I Walked Away Seven Years Too Late But Right on Time novel Chapter 84

During the company restructuring—from state-owned to private, and eventually to a publicly traded corporation—Harold leveraged his father-in-law, the former director, to rise from head of finance to Chairman of the Board. Luke's father, Arthur, rode those same coattails, rising from a simple accounting clerk to the current CFO.

The professional hierarchy between their fathers, combined with the massive favor Harold had once done for their family, meant Luke and Eileen had been chained together since childhood.

Eileen had zero interest in business. Coupled with her severe emotional instability, Harold had made it clear years ago that he would take over the company for her.

Luke knew exactly what that entailed. Terrified of being permanently tied down, he had refused to return home after graduation, choosing to stay in San Francisco. But all his struggles had been completely futile.

As long as Eileen picked up a razor blade, he was forced to submit.

Harold watched him walk in and asked, "You didn't fly to San Francisco last night?"

"Something came up. I was delayed for a night," Luke replied.

Victoria glared at her husband. "Is now really the time for this? Just tell him to go upstairs and get Eileen to eat something."

Saying that, she shoved Luke toward the stairs.

"Eileen, open the door. Luke is here."

He listened to Victoria knock on Eileen's bedroom door, secretly praying that the door would never open.

Unfortunately, God wasn't listening. The door clicked open. Eileen stood in the doorway, her face stained with tears, staring at him with a look of profound victimhood.

Victoria shoved him inside and quickly shut the door behind him.

Seeing the blatant reluctance on Luke's face, Eileen's sense of grievance only deepened.

"How can you be so cruel? Aren't you afraid I'll starve to death?"

Luke said nothing. He just stared at her in dead silence.

To be honest, he was almost completely numb to this. The sheer terror he felt the first time he saw her slit her wrists had evolved into total immunity. Starving herself was only effective at scaring her parents and his.

"Are you mad? You know I can't handle being triggered. I couldn't control myself back then. But it's all in the past now. Besides, she doesn't even like you anymore. She said she got over you a long time ago."

Luke still didn't move a muscle.

Outside the door, Victoria knocked and placed a bowl of fish congee on a low table, telling Luke to persuade Eileen to eat at least a few bites.

"You feed me."

Victoria hadn't left yet. Hearing her daughter's demand, she frowned slightly but quietly walked away from the door.

Luke glanced down at Eileen's wrists. They were perfectly fine. He said coldly, "Feed yourself."

"I want you to feed me, just like when we were kids."

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