Disaster (1)

While the whole family was staring at Lisa, Mr. Qin's phone rang. He answered it. After putting the phone down, he picked up the remote and turned on the TV.

On the business channel, Mr. Yun was granting an interview.

[ The Qin family and my Yun family have always been friends. For that, I thought it would be best for both families to seal the friendship with a marriage. Who would have thought that I was making a big mistake? The Qin family's daughter has repeatedly tried to antagonize my Yun family members and we turned a blind eye in regards to her father.

But it seems her father condones all of her wrong deeds. If such a person is allowed into my Yun family, she would not only turn the family members against each other, she would be the downfall of my company too. At this point, my Yun family officially breaks the engagement and relationship with the Qin family. Whatever form of support my Yun family has been rendering to the Qin family, both in business and on a personal level, my Qin family calls it off!" ]

"These bastards!" Mr. Qin mumbled with gritted teeth. Did they have to make it public to humiliate his daughter? Couldn't they have broken the news to them in private?

"How could the Yun family do this? When they started, you and my sister were their backbone. You supported them through thick and thin! If you didn't give up the opportunity to become a member of WBO to them five years ago to save Lisa, would they have gotten ahead of the Qin family? Had it not been for Lisa, we would have still remained on the list of top families in the country!" Mrs. Qin continued to lament.

While the TV was still on, Mr. Qin received a few calls from the company. The shares are plummeting in a rather outrageous manner, thanks to Mr. Yun's interview. At this rate, there was no saving the company. The man suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest. It felt as though his heart was being squeezed.

"Argh!" He whimpered and the next thing, he puked blood and fell backwards.

"Dad!"

Lisa leaped over the center table that was the barrier between her father and her, in the bid to save him from hitting the floor. Luckily, she made it before her father hit his head.

Mr. Qin caught the panic in his daughter's voice and face, as he lay on her lap. The man was worried for this daughter of his. How would she survive with the Qin family's unfortunate situation? She's not one to bend to rules of the jungle, no matter what, so how would she fit into the world with no backing?

This reason was why he breaks his back– toiling to make sure the Qin Cooperation doesn't fail. If the Qin Cooperation remains standing, she will always get protection, but now, how will she cope?

While those thoughts ran through his mind, his eyes slowly started to get hazy and soon, her cry for help became indistinct, coupled with the voices he couldn't make sense of in the background. In no time, his mind went blank and he drifted into the abyss of darkness.

…

At the hospital…

Lisa was pacing back and forth in the corridor, waiting for the doctors to come out of the ICU. Linda, on the other hand, refused to take a break from blaming and abusing Lisa. Mrs. Qin was just sitting there, looking lost and tired. After a few hours, the door was pushed open and the doctors came out.

Once again, Lisa was the first to notice and run to the doctor. "How is my father doing?"

"You suddenly care about him now?"

Lisa ignored Linda's sarcastic remark one more time and focused on the doctor.

"Mrs. Qin, I'd like to speak with you privately."

"He's my father. I want to know what the matter is!" Lisa felt offended for the cold shoulder she was given.

The doctor looked at her and then took a deep breath. "Fine, come with me, you two."

Inside the doctor's office…

The man looked at the two and asked, "Are you aware that this is his second heart attack in two months?"

Lisa frowned and turned her gaze to her stepmother.

"No, I'm not aware that he had one," Mrs. Qin replied.

"You're his wife, how would you not know?" The doctor then turned to Lisa. "And you, as his daughter, what are you doing?" He changed glances between the two. "Do you want to kill him? Do you know what it's like for a family without a father?" his eyes shifted between them again.

"You don't want to know. So, if I were you, I'll try as much as possible to not agitate him from now on. The next attack he gets might be the last time you'll see him."

Lisa looked down at her hands and slowly asked, "What's his condition right now?"

"It's been stabilized. He might wake up tomorrow or next… also, while you protect him from another attack, you should also consider his mental health too. Mr. Qin has been very unstable since ten years ago and it keeps getting worse. You should be careful," the doctor advised.

"Thank you, Uncle Phil," Lisa said.

"Hm… and your ear? Did you get it checked this morning?"

"Yes."

"What's wrong with your ear? Are you hurt?" Mrs. Qin asked with confusion lacing her face.

Lisa shook her head, "I'm fine, it's nothing to worry about." She got up and left the doctor's office.

Mrs. Qin gaze trailed after her until Lisa left through the door. She turned and looked at the doctor. "Doctor Phil, you're my husband's friend. Is there anything I need to know?"

"About?..."

"His situation… and Lisa too. What's wrong with her?"

"I already told you all there is to know about your husband. As for Lisa, that stubborn brat. She got her ear slapped and it caused a tear in her eardrum. Were you not aware? You were there when she was slapped yesterday morning."

Mrs. Qin's eyes widened. "I– I had no idea she sustained injury. How serious is it?" The woman frowned.

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk." Doctor Phil clicked his tongue and shook his head. "It might take over two months to heal if you guys don't stop yelling her head off. I heard your daughter screaming at her earlier."