"We're here," the driver said.
Elias looked out the window. The location his father had sent him turned out to be… a beauty parlour?
A parlour? he thought, blinking in confusion. Why would Father send me here?
Before he could process anything else, a voice rang out.
"Young Master! You came!"
It was one of his father's assistants—someone he'd seen before but never spoken to directly.
"Do you know why my father asked me to come here?" Elias asked, stepping out of the car.
She shook her head politely. "I'm afraid not. I was only told to give you a full makeover and make sure you're ready."
"A makeover?" Elias frowned. "Why would I need one? Is Father attending some gala or business party?"
"I'm sorry, I can't give you that information," she replied with a professional smile. "Please, come quickly—we're running late."
Elias followed her inside, confused and increasingly uneasy.
His stomach twisted.
His eye started to twitch—a bad habit he had when something felt wrong.
Really wrong.
The assistant led him through the parlour. As the stylists worked on him, fitting him into an expensive suit and perfecting every detail of his appearance, he couldn't shake the dread building in his chest.
"Why am I even wearing a suit?" he asked again, more to himself than anyone else.
"I really don't know," the assistant repeated gently. "I was only given instructions to get you ready and take you to the next location."
Once the grooming was complete, she escorted him to a sleek black car waiting outside.
The drive was silent. Suffocating. Elias stared out the window, watching the city blur by as his thoughts raced. What was his father planning? Why all the secrecy?
Finally, the car stopped in front of an upscale restaurant. A sharply dressed waiter stood waiting at the entrance, holding the door open.
"Mr. Elias," the waiter said with a small bow. "Please follow me."
He led Elias down a quiet hallway and into a private dining room.
Inside sat his father—smiling.
And beside him was a woman Elias didn't recognize. She was dressed elegantly in designer clothes, her posture composed, her smile warm.
Elias greeted them politely. "Good evening… Father. Ma'am."
But nothing—absolutely nothing—could have prepared him for what his father said next.
"Elias," his father said smoothly, "meet Mrs. Lina. She's your soon-to-be mother-in-law."
Elias, shocked and confused but trying to maintain his composure, asked,
"My… my soon-to-be mother-in-law!?"
"Yes, son. Your soon-to-be mother-in-law!" his father said, using a tone Elias had never heard from him before. It sent a cold shiver down his spine.
The woman, noticing the visible shock on Elias's face, laughed lightly and said,
"Honey, why are you so tense? There's nothing to be nervous about! I was the same when I first met my in-laws—no need to be scared or so formal!"
Elias gave a strained, nervous smile, then glanced at his father. The man shot him a stern look. That single glance told Elias everything—he had to act the part.
Straightening his back, Elias forced himself to engage as the woman tried to ease the tension with polite conversation.
"So, how old are you, dear?" she asked sweetly.
"I'm 23," Elias replied.
"And what's your full name?"
"Elias… Elias Adrien Thorne," he answered, his voice steady despite the tightness in his chest.
The woman turned to Elias's father with a soft smile.
"My sweet boy Damien couldn't make it today—urgent business trip, you know. I'm so sorry about that."
Then, without hesitation, she and Elias's father began discussing wedding arrangements.
Elias sat frozen. Emotions swirled inside him—shock, confusion, betrayal. He had known his father didn't care for him, but marrying him off without even a warning? It felt like being discarded.
At one point, his father turned to him and asked,
"Does the wedding date work for you?"
Elias wanted to scream. He wanted to say no. But under his father's cold gaze, the words that came out were,
"It sounds… perfect."
Mrs. Lina beamed, rising from her seat.
"I've always dreamed of having a son-in-law like you, and now I finally get my chance. I hope you're satisfied with this arrangement, honey."
Swallowing down his dread, Elias forced a polite smile.
"I'm honored that you feel that way. Truly."
She laughed warmly and exited the room.
The moment the door closed behind her, Elias turned to his father, eyes burning with disbelief.
"Why?" he asked, voice trembling.
"Why did you arrange my marriage without even telling me?"
The moment the door closed behind her, Elias turned to his father, eyes burning with disbelief.
"Why?" he asked, voice trembling.
"Why did you arrange my marriage without even telling me?"
His father leaned back in his chair, completely unfazed.
"Because you're not marrying just anyone, Elias," he said, his tone sharp and cold.
"This is bigger than you think. And you don't have a choice."
Elias felt his pulse spike, his throat tightening.
"What do you mean I don't have a choice?" he demanded.
But his father only stood up, brushed off his suit jacket, and walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he glanced back at Elias and said,
"You have three days to end whatever relationship you're in. After that, your life changes—forever."
And with that, he was gone.