Darkness enveloped me until a mote of light gathered in the distance, forming a light that spread out before me. The world began to float, and my body rose up from the depths of the ocean into the light. Coldness then came upon me as I shivered. The light then darkened as the water started to get warm. I realized that I was unconscious, and my eyes were closed, refusing to open, hence the darkness. I tried to feel my fingers, but they wouldn't move. A thumping sound was then heard, and I realized it was my heart.
Feelings then returned from my head to my fingers. I moved them along with my eyelids, and bright light akin to hospital rooms enveloped my eyes. I tried to move my hand to block the light, but all I could do was twitch. As my eyes adjusted, a nurse corrected my stretcher, and I faced Mr. Jack, the head of Genesis Corp that I signed up with.
As I processed what had happened, I remembered my cryostasis sleep. My heartbeat calmed down as I accepted all the changes in my body. Then, with a groan, I shifted on my bed.
"Greetings, Mr. John. Congratulations on your recovery. I thought you wouldn't make it. Hehehe."
"You said it only failed once."
"Well, that would mean 5 survived and 1 death. You had about a 16.6% chance of dying, and you made it. Besides, we didn't know if your disease would progress or not during your cryostasis. Hehehe." I forgot. I thought my chance of survival was over 90%, being twelve people and one death, but out of twelve people, only 6 came out, and 1 of them failed the resuscitation.
"Let's go to therapy. After that, you may go as you wish. You might have to use a wheelchair for a little bit for a week, but that should do, right?"
As I was carted in a wheelchair, I felt my chest tighten. The disease woke up at the same time as me. My time is limited. "Mr. Bradley, how's Jennifer?"
"She will graduate in a month, sir."
"I see. I will be there," I muttered.
"Of course, sir. After your therapy session."
"I will be there even if I have to be in a wheelchair."
"Alright. Your choice, Mr. John," Mr. Jack smiled. After about three days, through scans and readings, I was brought to a general hospital, as Mr. Jack insisted. I then called my family, especially Jennifer, my daughter. As I waited for her, I looked through her photos on my smartphone. I had never attended her elementary, junior high, or high school. All I had thought about was work.
I didn't regret it at the time, and even now, I don't regret it. My daughter had many wants: holidays in Bali, the newest ultra-nano implants, subscriptions to various services, etc. However, when I was diagnosed with this incurable disease, I had a thought. I wanted to attend her last day of education, then possibly her wedding, then possibly her children. I wanted to see my bloodline grow.
That's why I paid $200,000 for a medical subscription at another hospital. However, my disease is incurable. It was a waste. Even with the latest tech, I couldn't attend her graduation. I thought I was wrong that money couldn't buy everything. But turns out, I was right. Money could solve everything. You just needed to find the right provider.
"Dad! You're alive! Mom kept accusing you of being dead, and Mr. Bradley was taking your money!"
"He didn't, my dear. I apologize that I could only attend your graduation now. Is your studies going well?"
"Yes. My GPA isn't that high, though. Only 2.5 out of 4."
"That's fine. It's all about experience. You can start learning in my company."
"Greetings, Mr. John. My name is Alex. I am Jennifer's boyfriend. Here, some apples, oranges, and milk for your hospital visit." A slender young man, probably around Jennifer's age, greeted me.
"Hmm? I see. You're Jennifer's boyfriend? Will you marry Jennifer in the future?"
"Yes! Of course, Father! I love him very much. Can I marry him, right?"
"It depends." I wanted to say yes immediately. However, I knew there were many unsavory rumors about paternity fraud. Most of them involved women like Karen, but there were some bad men nowadays who abused their wives from the start. That hadn't changed. I had to know if he was a good guy for my daughter.
"Do you have any jobs or criminal history?"
"Well, I worked part-time as a cashier. My father owns a store at a different location. I don't have any criminal history except for two speeding tickets."
"I see. Relax, I am not like Karen. She must have roasted you for having less than average income, huh?"
"Well, yes. Her attitude is not the most stellar," he gave a wry smile.
"However, I am a businessman first and foremost. And in business, there is a hierarchy. Will you accept my daughter as the head of the household later? She earns more than you, right?"
The man nodded, but he wasn't as submissive as my standard employees or janitors in my company.
"However, she will obey me if I earn more, right?"
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"Will you, Jennifer?"
"Of course, I love you! I will obey you even if I earn more!"
"Oh, dear. You're really alive! I heard your disease would take your life in a year. What happened?" Karen barged out from her salon or whatever party she was attending and slammed the hospital door open when she heard I was still alive and well. She then offered some annoyed praise and congratulations for my health. This parasite's behavior grew funnier and funnier. I never thought I would see such malice from my wife. I have never wronged her, but her eyes seemed like she couldn't wait for my death. It's unfortunate because that will never happen. Now that I have Mr. Jack's technology, I could outlive her, and she would never inherit my money. Becoming rich was not enough, Karen. You need to have a brain on how to use it, or connections. A flamboyant and spendthrift woman like you, who spends all her earnings on manicures, handbags, and clothes, would never outsmart me.
"Hello, Mom…"
"Oh my, hello there, my sweet honey... Why are you bringing this pauper again? Please don't be entranced by his honeyed words. You need to find a man somewhat of your stature, my dear."
"But, Mom, Dad gave us his blessings," Jennifer said.
