Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"Sir, your grandmother is outside," his bodyguard whispered in the middle of his business meeting. His blue eyes that resemble the color of the sky remained at the man who was discussing a lot in front of them.

"Mr. Cooper, she's coming here if you don't come out immediately." 

The secretary now intervened while he was still listening. They all know who is the person who can give a threat to a man named Aemon Cooper; it's his grandmother who can make him kneel if necessary. He doesn't fear death, but he fears his grandmother. 

"Sir—"

"Reschedule the meeting," before his grandmother could even set foot in the huge room, he quickly stood up from his chair and left the room without explaining anything to them. 

"What?" they whispered when he suddenly left when the speaker was near to end the discussion. 

Aemon clenched his jaw when he saw his grandmother coming to the room. Good thing, he left early before she could start a show there. He gave her cold stares and continued walking along. 

"Are you avoiding your grandmother?" she asked like a thunderstorm from her tough voice. 

"I won't be here beside you if I am," he replied sarcastically and shook his head. 

"Stop playing with me, Aemon. You know how serious the situation you are in and our whole clan! This is a bloody world, you need a bride as soon as possible!" she started to lecture him as they entered his office. 

"I am not playing with you, grandma." 

"Then where is the woman you promised me to meet?" she asked with frustration. 

Bride, that is what he needs right now. But for a man like him who's workaholic and who doesn't even give an eye for any woman, it's the hardest thing to do. He has to get married at the age of 30. Their enemies are using that to create a hole in the wall he built. In the mafia world, a man without a wife who's strong enough for their world isn't suitable to be on top. And he is on top as of now. It is obvious that they are all aiming for his downfall and to get his throne. 

"Just give me some time," he said and took a heavy breath. 

"Gosh, Aemon. Look around you, there are a lot of women out there!" his grandma said hysterically. 

"I won't marry a woman who can't stand the world we have. If I get married, I'm gonna make sure that she's not weak because the life we have isn't for weak people, grandma." 

That made his grandmother shut her mouth for a moment. She just realized that Aemon has a point. He can't just marry someone, especially if she's weak. They need a woman who's brave, strong enough for all the sh*ts they have. 

"I won't be waiting for long," she only said. 

"I'm leaving. I have a funeral to attend,"

"Funeral?" 

He didn't answer and left the room again. That is the funeral of a clan that is their alliance in this chaotic world. It was just recently when another chaos happened. There are a lot of people who died from the attack that happened in the middle of the traffic. One of them is Stella David, wife of one of the powerful and influential clans in the Mafia world. It was unexpected, and today is her funeral. Even Aemon was shot in his arm. 

"We already sent the flowers there," his secretary said as the car was already moving. 

"I won't be staying long," he said. 

He's only going to show to the family that the whole family of Cooper is sympathizing with them. 

"Yes sir," 

As they arrived in the church, everyone was seated and listening well to the people who were delivering their eulogies in front. There are people who are crying so hard. But Aemon doesn't care about their pain. Death is normal in the Mafia world. Why would they enter this world if they do not expect death? It might not still happen to all of them, but it will come on their way. 

"I would like to call my lovely niece to give her eulogy for her aunt, Lily?" Mr. David said in front of them. 

Aemon's eyes were locked to the woman sitting in the second row. It's obvious that she was not expecting him to call her all of a sudden. She doesn't look stunned by it though. Her eyes were only at him and he couldn't see any emotion from those. Aemon crossed his eyebrows. He could see her face yet as she was a bit far from him. But her skin was white like snow white and his hair was straight and long with blonde highlights. 

"Come here, Lily." Mr. David repeated, faking a smile to Lily. 

She wasn't expecting any of this. Her coming here is like a curse. If only her mother didn't force her to come, she wouldn't be here at all. Her father also died and they are all just grieving to her aunt who made them shut their mouths from his father's real death. It wasn't an accident, Lily knew there's darkness behind it. 

"Lily," he repeated again. She crumpled her fist and shut her eyes for a while before she stood up in front. 

Her uncle was smiling...it was an evil smile for her. She took a deep breath as she faced the whole crowd of grieving people. Aemon was in the fifth row, all his eyes were at her like he didn't want to miss any of her movements. Finally, he saw her now. She has almond hazelnut eyes. Double eyelids, thick eyelashes, pointed nose, and a heart shaped lips of her. Her face was fierce and obnoxious just like a person who loves black color. She was forced by them and she hates it. It's written all over her face right now. 

But then, Aemon started to have interest even more. 

"I have five things my aunt did that I will never forget for the rest of my life," she said while clenching the mic that she could already break it like a piece of pencil. 

They are all waiting for her to continue her words. But then, Lily remained standing there, looking at them with nothing to say anymore. 

"It looks like she's not gonna speak anymore," Aemon's secretary murmured while watching the woman there. 

His eyebrow almost raised when he realized that. It only means that there is nothing good to remember from his aunt. 

"What is she doing?"

"Why is she not talking?"

They were all whispering as the woman made them confused. Only few of them will understand that the woman named Lily did it with a purpose. 

"Lily," another woman who seems to be her mother called her. But she remained standing there with nothing to say. Now, they are all realizing that. 

"I'm sorry, my niece is really affected." Mr. David said and stole the mic from her. She was forced to take her seat again, but Aemon's eyes were still locked at her as if she's the only one he can see right now. 

"Aren't we lea—"

"Call grandma," he commanded while all his eyes were on Lily. 

"Huh? What for?" 

"I found my bride,"