Ariel was stunned by the news her mother had just delivered; her face drained of color, a mix of shock and anger.
"W-what? What are you saying?" she stood abruptly, her eyes wide and furious.
"Please, dear! Try to understand the situation we are in," Ms. Smith begged, her voice trembling.
"No! No!" Ariel shook her head violently. Please, Ariel, my dear, save us from this chaos… I beg you," her father pleaded, pity and desperation in his eyes.
"Dear, you're no longer in a relationship, right? You broke up with Derek. This is the right time for this. Think of your family," Samantha, her mother, added with a heavy sigh.
"Dad! Why me? Huh! Why choose me over all the other girls dying to be Mrs. Hamilton?" Ariel's voice was a mixture of sorrow and fury.
"Old Hamilton wants only you to be his granddaughter-in-law because you're the most sensible and brilliant woman he has ever seen… and immensely talented as well," Sebastian said with a deep respect.
"Gosh! I can't marry someone I don't even know! I know… I know our family is in a miserable state. yes, we're on the brink of destruction" she gulped and continued "but haven't you guys heard about his grandson's reputation. He's a notorious playboy, the so-called 'King of the Night' How am I supposed to marry him? Dad, please… don't force me into this!" Ariel's words tumbled out, frantic and raw.
"My beautiful daughter! Okay, if you don't want to… but please… save me from falling apart," Sebastian said, cupping Ariel's face in his hands, his emotions almost too much to bear.
Mr. Smith wanted Ariel to marry into the Hamilton family to save their crumbling fortune. Their company, their home, their very name was at stake. His son needed expensive medical treatment. But despite the gravity of their situation, he could not force his precious daughter to marry someone she did not know or want.
"What? What are you saying, dear? We are on the verge of salvation, and now you're throwing away the only solution!" Samantha fumed, incredulous.
"Don't be ridiculous," she added, her tone sharp. At this stage in her life, she couldn't afford to be homeless or penniless. She needed her reputation back, no matter what the cost is.
"Please, Samantha, leave us alone," Sebastian intervened firmly.
"My dear daughter, if you don't want this, then you're not involved. Forget this conversation and go to your room," Mr. Smith said with a bittersweet smile and painfilled eyes.
"Dad, I'm… I'm sorry! I'm really sorry," Ariel whispered, running to her room. But her father's voice called from behind. She stopped, refusing to turn around.
"Ariel, my dear… I'm sorry. Forgive my selfishness. Please forgive your father," he said, his voice heavy with regret.
Furious, Ariel slammed her door behind her. She collapsed onto her bed, eyes closed, replaying her parents' words over and over.
"No! No! How am I supposed to live with someone I don't know or want? Oh, God… save me."
Hamilton Villa
"Mom… is this what he called punishment?" Lionel fumed, pacing back and forth, his anger palpable.
"Mom, is Grandpa going crazy? How can I marry a girl I don't even know?" he continued, his frustration rising.
"My dear son, please understand. And remember, this is your fault. Consider it as an opportunity. if he's choosing a girl for you, maybe he's giving you a chance," Mrs. Hamilton tried to soothe him.
"Mom! You know him… he's never liked me. He always compared me to that jerk Evan. I'm sure he chose someone just to make my life miserable," Lionel snapped, storming off.
"My gosh… let this be for good," she sighed heavily.
A few minutes later, Mr. Hamilton entered.
"What did he say?"
"You know him. Arrogant and defiant, as always. But… we have to make this work," Andrea replied, calculating in her mind.
"Do you know, Andrea? I can't understand why you accept this so calmly. Our son is going to marry a girl from a fallen family, and more importantly without his will!" Jon's anger was obvious.
"Yes, I know. And you know how Grandpa always adored Evan over Lionel… because Lionel is always a troublemaker," Andrea countered.
"So if Father is giving him a chance with this girl, she must be precious… the best in Father's eyes. She's going to challenge Lionel, making him competitive with the heir," she reasoned.
"Umm… maybe you're right," Jon nodded, with a gleam in his eyes.
"Besides, it's better to marry him off than to send him to failed companies or strip his shares. Don't you think?" Andrea added.
"You're right, of course," Jon smiled in satisfaction.
Meanwhile,
Lionel sat on his bed, furiously watching something on his tablet. "Are they crazy? How dare they post this? Ugh!" he yelled, throwing the tablet to the wall. It shattered instantly.
A knock came at his door. "What?" he barked.
"Are you okay?" Andrea entered cautiously.
"Mom… I don't want to talk," Lionel snapped, still furious.
"Listen… don't you want to beat Evan?" she asked, her eyes glinting wickedly.
Lionel shot her a glare, trying to read her mind.
"I think you do. But if you don't obey this time, you'll never have the chance," she said, resolutely.
"I don't want to marry," Lionel muttered, his voice softer now, tempted by the prospect of gaining his Grandpa's attention.
"I know, but there's no choice. Trust me, son, you'll like it. Just try," Andrea winked.
"Mom…" he groaned.
"I can't do it! How can I marry some stranger?" he added.
"Come on, my Lio… let's do it," she coaxed.
"No, Mom," he shook his head with determination.
Andrea's frustration bubbled. "Now you know why your Grandpa adores Evan more than you?"
Lionel's handsome face darkened, his glare sharpening.