⭐ Leona's POV ⭐

"Nelson, you better say it before I punch you hard. We don't have all day", uncle Matt spoke. Why the hell they all are afraid to say it?

A few more threats and glares later... uncle Nelson dropped the biggest bomb in the entire history. "We have decided to merge the companies by getting you both married to each other."

Time froze. But my jaw fell open.

Marriage. With Rafe. That's all my brain registered.

Slowly, very slowly I turned my head to look at the asshole whom I am supposed to marry. He did the same thing. Looking at me in shock.

We stared at each other, not moving. And then I gaged all of a sudden realising I have to marry him. Him.

And his chair was lightly tilted back and he fell down on his back along with the chair, coughing loudly clutching his throat as if he couldn't breath while I was gagging.

Uncle Nelson placed his palm over his face, blowing out air from his mouth as if he already expected this reaction from us.

"Give them water", father said to no one in particular.

"Give them whiskey." Uncle Nelson gave a better option. And uncle Matt gave him a pointed look, silently telling him to shut up.

Harris got up from his seat and left in the direction of the kitchen to get water or whiskey...who knows.

Eventually, I stopped gagging and Rafe's coughing stopped as he stood up straight and picked up the chair from the floor. His face was flushed because of coughing so much and his eyes were wide.

"That's the solution you all came up with?", he questioned in disbelief. "Seriously?"

I looked around the table at everyone's sheepish expressions. "Don't tell me you all knew about it?"

Addison smiled sheepishly and nodded lightly and so did my mother, both the aunts and Raven.

I gritted my teeth and refrained myself from lashing out at them all. They knew. They all fucking knew.

Harris returned from the kitchen with a bottle of whiskey in his hand as he placed it on the table infront of us.

Uncle Matt gave his son a 'are you fucking serious' look as he sat down on his chair.

I ignored them. "I'm not marrying him!" I stated firmly to father and uncle pointing a finger at him.

Rafe scoffed loudly and rolled his eyes. "I'm not interested either." He finally sat down beside me.

Father rubbed his temples as he thought about something. Uncle Matt sighed loudly as he leaned back and uncle Nelson...well...he was reaching towards the bottle of whiskey trying to be subtle at which he failed. And uncle Matt smacked his shoulder telling him to stop behaving like a kid.

And I realised that when Harris went into the kitchen, he even brought a packet of chips from which he, Raven and Addison were secretly eating as they watched us as if a show is going on.

Rafe seemed to notice that and he gave his twin and his cousins a deadly glare.

"Father", I finally spoke up. "I don't need a man to keep me safe. I'm not marrying anyone especially not him."

"Leona...and Rafe...", uncle Matt said softly. "We thought this through. This is the only solution we have right now. And for some other solution we need time which we don't have."

I opened my mouth to argue but father cut me off, "I know you don't need a man to protect yourself, Leona. We all know. But...if you live here, in Australia, you will be more safe."

"And...we can keep the company safe and more powerful by merging them both and the world will think that you both are in love hence, you are getting married and merging the companies too." Uncle Matt explained.

My brain was trying to process the information.

Okay...uncle Matt did have a point.

But...

"If marriage is the only solution then why can't I marry him instead?" I pointed at Harris. His eyes widened, his mouth full of chips as everyone looked at him.

Harris is a better option than Rafe. A lot better. He's my best friend and if I have a choice to choose between him or Rafe, of course I will choose him.

Uncle Nelson cleared his throat. "Um...

We have to merge the companies too and if we merge the Hamilton and the Wilbrose Enterprises then you will have to marry the CEO of the Hamilton Enterprises..."

"So?", I asked dumbly and noticed Rafe rolling his eyes.

"Leona", father said. "Harris is not the CEO of Hamilton Enterprises, in case you forgot. It's Raven and as far as I know you are not lesbian or bisexual. I mean...if you are then you can marry Raven...I don't have any problem."

Oh, fuck.

I looked at Raven who was already looking at me with a grimace on her face as if the idea of marrying me disgusted her.

Well...of course, we both are straight...

"Whatever...", I muttered sheepishly.

