Michael helped Alex get back home, the two of them remaining quiet throughout the trip. Once they arrived, Alex glanced at Michael, noticing the sadness on his face—an unusual expression for him.
Alex wanted to suggest they could find a game publisher independently and negotiate with them, but he knew Michael wouldn't agree. Michael was determined for his father to be part of Alex's plans. Alex had shared ideas for controversial games that could attract legal challenges in the future, making a strong legal team essential. Michael had insisted on involving his father's law firm, even though it wasn't large or well-known.
Michael's father was once considered one of the best lawyers at a prestigious law firm before leaving due to their unethical practices, which eventually led to an investigation. His integrity and skills made him the ideal candidate to help navigate the potential challenges Alex envisioned for the company. Michael saw this partnership as an opportunity to support both Alex's ambitions and his father's career, even if it meant stepping back from his own dream of being a key figure in their company.
After dropping Alex off, Michael walked home. His house wasn't far, but his mind felt heavy. Once inside, he went straight to his room, collapsing onto his car-shaped bed—a purchase he regretted as he got older. His room, filled with comic book and movie posters, often drew teasing from his older sister Gabriella. She would joke that he'd never impress Ashley, his crush, if she ever saw it.
Michael believed Ashley wasn't like other girls and felt confident he could win her heart someday, even with their three-year age gap. Still, the thought of her dating someone closer to her age left him feeling uneasy. Muttering to himself, he resolved to ask Alex to encourage Ashley to focus more on gaining work experience.
Ashley and her sister, despite being two of the most popular girls at school, avoided dating and stayed away from boys at parties. This only fueled Michael's determination to prove himself worthy of her.
Meanwhile, Michael's father, David, had just returned home from work, still troubled by the day's events. He found his wife, Maria, in the kitchen preparing dinner. Wrapping his arms around her, he kissed her cheek.
"What's this about?" Maria asked sweetly. "Did your meeting with the boys go well?"
David sighed. "Not exactly."
Maria turned to him with a gentle smile. "Go wash up. Dinner's almost ready. Don't stress about it now."
David took her advice, freshened up, and joined the family at the dinner table. The meal was unusually quiet. Neither Michael nor David spoke, leaving Maria and Gabriella to fill the silence. Gabriella tried to lighten the mood, sharing stories about her first day at medical school, but the two men remained distant.
Gabriella, 20 years old and a first-year medical student at SUNY Downstate, had always been driven by comparisons to family friends Jennifer and Ashley, as well as their younger brother Duke, all high achievers. After a brief rebellious phase in her teens, a heartfelt conversation with her aunt Martha and her mother redirected her focus. Now a determined and disciplined student, Gabriella often felt the weight of being a role model.
Later that evening, after everyone retired to bed, Maria approached David. "Do you want to talk about what happened today with the boys? Or should we wait?"
David sighed deeply, unsure how to start. His thoughts lingered on his past—a failed marriage marked by his ex-wife's betrayal—and the challenges of raising Michael while supporting his dreams. Maria, his partner of ten years, had always been his anchor, and tonight was no different.
Michael helped Alex return home, but the ride was silent, both boys lost in their thoughts. When they arrived, Alex noticed Michael's uncharacteristically somber expression. He wanted to suggest they approach publishers independently, but he knew Michael wouldn't agree. Michael deeply wanted his father to be part of Alex's plans, especially since Alex's ideas for future games—some likely to spark controversy—would require a solid legal team.
Michael had insisted on involving his father's law firm, even though it wasn't particularly large or well-known. His father, David, had been one of the top lawyers at his previous firm but left when he discovered their unethical practices, a decision that later saved him from being implicated when the firm was investigated. Michael believed that if Alex's company succeeded in pushing the boundaries of gaming and challenging societal norms, it would provide significant work for his father's firm. This conviction was why Michael was willing to sacrifice his dream of being a pillar in the company.
After dropping Alex off, Michael walked home, trying to clear his mind. Once inside, he headed to his room and collapsed onto his bed, a car-shaped piece of furniture he regretted buying as he got older. His room, adorned with comic book and movie posters, was a source of teasing from his sister Gabriella, who claimed he'd never win over Ashley, the girl he liked, with such childish décor. Michael disagreed, confident that Ashley would see beyond the surface.
But the thought of their three-year age gap gnawed at him. "I should tell Alex to encourage her to focus on work experience instead," he muttered, his mood worsening.
Meanwhile, David came home still brooding over the day's events. He found his wife Maria in the kitchen preparing dinner. He hugged her from behind and kissed her cheek.
"What's gotten into you? Did the meeting with the boys go well?" Maria asked gently.
David sighed. "Not exactly."
"Wash up, cariño. Dinner's almost ready. Don't stress over it too much," she said, trying to lighten his mood.
At dinner, the atmosphere was tense. David and Michael, usually the ones driving conversations, remained quiet, making Maria and Gabriella uncomfortable. Gabriella attempted to share stories from her day, but the men barely responded, leaving the women to carry the discussion.
Gabriella, now twenty, was pursuing a career in medicine. Starting college at just fifteen after being compared to high-achieving family friends, she had pushed herself to excel academically, eventually earning a place at SUNY Downstate Medical School. Though her rebellious teenage phase left her with a few tattoos, talks with her aunt and mother helped her refocus on her goals.
Later that evening, as David and Maria prepared for bed, Maria broached the topic.
"It's Michael. He wants to keep pursuing those video games, and I'm worried he's throwing his future away," David lamented.
Maria raised an eyebrow. "Why is that so bad? Look at how many kids love those games. There's clearly money to be made."
"You think it's okay?" David asked, surprised.
Maria smiled. "Cariño, remember how you fought your father to become a lawyer? Why stop Michael from following his dreams? Give him a chance, just like you had."
David sighed, realizing she was right. He had once defied his own father to pursue his career, so why deny his son the same opportunity? Even if Michael failed, it would be a learning experience.
"You're right," David admitted. "Everyone deserves to choose their own path."
"Good," Maria said with a satisfied smile. "Now go make up with your son."
"Right now?" David asked.
"Yes, now. Rápido, rápido!" Maria insisted, playfully pushing him out of bed.
With a reluctant chuckle, David got up, determined to mend things with Michael.
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