“You can’t be serious.”

“I am serious.”

“Dad, she’s literally just the kid of a man who works for our company.”

“And now she’s literally the successor to this company.”

“Don’t take that tone with me.”

“Don’t talk back to me.”

“Sorry. I’m just trying to understand.”

“Listen, son. Being born into this life is easy. The boys can have anything and everything they want. All they’d have to do is wait for me to die.”

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“Dad…”

“Now they have to work for it. Now they have a chance to earn their birthright, and maybe earn the right to be worthy of that girl.”

“Worthy of her? She’s five.”

“So they’ll have a long time to prove themselves.”

“So you’re serious then. This is it. The only way my sons will inherit anything from you is if they marry Hana.”

“No. The only way your sons will earn this company is if they become the sort of men worthy of a kind woman. It’s no longer enough to be born into your position. They wouldn’t even appreciate their work. Now they’ll have to work for it. Now they’ll have to earn it. Now anyone will have to earn it.”

“What do you mean?”

“I didn’t specify Hana had to marry one of my kin. I’ll give the company to anyone she marries.”

“What? Are you serious?”

“As the grave. I’d trust anyone that girl picks.”

“Oh dear god…”

“Exciting, isn’t it?”

“No, Dad--”

“Here, a clover.”

“For what?”

“For luck. It sounds like you might need it.”