New Life : A Second Chance

If it was as Joseph said, then it was fine that he continued with his TokTik thing. Stephan figured he would get tired of it sooner or later, like he always did for whatever thing that he was crazy for.

It was as if, for that moment, it was "the best" and "must have it" but the interest would die after a while and replaced by something else.

"So, do you have a girlfriend?"

"Papa!" Joseph couldn't help but exclaim, aghast. 

He got sideswiped but still managed to answer firmly to convince his father, "No, I don't."

"Really?" Stephan asked in disbelief. His son was the really open and sociable type so he figured, with all those girls that were constantly surrounding him, he would have fallen for someone.

"Really," Joseph replied equally firmly.

"What about your sister? Is there a boyfriend?"

"No," Joseph said confidently.

"You sure about that?"

"Of course," Joseph said, "She thinks all the guys in school are so immature."

Stephan didn't say anything and he wondered.

His daughter was too quiet and kept a lot of things to herself. She only talked to her mother and whenever he tried to ask her anything, he could see how annoyed she was. It was in her tone of voice, and it did rub him the wrong way.

It took a lot out of him to lash out for her disrespect, but it wasn't easy. In the end, he decided it would be better not to ask her directly. 

Her brother should know better, right? After all, they were together more and in the same school.

Joseph sneaked a peek at his father. The last thing his sister would need is a paranoid father breathing down her neck.

Even though she was a bit annoying, he would protect her. Big Bro Code.

He was satisfied to see that his father believed him. If he doubted even for a minute, Lianne may find herself being restricted more than normal. 

"Keep an eye out on your sister," Stephan said, "If there is any guy showing interest, let me know."

Joseph gulped and answered while crossing his fingers, "Okay."

Well, he would tell his father if the guy actually managed to woo his sister but the possibility of that was really slim. Why subject the guy to his father's interrogation?

Of course, unknown to Joseph, Stephan wasn't the only obstacle that any guy who would want to woo Lianne, would have to cross.

There was another who was far more terrifying simply because of the power he held in his hands. 

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"Really? Kyle said with a small smirk.

"Oh gosh, please Mama," Lianne complained, rolling her eyes, "I can do without the drama."

Kyle ruffled her hair, while she glared at him and smoothened it down with her hand. She wasn't really angry but she didn't quite like it either.

"Remember to tell me the moment you have a guy you like," Kyle said, "I would need to do a background check on him."

Lianne gave her mother 'the look' and said, "Seriously? Please don't."

"Any man after my princess must be worthy," Kyle said seriously.

"What worthy? Be rich enough?" Lianne snorted, while waving her hands around the ward, "Compared to you, is anyone rich enough? That would make no one worthy of me."

Kyle tilted his head and looked at her intently, "Seriously? You think that's my yardstick?"

Lianne shifted uncomfortably in her seat, then she sighed loudly, putting her head in her hands, "No. Sorry."

Kyle patted her shoulder gently, rubbing her back, "It's okay."

He got up and went over to the sleeping Sayuri, and slowly moved her position on the bed. Initially, she had been lying down on her back so now, Kyle moved her so that she was on her side a bit.

Sayuri would need to be moved once every two hours so as to avoid bedsores. Normally, the nurses would do it but during visiting hours, Kyle would do it instead. Having nurses come in when there were friends and family made it seem a bit disruptive.

It was hard for Kyle to explain, as he didn't view the nurses as being strangers or unwelcomed. However, having them in the room and doing all those things when caring for Sayuri just made it seem so impersonal.

Kyle wasn't crazy enough to take over completely as he had work as well. Plus, the nurses worked in shifts so it wasn't like the task fell only on one person. Kyle did want to care for his wife, but it didn't mean he would push himself that he, as the carer, would be burned out.

He said as he was slowly adjusting Sayuri, "People may want to get to you, in order to get to me. There are all sorts of people out there who would take advantage of your sweetness, you know."

Kyle took a bottle of body lotion and squeezed some into his hands. He began slowly massaging Sayuri's arms and legs, while continuing to explain, "At the very least, I need to make sure his background his clean.���

He looked up at Lianne, "All I want for you is a guy that will love you, for you. Who can take care of you well."

It went without saying that Lianne needed a guy that would truly be patient with her and understand her condition. Though her Aspergers wasn't severe, she wasn't quite the same as other people.

A man who would truly love her, would be able to treat her well. Kyle had to make sure whoever it was that wanted to woo her, had better pass his test first.

"It's the same for your brother as well," Kyle said as he walked back after finishing massaging Sayuri.

"Though in his case, what I'm worried about is that … well, he needs someone who can really take care of him since he's really clueless about a lot of things," Kyle said with a sigh.

Joseph was a truly sweet child but the flip side to his cheerful and outgoing personality is that he doesn't take things seriously. Also, he reacts emotionally - just like his father. He was a mix of him and his spouse, really.

He was sociable and quick to emotional outbursts like his father, and he was sensitive like his mother. Thus, his father's 'heavy handed' type of parenting didn't quite suit him. Funny thing was, his mother's gentle caring type of parenting didn't suit him either.

The former type made Joseph defensive and resentful while the latter type had him take things for granted. There were a lot of times Kylie had been ready to pull her hair out for failing to get Joseph to do something or understand a point.

It was so much easier with Lianne, who was more logical (though she was also emotional) and could understand easily.

It wasn't that Joseph was bad. On the contrary, he has a heart of gold.

But what woman would be willing to actually take care of him when he practically has to be told what to do all the time? Girls want to be pampered - and he would certainly do that yet at the same time, you actually need to tell him or show him what to do.

Kyle sighed deeply when he thought about his children of his former life. He had no say whatsoever about their life choices and decisions, so anything he wanted to do, he would have to do covertly.

At least, Lianne knew the truth so he could still 'interfere' but Joseph? 

He hoped that whoever Joseph ended up with, would be someone worthy. It would suck to have to step in and do something to break them up.

"Well, Mama," Lianne said, "I understand but the most you can do is just advice us, you know."

Kyle raised an eyebrow and gave her the 'really' expression.

Lianne gave a dramatic sigh then replied, "Sometimes, we just have to learn after being hurt."

Kyle pursed his lips.

"If the person is really a douchebag, then, by all means, get rid of them," Lianne said, "But if he, or she, is someone you just feel is not good enough, then no. Nobody's perfect, you know. Even one who may look so perfect may not be and vice versa."

"I mean, you're the best example," Lianne said.

"Me?"

"Of course. You're filthy rich, handsome, a body to die for apparently and intelligent. Perfect, right? But no. I mean, come on. You only realised now that you're in love with Sayuri?"

"Maybe the better title isn't Grumpy-Pants CEO. Emotionally stunted CEO? Blind CEO? No, that's would be an insult to the visually impaired. Love Idiot CEO?"

"Are you quite done yet?" Kyle hissed.

Lianne blinked innocently then shrugged, "No, not really but you get the drift."

"Fine, I will only advise," Kyle said with a huff.