality but also forms a heart that becomes cold because of the absence of love from parents in full for their children. Therefore, Gerry is not happy with his father's presence because he has never had good memories with his father even since he was a child.

Money can only fulfill the needs of life but humans are also equipped with a heart by God to feel various kinds of feelings including compassion. If the feeling of love is not fulfilled in that human then that human will become hollow and forget the true meaning of life.

"Try it if you can," said Gerry. "In fact even all this time you couldn't catch me with your own hands."

From where I was standing, I could see Gerry, his face bright red, raising his voice. "Dad, it's not what you think! I love him!" He pointed at me with his index finger, as if I was a dangerous object to be avoided.

Mr. Jerry, with a cold face and a sharp gaze, responded in a mocking tone. "Love? Do you even understand what love is, Gerry? All you have is an empty agreement. He's nothing more than a tool to secure his position."

I felt like I was trapped in a drama. Even though Gerry and I were bound by an agreement, my feelings for him developed beyond just a business deal. But right now, everything was crumbling before my eyes.

Monica, the girl who was set up for Gerry by her father, stood beside Mr. Jerry. With a sardonic smile, she added, "Maybe your father was right, Gerry. Listen, there are rumors that Zharies has a dangerous jinx. Whoever he loves will not live long." Her voice flowed softly, yet every word stung.

Gerry and I were so dumbfounded when we found out about this, we didn't expect that the secret that I kept with Gerry had been leaked everywhere. I don't know who told this information to Monica and Mr. Jerry but certainly we have no alibi to cover up my secret jinx.

Gerry turned to Monica, his face filled with confusion and anger. "Monica, don't let me slap your face now!" He tried to defend himself, but his voice began to waver. "You have no right to insult my lover no matter what you know."

"Or maybe you just fell for the charm?" Mr. Jerry fired back, his voice echoing in the room. "You think that love will save you? Love is nothing without power and profit."

The atmosphere grew tense, and I could feel my heart pounding. The families around us began to glance over, curious about this showdown. They might think this was just another show of conglomerate family drama, but to us, this was a battle of life and death.

"Do you even care about me, Father? Or is it all just about image and power?" Gerry shouted, a voice full of emotion that I rarely heard from him. In an instant, Mr. Jerry's anger combined with Gerry's frustration, creating a storm that was ready to explode.

"It's all about image, Gerry! The image of your family!" Mr. Jerry tugged at the pent-up sadness, visibly trying to control himself. "Zharies will bring nothing but trouble. He's not right for you."

"I've had enough! I don't want to live under your shadow forever!" Gerry fought back, his words piercing the space filled with sweat and tension. "I can stand on my own with all the companies and cartels I own anyway. Don't expect me to take your word for it anymore because it's all so sickening. I have my own choice and I choose the one I love, Zharies."

Monica tried to add fuel to the fire. "Maybe it's time you listened to your father, Gerry. Why are you holding on to someone who could ruin your future?" She glanced at me with disdain, as if I were a curse to be shunned.

While they argued, I felt a wave of deep sadness. Despite the agreement between us, my feelings for Gerry were more than just business. And right now, all the effort we'd put in felt futile. We had both been caught up in a bigger game, and I was worried that there was no way out.

"I don't care about this deal anymore!" Gerry exclaimed, his voice cutting through the crowd. "I want to be with Zharies. He's the only one who makes me feel alive!"

Mr. Jerry was silent for a moment, his piercing gaze never moving. "You think you can choose your own path? You are part of this legacy, Gerry. And if you fight back, you'll lose everything."

I could feel my breath catch, witnessing this confrontation. Suddenly, all eyes were on me. I was the source of all this trouble. The alleged Jinx, the unclear agreement, and the forbidden love.

"I've given myself a choice and even the two of us have had a lot of fights over this matter. I've also explained everything to Gerry so that he would realize the jinx problem." My voice broke through the crowd. "I didn't want to stand in his way. But in fact love brought us back together and we both have the same goal."

Gerry looked at me, his face full of uncertainty. "No! I won't let them decide for me!" He shouted, but his tone of voice began to weaken.

But Mr. Jerry wasn't going to let this opportunity pass. "If you choose it, then choose to get out of our lives! You'll lose your legacy, your reputation, and maybe even your life! I will hunt you for the rest of your life and I will destroy everything you have including that fortune you built for yourself. Because you have betrayed the Enriqo family by defying the arranged marriage with Norine's family."

I felt like all hope was fading away. If Gerry chose me, he would face terrible consequences. However, if he chose to stay with his father, I knew how painful this separation would be.

And in the final moments, when everyone was silent, Gerry turned to me. There was confusion, fear, but also something more. Resilience. In his gaze, I saw his will to fight, to love me even though everything seemed impossible.

"If there's a jinx, I'll face that risk. I don't care what they say!" Gerry said, full of passion. "I'll fight for us."

My heart was racing, full of hope. However, the tension in the room was still tense. This moment was decisive; Gerry's choice would determine everything.

And in eerie silence, we all awaited Gerry's decision. Would he choose the path of love, despite the threats and pain? Or would he sacrifice everything for power and the image built by his father? We all knew one thing: our lives would never be the same after tonight.

"Don't think about it, Zharies. Even if I have to fight monsters then not once in my mind do I intend to leave you. You are my love and forever you are my love. And I will prove that I can break your jinx because of the spirit of love and the spirit of life that I have for you," said Gerry.

I was stunned because Gerry could guess the contents of my mind right now. I who was already on the floor of sadness due to Mr. Jerry's cornering suddenly got an encouragement from Gerry and I became more convinced that our love would actually not be defeated by the many people who opposed it.

Again I listened to the many voices of people whispering around us. I wondered what they thought after hearing everything that had happened between me and Gerry during our relationship.

After I heard Gerry's decision and determination directly from him, I was immediately convinced and I would be determined to strengthen my spirit so that it would not be easily extinguished by the evil intentions of Monica and Mr. Jerry.

"That's... That's admirable love."

There was one person who spoke up in the middle of the dispute between us. She was an old woman but she looked very elegant and it seemed that she was respected for having a power because she came from a family that was no less respected than the Enriqo family.

"Mrs. Barbara?" said Mr. Jerry. "How can you be impressed by such a trivial romance story? This is a love story that is so disgusting that it is not even elegant, please regain your senses so that you will not be seduced by the mouth of that man-whore who took away my son's sanity."

The old woman named Mrs. Barbara shook her head slowly and looked fiercely at Mr. Jerry. It seemed that Mrs. Barbara did not agree with Mr. Jerry's description of my relationship with Gerry.

"In fact, Gerry didn't have any problems when he was with this boy named Zharies. In fact, the rumors I've heard lately are that Gerry was stabbed by Samuel, how could a son of a prominent Norine family do such a heinous thing outside of cartel business?"

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Samuel who was clenching his teeth tightly and clenching his fists with an angry look at Mrs. Barbara for agreeing with my thoughts with Gerry and defending both of us.