"How exactly do you want to partner? Tell me in details." Henry asked; shedding away all his playfulness, going completely serious about the situation.
"As I have previously told uncle Noah and auntie Jenny, I want to develop the restaurant into a grand and opulent place. All the construction, designing and everything will definitely take about 2 to 3 months to complete. I will invest all the money in the project while uncle Noah will have to build his own professional team and come up with an interesting menu for the restaurant within this time period, elevating them into such delicacies that attract people to come again and again. I will also help them in that of course. When the restaurant opens, we will dicide the profit 50-50 at that time with me investing the money while him investing the talent and the skills. I will also give uncle Noah 100,000$ just for practicing and develping our new menu and as a bonus salary for his team while uncle Noah himself will get the 50 percent share profit after the opening." Aria once again explained the plan in detail.
The Abson family could feel their breath quickened and heart beat accelerated at the offer Aria gave. It was literally as if someone has given them a lifetime free card for their dreams.
"OK. We agree. We can sign the papers right now. You don't have to worry about the construction and everything, I will take care of it and supervise it personally." Henry said; his gaze exhilarated and excited for their future.
"How can you supervise it personally? You still have to undergo a major surgery and after that focus on your education. Lets just leave these things to the adults." Aria said; not giving any chance for Henry to retort.
"You don't have to worry about that. I don't study anymore and can take over the job as soon as I get well after the surgery." Henry disclosed; wanting to take care of it himself.
"What! You dropped out. No, this not acceptable at all. You have to continue to study and graduate from a famous university. Mom you say something. If brother Henry doesn't study then I won't go to school as well." Aria somberly declared; her arms folded his she stated her stance clearly, trying to adopt a dominating posture which she failed terribly but her words definitely had the opposite effect of her posture.
Infact Aria had her own selfish motive behind this. In her previous life, she knew Henry's passion for education. His biggest regret for his life was that he never got a chance to pursue his dreams and passion for education and never got a chance to experience the joyful life of university; intially because he was busy working hard for his parents and later when his family finally had money, he felt he was very old to go to the university. But Aria knew that wasn't the only reason. His handicapped leg was the major reasion he never wanted to step in the university; the fear of being judged and laughed at stopped him from pursuing his dreams.
Aria wanted to change that. She wanted Henry to fulfil all his dreams and passion. She wanted him to achieve what he couldn't in her previous life, living it to the fullest without any regret. She knew Henry won't agree to her so she decided to emotional blackmail him because she knew Henry and Sophia will agree to all her reasonable as well as unreasonable demands if they had a negative impact on her. She felt sad to do so but it was her only option.
Sure enough, the faces of everyone in the room changed upon hearing her words.
"Princess what are you saying?"
"Starlight what is stuoid demand?"
Aria no you can't!"
Aria didn't reply, maintaining her posture clearly indicating that she won't budge from her decision. Seeing no other way out, Sophia turned towards Henry.
"Henry I don't know why you took such a decision nor I want to know about it. But what I do know is that giving up on your education is not a wise decision to make. If it was because of money then now with this project, that problem is solved and even if you are not interested in stdying, giving up shouldn't be way out of it. Even if you want to help us now but at the later stage without any skill what could you do? And to learn that skill, you have to study. Don't give up on your education just like that. Your parents had worked so hard to educate you till now just with a single dream to see you graduate from a university and entering the society with you head up with pride rather than with your head down with a sense of inferiority." Sophia said, trying to make Henry understand the ultimate reality of the society.
"Don't think I am saying all of this just because of Aria's demand or anything like that. Even without it I would have encourged and motivated you pursue your dreams and your education. Believe me when the time comes, your parents will regret and blame themselves more than you yourself will ever do. If not for yourself than for your parents, but please think about your decision again. That is all I can say." Sophia continued to make Henry understand his shortcomings and trying to uplift and inspire him to step forward towards to future for himself and more than anyone for his parents.
Listening to everything, Henry goes completely silent. His gaze distant as his mind kept of replaying different secenrios of his life from childhood till now. The proud smiles on his parents' face when he won any competition or when his father checking on him when he stayed late in nights to study just to motivate him. The heart-broken expression on his father's face when he declared that he wanted to drop out. It was as if he aged 5 years in that single night. The shame and guilt in his father's eyes blaming himself for not being the failed and unseccessful father for him.
Tears welled up in his eyes as he realised what a incompetent and unfilial son he was for ignoring his parents silent pleas to not to give up on himself.
"You are right auntie sophia. I really am a unfilial son. I have really disappointed my parents over this. I shouldn't have given up on my education like that. I thought I was doing this to reduce the burden on them but I just realised that I just incresed their blame on themselves. I won't give up. Neither on my dreams nor on my parents expectations and dreams for me." Henry vowed; his stance resolved as an intense determination of success flashed in his eyes.
Noah and Jenny's eyes lit up with happiness and delight. They never thought the candle of hope that had completely extinguished in their hearts will flicker to light once again.
Stepping forward, they took Henry and Aria who was in his arms in tight hug; their emotions out of the place as they couldn't express their emotions in simple words, letting them fall in the form of tears from their eyes.
"Good.Good. You have taken the right decision. We are proud of you." Noah said; his eyes gleaming with unrestrained joy. His son finally decided to continue his education. No one could be more happy than him at the moment.
Aria, Sophia and Jenny also had an elated expression on their faces. Especially Aria, she joy had no boundaries at the moment. Finally she had changed her brother Henry's destiny; making up for his biggest regret of his life.
"Ok now that your demand is fulfilled, we can now sign the document." Henry reminded everyone of the actual purpose of their gathering.
Jenny took out the documents they had prepared beforehand from her purse, passing it to Noah who signed it before passing it to Sophia to sign as well.
Signing the document, Sophia kept it with herself and transfered the money to Noah.
"For the time being leave the restaurant to me and you focus entirely upon Henry. After Henry get well, we can start everything on full swing." Sophia told them; not wanting to add onto their troubles.
"OK then everything is decided." Aria said clapping in glee; everyone laughing in delight at the adorable sight.
"We should also leave now. Let Henry rest. He has a major surgery coming up. Let him conserve his energy for that." Sophia said, as she prepared to leave with Aria.
"Brother Henry you rest well now. I will come and visit you again tomorrow to support you. Bye bye for now." Aria said; waving her fist infront of him as if motivating him before waving her hand and bidding her farewell for the day,
Henry chuckled at her adorableness before waving his hand in the air, replying to her goodbye as Sophia left the ward with Aria.