Chapter 3. Substitute Bride

“I won't marry that girl!” Leonardo shouted angrily, throwing the contract papers off the table. Alessandro, looking out of the window, listened to his son’s outburst. The study, lavishly decorated with antique furniture and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, was thick with tension.

"Leonardo. Try to understand. This wedding is very important for this merger," his father declared nonchalantly.

"No, Father, it is not fucking possible. I won't marry a slut like her," Leonardo refused sternly. "By the way," he narrowed his grey eyes sceptically. "I was supposed to marry Ricci's other daughter. So, why did they change the bride at the last moment?" he scowled.

"We don't know why they changed the bride. However, this marriage will only last for three years and not a real one, so it doesn't matter who the bride is," his father explained patiently, but Leonardo was not in a good mood to understand those things.

"Are you serious, Dad? You want me to marry a whore for a business deal ?! You can't force me to do anything. It's my life, for fucks sake," he huffed, throwing his hand in the air frustratedly.

"Leonardo, you have to marry her, and I am not asking you or giving you a choice, but... ordering you that this is inevitable," his father roared as his patience timed out. "You are supposed to be married to the Ricci girl only for three years, and after three years, whether you leave or divorce her, I won't stop you. I don't even care what you do after three years, but we need this merger for now to strengthen our company." 

His father was a very good businessman but was never a good parent. He never cared about his child's feelings but wanted only power and status.

He was an emotionless man and had brought up Leonardo to be one like him, ruthless and heartless. So now Leonardo was a cruel devil just like his father and had no emotion in his heart. 

His father had brought him up as an asset in business, which would make him more powerful, but it made Leonardo hate his father even more.

"I can't believe that you have become so blind that you can't even see the consequences. What about your reputation?! What will people say if you make a whore like her your daughter-in-law?! Are you not afraid that your respect in society will decrease?" Leonardo snorted.

"Mind your tongue, Leonardo!" His father barked. "And I don't care about what people say because only money and power speak and I can shut their mouth with my influence. You have no idea how much money and power we will get from this deal. This new status will take us to the height of success that no one has ever reached," he smirked cunningly before adding, "So it won't hurt to make a girl like her Morelli's daughter-in-law for three years. But remember that you must be in this marriage for the whole three years and don't make me repeat myself," his father threatened with a dangerous expression.

"Then please excuse me because I have no plans to get married in the future, and I cannot spoil my reputation just because of your fucking business deal," Leonardo said in a boring tone and began to leave the room. He had enough for the day.

"Leonardo, you can't defy me like this," Leonardo's father warned him, but he didn't stop."If you leave this room, I will disown you, and I will evict you from my property. You will lose your right over the Morelli Empire," he threw this trump card. "So the choice is yours. Live your life as you want and lose everything or marry that girl for only three years and rule the world like a king," he offered loudly, enough to make Leonardo halt at the door.

Leonardo closed his eyes, feeling the anger rush through his veins. He clenched his fists and took deep breaths to control himself as the killer Instinct within him kicked in, wanting him to kill someone right at that moment. He turned to face his father. His eyes were dark and emotionless as he stared back at his father.

"Fine, Dad! You won. I will marry the girl," he accepted firmly, raising his head. "Now, happy?!"

His father grinned triumphally. 

"I appreciate your decision, son. Trust me, it's good for everyone. Now, you may leave," Alessandro said arrogantly before turning to his wife. "Let's start preparing for the wedding, darling," he ordered his wife.

His wife, Anna, nodded as she picked up her phone and dialed a few numbers. Leonardo watched as his parents enthusiastically called everyone to give them the news.

He was promised to marry Ricci's elder daughter, Kate Ricci, but their parents switched brides, and now Leonardo had to marry Sofia Ricci.

He felt hatred and anger claw his heart. He had heard the youngest daughter of the Ricci family was ugly and uneducated. The Ricci family didn't care about her because her mother was a bitch who betrayed her husband and used to sleep around. That was why Carlo Ricci left her and married Kat's mother. But now, her daughter, Sofia, was no better than her mother. She was following her mother intently.

Though it would be a contract marriage, he could not help but feel disgusted by the thought of being with a girl like Sofia Ricci for three years.

"Fuck!" He groaned, coming out of his father's study. "My life is so screwed," he yelled as he kicked the wall. "But wait for the worst to come, Sofia Ricci. I will make your life a living hell," he gritted out, staring at the void. "Welcome to hell, Sofia Ricci!" He sneered with hatred.