Fabio caressed his cheeks in anger and returned to his room only to find Nikki packing her stuff and set to leave the house.
"What the heck are you doing here, man?”
"I presume you're not blind, are you? I overheard everything your father said to you. I'd rather sleep in my apartment tonight. I can't stand the heat,” Nikki wailed as she attempted to exit the room with her luggage.
"We can still discuss this, right?” he pleaded and grabbed her box.
"There's nothing to discuss. Didn't you hear the conditions? You'd be stripped of your inheritance. You're not that stupid to choose me over fortune, right? What I don't understand is why your Dad keeps controlling you as if you were a kid. I can't take this. I'd be back when the drama ended. But right now, I'm out of here.” She wept like a child and departed. All efforts to make her stay proved abortive.
The damage
The relationship saga hit Sophia so hard and pierced her heart like a dagger. She got carried away and forgot where she was.
"Go to hell, you silly girl. Can't you watch where you are going? I almost got you killed. If you're so tired of life, go jump into the deepest of Oceans. Don't get me involved in your mess,” the man yelled at Sophia for standing in his way.
"I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking. I never knew there was a car behind me,” She apologized. It took her some minutes to finally regain consciousness.
“Sorry? Really? Did you just apologize to me, for what exactly? Who cares about your apology?” The man angrily stepped down from his car and rushed to Sophia.
“I almost got you knocked down. Of course, you know what that means, right? I'll be spending Christmas in jail. Why don't I show you how sorry you should be?” pulling her by the ear and pulling her hair, he warned. “Don't try this shit with me next time because If you do, your folks will be planning your funeral. You pathetic bastard. Get out of my sight, you dummy.” He screamed and tossed her to the ground like a common thief. Amidst the oppression happening, no one came to rescue Sophia. Everyone looked away as though it were nobody's business.
Quietly, she stood up with shame and walked home without a fight. She decided to let it go for her peace of mind. Johnson has already ruined her day with the relationship saga. Adding this stranger to her problems will only worsen it.
"What happened to you? Why are your clothes stained? Did you fight with someone?” her Father asked after seeing his daughter come back home with her clothes stained In mud.
"Why do you care about my clothes? Just let me be. You aren't concerned about my feelings.” She ignored her father and went straight to her room. Minutes later, she showed up again. “Go call your so-called friend. Tell him I'm interested in the arranged marriage,” then she went back inside without allowing her father to ask questions. He was excited but stunned about his response. She has no idea how long he's been waiting for her to say that.
“It's a bit overwhelming. Last time I checked, we almost came to blows when I told her about the arranged marriage. So what changed? I thought she mentioned her relationship with Johnson. Did that idiot break up with her? Who cares anyway? That's precisely what I want!” Thompson echoed and rushed to her room, hoping to find answers, but he let the door shut.
“Sophia, please, I want to have a word with you. Open this door,” landing a hard knock on the metallic door, he requested for her to step outside, but she refused.
“Leave me the heck alone, Dad. I want to be left alone. I thought you wanted this to work. Aren't you satisfied now? You don't even care about me. Just go away. I don't want to speak to you. Is that difficult for you to understand?” weeping like a young widow, Sophia denied her father to come to see her.
“Don't say that. Of course, you know I care about you. I did this for us. To secure your future. I don't want your kids to suffer impoverished.” Highlighting his reasons for cajoling her into accepting the arranged marriage, Thompson begged. He tried all he could, but she wouldn't step out. After pleading for minutes, he gave up and left her doorstep.
"I feel so stupid and guilty. Am I making the right choice? Would she regret it?” Those were the questions that chorused his mind. Searching through his heart, he knows he screwed up, but he has no choice. The deed has been done already. If he had a second chance, he would have allowed Sophia to make her decision. But it's too late now! There's absolutely nothing he can do to stop the wedding from happening.
***************
“You can't go inside. The CEO gave strict instruction not to allow any visitor to come in,” the secretary said, blocking the door entrance.
"Have you gone nuts? You do realize whom you're talking to?” The visitor boasted.
“I'm only following strict orders, sir. If you don't comply, I'll be forced to call security to come bundle you out of this office like a common criminal. Do the right thing and leave immediately!”
“Now I am convinced you are the silliest being on Earth. You need to visit the rehab because your brain has been damaged for real.” The stranger pushed the secretary away and forced his way inside the CEO's office.
