The sound of the phone ringing still echoed in the living room. Vivian stood stiffly, her fingers gripping the phone tightly. The name on the screen made her chest feel tight. A name she had been trying to forget for a long time. "Okay…" her voice was slow. Approached well, her face calm but attentive. "Who?" Vivian was silent for a moment before answering. "My adoptive father." The ringing continued. And finally she answered. "Hello…" Her voice trembled slightly, even though she tried to hold it in. "Vivian." The voice on the other end of the line was still firm, cold, and authoritative. It had been a long time since she had heard it. But as soon as she heard it, she still recognized it. "Yes…" There was no long greeting like usual. "Where are you?" "At home." "Good. I want to see you tomorrow." Vivian was silent for a moment. A meeting? After so long? "Why?" she asked, no longer like before who just obeyed. There was a moment of silence. Then the man took a slow breath. "There is something important. About the company." The words made Vivian's heart beat a little faster. "Company?" "Yes." His tone changed, no longer as strong as usual but heavier and weary. And that was something Vivian didn't recognize. "I don't have much time left to manage all this." The sentence fell softly but it was enough to make Vivian's world seem to stop for a moment. Her hand gripped the phone tighter. "What do you mean, Dad?" A few seconds passed before her answer came. "I want Dad to take over." Vivian was stunned. "What?" "I want Dad to replace me." This time, his tone was firm and clear. There was no room for misunderstanding. "As the owner of the company." Silence. Vivian chuckled, almost in disbelief. "Why me?" The question came out without her realizing it. And on the other end of the line, the man was silent for a moment. "You know I don't have children." The sentence was brief but this time his tone was no longer cold. "My wife and I… have been married for a long time." He paused. "But we have never been blessed with children to replace my company." Vivian fell silent. "Since you came…" the man continued slowly, "I consider you like my own child." Vivian's heart was beating fast. She wasn't sure what she was feeling. Angry, moved, or just confused? "But dad never treated me like a son," Vivian answered slowly, honestly. Silence. Then "If I'm too stubborn... it's because I want you to be strong." The answer was not perfect. Not enough to heal all the wounds but enough to silence Vivian. "The company... is not just a business," the man continued. "That's the only thing I have." His tone of voice had clearly changed now. Slower and heavier. "And the only person I trust to manage all of that... is you." Vivian closed her eyes. The sentence felt heavy in her chest. "Okay..." she whispered softly. Well, the one standing next to her, just looking at her, supporting her without saying anything. "I've left that world," Vivian spoke again. "I'm tired." "Tired is normal," the man answered. "But you can't run away from yourself." Once again, the sentence hit her right on the spot. "Please come see me tomorrow." For the first time, the tone wasn't a command but a request. "I'm not forcing you to make a decision right now." "Think about it." And the line went dead. Vivian slowly put the phone down. Her hands were still shaking a little. "Okay..." She looked at the man, her eyes full of questions. "He wants me to take over his company." Well wasn't surprised. But she understood how serious this was. "You want to?" she asked slowly. Vivian shook her head slowly. "I don't know." She looked out the window. The calm she had felt the night before was heavy again. "He said... he didn't have any children." His voice was low. "And he thought of me as his own." Well was silent for a moment. Then she stepped closer. "Is that the first time he's said that?" Vivian nodded slowly. "Yes." And for some reason that made everything harder. "Okay..." Vivian spoke again. "Hm?" "If I accept... our lives will change." Well held Vivian's hand. "Yes." An honest, unfiltered answer. Vivian took a deep breath. "I just feel calm again." She held her own hand. "I'm afraid... all of that will come back." Well looked at her calmly. Then slowly, he held Vivian's hand. "If you go back there..." he paused, "you don't have to face it alone." Vivian looked at him. And in that look something began to change. The night became long. Filled with non-stop thoughts. About the past, about responsibilities and about the future that might await. Finally Vivian spoke. "I'll see him tomorrow." The decision came slowly. But surely. Well nodded. "Okay, I'm coming with you." Vivian smiled and said "okay." Outside, the night was still dark but this time it was no longer about peace. It was about legacy, choices and about a woman who might return to the world that had once brought her down. This time not to fall again but to stand up stronger than before.
The night was getting late, but Vivian couldn't sleep. She sat on the same sofa, the phone still on the table in front of her. The screen had long been dark, but the words from the call were still clearly playing in her mind.
"I want you to replace me."
The sentence seemed to echo in her head.
Vivian leaned back, looking at the ceiling. His breathing was slow, but heavy. He had left that world a long time ago. A world full of pressure, full of power plays and full of wounds that he himself had never had time to heal.
"Are you still thinking about that?"
Well's voice broke the silence.
Vivian didn't immediately answer. He just nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"Are you afraid?"
The question was soft and not forceful.
Vivian smiled faintly, but her eyes didn't.
"Not afraid…"
He paused for a moment, searching for the right words.
"…but I'm not sure I'm still the same person."
Well looked at him for a long time.
Then he got up and walked slowly towards the window. The curtains were slightly opened, letting the light from outside come in.
"People are never the same," he said slowly.
"What changes… is the way we deal with the same things."
Vivian was silent.
The words went in… deeper than he had expected.
He lowered his head a little, looking at his own hands.
"If I come back… it will all start over."
"No," Well replied calmly.
"This time you're in control."
That sentence made Vivian fall silent for a longer time.
And for the first time that night… her mind wasn't completely foggy anymore.
Several hours passed without her noticing.
The clock was almost 2 a.m.
Finally, Vivian woke up. She walked slowly towards her room, but before she stepped inside she stopped.
"Tomorrow…"
She spoke softly.
"…will decide everything."
"Come on, you rest first, it's getting late."
Vivian nodded.
What did the adoptive father look like when he saw Vivian not only coming, but with the man standing by her side?