He glanced toward the living room, where his family was seated, and said nothing as he made his way out of the room.
"Don't you dare walk out on me!" his father roared again.
"I'm a grown man, Father. What sort of question is that?"
Bruno's voice was laced with frustration.
That was the wrong move.
His mother knew it was a trigger and slapped her forehead, shaking her head.
Mr. Hathaway's face twisted in deeper anger, his complexion reddening with fury, his eyes blazing.
"Don't you dare take that tone with me, young man!" he growled. "You canceled the East Asia meeting—the most important deal we've been working on—just for some party. Do you have any idea what this could cost the company?"
Bruno didn't respond, though his fists clenched at his sides. The last thing he wanted right now, after all the drama that had happened at the reunion, was a lecture about work.
He had a lot of thinking and other things bothering him.
Like his relationship that didn't last for a day.
He had the video alright but will she give him the opportunity to explain himself?
However, Mr. Hathaway wasn't done as he cut into Bruno's thoughts.
"Your reckless decisions are affecting more than just the company but Brand name. They're affecting the brand's business deals. You think you can make these kinds of mistakes and walk away without consequences? One more stunt like this, young man, and you'll regret it. Mark my words."
"Honey!"
His wife had to intervene after the threat.
Bruno knew what his father was capable of. He wasn't exactly the best father. Over the past years, Bruno had grown distant and emotionless. His father had said it would help him mature into a man faster and become more successful. From a busy childhood to an adult who lacks social life.
It was always about work. Work for the company. Work for his father. He enjoyed working or maybe he was programmed to be a workaholic from childhood.
Now, Bruno had his own priorities, and the work could wait, no matter what his old man threatened.
"Bruno... dear... your father is right about the East Asia meeting. Postponing it like that could make you lose the partnership and the deal," his mother said softly.
Bruno could feel his mother's worried eyes on him and his sister's quiet concern, but he wasn't interested in work related discussions.
Not now.
"I know what I'm doing, Mother," he said through gritted teeth.
"You clearly don't!" Mr. Hathaway snapped. "You've been careless for a month now. The stats show it. What could be more important than work? You have everything—women, power, popularity. I gave you that life, but you ungrateful brat, you choose to do things your way without following my command. Fine. But if you keep this up, you'll regret it more than you can imagine."
He roared.
His mother and sister exchanged glances, but neither of them said a word.
Bruno clenched his fists, his father's words echoing in his head, but he was done with the manipulation anyway. Beauty was the reason he had the guts to stand against his decision for the first time.
He didn't need to stand there and take whatever his father was dishing out.
Without a word, Bruno turned and continuing walking towards the room exit.
"Bruno!" Mr. Hathaway called, his face turning red with anger.
"Don't you dare walk away from me!"
His bodyguards in black stepped forward, but Mrs Hathaway stopped them.
The sound of the door slamming behind him rattled the walls, and that was the final straw for Mr. Hathaway.
"That boy is going to ruin everything I built! He doesn't respect me anymore."
Mr. Hathaway bellowed, pacing back and forth, his fury boiling over. His face was flushed, and his fists were clenched so tightly his knuckles were white.
His wife quickly stepped forward, trying to calm him down.
"Honey, you need to... just calm down," she said softly, her hand reaching for his arm. "He's upset. He's not thinking straight. He may have other things bothering him."
"Not thinking straight? Other things bothering him?" Mr. Hathaway snapped, shaking his head as he continued pacing. "He hasn't been thinking straight for months! Canceling that meeting, risking our entire East Asia deal—does he have any idea what he's done? What else could be bothering him? I made sure his future was set from childhood. So tell me, what could he possibly be thinking of?"
Mrs. Hathaway sighed in frustration, her husband isn't the best listener.
"He made a mistake by canceling the meeting. But shouting at him isn't going to fix anything. He's an adult with his own life. You can't achieve anything with that shouting and threats"
Mr. Hathaway stopped, turning to face her.
"His own life? Are you saying that I'm controlling his life?"
She avoided his eyes contact.
"Maybe. First, you made him work under you, and all his expenses were monitored and controlled by you. He's supposed to have his own house and his own company by now."
"What's wrong with this house and my company?"
"You just said it, honey—your company! Bruno has been diligent. He's been under your name for years. This is just a mistake. Why are you acting as if he can't make a single unwise decision, like a human?"
His wife snapped.
"If he had been more responsible, this mistake could have been avoided. He thinks a party is more important than business deals."
Mrs. Hathaway sighed.
"I'll talk to him," she said gently, trying to diffuse the tension. "But not like this. Not when tempers are high. Let him cool down, and I'll handle this calmly."
Mr. Hathaway stared at her for a moment, his chest heaving with anger. He grumbled under his breath but didn't argue.
He knew his wife was right, but it didn't make it any easier to swallow. Bruno walking out on him was a direct challenge, and that stung more than he cared to admit.
"You guys are getting worked up over nothing," Abigail said calmly with an eye roll.
Her parents' red eyes stabbed into her.
"He'll come around. He's just in love, that's all... I mean, it's obvious."
She scoffed.
"In love?"
"Come again," her parents asked in unison.