Chapter 292

LUCAS POV

"Graduation is almost here and I want to go to Hawking University to play hockey. It's what I've always wanted," I continued, hoping my father could finally understand things from my point of view.

But my father's expression darkened, a shadow of disappointment crossing his features as he shook his head slowly.

"Lucas, I've spent my life building this company," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "I thought I could count on you to carry on the legacy."

I couldn't help feeling a surge of guilt wash over me as I struggled to find the right words to express my feelings.

"I appreciate your confidence in me, father," I replied, my voice trembling slightly. "It's been difficult navigating everything since you've been gone, but I feel as though I was able to handle it because of everything you've taught me. But having this experience, I'm not sure if I'm fully ready to commit to such a big responsibility."

My father listened as I poured out my heart, his expression unreadable as he absorbed my words.

When I finished speaking, there was a long moment of silence, the only sound the steady hum of the hospital machinery.

Then, he spoke, his voice low and measured. "Lucas, I understand that you have your own dreams and aspirations," he began, his tone softer now. "And I respect that. But I need you to understand something too."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I waited for him to continue.

"This company... it's not just a business to me," my father continued, his gaze piercing mine. "I've worked my entire life to build this to be something you could take off my hands one day. I wanted you to carry on the Busch name with pride and honor."

"I do," I assured him. "I'm proud to be a Busch, but I don't want that. I don't want to run the company. Maybe it's what you were meant to do, but it's not what I was meant to do."

My father's disappointment was palpable as he let out a heavy sigh, his gaze dropping to the floor. "I understand, Lucas," he said, his tone resigned. "But know that the offer still stands. Whenever you're ready, the company will be waiting for you."

I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt at the thought of disappointing him. However, I was surprised that he was accepting of me and not putting up more of a fight.

I blamed it on his weakness. He was still recovering and had only woken up a few hours ago.

I was sure that he wouldn't be completely back to normal for a few days.

As the weight of our conversation settled between us, I could see the exhaustion etched on my father's face.

"I'll spend the night here, father," I offered quietly, reaching out to squeeze his hand in reassurance. "I want to make sure you're okay. I told the business I was going to be gone the rest of the day."

My father's eyes softened, a flicker of gratitude shining in their depths.

"Thank you, Lucas," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "That means a lot to me. I'm feeling tired, so I might need to get some more rest."

"Of course," I agreed. "You need to recover from this. Rest as much as you can."

"Bradford..." he said, although it sounded more like a question. I assumed he wanted to know what happened with his brother.

"He's been arrested," I stated with finality. "I'm working with some lawyers to see if we can get Edwin in prison with him. I hate that he's just walking around freely for doing what he did."

My father just nodded as he closed his eyes, pleased enough with that information.

Fatigue took over him as he fell asleep again.

As the hours passed, we sat together in the quiet of the hospital room, the only sound the steady beep of the monitors tracking my father's vital signs.

He had woken up again and decided he was hungry, so I went to the hospital cafeteria to get him something to eat.

Returning to the hospital room with a tray of food, I found my father sitting up in bed, a faint smile on his face as he greeted me.

"You didn't have to go through all this trouble, Lucas," he said, his voice raspy but filled with gratitude.

I shrugged, setting the tray down on the bedside table. "It's no trouble, Dad," I replied, pulling up a chair beside his bed. "You need to keep your strength up."

As he began to eat, I watched him carefully, a sense of relief washing over me as I saw him devouring the food with gusto. Despite the less-than-appetizing appearance of the hospital cafeteria fare, my father seemed to relish every bite, savoring the taste as if it were the most delicious meal he had ever eaten.

I couldn't help but smile as I watched him, a swell of affection rising within me as I realized just how much I had missed these simple moments.

Despite the gravity of the situation, a sense of peace settled over us like a warm blanket, our shared silence speaking volumes.

And then, once he was finished eating, my father spoke, his voice tinged with regret.

"Lucas, there's something I've been thinking about a lot. Something that I need to tell you," he began, his gaze fixed on a distant point beyond the sterile white walls of the hospital room.

I leaned in closer, my curiosity piqued.

"What is it?" I asked, my voice filled with concern.

My father took a deep breath, his words coming out in a rush. "I'm sure you knew that I had a son before you... You've heard the story about your half-brother, right?"

I swallowed, remembering hearing about the brother that I never really had. I didn't know too much about him, just that he died at a young age. "I don't know much about him."

My father nodded solemnly, his gaze distant as he spoke. "I had a lot of plans for him that never came to fruition. I wanted the same things for him that I want for you now... when he passed away and I learned that I had another son, I grew a bit obsessed with the idea."

"The plans seemed to come back with you and I wanted more for you. I wanted you to see what a powerful person I was. I wanted you to admire the empire I had built, knowing that one day it would be yours," he continued. "But now I realize that it was wrong of me to try to force you into this. If anything, it's made you resent me more."

My father's expression appeared pained. "I never told you because... I was afraid," he confessed, his voice trembling with emotion. "Afraid that you would think I was trying to replace him."

"I know you weren't," I assured him, feeling overwhelmed with his confession. "You were only trying to provide me with a good future in your own way."

But as I looked into my father's tired eyes, I could see the truth of his words shining through.

And in that moment, I realized that my father was finally seeing things from my perspective, understanding that I was not born to fill a void but to live my own life.