Chapter 1 – The Unwanted Proposal
Ethan Li had always believed that graduation would mark his freedom. The crisp morning air in the Li family mansion smelled faintly of jasmine, a scent his mother had always adored. Standing on the balcony of the Li residence, Ethan looked over the bustling city below, imagining a life of independence. A life where no one could tell him what to do.
"Ethan, breakfast is ready," his mother called, her voice tinged with concern. He turned away from the view, forcing a smile.
"Coming," he said, smoothing down his graduation gown. But inside, unease gnawed at him. Lately, his father's business deals had grown more desperate, and whispers of debt and obligations filled the house. Freedom, it seemed, was always just out of reach.
The dining room was immaculately set, the sunlight streaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, highlighting the silverware. But the serenity of the morning shattered the moment his father entered, a rare grim expression etched on his usually stoic face.
"Ethan," Mr. Li began, sitting down with a deep sigh. "We need to talk."
Ethan's stomach tightened. Something about the tone made his instincts flare, a warning he couldn't ignore.
"I…" Ethan hesitated, trying to mask his growing anxiety. "What is it, Father?"
Mr. Li didn't mince words. "The Li family is in financial trouble. Serious trouble. The debts we've accumulated… if we don't act fast, we could lose everything."
Ethan blinked. He had known the business was struggling, but the bluntness of his father's words made it all too real. "What do you want me to do?" he asked cautiously.
His father's eyes hardened. "You're going to marry Adrian Zhou."
The words hit Ethan like a lightning strike. He stumbled back, nearly tripping over his chair. "What?!"
"Yes," Mr. Li said firmly. "Adrian Zhou, heir to the Zhou Corporation. Our families' merger could save us. This marriage is not about love—it's about survival. And Ethan…" His father's voice softened slightly, "I know you'll resent this, but this is the only way."
Ethan's mind spun. Marriage? To Adrian Zhou? He had seen the young Alpha at a few elite events—cold, ruthless, and terrifyingly perfect. The idea of being bound to someone like him made Ethan's heart race… but not with excitement.
"I can't," Ethan said, shaking his head. "I won't."
"You don't have a choice," his father replied. "The contract will be signed next week. I'm giving you time to accept it, but you will not refuse."
Anger and frustration surged through him. Ethan had always been independent, relying on no one. Now, he was being handed a future like a gift wrapped in iron chains.
Later that day, Ethan found himself pacing the empty halls of the mansion, trying to breathe through the panic. He hated the idea of being tied to an Alpha he barely knew. Worse, he hated that part of him—his Omega instincts—was stirring at the thought of Adrian. He had always controlled it with suppressants, keeping his identity hidden from the world, but the very idea of a mate, of a bond… made his stomach twist.
He barely noticed when the soft click of heels announced someone entering the room.
"Ethan Li," a deep voice said, smooth and controlled, yet laced with an edge that made his skin tingle.
He turned to see Adrian Zhou standing there, impeccably dressed, every inch the Alpha he had feared. His sharp eyes scanned Ethan like a predator assessing its prey. "I hear we are to be… married," Adrian said, his tone flat, unreadable.
"Yes," Ethan replied, struggling to keep his voice steady. "By… necessity, apparently."
Adrian's lips curved in a small, calculating smile. "Necessity can be… persuasive." There was a pause, heavy with unspoken tension. "I expect this arrangement to be… mutually beneficial."
Ethan felt the heat rise to his cheeks—not just from embarrassment, but something deeper, instinctive. His suppressants seemed weaker in Adrian's presence, and a strange flutter in his chest warned him that this Alpha would be unlike anyone he had ever met.
"I don't care about mutual benefits," Ethan said, forcing bravado into his tone. "I don't care about you, or your family, or your empire."
Adrian's eyes narrowed slightly. "You will," he said simply, a quiet command that sent a shiver down Ethan's spine.
The morning sun seemed dimmer now, as though the world outside had grown colder. Ethan realized, with a mixture of fear and fascination, that his life had just changed forever. The contract, the marriage, the Alpha who stood before him—it was all inescapable. And deep down, he knew that his Omega instincts, no matter how suppressed, would not allow him to remain indifferent for long.
That night, as Ethan lay in bed, his thoughts refused to quiet. Adrian's piercing gaze, the commanding tone of his voice, and the way his presence seemed to dominate every corner of the room haunted him. He tried to focus on the practical: debts, contracts, survival. But the fluttering in his chest, the warmth that rose whenever he thought of Adrian, was impossible to ignore.
Ethan's hand unconsciously traced the edge of his bedspread as he whispered to himself, "How am I supposed to survive… him?"
Outside, the city lights shimmered, indifferent to the turmoil in the Li mansion. But inside, a storm had begun—a storm that would bind two strangers together, in ways neither of them could yet comprehend.
And so, the first chapter of Ethan's forced journey began…