How to Stay Afloat

~41: Where She Realizes That Some People Never Change~

Chapter 41:

Where She Realizes That Some People Never Change

My anger surged as Mr. Hastings' face contorted with rage. Despite the tension in the air, I held my ground, determined to stand up for Archer. I realized that Archer had been right to not want anything to do with his father.

My hands curled into fists.

I looked Mr. Hastings in the eye. My gaze conveyed my disgust. "Your son isn't a puppet. You can't sit back and pull strings, you can't manipulate people into doing what you want."

He had the audacity to scoff. "You have no idea what it takes to raise a child. It's about molding them into successful, responsible adults."

I shook my head, a bitter smile playing on my lips. "Successful by whose standards? Yours? Archer left because he couldn't bear the weight of your expectations and the constant pressure to conform to your idea of success."

His gaze narrowed, but I refused to back down. "You can't force someone to be happy by dictating every aspect of their life. That's not love; it's control. And you've lost him because of it."

A tense silence hung in the room, broken only by the echo of our heated words. I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within me.

Mr Hastings's blue eyes flashed, "I'm his father I know what's best for him." He shrugged, "if he isn't willing to listen to me now. I won't be here to listen to him when his entire future collapses before his eyes because of his own foolish choices."

My heart suddenly ached for Archer as I finally understood what he must have gone through his entire life. "Archer deserves the freedom to make his own choices, to stumble and learn from his mistakes without the fear of your disapproval hanging over him like a dark cloud."

The constant feeling of not having any control over his own life. Being gaslit and manipulated into doing things he never wanted to do. And always feeling like whatever he would never be good enough.

No wonder he had left the first chance he got.

I swallowed as emotion clogged my throat.

"When you truly love someone you love them regardless of the choices they make. Love is supposed to be safe and comforting, it's knowing that even if the decisions you make end up being the wrong ones you still have someone in your corner." I clenched my jaw, trying to reign in the rage I was suddenly feeling.

Mr. Hastings sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "You're naive if you think the world works that way. Life is tough, and I won't coddle him into mediocrity."

I shook my head, a sad smile on my face. "Coddling and genuine support are not the same. Your inability to see the difference is why Archer left."

A spark of realization flickered in his eyes, but he quickly dismissed it. "He's young. He'll come to his senses eventually."

My resolve solidified as I stared at him. "No, Mr. Hastings. Archer chose me because I offer him the love and acceptance he deserves, not the conditional approval you're so accustomed to giving."

I took a deep breath, "I came here today in hopes that you would be willing to mend your relationship with your son because I was afraid that Archer would eventually come to regret walking away from his father. But after talking to you I've come to realize that cutting you off was the best decision he made."

His face went beet red with anger. "How dare you-" He started but I cut him off.

"How dare I?" I retorted, my voice cutting through the charged atmosphere. "How dare you manipulate and control your own son's life? How dare you use love as a bargaining chip, as something conditional?"

The door to the study suddenly burst open. Outside stood a disheveled-looking man with bloodshot eyes, his presence sending an immediate wave of tension through the room.

Mr. Hastings lifted his head to glare at him.

Mr. Hastings lifted his head to glare at the intruder, his authoritative demeanor not easily shaken. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, but the man remained silent, staring at him with a blank expression that held an unsettling intensity.

"You have to make an appointment with my secretary before coming to see me," Mr. Hastings continued, his tone stern. "You can't just barge into my office. Can't you see I am with someone right now? You'll need to come back later when I'm done."

Despite Mr. Hastings's admonishments, the disheveled man remained unresponsive, a disturbing stillness in his demeanor.

I hastily got up. "I was just leaving anyway." I gave Mr. Hastings a scathing look, "I don't indulge in pointless conversations that clearly lead nowhere."

Mr. Hastings's eyes narrowed but thankfully remained silent.

I started to leave but the man still stood there blocking the doorway.

"Um, excuse me, sir, if you could just step aside, I'll be able to leave, and you two can discuss your matters privately.".

His gaze shifted from Mr. Hastings to me. His bloodshot eyes were glazed over, and his face appeared ashen white. An involuntary shudder ran through me as our eyes met, and warning bells started ringing in my head.

I tried to step around him but it was of no use. He was completely blocking the exit.

"I need you to move so I can leave," I insisted, raising my voice slightly.

He heard me, tilting his head to the side, his gaze unwavering. "No one is going anywhere," he rasped, his voice low and quiet.

With a swift movement, he pulled his hand from his pocket, and something metallic flashed into view. It was then that I saw it—

A gun.