Chapter two
1720 Words
The Harlows stared at Emily shocked by her actions, they had not known her to be this… brave.
“You ungrateful brat,” her stepmother yelled. “You’ve never brought anything meaningful to this family and now you finally have a purpose, you dare to refuse!”.
Her stepmother's yelling was enough distraction for Emily as Sophia pushed her roughly making her fall on the ground, the knife falling out of her hands.
Her father took this opportunity, pulling Emily by her neck as he dragged her up, giving her a sound slap that echoed through the living room. But her father was not satisfied, he continued to slap her until she was a crying mess.
“You b***h” he yelled. “All these years you were a useless burden, you didn’t try to kill yourself and now you finally have a purpose you threaten me with suicide”
He dragged her by the neck into the small attic in their mansion, throwing her in like trash. Emily landed hard on the ground bruising her knees and elbows in the process.
“Stay here and reflect on your foolish actions, In three days you’ll be handed to Lucas so get ready” her father said slamming the door shut leaving Emily alone in the cold, dark, and empty room.
Emily couldn’t even shed more tears, she could only stare blankly at the grey attic walls wishing her mother were still alive. She didn’t have much to give her but at least she wouldn’t have to live this miserable life.
[LUCAS’S POV]
I tapped my foot impatiently on the ground, the traffic was getting worse by the moment. I was on my way to my parents house. My mom had called an “emergency” meeting and as usual, I knew it wouldn’t end well.
My mother had always been a woman full of surprises and the last emergency meeting we had didn’t end well including the one before that. In summary, no “emergency” meeting has ever ended well, especially for me.
After hours of traffic, I finally arrived at my parents mansion. It still looked as clean as ever. I walked into the living room and met my parents who were already both seated.
My mother upon sighting me ran towards me pulling me into a hug while plastering kisses on my face.
“Mother please” I said as I gently pulled her away from me walking towards my seat.
My mother rolled her eyes giving me a displeased look as she sat beside my father. My father looked amused but didn’t dare to laugh.
My father is a Don. Not just in business, but in the shadows where powerful men feared to tread.
So how my mother had him wrapped around the tip of her fingers, I couldn't understand.
“Mom, can we please get to the main reason while we’re here” I told her, getting impatient.
“Honey, why don’t you break the news to him” my mom said, gesturing to my dad.
They shared a weird look before my father spoke.
“Lucas, your mother has come to an agreement,” my father said firmly.
“What agreement?” I asked with a displeased look.
“These days, I’m getting older and older and you know….” My mother began to trail off.
“Mom please get to the point”
“Your mother has found you a bride,” my father explained.
I probably didn’t hear him well.
“What?” I asked to confirm what I had just heard.
“Your mother has found you a bride” my father repeated louder this time.
“You’ve got to be kidding me” I said standing up to leave immediately.
“ Lucas Smith, you will not leave while I’m still talking to you” my mother yelled
I let out a deep sigh and sat back on my chair.
“So Mother, all this while I was on a business trip, you were bride hunting?” I asked irritated
“Of course, your dad and I are not getting any younger, we need grand babies” she said pitifully. “We both knew if we waited for you to get married yourself, we’d probably be in the grave by then”
“You're not that old mother” I deadpanned
“ That’s the point Lucas, if I don’t intervene, you’re most likely to be a bachelor for the rest of your life”
“And what’s the problem with that?” I asked
My mum let out a loud gasp pretending to faint. So dramatic.
If anyone else were here, they would be panicking, but my father and I knew this woman way too well.
“Mother, could you be any more dramatic?” I said, rolling my eyes.
“Lucas!” my father yelled giving me a warning glare
“Can’t you see honey” my mother said getting up from the ground. “Lucas has never once cared about me, I’m sure if he had his way, I’d be in a nursing home or locked away alone in this mansion” my mother said sobbing.
My instincts were right. I should not have come to this meeting.
“Mother, I literally left everything I was doing to come see you” I told her.
“And yet you still don’t care about me or my health” she shouted
“Mom, I'm right here!” I reminded her.
“And unmarried” she shot back at me.
“Can’t you at least look at the beautiful bride I chose you” she said handing me a folder.
She was beginning to do what she does best. Emotionally blackmailing me into doing what I don’t want to.
“I’m not looking at any folder” I said, refusing to take it from her.
“Lucas, take the folder from your mother” my father said strictly.
I snatched the folder from my mother opening it. My eyes almost flew out of my sockets
“Who the f**k is this?” I said harshly.
“I thought you would know her, she’s Sophia Harlow, Mr Harlow's daughter” my mother answered unfazed by my harsh tone.
“I know who she is mother,” I deadpanned.
“She is not elegant, she has no manners, she has a nasty attitude and a loud screeching voice that makes me want to stab myself in the chest” I said.
“So tell me mother, why do you think this brat will make a perfect match for me?” I asked.
“You will not speak of your fiancé in that manner!” my mother yelled at me.
“I am just being honest mother, if I knew she was the one I was going to spend the rest of my life with, I would’ve become a priest or joined a monastery a long time ago”
My mother was not having it.
“Sophia is a good girl, she might have some downsides but you both will learn to tolerate each other, that’s what marriage is all about Lucas” my mother said softly holding my hands.
“Mum, did you even think this through, the Harlows are very cunning people, what makes you think Mr Harlow would want to give up his priceless princess” I reasoned
“ I made the deal clear to Mr Harlow, if he dares to act stupid, he knows what’s coming for him” my dad said calmly.
My father was one person everyone knew not to mess with.
“Lucas, please listen to your mother, I would never do anything that’s bad for you, I just want the best for my only child” my mother said, holding my hands and sobbing.
“Please Lucas, your father and I are not getting any younger, it’s the least you can do for me my son” she continued sobbing more and more. “ I just want the best for my son”.
My mother continued crying for another five minutes. That was of no use to me, my decision was final. And we both knew those tears were very fake.
My father gave me a look that said “You better agree to her demands” which I completely ignored.
“"If you refused this marriage, you would no longer be my successor."
The words landed heavily.
I froze
"The Smith empire isn't just money. It is generations of work."
My father's gaze hardened on me.
"And I won't hand it over to a man who refuses any responsibility placed before him."
I looked at my father's expression. Straight, emotionless. He meant every word.
My parents had made their decision already, they just asked me out of courtesy.
I had not met Sophia face to face before, but she had an encounter at one of my hotels, where she was rude to the staff, was screaming, and even poured her drink on one of them, and as usual her stupid excuse of a father came to bail her out. Fools.
I started to rethink, maybe getting married to Sophia won’t be so bad, she was just a daft girl who made too much noise. She would be easier to tolerate if I made sure I was never in the same space with her.
She wasn't worthy of making me lose my empire.
“Okay mother” I said knowing I’ll live to regret this decision.
“What?” she asked to clarify what she had heard.
“I agree, I’ll marry Sophia Harlow” I repeated as the words stung my mouth.
“Oh my baby” she screamed excitedly hugging me.“Thank you so much” she said wiping her fake tears.
“Okay mum, I have to leave now” I told her looking at my watch.
“Okay honey, you can leave, I know you’re very busy” she answered, her attitude switching so fast.
“Goodbye mum” I said to her while I gave my dad a nod.
I walked out of my parents mansion with one thought in my head, this might have just been the worst decision I have ever made in my entire life.
- Writer
