Middle Child Syndrome - Chapter 272

Chapter 272: Ch 272: What’s the big deal?
“The Union Conference is just around the corner. I should start preparing for it. Should I ask Rika to be my partner this year? I don’t think she ever attended that event.”

Mark bit his lip as he considered his options.

It would be safer for him to take Suzie as his partner, as he did every year, and not think about the Union Conference this time either.

Rika had Damian and Emily to take her.

However, knowing the limitations of those two and one partners, Mark was sure neither alpha would invite Rika this year.

And as much as Mark wanted Rika to remain out of this dangerous world, he also knew that missing going to the conference in her first year as an adult would strain Rika’s reputation, and she would not recover.

“There is no way mother would ever leave father to go with Rika. So that only leaves me the only viable option.”

Mark refused to consider other options. The ones he had mentioned were worth considering.

After all, going to the union conference with a partner had meaning; it was an excellent way to tell who was affiliated with which side.

“I am the only available choice for Rika to go with. I must pay attention to her and offer her a chance this time. It will also improve our relationship with each other.”

Mark was sure that Rika would not say ‘no’ to him when going to the conference.

He still remembered how Rika used to look at him with begging eyes whenever this time was around.

She had even mustered the courage to ask Mark once if he would be willing to take her that year.

‘Ah, what did I say to her that time? I think it was something gentle to let her down. But Rika had still almost cried because of it-‘

Mark suddenly remembered what he had said to her, and he flinched.

‘You idiot! Why would I ever take something like you when I have Suzie as a perfect partner? Not only me, but anyone who would take you as a partner would be crazy! You should stay back home and not cause any problems.’

Remembering his own words left Mark speechless.

He could not even explain why he had always been so mean to Rika, but he remembered feeling frustrated at her, and the feeling of ‘something not being right’ always stuck with him as odd and distracting.

But he no longer got that intense feeling when looking at Rika.

It was recently easier for Mark to get along with his middle sister, and he was thankful for that. Now, he only needed her to return home, and it would be all perfect…hopefully.

‘We will get there slowly. There is no way I will let anyone else have Rika just because she left home. She’s my sister, and I need to protect her from now on.’

Mark sighed as he calmed himself down. He could sense that Rika was at his door, so he quickly straightened his spine and replied to her that the door was open.

Rika entered the room in her usual calm and careful manner.

She was always on guard around him, and it made Mark sad. He wanted her to be like Suzie and depend on him.

He was about to open his mouth to greet Rika when her eyes met his, and she made an annoyed face. Even before Mark knew what happened, his collar was grabbed, and Rika pulled his face close to hers.

“Mark, what the hell did you do? Why is my department empty? Where is everyone?”

Rika asked in an annoyed voice as she shook the older alpha.

Mark felt his chest filled with pride at the words.

“Ah, did you like what I did? That department was far too corrupt and annoying, so I decided to get rid of it. We’ll hire more people and get things back on track. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”

Mark assured Rika with a smile on his face.

This was where Suzie usually smiled and complimented him, so he expected something similar from Rika.

He did not expect her to grab his collar and shake him around even more.

“You idiot! Do you think this is a game or something? Who fires people off like this just because they want to? Do you know what this will do to the department and workload? You can’t make decisions like this when you feel like it.”

Rika scolded Mark, but he did not see what the big deal was.

He took out some trash, so should it not be a thing to celebrate?

“Ugh! Forget about it for now! You did what you did. We need to do immediate damage control now.”

Rika sighed, and just as she was about to let Mark go, the door to his office banged again.

This time, their mother entered the room and looked mad.

“Mark Goodwill, what the fuck do you think you are doing? How can you fire off our departmental staff like that without any warning and-”

The female alpha finally noticed that Rika had Mark in her grip, and she also seemed angry at him.

From the few words Natasha had heard, she knew that Rika had come to the same conclusion she had made about what had happened, and she gave Rika a nod of understanding.

‘I knew it! Rika is the only one in this family who has the common sense and work ethic required to succeed me. I cannot trust Mark to carry on my legacy.’

The alpha looked sure of herself even more than even now.

Her behavior caused Rika to let Mark go and take a step back quickly. Rika did not like the looks her mother was giving her and Mark. They made her skin crawl and her back feel itchy.

“Tsk, I don’t see what the big deal is. I just took care of some trash. You all should be happy for me, not angry like this.”