A useless son-in-law

The tension in the room grew as Rene glared at his father sitting at the table, barely touching their food. The silence was finally broken by Rome, who took a deep breath and looked directly at his son.

"Your mother has been grieving, Rene," Rome began, his voice steady but tinged with sadness. "Seeing you locked away in this safe house, isolated from the world, has been tearing her apart. I made a promise to her that I would let you have a life in the real world."

When Rene furrowed his brow with that stubborn look in his eyes, Rome's expression hardened slightly. "I've arranged for you to marry the youngest granddaughter of the Rossi family. It's a contract marriage, but it will give you the opportunity to live outside this safe house, to have a semblance of a normal life. You will be marrying her in replace of Kia Flores', a servant from the mansion, son."

Rene's fork clattered onto his plate as he stood up abruptly, his face flushed with anger. "This isn't what I wanted!" he shouted. "You expect me to live with another person's identity? To pretend to be someone I'm not?"

Catherine's eyes filled with tears as she reached out to Rene. "Please, son, try to understand. Your father and I only want what's best for you."

Rene shook his head, his voice trembling with rage. "Four years of college was torture, being the son of a shoe fixer, mocked and spat on. And now, I'm supposed to be the headmaid's son? I can't do this. I should be able to come home. I'm older now, I'm capable of protecting myself from whatever so-called thing you're afraid of."

Rome stood up as well, his face stern. "This isn't just about your safety, Rene. It's about the safety of our entire family. The threats we face are very real, and this arrangement is the best way to ensure you can live your life without constantly looking over your shoulder."

Rene clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his father's words. "So, I'm just supposed to live a lie? To be someone else for the rest of my life?"

Rome's expression softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm. "It's not forever. Just until things settle down. Once it's safe, you can come back and reclaim your true identity."

Catherine stood up and walked over to Rene, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "We know this is difficult, but we believe it's the best option for you right now. Please, give it a chance."

"Mother," He said hesitantly, his fist tightening as he fought to hold back all of the pent-up frustration.

"You should take this opportunity, son. I will get to see and hold you if this works out and that is all I want as a mother... to be able to hold my boy even if I can't call him mine."

"Mom,"

The silence fell between the two as Rene stared into her damp eyes, knowing he couldn't fight her decision any longer. With a long sigh, he sat down again, his body slumping. The moment Catherine heard a small sigh escape his lips, her heart soared with triumph. 

"I will do it under one condition... I get to divorce her after everything is over. I will not be forced to reproduce with her or anything like that," He said softly, his hands shaking slightly as he spoke.

Catherine felt her chest tighten with an unexpected emotion before she could contain it. She pulled her son into an embrace, hugging him tight. "That's absolutely fine. We don't need grandchildren right now. You can take your time." 

Pulling away from his mother, Rene gave a weak smile, and then he met Rome's gaze, asking, "Is that fine with you chief?"

Rome nodded, taking a deep breath. "Yes, that's fine. But since you have given your set of rules, these are mine. The Rossi family is the fifth leading family in the country. They have an extensive network in various industries including finance, real estate, and pharmaceuticals. They are incredibly powerful and influential."

Rome paused, making sure his son was paying attention. "The head of the family is Carlo Rossi, the grandfather of the family. He is a shrewd businessman, and his wife, Isabella, is known for her philanthropy and social connections. They have three sons. There are six grandsons, each involved in different sectors of the Rossi empire along with three granddaughters, Maria is the youngest of them."

Rene's eyes widened slightly as he absorbed the information, the weight of the arrangement settling heavily on his shoulders.

Rome continued, "Maria is well-educated and has a reputation for her intelligence and kindness. She will not be a burden to you. The Rossi family will provide you with a comfortable life, and you will be protected under their umbrella. In return, you must play your part, keep your head down, stay humble, and be dumb. Do not involve yourself in any political activities, do not cause any trouble, and do not make any enemies. Is that clear?"

"Dumb?" Rene scoffed, his gaze hardening. "You mean be a useless son-in-law."

Rome drew a deep breath, continuing with a firm tone. "Yes, useless. The less attention you draw to yourself, the better. This is not a position for you to showcase your talents or challenge anyone. Your primary goal is to survive and keep your identity hidden until the danger has passed. Got it?"