Chapter 2: Bring a wife.

★THE NEXT DAY★

"Shit!" Mia banged her fists on the blaring alarm clock.

With a loud groan, she mumbled some words and snuggled under her duvet for comfort. Can't she get a little more sleep?

"Mia," her mother's voice approached her room and her door swung open.

"Good gracious!" Mrs Lopez exclaimed, taking in the awful state of her daughter's room in disbelief.

In a second, she yanked the duvet off Mia's body and Mia felt a loud smack on her ass.

"Mom! What was that for?" She cried in pain, rubbing her aching butt.

But when her eyes darted around her untidy room, Mia gave her mother a nervous smile.

"What have you been doing these past weeks?"

"I've been busy, mom."

"Busy?"

Mrs Lopez sent Mia a disapproving glare, picking up a comb lying carelessly on the floor. Mia knew what was coming next.

"Mom!"

"You should learn from your sister!"

"I'm sorry!"

Mia ducked the comb thrown at her, and her legs tangled with a heap of clothes and she wobbled, falling into a pack of opened boxes.

"Ouch!" she groaned, scurrying to the bathroom.

Mrs Lopez sighed, closing the door after her.

*

"I'm late!" Mia exclaimed, sprinting into the kitchen in her black top and baggy jeans, as she packed her hair in a messy bun.

"Did you see the news, Mia?" Tammy looked up from her phone, a plate of cereal in front of her.

"What news? And where's mom?"

"Goodness! Mia, it's everywhere. Mom left to get groceries." Tammy's brown eyes were worried.

Mia raised a brow, fishing out her phone and she scoffed when she saw the notifications pop up on her screen.

"This isn't fair."

"You didn't tell mom you were thrown out of X-World."

"I didn't want her to get worried." Mia snapped.

A picture of her on the floor with her disheveled hair was trending.

#crazygirl kicked out of X-World Entertainment during audition.

#wannabe actress humiliated.

Wannabe? Why will netizens have such misconceptions about her.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Mia bit her lips.

"You don't seem fine. Oh, I'm late for school. Love yah!" Tammy pecked her cheeks and Mia's eyes widened when she saw the time.

"Oh God!" she shrieked, and grabbed an apple, bolting out of the house.

She worked part-time jobs, and the cafe was across the street. Mr Hudson, her boss would kill her if she goes late again.

*

[CAFE SHOP]

"Mr Hudson has an important guest in his office, a bit of luck on your late ass," Grayson's voice laced with mockery when Mia joined him at the counter.

"I'm not in the mood, Gray," Mia sneered and he chuckled, flashing her his cute dimples.

"You're on the news."

"That wasn't.. me" Mia said through clenched teeth.

"You weren't here yesterday. Your hair gave you out," he grinned and she rolled her eyes.

"Fine!"

"Are you okay?"

"Why do you care, Gray?"

She was losing it already. Grayson was her colleague at the cafe shop, and he knew of her dream to become a celebrity. They have always been on each other's neck at the slightest moment.

Grayson stared at her for a minute, before going over to take orders.

As Mia tried to get back to work, her phone rang, she glanced at the caller and shoved her phone back into her pocket.

"Isabella won't let me hear the end of it."

*

[SINGH'S MANSION]

After an hour of tense silence in the grand dining hall, with the clattering of cutlery against plates, Mateo Singh, a sturdy man with handsome older features, cleared his throat.

"Xavier," he started and Lucas groaned loudly.

"Why must it always be Xavier?"

Xavier raised his blank eyes, his domineering aura filling the room. "Yes, father."

"Calm down, mon peach." Xavier's step mother, Camille Singh, smiled lovingly at Lucas, before giving Xavier a hateful glare.

Lucas' wife, Mitchell, sat beside him, eating quietly with her eyes lowered.

"I feel it's the right time to hand over the reins of Singh Empire to you," Mateo Singh continued and Xavier lifted his eyebrow.

Finally, his father was changing his mind.

Camille Singh gasped in shock, her face contorted in disbelief. The atmosphere thickened as Lucas banged his fist on the table, startling his wife.

"How can you do this, dad?"

"Lucas!" Mateo raised his large hands, his voice etched with irritation.

Xavier remained quiet.

"Do not call my name, dad. You're letting this illegitimate son of yours take over!"

"Stop it, mon peach," Camille cautioned Lucas and turned to her husband.

"Darling, what are you saying?"

"No one says another word," Mateo's voice turned cold, and the table fell silent, but Lucas blood boiled in rage.

This news was unexpected. He has waited patiently all these years, with thoughts of taking over the empire. His father had never loved Xavier. Why will he hand over the family greatest wealth to him, leaving him with nothing? Lucas hands trembled in fury but Mitchell squeezed his hand gently.

"You really can't do this to your son, darling." Camille protested, trying to keep her cool.

"No more words, I say!" And she clamped her mouth shut.

"Xavier is my son, too. He has proven himself worthy. But Lucas, what has he done except being his brother's shadow?" Mateo Singh's voice was harsh and cold and Lucas turned beet red.

"I'm glad you made the right choice, father." Xavier's deep voice dripped with a hint of arrogance and mockery, and Lucas shot him a malicious glare.

Mateo nodded in approval, "But, on one condition will my empire be handed to you."

"What's that?"

"I need to be sure of an heir, Xavier. Bring a wife in less than a month."

"What?"

A loud gasp spread across the table and Xavier's chiseled features hardened.