Thai Qu Cing Si Anak Kotoran 2 [Penyembuh yang Terkutuk]

"Marriage? Get married?" Valentino repeats in disbelief at his father's words. "Don't make jokes like that; it's not funny."

His father sighs, impatiently pinching the bridge of his nose. He then looks at his son, who remains with a furrowed brow, waiting for his answer.

"It's not a joke," he clarifies. "The marriage proposal was sent in writing to the Volkovas in Russia today. You are getting married."

"Are you crazy?" His brow furrows even more. "Did you call me here for this nonsense? Don't waste my damn time."

"Understand, Valentino, it's necessary for you to marry a Volkova!" he bursts out, causing his son to stand up, bringing a hand to his chin, and then looking at him with reproach.

"Don't you realize what you're saying? We're talking about a wedding, Dad; don't be ridiculous," he retorts.

"It will only be for a year; this will be a contractual marriage." His father also stands up, approaching his son to place a hand on his shoulder. "Could you do this?"

"No." He roughly pushes his father's hand away. "I don't want to get married. And much less to a woman I don't know and don't love. Forget it."

"Is it because of that woman?" he questions. "She's not at our social level! She can't help us!"

"Don't bring Lirio into this," he becomes enraged. "She has nothing to do with it. But you know what? I'd rather marry her. Even if she doesn't have what you're looking for, I love her. Instead of trying to sell me off to some crazy woman I don't even know, find another solution."

"But our factory is about to collapse!" he laments. "That woman you're with is of no use to us right now. Instead, if you marry the youngest Volkova daughter, we can get out of this crisis. It will only be for a year, and then you'll divorce. That's the agreement. In that time, we'll be back on our feet."

"You want me to put up with that woman for a year? I don't think so. I don't want a woman I'm going to despise by my side. Besides, Lirio will be devastated by this."

"The girl is very beautiful, son," he ignores his words. "You can even see her in magazines to see that I'm not lying. She's perfect for you; you can handle this. Her increases more and more from his father's pressure, who still won't back down from his absurd, but very advantageous, decision.

"No," he retorts.

"Too late; the marriage proposal has already been sent," his father declares firmly. "I just wanted to help you come to your senses so you could see the good side of all this. We're going to get out of our debts, and our factory will start to flourish again."

"You've been doing that without my consent?" He glares at him with fury. "You'd better call it off."

"Too late for that," he mutters. "The youngest Volkova daughter will be here in two days. You'd better behave with her; she is an important figure, more so than that bland woman you have by your side."

With that, he finishes, leaving his son in the entryway with his hands clenched into fists from the fury he was feeling inside.

The last thing he intended to do was "behave" with that woman as his father had instructed. He didn't want to get married, and if he was forced to do so, he wouldn't hesitate to make the rich girl's life a living hell.

In Russia. Volkova Mansion

"Are you listening to us, Athena?" her mother questions in a severe voice, while the girl looks at her nails with a bored expression.

"Not a chance," she finally responds. "Now can I go up to my room? I'm very sleepy."

"Athena Volkova!" her mother becomes enraged. "Behave for the first time in your life! This is something serious!"

Her mother's shouting only causes the young woman to feel... annoyance and laziness? Yes, exactly that. She rolls her eyes and pretends to listen to her mother again, while her father remains uneasy.

"Calm down, honey," the man encourages her, while the woman is red with fury.

"Don't you see your daughter?! She's still being a brat!" she complains. "That's because you spoil her too much!"

"Oh, Mom, please, stop with the paranoia." She makes a face. "Why don't you just continue with your sermon so I can finally leave?"

"Fine." She takes a breath, regaining her composure. "In two days, you'll be in Italy. You are going to marry Clodan Rizzo's son. It's just a one-year contract, and after that, you'll get divorced."

"Uh-huh." She sighs. "You've already told me the joke; now get on with the important thing you have to tell me."

"Athena!" she bursts out again, making the girl blink. She suppresses a playful smile, but then seeing her father, who becomes serious, she retracts it.

"Daughter, your mother is serious," her father adds, in a calmer and sweeter tone. "We just received Valentino Rizzo's marriage proposal in writing. It's a political marriage, where both families will benefit. We will help them recover their factory that is on the verge of collapsing, and they will provide us with commercial support to be able to distribute our products from Italy."

"You mean I have to be the bridge for the Rizzos and at the same time for you guys for economic benefits?" She raises an eyebrow, obviously in total disagreement. "I don't want to be married to some bastard I don't know!"

"It will only be for a specific time," her father continues. "It's also an opportunity for you, so you can finally settle down. Besides, I owe the Rizzos a lot; they also gave me their support at one point."

"Athena," her mother also speaks to her. "Do you plan to spend your whole life going from party to party and spending money?"

"We're swimming in it," she shrugs.

"That's not the point. You have to behave like a proper young lady. You just go from scandal to scandal and cause mischief."

"Me?" She opens her eyes wide in offense.

"And the fire at the president's house?"