"Dad, what in heaven's name is going on? Why would you ask your secretary to stop me from coming to see you? I have never been so embarrassed all my life. What have I done to deserve this?” he cried.
“Sir, I am sorry. I tried to…” The secretary attempted to explain, when Lucas halted her with an upraised hand and dismissed her.
"Hey, son. Good to see you. I knew you would come. I'm sure you got the info. I thought you would be behind bars now for refusing to pay at a local store. Haha,” laughing so hard, Duncan mocked his son.
“Wow! So it's you? I knew it
You froze my account. I can't even purchase anything. Dad, you're worse than the devil himself. How could you do that to your first son? Heir apparent to your billionaire empire,” slamming the desk with his hands, Fabio sparked outrageously.
"Soon, you'd be excommunicated from my affairs while your brother, Scott, will take your position as the heir apparent. But you can stop that from happening. Just say yes and marry Thompson's daughter, and then I'll put an end to this torment. Her father, my friend, just called. They'll be joining us shortly. His daughter just accepted. Isn't that beautiful?” Duncan beamed.
"Quite typical of a poverty-stricken family. I didn't expect her to decline the offer. Okay, I am. I can't sell my birthright to Felix. I'll marry his wretched daughter to save my fortune” Grumbling, Fabio reluctantly accepted.
“Good! That's the shit I'm referring to,” Duncan was elated and praised his son for making the best decision.
Shortly after, Thompson walked inside with his daughter, Sophia, to the conversation.
"Yippee! Look we have here. My in-laws. We were just discussing you before your arrival. Come have your seat,” Duncan welcomed them, while Fabio was unbothered. He bent his head to focus on his phone. Immediately he raised his head, and he screamed together with Sophia. “You? What the heck are you doing here?”
"Have you two met before? Both Duncan and his friend looked at themselves and asked.
They were wondering what was happening. Neither Sophia nor Fabio were ready to speak up. They just kept staring at each other disdainfully.
Fabio and Sophia's tense stare-down seemed to stretch for an eternity, each harboring their secrets and resentments. The air in the room grew heavy with unspoken words, suffocating any chance of reconciliation.Duncan, Fabio's father, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his eyes darting between his son and his potential spouse Sophia. He had hoped their first meeting would lead to a pleasant acquaintance, but the palpable animosity between them left him bewildered."Do you two know each other?" Duncan's voice broke through the silence once again, his tone tinged with a hint of desperation for answers. He had sensed something amiss from the moment they laid eyes on each other.Fabio's jaw clenched as he weighed his response, grappling with the tumult of emotions swirling within him. Sophia's mere presence stirred memories he had long buried, memories of a past he wished to forget."Is she the one I'm supposed to marry?" Fabio finally spoke, his voice laced with uncertainty as he tried t
CHAPTER 6Acceptance Sophia opened the door of the office, her movements graceful yet purposeful, and stepped out into the corridor. Fabio followed closely behind, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy in the air between them."So you're the one I marry?" Fabio's words cut through the silence like a knife, his tone laced with bitterness and resentment. "Your poor wretched family wants to reap where you guys didn't sow."Sophia stopped abruptly, her heart pounding in her chest as she turned to face Fabio. The hurt and anger that had simmered beneath the surface for so long threatened to boil over, her emotions raw and unfiltered."How dare you?" she seethed, her voice trembling with barely contained fury. "You think you can just waltz back into my life and pass judgment on me and my family?"Fabio recoiled slightly at the venom in Sophia's words, the sting of her rebuke cutting deep into his wounded pride. He had never intended to hurt her and had never imagined that his wo
Duncan led Fabio back into his office, the weight of their earlier conversation still hanging heavy in the air between them. He gestured for Fabio to take a seat in one of the plush armchairs arranged around the ornate coffee table, the rich mahogany furniture exuding an air of old-world elegance.As Fabio settled into his seat, Duncan crossed the room to the well-stocked bar nestled in the corner, his movements deliberate yet unhurried. With practiced ease, he poured two fingers of whiskey into a crystal tumbler, the amber liquid glinting in the soft glow of the overhead lights."Here you go, son," Duncan said, his voice gentle yet firm as he handed Fabio the glass. "A little something to take the edge off."Fabio accepted the glass with a grateful nod, the cool surface of the tumbler soothing against his clammy palms. He took a sip of the whiskey, relishing the smoky warmth that spread through his chest, momentarily chasing away the lingering shadows of doubt and uncertainty."Thanks