"So, it's decided. The wedding will take place two weeks later." Father stated.

"Whoah, whoah, whoah." Rafe interrupted quickly. "We never said yes to it. I'm not marrying her nor is she marrying me."

"For the first time...I agree with him", I added. "We are not getting married."

"I told you it would never work", uncle Nelson murmured to uncle Matt and he scowled at him.

"It's for your safety, Leona." For the first time during this whole conversation, mother spoke up.

"Mother...", I said in disbelief, frowning at her.

"It's final, daughter." This time father stated firmly.

"I'm not marrying this old man!"

He's six years older than me for God's sake!

"I'm not an old man!" Rafe gritted his teeth.

I turned to him. "Oh really? You only said earlier to show some respect cause you are older than me." I retorted.

His eyes blazed with rage, his jaw clenched tightly and he opened his mouth to probably curse at me but uncle Nelson was quick to intervene. "Rafe. Enough." And I gave him a toothy grin angering him further.

"You both are getting married. That's final and there will be no more arguments." Father spoke again.

If that's the case...then I will have to pull out a wild card.

I took a deep breath as Rafe grabbed the bottle of whiskey and opening it, took a huge sip of it.

"Well...then... there's something you all need to know too...", I annouced gaining everyone's attention except Rafe who was busy drinking. "I'm pregnant with someone's child."

Okay. That was a huge shock as Rafe spluttered out all the drink onto the table and he almost choked as he started coughing hysterically.

Everyone else was too astonished to react and give him water or something.

Thankfully, his coughing subsided soon and he wiped away his mouth with the back of his palm. "You are pregnant?!" He was the first person to question and his eyes glanced at my belly.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Yes."

"And who the fuck is the father of the child?", father asked.

Oh, shit. I didn't think about that.

Can I say it's Rafe's? Eww...no way.

"The father of the child is..." I gave a huge pause for a dramatic effect. My eyes landed on Harris and he realised what I was going to say. "Harris. He's the father of the child."

Now every head snapped to him and he looked like he was about to faint any moment.

"W-what?" He got up and took a step back. "What the hell are you talking about Leona?"

Father was already on his feet, ready to kill him. "Harris." He threatened.

"Uncle, no!" He defended himself. "It's not true!"

"Why are you lying?!" He hissed at me.

Father had already walked over to him and grabbed his collar and I quickly got up knowing he might hurt him.

"Father, father, father!" I stepped in between them, pushing father back. "He didn't do anything."

Behind me, Harris sighed. "Stop lying Leona..."

I gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry."

Father was glaring at me, not pleased with me and I apologized to him too. "I was... lying...I am not pregnant... especially not with his child."

He didn't say anything and just went and sat down on his chair and I sat down on mine. Everyone was quiet for a few seconds, calming themselves down.

"Oh, I forgot to tell something..." Uncle Matt spoke up. "The marriage will be just for six months. Within those months we will sort out the problem after which you both can part ways and carry on with your lives."

"And you are telling this now?" Rafe raised his brow.

"I forget." He smiled sheepishly.

Six months...

I saw Raven getting up and going out of the dining room and returning a minute later with a thin file in her hand which she placed on the table in front of us along with a pen.

It was the contract and we were told to read it. I placed it in between us so that we both can read it.

I went over all the points carefully and we both finished reading it simultaneously and Rafe pushed it towards our fathers as they went over it too.

I'm going to marry this asshole. For six months. Because for some stupid reason, they all think I will be safe with him.

Don't they know that he would love to murder me instead. What if he smothers me in my sleep?

All those thoughts kept running through my mind as Rafe signed the contract and passed it to me, handing me the pen.

I took a deep breath. I can do this. And I signed the contract, sealing away my fate with the man I hate the most.

Uncle Nelson pulled out a small jwellery box from his pocket and slid it down the table towards Rafe who picked it up with a heavy sigh.

Inside was an engagement ring, as expected and he took it out with a bored look on his face.

I held out my left hand and he grabbed it, a little harshly and slid down the ring down my ring finger.

He stared at me with a dangerous glint in his eyes. "See you at the altar, fiancee."