Chapter 4

Damian slams the file on the coffee table. He couldn’t feel anything but annoyance and frustration. Matthew and Victor flinch by the loud sounds.

“Son, you have no choice but to get married,” Mr. Flavio speaks firmly. He can’t help but worry about his son’s status.

“Is it important to get married? We can find other ways to maintain my status, Dad,” Damian speaks.

Mr. Flavio let out a sigh, “I know you hate it. But you have to find one mafia clan that has a daughter, and marry her.”

“You make it sound like easy stuff to do,” he scoffs, shaking his slightly. “You think I have time to be in a relationship with some bitches?”

“Angelo,” Gabriella firmly called his name.

Damian sighs and leans his back on the couch. His tongue poked his inner cheeks, holding his temper right now. No matter how angry he is, he still respects his parents. He knows his limits.

“Son, I know you hate it. But, I can’t hand over my throne if you don’t get married.” Mr. Flavio tries to give the good side to him.

“It's bullshit. Why do I have to get married to completely have the clan?” Damian speaks with a deadpan tone.

“It’s one of the requirements, son. I did that too to get this clan from your grandfather,” his father grins. He wrapped his arms around Mrs. Gabriella's shoulder, “Our marriage might not start because of love but...it is what brings us here.”

“Who knows, you might find a girl that can open your heart and make you feel...a different way?” Mrs. Gabriella smiles.

Just hearing those sentences made Matthew stifled with laughter. The sight of Damian falling in love and being attached to someone makes him laugh. Damian looks at him over his shoulder with sharp eyes.

“Ehem...” Matthew clears his throat. Victor sighs and shakes his head at his friend.

“Seriously, mum?” he looks at his mother. “That was the cringes things I ever heard of.”

“Who knows though. You can’t expect the future, Angelo,” a smile tugged on her lips.

Damian just closes his eyes and breathes out in annoyance. Not towards his parents but those sentences could make his ears bleed. Mr. Flavio saw that expression on his face. He sighs again knowing it is not something Damian is fond of.

“Okay. How about we make it like this,” Mr Flavio leans forward with his elbows on his knees, “I will make a deal with you with this whole marriage stuff.”

“What?” Damian arches his eyebrows slightly.

“We will change the procedure. You still get married to anyone you choose whether she is from a mafia clan or not but you can get a divorce after that ONLY....”

Mr. Flavio pressed the word. He lifted his pointed finger, “Only if you keep the marriage for only one year. Then, you can get a divorce with her.”

“One year?” he squints his eyes a bit.

“One year. Only one year. In that one year, I want you to treat your wife with full affection and no harsh treatment. No argument. You take care of her well-being and needs,”

Mr. Flavio makes him roll his eyes. Those are like a heavy task to him. He never takes care of anyone but himself. Not to mention women. He might have gone to the club and met a various type of women but never took an interest in them.

Just the thought of having one woman stick to his side made him feel like a heavy burden on his shoulders.

“If I did that...you will never take the throne back?” Damian asks for confirmation.

“Yes, you have my word,” Mr. Flavio nods.

There’s a pause from Damian. He looks like in deep thought. After a while, he sighs, “Fine. I agreed.”

Mrs. Gabriella squeals to hear that. She can’t believe that her son will get married soon.

“Great. I give you time to find the wife that you want to marry. I wouldn’t judge whoever it is,” his father smiles.

Damian rolls his eyes and gets up. He grabs his car keys and the file before stomping off followed by his men. His parents just watch their son stomp off.

“Oh well, that went smooth,” Mr. Flavio shrugs his shoulder.

“This will make him hate you, you know that right?” Mrs. Gabriella looks at her husband.

He chuckles, “I know. I mean, do I care? I did it for his own sake. He will realise it sooner or later,”

“I don’t care what happened to you both. What matters right now is...you successfully make him marry!!!” Mrs. Gabriella squeals and jumps in excitement.

Her husband just rolls his eyes and takes a sip of his coffee from his mug.

“Imagine, if he falls in love and we might get grandchildren!!” she grins.

Her words make Mr. Flavio choke. He wipes his lips, “What!?”

“What do you mean ‘what’?” she frowns.

“Dear, you mean...Damian falling in love? Are you pulling my leg?” Mr. Flavio looks at her with disbelief.

Gabriella smacks his arms, “I’m not, idiot! Don’t say it like that as if our son doesn’t have a heart!”

“I mean... that's what I try to say,” he states the fact.

“He is your son! He has a heart! I’m sure of that!” Gabriella looks at the other guards, “Right?”

The guards are stunned as she suddenly asks them. They awkwardly look away not knowing what to answer since they agreed with Mr. Flavio.

“Even the guards are hesitant to answer you,” he chuckles and puts down his mug.

“Ughh!! What if he did fall in love!?” she puts her hands on her hips.

Mr. Flavio looks up at her with a smirk tugged on his lips, “You want a bet, dear?”

“Oh fuck yes,”

Gabriella glares at him.

Melody put her stuff in the slings bag and put it on her body. She shut her bedroom door before going downstairs.

“Where do you think you are going?” Frank questioned as he sat on the couch.

“Um...out for a moment,” she slowly speaks.

Frank looks up at her, “Sometimes, I just want to lock you up in your room,” he quipped.

Melody didn’t answer back.

“Anyway, I need you to sign this first,” he tossed the file on the coffee table.

She furrows her eyebrows. With a slow step, she moves towards it and takes a closer look. The file is in her hands and opens.

It was the property of her biological father that was being handed to her. But, the statement in it makes her heartbeat.

“What do you mean...’ the owner of the property has agreed to hand over everything she had?”

“Oh. All the property from your biological father that signed to be yours will be mine if you sign that,” Frank explains.

“W—What!?” Melody yells, “But, you can’t do that! It’s mine!”

“Do I care!? You are under me and I deserve that stuff!” he firmly said.

“No...No! It’s mine! My dad signs it to me! You can’t just take it away like how you take my life!” she talks back.

Frank gets up and stomps towards her. He grabs her jaw, “Who are you to talk like that to me, huh? I said it’s mine, right? You didn’t deserve this whole property, so bear with it.”

“Please... I—it the only thing my dad left for me...” Melody pleaded. Her voice held desperation since she had nothing if that property would be taken away from her.

“Oh please, don’t be so dramatic,” he chuckles. “I have the full right to have those since I’m your guardian. You follow my orders.”

“But—ah...” Melody winced in pain as he fists her hair.

“I didn’t know you could talk back to me,” Frank glares at her, tightening the grip on her hair. “I thought I have given you enough lessons to understand who’s in charge in this house.”

Tears brimming in her eyes. Frank pushes her away. She held back the sounds of her crying. Seeing her in this vulnerable state gives satisfaction to Frank. He knows she wouldn’t dare to fight back.

“Now, sign it before I give you even more lessons,” Frank crossed his arms on his chest.

Melody doesn’t have a choice but to lose everything. Her hands trembling as she grabs the pen from the file and signs the agreement.

A smirk tugged on Frank’s lips, “That’s a good girl.”

He snatched the file from her soon she was done signing it. Melody watches him walk away with that file.

“I’m sorry, dad...”