"Hmm? Really? John? Is that true? I thought you would be against it the most! The disease must have done something to your brain!" The clownwoman was having her own circus before me as she chirped and yelled about jobs, status, money, and assets. Then, a thought hit me. I should cancel all of my insurance and put it toward my next cryostasis. Then I could save about 100 thousand dollars per month. That should prolong my life enough to attend Jennifer's wedding, if she and this Alex finally grow up together.
"Jennifer. I didn't say I have given you my blessings. I have around two months left before my next trip. It all depends on Alex. Do you really love my daughter? Are you a loyal man?"
"Yes, sir. I will do my best!"
"Alright! Goodbye. If somehow this pauper has your blessings, it's fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you, my daughter." Karen then sped out of the room after confirming my health.
"Hehehe. Paupers, she said. Well, what do you think, Alex?" I giggled as I reminisced about Karen's history.
"I am certainly not rich right now, Sir John."
"You will be, if you work hard."
For the next month, I invited Alex, Jennifer, and Karen for dinner and lunch. I occasionally attended my company to review the financial reports. However, most of my time was spent on rehabilitation. Thanks to my hard work, the company is mostly self-running now. And before I knew it, the day of graduation arrived.
I watched and recorded my largest investment walking to the podium to receive her final academic awards. When I thought back, I wondered why such a measly little paper cost so much time and money. Was it artificial scarcity, or was it something more? Did she receive what she wanted?
"Congratulations, Jennifer."
"Thank you for coming. It was a bit late, though. You only attended my college graduation, not my elementary or high school ones."
"Why should I attend? Graduations in those schools were guaranteed. It is not an achievement. You have to be especially stupid to not graduate from elementary school. Hahaha. Well, as your mother told you already, my time is coming near and maybe, I wanted to spend my time more with you."
"Mama was waiting for the day you died with fervor each day, you know."
"I am not going to die anytime soon. Mr. Jack, from Genesis Corporation, has developed a new drug to increase my lifespan."
"Really? I thought Mom said that your disease was incurable. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to graduate or find a new job if Mom decided to take all of your money for herself."
"I won't let that happen, my dear. To prove it to you, how about if I attend your wedding?"
"Really? Alex was too prideful, though. He said he won't marry me before he rises to the rank of senior manager."
"Hahaha, he needs at least two years for that."
"But I am already a CEO, though?"
"Because you are my daughter. I already trained you since you were in elementary school, right?"
"Well. You are right, I guess."
"Alright. This was a fun two months. I have to go to Mr. Jack to undergo my treatment. See you in five years, my dear." I said while suppressing the pain in my abdomen and chest. Sometimes, the pain grew to my fingertips. The pain started spreading. My body ached. But, I wanted to see her smile on her wedding day. I guess I have to dive into the machine again. It costs a million dollars, but I want to see her wedding. With my insurance canceled, I guess I could cover this.
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"Hello, dear."
"Alex! Give me a kiss!"
"Sure!"
"So, how was your dad?"
"You know, he said Mr. Jack was able to prolong his life!" Jennifer said as she pouted. It had been almost three years since we had planned to take Mr. John's wealth. However, he proved to be a clever, cunning fox who refused to die. If we had his wealth, I would no longer have to work like a slave in his company. It was a lie that he would reward me if I worked hard. None of his employees said it. They all felt abused and worked like slaves.
I couldn't blame them. This world is cruel. Only those who reach the top are able to enjoy privileges. I knew I would not be one of them. I was poor. However, luck fell into my lap at last. Jennifer, his adored daughter, took a fancy to me. If I licked her boots, I would get scraps of her wealth, and I would no longer have to worry about my income. I would finally gain financial freedom.
"Are you sad that he won't die anytime soon?" I asked her.
"I don't know. He abandoned me for so many long years. Only now he acted nice. And it was only for, like, a month. Like hell I will forgive him. He promised to attend our wedding, though."
"I am glad he was wise. I thought he would be like your mother. She was rather harsh on plebeians like me."
"Don't worry. Papa loves me! He will give me anything I want! If I ask for it, he will give it to me. Look, he accepted our relationship, right?"
"Yes. I am happy he was such a doting parent." I smiled. My smile was more of a smirk. I never thought that the calculating and successful businessman such as Mr. John would be such a doting father. It was so easy to get into their house that I could only laugh. I guess my dream will be fulfilled easier than I imagined.
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"Mr. John, I didn't expect you to return so soon!"
"Greetings, Mr. Jack. I hope to use your machine again," I said, breathing heavily. My illness had developed—Death Neuralyzer Disease. It infected the brain, causing pain or impulses to the nerves. It started from the chest but could spread sporadically. The problem was, there was nothing wrong with my heart, stomach, or any organ. However, since my brain was sending pain signals, it felt excruciating. At the late stage, the pain signals became so severe that my body would go into shock, organs would start to fail, and I would die.
"Hmm? So soon? Do you expect to live forever? Like these six inhabitants?"
"No. I want to attend my daughter's wedding this time."
"I see. Hop on in then. By the way, before we begin, could you fill out these surveys? They are important for my research."
After I filled out the superfluous and excessive surveys, I entered the tubes.
"This is going to be exciting. I hope you will be a regular here, Mr. John. You are the second person to use this cryogenic chamber a second time."
"I do think I will be a regular, Mr. Jack. While some parts of this cryogenics were a bit uncomfortable, I am happy with your research overall."
"With the second person, I could gather more statistics for my research. Thank you, Mr. John. Have a nice sleep."
"Good night. And Mr. Bradley, the conditions for my testament remain the same, okay?"
"Of course, Mr. John. It will be there until Miss Jennifer's marriage with Alex, right?"
"Yes. Good night."
"Good night."