Chapter 5

Matthew's POV

I hated the way Adrian looked at me, that irritating smirk on his face making me want to punch it away.

With gritted teeth, I rolled my eyes at him and turned to face my dad.

"What’s so serious about what you want to talk to me about?" I paused before adding, "You’ve never been one to involve me in your business."

"This isn’t my business, Matthew," Dad growled.

I gave him a half-shrug. There was nothing he could say to convince me otherwise. All of this was his business—it benefited no one but him.

"This is about our family and—" He stopped, cutting himself off before he could say something that might expose him.

Letting out a heavy sigh, his voice softened.

"There’s a problem."

I frowned, confusion and unease building inside me.

"Mr. Adrian can’t marry your sister anymore."

That was what he called a problem? This was good news. Something worth celebrating.

My heart pounded with excitement. This—this was the best news I’d had so far. Did this mean my efforts had finally paid off?

But I hadn’t even completed my mission yet. Why would Adrian back down? Had he finally realized he wasn’t meant to be part of my family?

I glanced at the man I hated so much, expecting frustration—but he looked calm, almost pleased.

And that was enough to make me worry. He shouldn’t be this happy about this. I knew he stood to gain nothing, but smiling? That was insane. He was definitely a psychopath.

"Isn’t that good news?" I turned to my father, only to find his face full of dissatisfaction as he stared at me.

"What’s good about it? Do you even understand what I’m saying?"

I watched his jaw clench as he gritted his teeth.

"Does it matter if I do?" I didn’t care about anything right now. As long as Evelyn was safe, I was fine.

"Yes, it does."

I frowned.

"Why? Are you planning to marry me off in my sister’s place?" I joked.

But the silence that followed made my blood run cold.

I looked between my father and Adrian, and suddenly, I understood what that smirk on Adrian’s face was really about.

This couldn’t be happening. No.

I let out a nervous laugh, trying to convince myself this was some kind of twisted joke.

"You can’t be serious... No."

I shook my head, desperate to erase the thought from my mind.

"This is our only choice, Matthew."

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. My father was actually saying this. How could he?

For crying out loud, I was his son. What did he have to gain from marrying me off to a man—my sworn enemy at that?

To be his wife? The hell I was. I wasn’t born for that.

"What only choice, Dad? Yours or ours? Did you ever think about us before making decisions like this? No—all you think about is your company, your fame, your status, your wealth. And us? We’re nothing but pawns to you."

I couldn’t hold it in anymore.

What he was doing was infuriating. I wished I could make him suffer just a little, just enough for him to get a taste of his own medicine.

"He is being reasonable here, boy. It’s not my fault your sister chose to spread her legs for just anyone and got pregnant," he spat, his glare sharp as daggers.

"And do you think you have a choice in this?" He smirked. "No, you don’t, kid. I am your father, and I make the decisions. It doesn’t matter who you are, straight or not—you are going to be Mr. Adrian’s wife, and that’s final. And you will do everything expected of a good wife."

My heart shattered into a million irreparable pieces.

But I knew what I wanted, and I wouldn’t let anyone—not even my own father—force me into something I didn’t want.

"You should know me too well by now, Dad. I don’t take orders."

I stood up, my gaze locking onto Adrian, who sat there as if he didn’t exist, as if he were just an observer.

"As for you—whatever plans or twisted thoughts you have in that evil mind of yours, just know I won’t go along with anything. I’d rather die than be your fucking wife."

I didn’t wait for my father or Adrian to respond. I stormed out, heading straight for the stairs.

I heard my father yelling after me, ordering me to come back, but I didn’t stop.

I wasn’t a child anymore. I wouldn’t let him control my life to the point of choosing who I married.

I didn’t just sit back and watch my sister be thrown into a man’s arms, and I wouldn’t sit back and allow myself to be used either.

"I’m so sorry, Mr. Adrian, for my son’s behavior," I heard my father apologizing, and that only fueled my anger.

Who the fuck was Adrian, and what did he have to offer that my father was willing to sacrifice so much just to do business with him?

I had never liked him, and now, this only confirmed my suspicions—he was the devil in black, not even bothering to sugarcoat his presence.

I barged into my room, anger burning through me. I didn’t know what to do. Everything was making me crazy, and I wished I could break something just to calm myself down.

As I paced back and forth, my door flew open. My father stormed in, grabbing me roughly and slamming me against the wall.

His hand closed around my throat, strangling me.

I grabbed his wrist, struggling to fight back, but he wasn’t an easy man.

My father was old, but his strength still amazed me. Unlike my twenty-one-year-old self, his power far surpassed mine.

But that didn’t mean I would back down.

"How dare you talk back to me like that?" he roared.

"If you don’t want me to disrespect you, then start respecting yourself," I shot back.

"I won’t let you dictate my life for me."

"You’ve grown wings, haven’t you?"

His palm struck my cheek, tossing me like I was nothing.

"I spent a fortune raising you, and now, you will repay me for that."

He shoved me against the wall again, lifting me off the ground.

I coughed, choking as I struggled to breathe.

"You and that slut of a sister have done nothing but waste my money. And now you think I’ll let myself go broke when I can elevate myself through the both of you?"

He let go of me, and I crashed onto the floor, gasping for air.

"Your sister was supposed to be in this position. I had other plans for you. But what did she do? She ruined everything with her pregnancy... Who would’ve thought she’s a slut like her mother?"

My hands clenched into fists. My teeth ground together in rage.

I had had enough.

And if he kept going, I wouldn’t hold back—father or not, I would fight him head-on.