CHAPTER 1

The walls were beautifully painted in white, expensive furniture arranged in place. It announced luxury in every way possible, which was actually what the owner intended.

In the middle of this opulence, a young man in his twenties stood completely still. It was the stillness of a rabbit in a snare, a silent admission that any movement on his part was powerless to change what was happening around him.

“What did you just say?” William asked, disbelief clear in his voice. He stared, shocked, at the man in his mid-fifties.

“Who did you say is getting married!” William shouted, his eyes bloodshot, his heart beating fast. But why shouldn't it? His family was trying to sell him out to the man everyone feared.

“You, William.”

The old man, sitting comfortably on the white cushion, sipped his alcohol calmly, as if what he'd just said was not a big deal. Well, not for him. For William, it was everything.

How could he do this to him? Arrange a marriage for him, without his consent?

His whole world crumbled like a sandcastle.

“How could you do this to me!” William's eyes felt moist, his body trembling. “I have tried to live as silent as a rat. But you dared to hand me to the devil.” He couldn't hold back the tears anymore; they fell like rain droplets on his proclean face. “I'm your son too, Dad.”

“Yes, you are my son. That's why you should take on this responsibility.”

“Your son.” William let out a painful, hollow laugh. “You were only my dad in name. We both know you were never a father to me. It has always been Alex. Never me.”

Crash.

His father threw the glass cup at his feet. It shattered into tiny pieces, like William's heart, leaving bruises on his white feet.

“How dare you? Speaking to me like that!” The old man's chest heaved in anger.

“Dad, calm down.” Alex rushed to him, rubbing his back gently.

William stared at his snake of a brother in disgust. His mere presence was like a mosquito, forever buzzing in his life.

“You should be honored that you're helping the family, little brother,” Alex said, his lips curling up in a beautiful arch.

What did he just say?

“Helping out the family?” William couldn't help but to say. “Alex between the both of us, who is supposed to be helping out the family?”

Alex's smile suddenly disappeared without a trace like it was never there. “ What do you mean by that?”

William folded his arms, staring straight at Alex like daggers. “Shouldn't you be the one getting married instead? Since you've been the one receiving all the good favors in this family. Big Brother.”

“Why, you whore.”

Slap.

The sound of that slap on his cheek echoed in the room.

A red mark visible on William's cheek. His mouth tasted like metal.

The painful sting made the tears burst out.

“Oh, mom! You shouldn't leave any mark where it'll be visible,” Alex said with his hand on his mouth but it couldn't hide the huge grin on his face.

“Don't worry," A woman standing beside William said, cleaning her hand with a handkerchief taken from her gown’s pocket. “It will be gone before the wedding.”

Then threw the handkerchief on William's face.

William's face was filled with tears. He looked like a puppy left in the rain.

He should be used to this by now. Yet he wasn't. His heart felt like it's being stabbed. Not once, not twice.

His feet couldn't carry his weight anymore. And he fell to his knees.

His back slouched. Painful sobs escaped his lips.

His sobs were heart wrenching. Though it sounded like music to his so-called family.

Alex looked at William and smirked. “Could you stop acting so pathetic?” he said, as he walked towards William, squatting in front of him and raised his face up. “ Dad only asked you to marry Jacob Adams. The one and only business dragon. You will be living in luxury”.

“That's if he lives to enjoy it.” Alex's mother settled onto the armrest of his father's chair, crossing her legs. Her vivid red nails in view.

“True.” Alex grasped William's chin, turning his face left, then right, inspecting him like livestock. “But your pretty face might make him keep you longer.” He tilted William's head up, forcing eye contact. “I hear he's into useless dolls like you.”

“Do you think he will satisfy him?” Alex's mother said, as she gave her husband a kiss, licking away the drops of wine on his lips. “Jacob Adams is a dominant Alpha.”

“Then let's hope you survive the wedding night” Alex said, pushing William to the ground. He stood, dusting his hands even though there wasn't a tiny bit of dirt on it. “But I doubt a recessive like you would”.

William clasped his hand into a fist. His nails pierced through his skin. Sharp and deep, until he felt the sting of his flesh torn “I'm not going to marry him”

“You have no choice William.” His father said, pointing at him.

“Why should I marry him? And not your illegitimate son, Alex!!” He screamed the words with all the strength he had. He knew it was dangerous. But it's too late to take it back.

Alex sharply turned. His hands around his neck. William struggled to set himself free.

“What did you just say?” Alex's voice came through gritted teeth, his face inches away from Williams. “Who did you just call illegitimate, huh?” The look in Alex's eyes was like a psychopath.

William grabbed Alex's wrist, trying to pry his hand away. From the corner of his eyes he saw his father watching. Doing nothing to stop Alex.

His Struggles weakened.

Then Alex let go.

Cough, Cough.

William gasped for breath, lying flat on his back.

Alex looked down at him. “Now, what did you say?”

William, through ragged breaths mumbled “You're illegitimate.”

“Ahhhhhh” He screamed as Alex's foot connected with his stomach. The impact pushed him inches away. The pain stole his breath, leaving him dizzy.

But that didn't stop his physical abuse.

It never did.