Sophia trudged up the front steps of her family home, her mind still reeling from her encounter with Fabio in Duncan's office. As she reached the porch, she found her father sitting in his favorite wicker chair, a newspaper spread out in front of him."I miss the good old days of mail and paper news," he remarked, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "You kids don't know what you're missing."Sophia offered her father a small smile, her heart heavy with the weight of the day's events. She sank into the chair beside him, the worn wicker creaking softly beneath her weight, and let out a weary sigh."How did it go?" her father asked, his gaze gentle yet probing as he studied her face for any signs of distress.Sophia scoffed bitterly, her frustration bubbling to the surface like a pot left unattended. "That son of a bitch," she muttered under her breath, her words dripping with venom. "That entitled prick."Her father's brow furrowed in concern at her outburst, his eyes searching hers for an
Fabio stood in his sleek, modern kitchen, the aroma of simmering marinara sauce filling the air, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at his gut. Tonight was the dinner date with Sophia, an event his family had been eagerly anticipating for weeks. Yet, despite the excitement buzzing around him, his mind was elsewhere, consumed by thoughts of Nikki.Nikki, his fiery and passionate lover, had dropped a bombshell on him just days ago: she claimed to be pregnant with his child. The news had sent shockwaves through Fabio's carefully curated world, shattering the illusion of control he had worked so hard to maintain. Now, as he diced onions with mechanical precision, his thoughts were consumed by the impossible choice looming before him.On one hand, there was Sophia, the woman his family had chosen for him, the embodiment of everything he was supposed to want in a partner. She was refined, elegant, and came from a respectable family with a long-standing relationship with his own
Sophia's phone buzzed softly on the bedside table, drawing her attention away from the turbulent thoughts swirling in her mind. With a heavy sigh, she reached for the device, her heart sinking as she saw Fabio's name illuminated on the screen.Reluctantly, she tapped on the message, her eyes scanning the contents with a mixture of curiosity and trepidation. What she read made her heart sink even further."Your dress will be sent to you and a chauffeur to pick you up at 6 pm tomorrow."Sophia's lips curled into a scowl as she read the message, her frustration bubbling to the surface like a simmering volcano. How dare he presume to dictate her schedule and make decisions on her behalf without so much as a word of consultation? The audacity of the man infuriated her to no end."How can I marry such a guy?" she thought bitterly, her mind reeling with indignation. "He has no manners, doesn't know how to treat a lady."With a flick of her thumb, she composed a terse reply, her fingers flying
Sophia stood in front of her closet, her fingers tracing over the array of dresses hanging within, she couldn't shake the sense of unease that gnawed at her insides. The weight of Fabio's invitation to dinner hung heavy on her shoulders, a constant reminder of the tangled web of obligations and expectations that bound her to her family's legacy.With a heavy sigh, she selected a simple yet elegant dress from the rack, the fabric slipping through her fingers like water as she held it up to the light. It was a beautiful garment, one that had been chosen specifically for the occasion by her mother, who had insisted that Sophia look her best for the evening ahead.As she slipped into the dress and smoothed out the wrinkles, Sophia couldn't help but feel a pang of resentment bubbling up within her. Why did she have to conform to society's expectations of what a proper young lady should be? Why couldn't she make her own choices, and follow her own desires, without fear of judgment or repris
Chapter 12A Tense EncounterSophia and Fabio sat across from each other, the soft glow of the restaurant's dim lighting casting a warm ambiance over the tense scene. The gentle hum of conversation from other diners filled the air, a stark contrast to the palpable silence between them. They both knew that this meeting was long overdue, but neither was prepared for the emotional minefield that lay ahead.As they perused their menus, the weight of their shared history hung heavy in the air, like an unspoken challenge. Sophia's eyes flickered towards Fabio, her gaze lingering on the familiar contours of his face before quickly retreating. Fabio, sensing her gaze, looked up, his eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race."You know, Sophia, I'm surprised you agreed to meet me," Fabio said, his voice laced with a hint of malice. "Considering how much you hate me."Sophia's eyes narrowed, her voice cold. "I don't hate you, Fabio. I just don't like what you did to me."