Chapter 1

The meeting was over. Emily looked around the room. There was herself and the complete McKennel family except for the big lady, Emma McKennel.

Charles McKennel, the owner of the largest multinational construction company—Kennel'z Industry—said that he had something important to tell the entire family, including Emily, the McKennel family's adopted daughter.

Charles blinks his eyes at Emily, who will be the center of attention because what Charles is about to say is about her.

"Emily," called the middle-aged man while focusing on the girl who immediately straightened up when Charles called her name. "I'm going to marry you to my son," said a man with a calm but firm and authoritative intonation.

Emily listened carefully to what the man who was the adoptive father and owner of the company she worked for had to say.

Emily's face was as smile as ever, imagining the marriage she had long dreamed of with Jared, the eldest son of the McKennel family. 

Indeed, they have not officially entered into a relationship. It's just that Jared has already shown interest in the girl.

Naturally, the two of them seemed to look at each other with the tails of their eyes. They were awaiting a definitive verdict from a man with full authority within the company and the extended McKennel family.

"You're going to marry Jason, my youngest son. And the post of marketing manager is also left to you." 

Like getting a death sentence, the eyes of the two people, initially so excited, finally dimmed. There was an incapable sadness of being uttered there. On the other hand, Jason, the second son—who is said to be the favorite son of the McKennel family—implies anger at his countenance.

Jason got up from his chair and was about to voice a protest, but quickly the middle-aged man raised one hand. A sign that he never received a rejection. 

Emily knew she couldn't do anything but accept a decision that meant orders to her.

After all, Charles was an excellent adoptive father and loved her all along. There would never have been a word out of Emily's mouth if it had been the request of Charles and Emma, the queen of the McKennel family.

All rose from their seats as Charles gave instructions to disperse. While Jason was still there, in his seat, clenching his fists until he didn't care if his nails plunged into his palms until they turned red.

He didn't expect his father to make such a casual decision.

"Why haven't you left yet?" asked Charles to his second son, who is expected to continue his leadership of the Kennel'z industry. 

"What are you thinking? Why me?" the young man asked with a tightening face full of anger. A fierce gaze he directed at the father, then at Emily, as if the girl also had a hand in the decision his father had just made.

"You're asking why you? What if I reverse your question? Why should you be the one to accept this company's leadership milestone, hm?" The man answered with a diplomatic question that Jason couldn't just reply to. 

He realized that he was dealing with the wrong person. However, he didn't want to give up easily.

"Things go hand in hand, Jason. You accepted the leadership of the company on the condition of marrying Emily. Isn't that fair? After all, she is a beautiful, intelligent girl and has been educated just like you. She's a classy girl." Charles frowned warmly at the girl who was only a devoted listener to the father and son dispute. 

She smiled listlessly as her adoptive father cast a look at her.

"Why did it have to be Emily? For so long, she had become like a sister, and now I have to marry her. Come on, Dad ..."

"Isn't it good? You guys are familiar with and know each other. The two of you will be a good match," Charles said.

"I already have a girlfriend, Dad. Your decision is unfair to Tamara and me." 

Charles closed his eyes, trying to contain the anger that almost arrived at the top of his head every time Jason mentioned the woman's name. Many times he told the wayward son to end the relationship with a woman named Tamara, but still, Jason did not heed his call.

"The woman is already married, Jason. Are you crazy!?"

"She's in the process of divorce, Dad." 

"Jason McKennel! Don't argue with me if you still want a position in this company!" exclaimed Charles in a raised tone. And, of course, hearing the king begin to reveal his fangs, Jason slowly rose from his seat, uttering nothing but cast hateful gazes at Emily and his father.

Emily, who was someone else in the McKennel family, just resigned and gave no resistance. She hasn't been very close to Jason for a long time. It means she will not be okay if her decision is like this.

Emily got up, then twisted the body, having previously saluted to Charles. A sign that she had listened to everything, and she wanted to go home immediately. 

Who said Emily liked the decision? She was also injured because what she expected was Jared, not Jason. Charles and everyone knew it. However, why ...?

A hand gripped Emily's arm that had walked from the meeting room, pulling her into a corner. The man's eyes stared at Emily as if to swallow her alive.

"Why don't you tell him, hm? Don't you know that I—"

"What can I do, Jason? You see for yourself, don't you? He doesn't even listen to you, who is his son, let alone me!" replied Emily, who was also frantic.

Jason then twisted his body and refreshed his hair in frustration.

"What shall I tell Tamara?" he complained softly. Emily didn't seem to care either. Because no one cares about her feelings, no one wants to know what she feels right now. So what does she care about Jason or anyone else? 

Just look at her; she is also being bullied by grief now, right?

"You have to force dad to undo all that. Otherwise, I will make your life suffer!" threatened Jason.

Emily snorting. Jason has always been notoriously rude and hooligan. He never returned home without a case. Whether it has beaten up who else or has been which girl again, it's always been that way.

However, for some reason, Charles seemed to love him very much.

"I don't want to," Emily replied.

"You—"

Emily challenged Jason even more by thrusting her face.

"Just hit it. No one will tolerate violence, Jase. You will never get that position if you dare to commit a criminal act. You know that, right?" said Emily at length. 

She then tried to free herself from Jason's confinement. However, the man again blocked her.

"What does he want? What is the purpose of intending to arrange all? Don't say you don't know anything, Em! You always know first, dad loves you as if he is willing to leak the company's secrets to you!" Jason paused his sentence.

"Tell me, what does he want? Why didn't he match you with Jared?" 

Emily still hadn't answered Jason's question, which she felt was too much.

It's true, Charles is very fond of her. However, that didn't mean the man would say everything to Emily. And even though Emily knew what Charles wanted, she knew it was impossible. How could she and Jason possibly be able to fulfill it all?

This is the craziest idea ever thought of by Charles and said to Emily. 

Jason squeezed his hair in frustration, his body slumped to the floor, and his breathing was still breathless. If he were a child, he would probably cry on the bottom right then and there. However, that was impossible for him to do.

He was a future director in the Kennel'z industry.

"I ... I don't want to say it because the idea doesn't make sense, Jase. We'll never be able to live up to it all." Emily began to change her mind and was about to say what she knew. 

"Say it, Em! Maybe we can find a way out."

Emily shook her head, uncertainty.

"I'm not sure, Jase. But if you insist, I'll tell you now."

Jason wait patiently, until Emily says what she has to say.

The girl then moved closer to Jason, crouching more parallel to the man's position on the floor. Emily stared at the man's gray bead deeply.

"Mr. McKennel wants descendants from you and me. It just wants from both of us. So ... are you sure you can figure out a solution, huh?"