I was used to not being the beloved girlfriend families hoped for. Andrew’s family had tolerated me for the sake of appearances and business, as I had realized after we broke up. And now, it seemed like the Browns would be yet another lesson that destiny had in store for me. That same destiny that clearly didn’t like me, considering all that kept happening."Could you change those shocked faces to more welcoming ones, Lucia and Clara?" Lucius asked playfully."Don’t take it the wrong way, our reactions are just from the surprise… at how soon you’re getting married because… well… um…" responded the one I now realized was Lucia, the soft-voiced woman."It’s reckless from any angle, Lucius," the other woman, Clara, chimed in.That’s when I remembered where I’d heard her voice before—she was the one who mocked me when I mentioned my relationship with the man standing next to me: Clara, Lionel’s wife. The one Lucius had some sort of issue with."That’s what you say, but you don’t know
"It would’ve been easier to go with that version. What difference does it make if it’s one or the other?" I asked, confused."Less drama with my uncles. More compatible and believable with my preferences," Lucius replied."Can you explain the drama part? How is a rushed marriage not dramatic enough as it is?" I questioned."Lucia and Clara didn’t come from money, and it caused a stupid war when they married into the family. We don’t need to overdo the whole 'love' story. The fact that our marriage is convenient makes it more credible. Settling down with someone on my level is how it’s supposed to be," he explained.His version made me think about all the things I wasn’t, and the things he wanted me to be. I was tempted to ask if he’d find someone else when this was over. Would another woman make him settle down, or would he decide that bachelorhood was better? But before I could ask, his phone rang. He answered with a few short responses, then hung up."I have to head out for a fe
"It just happened. That’s how love is..." I said, scratching my chin."How beautiful love is!" she exclaimed, giving the plunger one final thrust before flushing the toilet without issue. "All fixed. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, Miss Marianne. Excuse me."She switched back to the submissive demeanor I saw when she first entered the room. After she left, I was still reeling from her bizarre behavior. I walked into the bathroom and opened the towel compartment. I had to react quickly to catch the towels as they started falling out.The compartment was stuffed with way more towels than it should have been. Half of them were the gray ones Martha had just brought, but the rest were cream-colored."Did she really need to bring more towels, or am I just being paranoid?" I muttered to myself.There was another knock at the door."Seriously? Another weird one? Haven’t I dealt with enough crazies for the month?" I groaned as I went to open the door myself this time.Instead of Martha
Children are sacred, no matter how you look at it. It’s an undeniable truth, and this status reaches another level when it’s about your own kids. So, hearing Clara say that Lucius put the youngest generation of the Brown family in danger goes far beyond what I can comprehend.“Sorry, but… what did you just say?” I needed to confirm I hadn’t had an auditory hallucination.“You heard me. Lucius is a walking danger,” Clara insisted.“Let’s not lose perspective because of our emotions, Clara,” Lucia interjected.“You’re right. Since you think I have a biased opinion, why don’t you explain Lucius’s latest stunt and how it affected our family? Go ahead, Lucia, it’s all yours,” Clara offered.Lucia looked uncomfortable, but prepared to dive into the topic.“Lucius is deeply valued in this family, but you should know about his inclination for adventure and… danger. Right?” Lucia began delicately, as if she were afraid of breaking me with what she was about to say. The longer she took to
"I'm 24, actually..." I corrected her, feeling embarrassed.“Well, that makes it so much better. Twenty-four and thirty-four—no power imbalance there at all, right?” Clara said sarcastically. “Can you understand where I’m coming from? Lucius has been through it all. One time he got involved in a famous celebrity cult; another time, he got hooked on some underground street-fighting thing. Are you really ready to marry a man like that?”Now I fully understood. The irresponsibility and wild nature of Lucius’s life were overwhelming. Being with him was a huge gamble, but I couldn’t ignore what being with him entailed. Lucius didn’t just drive me crazy physically—he had also helped me a lot financially. And this was a business arrangement. It was about money, appearances, and revenge.I was tired of being stepped on, and if being with him gave me power, I would take it. No matter the cost.“All I hear you talking about is his past, Clara. I haven’t heard a single bad thing about him in
"Is the mask finally dropping?""It’s not a mask—it’s my life. Marrying you is a risk that needs to be reassessed. I wasn’t aware of the danger involved before, but now I am. What do you say to that?""How much do you want?" Lucius responded bitterly."$100,000 a year, tax-free," I tossed out a number that was double what I earned annually. It was a lot of money for me, but for him, probably not so much.I couldn’t tell if it was disappointment or childish rage in his eyes, but either way, Lucius ripped the contract in half and threw it behind him."You’ll get your money. Now, come down for dinner," he muttered, his tone bitter as he walked ahead.A nasty taste lingered in my throat. I felt guilty, scared, but also relieved. Money—this was all about money, appearances, and sex. I needed to keep that in mind if I wanted to survive the world I’d thrown myself into.-With these thoughts swirling in my mind, I followed his order and headed downstairs. I traced Lucius’s steps until
Breaking out of an uncomfortable hug with so many eyes on you was no easy task. Thankfully, I felt a firm hand pulling me away from my future father-in-law. Lucius gripped my arm, drawing me back, while pushing Liam’s shoulder to create distance.“Control yourself. Don’t ever put your hands on her again,” Lucius warned his father darkly.“I was just saying hello,” Liam defended himself, turning to me. “Wasn’t I just saying hello, Marianne?”“Y-yes, you were…” I stammered, completely thrown off.“I like you,” he slurred, leaning in closer to me.The stench of alcohol on his breath was overwhelming, and I wasn’t the only one cringing at his behavior. A quick glance at Lucia and Clara confirmed they were just as embarrassed as I was.But when I looked at Lucius, I was surprised by what I saw. There was no sign of discomfort or shame on his face—just a cold, long-standing resentment that seemed to have been brewing for decades. It wasn’t something that shocked him anymore; it was som
"I’m going to turn in early tonight," Liam announced.As he left, I noticed he had barely touched his food, but no one made an effort to stop him. Lucius, distant and cold throughout the dinner, finished his meal without a word."Wasn’t that a bit harsh?" I whispered to him.Lucius shot me a look so sharp and irritated that it made me uneasy. He swallowed his last bite, tossed his napkin onto his plate, and stood up abruptly."Leonardo, we need to talk. Now," he commanded, storming off.The rest of us at the table exchanged confused glances. Leonardo, calm as ever and seemingly used to his cousin’s outbursts, rose from his seat without fuss."I’ll be back in a few minutes. Please, enjoy dessert, Marianne. It’s always a hit with our guests—our pastry chef is otherworldly," he said kindly before following Lucius.I offered him a smile as he left, though my attention was drawn more to the scene unfolding between the two cousins. Despite the alluring sight of the decadent dessert—a