The Next Billionaire Heir's Revenge (18+)

Chapter 4: Forbidden Relationship

(Massimo's POV)

My thoughts were plagued by the things of Selene's confession and the consequent realization that our paths as a married couple was challenged. These ideas refused to recede into the background of my consciousness.

When I went to bed at night, I would lie in bed and stare at the ceiling, and I would find that I was stuck in a cycle of what-ifs and regrets.

As I wasn't expecting it, I got a call from Selene's number one day in the middle of the day as I was sitting at a nearby coffee shop thinking to myself.

Whenever you asked me a question, my heart would miss a beat, and my anxiety would grow with every passing second.

Suddenly, a flashback came up into my head, the day that I despised.

[Flashback]

Selene's voice could be heard on the other end of the phone saying, "Massimo, it's me," with a tone that was tense and straining.

My voice was filled with a mixture of concern and caution as I tightly grasped the phone. "Selene, why have you called all of the sudden, is everything okay?"

"Hello, Massimo, it's about my father. I don't know what to say regardless, I am just scared. I don't know what to do, please help me with this, " she said while she's crying. She cry like a baby, and I just want to be there with her right now but I am just occupied too, it's something that I could do all of the sudden.

"He found out about us, about our marriage," she added, her tone tense and her words hasty.

My stomach knotted up and I felt a sense of impending doom settle into the pit of my chest as my heart fell. "What exactly did he say?"

Before Selene continued her conversation, there was a brief period of silence on the other end of the queue. "Massimo, he is in an enraged state. He is insisting that you visit us at our home later on tonight. He mentioned that he wants to talk to you, and I'm worried about you because of it."

As I tried to take in all of the information, I had to force myself to swallow. My mind was racing. I could only image the rage and disappointment that Selene's father was experiencing now that he was aware that we were married already, I couldn't think properly as well.

Selene's father had never given his blessing to our relationship, and now that he knew about our wedding, I could only picture what he was feeling.

My tone was firm and determined as I replied, "I'll be there," as my intention was clear. Even though I did all in my power to avoid the confrontation, I knew that I would eventually have to face Selene's father.

When I arrived at the mansion where Selene's family lived, the sun had already set. The towering skyscraper that loomed in front of me was a representation of the world that I had only momentarily joined but to which I would never completely belong. I took a few moments to compose myself before making my way to the entrance and ringing the doorbell.

The door flung open, exposing Selene's father to be standing there, his face a mask of controlled wrath as he looked at his daughter. "Massimo," he muttered, his tone was very cold and dry as ice, his voice was filled with despise and anger.

I responded, "Mr. Hastings," with a tone that was polite but conveyed a sense of discomfort.

He made room for me to come in by stepping aside and indicating with his hand. "Please come in. There is a lot for us to talk about."

As I stepped into the luxurious hallway, the sound of my footsteps reverberated off the marble floor. The atmosphere was thick with tension, and I couldn't help but get the impression that I was trespassing in a world that was dominated by privilege and power, the rich people.

In the magnificent living room, Mr. Hastings indicated that I should take a seat opposite of him. Selene sat off to the side, a look of concern and remorse crossing her features. I could feel the pressure building, so I steeled myself for whatever was going to happen next. The gravity of the situation was obvious.

"Massimo," Mr. Hastings started, his voice dripping with venom, very deep, "I'm sure you're well aware of the pain and embarrassment you've caused my family."

"You've caused Selene the embarrassment she doesn't deserve for marrying you! How could you take granted of my daughter like that? How can you make her fall in love with such a low person like you! What did you do!" he shouted.

I gave him a firm look while maintaining eye contact and nodded. "I am sorry that the tension that my relationship with Selene has caused is something that I am aware of," I said.

He snapped, "Sorry doesn't begin to cover it," while tapping his restless fingers against the armrest of his chair.

"You have no background whatsoever, and you have the audacity to believe that you can be a part of our world? You have sullied the name of my family and brought dishonour upon the reputation of my daughter."

The tension in Selene was showing as she clinched her hands in her lap. The impact of her father's comments was like getting punched in the belly, but I wasn't going to allow his words deter me from not letting them break me.

I was able to keep my composure and say, "I love Selene, and my intentions were never to cause harm," despite the struggle going on inside of me.

