CHAPTER -8
413 Words
At the dinner.
The long mahogany dining table was set immaculately. Candles flickered. Crystal glasses clinked. The air was thick—not with the aroma of expensive wine or gourmet food—but with unspoken tension.
Evelyn sat across from Lucian, her arms folded, legs crossed, eyes silently daring him to say something first. He, in turn, didn’t even spare her a glance. His fingers toyed with the edge of the wine glass, jaw tight, gaze fixed somewhere in the distance.
Their parents sat on either side—Lucian’s mother with her perfectly styled hair and unnerving smile, Evelyn’s father looking all too pleased with himself.
Lucian’s father cleared his throat.
“Now that everyone’s here... we have something important to discuss.”
Evelyn blinked. “Please don’t say this is another ‘merger’ announcement.”
Lucian scoffed under his breath. “Or another forced charity gala.”
Their mothers exchanged a look. Then—
Evelyn’s mother spoke up, casually lifting her wine glass.
“We want you two to get married.”
Silence.
Dead. Heavy. Suffocating silence.
Evelyn almost choked. “What??”
Lucian’s eyes snapped to them. “Excuse me?!”
Lucian’s father, calm as ever, continued.
“Yes. It makes sense. A union of both families, both legacies. It’s the smartest move.”
Evelyn looked between them, wide-eyed.
“Wait, wait—this isn’t chess. You can’t just push us together for your... dynastic fantasies!”
Lucian leaned back, ice in his voice.
“I would rather burn this entire empire down than marry her.”
Evelyn stood abruptly.
“Good. Because I’d rather marry a snake than this arrogant, control-freak bastard!”
Their parents didn’t flinch.
Lucian’s mother calmly sliced her steak.
“If you don’t marry each other, we’ll disown you both.”
Evelyn blinked. “What the hell?!”
Lucian laughed—humorless, cold. “You’re bluffing.”
Her father smiled. “Try us.”
The tension was nuclear now.
Evelyn slammed her napkin down.
“You’re insane! You can’t just ruin our lives like this!”
Lucian stood too, voice low but lethal.
“This is blackmail.”
Lucian’s father met his gaze.
“No, son. This is legacy.”
Their mothers chimed in together.
“You both always wanted to destroy each other. Maybe now, you’ll finally learn to coexist. Or combust. Either way, you’ll be married by next month.”
Evelyn stared at Lucian. Lucian stared back.
Pure, burning hatred.
Unspoken chaos.
Unavoidable fate.
- Writer
