Chapter 832: Nathan’s Chosen Wife
Nathaniel reached the guest mansion where Lord Mortem was staying. He was waiting in the study for him.
"What’s the reason to call me so late?" Nathaniel asked as he barged into his study.
His father remained unaffected, as he met Nathaniel’s gaze with calm. "You came anyway, that means you didn’t forget to obey your father." A light smirk played on his lips.
Nathaniel let out a mocking scoff. "Maybe I want to know what you plan, so I can enjoy ruining it. It’s my most favourite pastime, if you are still aware of it."
"Sure," he said and put one scroll on the table. "I have fixed your wedding."
As if it was a big joke, Nathaniel laughed. "Oh, and you believe it will even happen."
"Before saying anything, I would like you to take a look at the engagement letter," Lord Mortem said with utter calm, his gaze mocking as if he was looking at trapped prey.
----
Nathan picked up the scroll and opened it, his eyes turning into shock the further he read.
"You can create trouble this time, as it will tarnish the image of someone you wouldn’t want," his father said smugly. "I dare you try breaking this engagement. If you do, this time I won’t hesitate to use my card against your friend Aaron and strip him of his title of lord. And his entire estate will be under my control."
Nathan crushed the scroll in his hands and tossed it on the table. "You won’t. That’s Aaron’s...."
"I have already prepared a letter of authority for Aaron. As he is here to attend this wedding, I will personally hand it over to him," the smug man interrupted him. "And I know, for his dear friend’s sake, Aaron will agree to it."
"Don’t bring him into our matters."
"I will," he scoffed. "It’s your fault for having such weakness that allows me to control you. And I have nothing to lose even if you say no to this arrangement. I will be a lord of another prominent territory. And I will make sure Aaron is forever banished from returning to his home. So think before you disobey me this time."
"Do you think you can blackmail me this way?" Nathaniel countered angrily. "Even if I marry, you will never get an heir."
"I am sure you wouldn’t want to ruin at least that girl’s life," he said, evil in his eyes.
There was silence on Nathaniel’s face as he glared at that thrown scroll as if he wished to undo it all.
"I will take your silence as yes," Lord Mortem said. "Tomorrow, you are having morning tea with your future wife. Make sure to behave. You are dismissed."
Nathan clenched his fists, angry and helpless at the same time. He left, only to return to where his friends were. Aaron was waiting by the door of the lounge room.
Seeing him angry, Aaron stopped him at the door. "What happened?"
"Where is that bastard?" Nathan growled in anger and marched inside the room. Others were taken aback by it.
He went straight to the one he was looking for and held his collar in anger. "Asshole, don’t you love your sister?"
"Nathan, what happened?" Arthur asked, startled by his anger but still calm. "My sister? What?"
Nathan didn’t let go of him. "What kind of a brother are you, huh? Don’t you know what I am, and you want to marry your sister to me?"
Now Arthur’s expressions changed to serious and angry ones. He shrugged Nathan’s hands away to free himself. "What the hell are you talking about? My sister Evie?"
"Yes, that’s right, you bastard," Nathan’s angry voice echoed inside the lounge. "I am just returning from the engagement agreement signed between our families. That asshole showed me."
"That’s not possible. It won’t happen unless I know about it," Arthur said, equally angry. "I would keep my sister unmarried for life than marry her to you. I am not crazy."
"Really?" Nathan mocked. "Then go and ask your father. Make sure you take it back, or I swear, I will beat the hell out of you for letting it happen."
Arthur stood his ground as he faced Nathan. "And I will kill you before you even get to marry my sister."
"Calm down, you two," Arlan finally spoke. Others didn’t know what to say as it was utterly shocking news for everyone.
"No," Arthur said. "First, I need to talk to my father. I can’t let this happen," and he left in a hurry.
Arlan went to Nathaniel. "Calm down. You see Arthur is not aware of it either."
Nathaniel met his gaze. "You are so calm, that means you knew?"
"Yes, but it was late. They had already made an agreement."
Nathan pushed Arlan’s hand away. "And you didn’t bother to tell me. All that talk from you when you asked me to think about having a family is because you knew this."
"If you had no option but to go ahead with it, then you would rather accept it with a clear mind," Arlan said.
Nathaniel gritted his teeth. "That bastard knows if I marry her, for the sake of my friendship with Arthur, I have to accept her as my wife. He intentionally chose her."
"Then you can say no to it," Rowan said, finally done with watching.
"I..." Nathaniel stopped as he watched Aaron coming to him from where he was at the door. He looked away and said, "I can’t say no this time."
"What did your father get on you this time? Didn’t you spoil his plan before?" Rowan asked.
Nathan kept quiet.
Before, his father didn’t use Aaron against him because even if Nathan had married, he wouldn’t have let that woman be his wife.
But this time, his father had trapped him using both his friends. Neither could he fail Aaron, nor could he hurt Arthur by ruining his sister’s life.
He was trapped.
"I will talk to your father," Aaron said. "I am sure..."
"No, you are not going to him," Nathaniel quickly said, anxious inside. "I will handle it. Arthur will find a way. We know he loves his sister and he won’t let it happen."
Inside, he was still not sure, but he would never let Aaron meet his father.
