5. Forced Marriage.

Thomas was pacing up and down as he thought of how to convince him that there is nothing wrong with marrying Riya. He looked at his son, who was crying from the news he just heard from him.

"You can't expect life to always treat you well. Remember that." Thomas stated and he continued.

"Life was not good for us too... Until Riya's Father helped us up... If it's not for him, we won't have been here. You need to be grateful for Arthur and marry his daughter Riya,"

Damon just stood like that listening to him without looking up at Thomas and he swallowed hard and he cleaned his face with his hand.

"You know what Arthur is capable of doing to our companies and our lives if you say no to the marriage with Riya,"

"So, You better come inside and say yes to the wedding with Riya. Got it? I am not taking a no to this!" Thomas fumed.

Thomas turned around to walk away from Damon as soon as he said it but his eyes widened in shock as he saw Riya standing and watching them in distance.

Thomas looked around and then saw Damon lost in his thoughts.

"Damon, Riya is here... Behave please," Thomas said slowly as his heart beats faster thinking if Riya heard them talking.

Thomas looked up at Damon again and saw him looking at Riya. Thomas released a relief breath as he saw Damon back with his firm expression as if nothing had happened between them.

Riya slowly walked towards them with a frown face and stood in front of Thomas.

"Is... Something is wrong between you and your dad?" Riya asked, looking at Damon she was worried seeing his red bloodshot eyes which he is hiding from her by looking away from her.

"Umm... Huh? No, Dear. Nothing is wrong... Right, Damon?" Thomas said with a half smile on his lip.

Thomas looked at Damon and saw him taking a deep breath before nodding his head yes.

"See, nothing is wrong. It's just... He is busy with business and projects these days... He didn't even have a peaceful sleep for days. So, he is just stressed about it. That's all. You don't have to worry about this." Thomas said, blinking his eyes.

Thomas was continuously talking without breathing which made Riya frown deeply and then, she looked at Damon.

Seeing him getting lost in his thoughts made her more worried about him. She didn't know what was going on between both the father and son but she is sure something was wrong because of the way Damon was reacting with his expression.

Riya was watching both from a distance talking to each other. She could see Damon was furious but she is not sure about what and also, she is not pleased with Thomas' answer either.

She wanted to go closer and hear the conversation between them both but she didn't find that appropriate at all.

Riya was also worried if they were talking about her and this marriage. She was scared that Damon wouldn't like her and wouldn't want to marry her.

Riya was so curious about the conversation between them that she just wanted to ask Damon directly about the marriage.

"Riya... It was nothing, Dear, you don't have to worry—” Thomas said, running his hand through his hair.

"Uncle Thomas, I want to talk to Damon... Alone. Privately," Riya said calmly, as she cut off Thomas in mid-sentence with her stern voice as she looked at Damon who still is trying to hide from her by looking around but not at her.

"Riya, Damon is trying to think about a few proj—”

"Yeah, that's okay... I still want to talk to him. Can we?" Riya asked with a serious face.

Thomas looked at Damon giving him a stern face and then back at Riya.

"Umm... Yeah. Alright. Damon…"

Damon looked up at him assuring him and Thomas nodded his head at him.

"I will leave you guys alone then."

Thomas gave a small smile to Riya and she returned the smile to him. Her eyes didn't leave Thomas until he disappeared from her sight.

Riya slowly walked towards Damon and he gave her a close-lipped smile which she instantly knew was a fake one.

"Damon... You okay?" Riya asked, making eye contact with Damon.

"Yeah... I am," Damon stammered.

But Riya knows, he was not okay.

"I am your best friend. I know you from in and out... You can't lie to me. I know you are not okay... Is something wrong?"

Riya was worried and also scared of being rejected by Damon. She doesn't want to irritate Damon anymore and just wanted to ask him the question that's bothering her.

"You don't want to marry me?" Riya asked, still looking at him.

Damon looked up at her directly into her brown eyes. He didn't know what to answer but he sure knows that his companies, his life, his parent's lives... Everything is dependent on him right now.

His one answer will change everything forever. He worked hard for his companies... He can't just let things go so easily with his one answer.

"You don't have to be scared of anyone, Damon. We have known each other since we were toddlers. You know, I am always here for you," Riya added and Damon nodded his head in affirmation.

"You mean a lot to me, Damon. Marrying is like a dream come true,"

"I love you!" Riya said and her breathing increased as she proposed to Damon.

Damon blinked his eyes at her with her confession.

"Yeah... You heard me... I love you. I love you a lot. I wanted to confess my feelings for years but I was scared that you might reject me." Riya shrugged her shoulders and looked straight into his eyes and she continued.

"There's nothing more to do if you reject me though... Other than dying,"

"Riya!" Damon exclaimed with wide eyes.

"Chill... Just because I said, I won't die… or maybe I do… anyways, tell me your answer. Do you want to marry me or not? Don't be scared and tell me honestly," Riya explained.

Damon closed his eyes and remembered how Riya was always a good girl and always helped her in ways. Gave him comfort as a friend but he never looked up to her as his wife ever... But, now... He has too. If he doesn't, then he can't guarantee her life.

"Damon, I am waiting for your answer," Riya said, looking at him for his answer.

Damon took a deep breath before he took a step closer to Riya and held her hand and said, "Riya…"

"Yes... Tell me," Riya answered, dating her eyes, and she heard difficulty in breathing with the fear of being rejected.

"I love you and I want to marry you," Damon pronounced.

Riya smiled brightly at his confessions but still, it feels like... This is a dream and not real.

"Is this for real? You just confessed your love to me and accepted to marry me?" Riya giggled.

" Yeah... I love you and... Let's get married," Damon answered with a smile.

Damon took another step closer to her. He wrapped one of his hands around her small waist and his other hand cupped her cheek. He moved his face closer to her and pressed his lips against her lips.