Mr. Hastings laughed sarcastically while narrowing his eyes in an expression of scorn. "Love? You believe that the truth that you are nothing more than a penniless opportunist can be erased by the love you have for someone else?"

"Do you think that love will save you from the unfortunate life that your parents have given you—"

"Don't ever include my parents in this matter! You can humiliate me and all, tell me the truth with the status that I have been born with, but do not include my parents for the matter that they have no control over! You have no clue how they raised me!"

I felt a rising tide of rage within me, but I was able to keep it in check. "My love for Selene is genuine, and I have no intention of using anyone for my own gain in any way," I said.

He got within a few inches of my face before leaning in close, his breath becoming increasingly heated with rage. "Massimo, I want to make things perfectly obvious to you. My daughter is gonna be divorced from you without further delay. You have no business being in our life, and I will not let you bring her any lower than she already is."

As he talked, Selene's voice was shaking uncontrollably. "Father, could you please—"

He interrupted her with an icy stare before returning his attention to me. "Boy, you've stayed far longer than you were invited to. I recommend that you take my advice if you are aware of what is best for you."

I was overcome with a sense of defiance, as if a fire had been lit within me. I forced myself to stand, maintaining a steady tone of voice as I looked Mr. Hastings in the eye.

"I won't end my marriage to Selene simply because you want me to. Our connection is between the two of us, and I won't submit to your authority over our personal life."

The expression of wrath spread across Mr. Hastings's face, and he sprang forward with his fist to smack me across the cheek. I was forced stumbling backward by the power of the strike, and as I did so, I pushed my hand to my burning skin. Selene let out a sharp gasp, her eyes was brimming with surprise.

He roared with rage, "You dare defy me in my own house?! he shouted.

"I won't let you control our happiness," I continued, my voice cracking but still determined. "I won't let you break us down."

He lunged forward and grabbed my collar with both of his hands before pushing me up against the wall. "There is nothing to you, Massimo. You can never measure up to my expectations when it comes to my daughter."

"You see, she's the princess of this family. We raised her because we want her to have the best life that she have, we always made sure that she was happy and will bring happiness to the family which we expects her to be, as she will be the next successor. You being present in her life is just a distraction towards that happiness that she deserves," Mr. Hastings said.

I looked at Selene, and as I did, she looked down. She can't look at me straight in the eyes, she was sorry, I can feel it, but she can't do anything at all.

I returned his look with anger, determined not to yield to his intimidation. "Maybe not in your eyes, but I won't let anyone else define my worth."

I was freed from his grasp with one final shove, and I could see the rage rising in his chest. "Get out of here before I do something that we'll both come to regret," he added.

"I don't intend to make any more problems Mr. Hastings, and I do t want to have a bad motive as well, might as well, you should keep your composure altogether," I added.

"Don't tell me stuffs, like that, you are not in the position to do so!" he added.

I know too well that I will never have the approval that I needed from the father that my wife have, she's clearly suffering as well, emotionally.

"Massimo, are you okay? Your cheeks is starting to bruise, let's go home now, I don't want you to suffer more," she added.

"I'm fine Selene, it's just a bruise, what matters to me is your feelings and emotions. Don't worry too much," I said. I looked at her and kissed her forehead, she was the woman that I'll literally take care of, and I am already in that moment that I must prove.

My cheek was still aching as I walked out of that mansion, and I couldn't help but feel a combination of embarrassment and determination as I did so.

The extent of Selene's father's contempt was brought home to me, but he also demonstrated that I am more resilient than I had previously believed.

The emotional barrier that existed between Selene and I had grown even farther, but the confrontation had also provided me with a refreshed awareness of my life's mission.

"Your father really doesn't support us, I feel bad about that. But I am not going to give up with the love that we both have built, we will make through with the things that we have started," I said.

"But Massimo, I don't know how long can I keep on making my father believe that I already over you, I don't want him to stress out as well, he had an illness," she added.

I looked at her with shock, I didn't know that he had an illness.

"What exactly is it?" I asked.

"Hypertension, and I was really afraid that he might get attacked with that. I don't want to happen to you, and to my father, it's harder for me because I cannot decide who to side with, so I just stayed silent, " she said, while a tear drops in her eyes, I immediately hugged her making sure that she had the comfort that she needed from me.

I would not allow myself to be intimidated by the opinions of others.