"That old man wanted to touch me."

"And the video you uploaded to social media of your ex with three married women in his bed?"

"Because he's a jerk."

"And the beating you gave your best friend's boyfriend?"

"He cheated on her."

"And the day we had to go pick you up from the police station for stealing alcohol from a seedy bar?"

"The owner wanted to see my tits. He deserved it."

"The two men you bought at an auction?"

"They were hot."

"And many more I don't want to mention now. Does that seem minor to you? It's time for you to formalize and behave like a decent young lady."

"The 'decent young lady' part I doubt, because a little while ago…"

"No details," she cuts her off. "The point is that you don't have a choice. Either you accept this marriage and reflect, or I'll be forced to lock you up in a convent to be properly educated."

"I prefer the convent."

"Enough!" She sighs in frustration. "Athena, this is not up for discussion. The proposal is already in our hands, and it's already signed. You're of marrying age, so the matter is no longer being debated."

"Marrying age at twenty?" She looks at her expectantly. "Did you marry Dad at fifteen?"

"I can't deal with this," the woman laments. "Bernardo, say something to that girl."

"I'm home, family!" The study doors burst open, revealing the triumphant entrance of the eldest Volkova daughter.

"Where are your manners?" Her mother looks at her with a frown.

"What's wrong? Did you eat a lemon? You have the kind of faces that I don't even know what to say." She takes a seat next to her younger sister. "What did you do to them this time, Athena?"

"They want to marry me off to some lunatic," the girl mutters.

Cayetana looks at her sister for a few seconds before letting out a thunderous laugh.

Her parents watch her, tired of dealing with the same situation.

"Stop joking like that; I'm too old for that." She finishes wiping away a tear that came from the corner of her eye from laughing so hard.

"It's not a joke," her father clarifies.

"Seriously, Ate?" She turns to look at her sister with a surprised expression. "Who is that poor man? Come on, Mom, Dad, don't do that to someone else's son. What harm has he done to you? It must be serious."

"Says the one who wants to screw one of her employees," the girl retorts with narrowed eyes.

"What?" Their parents react to the confession.

"Don't believe her!" she squeals, red with embarrassment. "You know she's a troublemaker and doesn't want to accept her responsibility!"

"Responsibility? Why the hell do I have to put up with a guy who knows what, if he's a little small?" she questions with her arms crossed. "It's the worst thing that could happen to me in my whole life."

Her parents and sister are left with their mouths open, staring at her because of her outlandish words. They thought she would be worried about the type of man, or that a one-year marriage would prevent her from doing a lot of the uncontrolled things she frequently does, but… the size of the length is what worries her at a moment like this? She must have a screw loose to only think about that.

"What?" She looks at all of them with an innocent expression.

"I can't believe it." Her mother covers her face with one hand.

"This is a bad idea," her sister looks away.

"You need to see a psychologist, daughter," her father adds.

"Don't look at me like that, and don't think I'm going to touch that guy's bed and then doubt my own existence if what I say is true." She pouts nonchalantly. "What if he turns out to be a virgin?"

"Athena!" they all shout in unison, causing the girl to shrink in her seat, grumbling.

Athena Volkova, the Volkova family's little devil. A twenty-year-old girl, spoiled and whimsical. She always gets what she wants and doesn't submit to any rules, as she creates her own.

What will happen when she meets her future husband? She doesn't know, but what she does know is that she doesn't care. She pretends to follow the established rules, but if you're not careful, she could put a leash on your neck and have you at her mercy under her rich-girl heels.

Be careful, don't trust the angel.

"What are you telling me?" The brunette's eyes open in surprise at her beloved's words. "You're getting married and you're telling me about it like it's nothing?"

"Listen to me, Lirio." He holds her by the shoulders, looking into her eyes. "This was my father's decision to save the factory; it will only be for a year."

She shakes her head, refusing to accept it. It has been a year since Lirio has been with Valentino, giving him support after the loss of his mother. She has endured so much for them to now relegate her to a secondary role. Lirio thought she would be the one to walk down the aisle in a wedding dress to be his wife, but the proposal never came from him.

"I don't accept it, Valentino." Her tears slide down her cheeks, a tactic that always works with him. "What about us? Don't you love me anymore?"

"Of course, I love you." He dries the tears that moisten her cheeks. "But, Lirio, it's something I have to do. My father has made the decision, and the proposal has already been sent. I need you to understand."

"What do you want me to understand?" She abruptly moves away from him. "That you're going to marry someone else? That you're going to spend an entire year by her side while I have to wait like a fool?"

"I swear I won't touch her," he promises, approaching her again. She turns her back on him, still crying. "Lirio, please, when the term is over, she and I are going to get divorced." He comes up behind her and hugs her. "Then I will give that place to you, as my wife."

"Are you serious?" she whimpers, in a sweet and fragile voice. "You have to promise."

"I promise you," he assures her, leaving a kiss on her cheek. "Just wait for me, Lirio."