POV Christophe Belrose
I don't need Malik to speak.
I know how to recognize failure.
The reports are clear.
Too clear.
The attempt to get closer to Esther Besson did not succeed.
Worse still…
Tony Arrisone has entered the equation.
I slowly close the folder lying on my desk, the leather snapping softly in the silence of my office.
The Arrisones…
With their power combined with that of the Bessons, things are becoming dangerously complex.
An alliance between these two families would make Esther almost untouchable.
"Three days," I say coldly into the phone. "Not one more."
On the other end of the line, a brief silence. Then a hesitant voice:
"Sir… Malik now refuses to act."
A slow, icy smile stretches across my lips.
"Then he forgets who gave him his name," I say calmly.
"And above all… he forgets the price of disobedience."
I stand and walk toward the large bay window.
The city spreads out before me, bright and arrogant.
Exactly like Alex Besson.
"Sir," my man continues, "according to our sources… the Arrisone family is planning to unite with the Besson family."
I turn around sharply.
"You mean… a marriage?"
"Yes, sir. An arranged marriage."
My blood runs cold.
Uniting their families through marriage…
That ruins everything.
She would be protected.
Watched.
Out of my reach.
Alex…
Always one step ahead.
But this time, there's no way I'm letting my plan fail.
"When will the marriage take place?" I murmur.
"We don't know yet. They're not releasing any information. Everything seems… very discreet."
Of course.
Alex will do everything to protect his daughter.
"And my son?" I ask in a low voice.
"Is he aware of this union?"
"No, sir. We don't believe so."
I clench my jaw.
"This marriage will not happen," I say slowly.
"And if they think this will all end with a quiet ceremony… they are gravely mistaken."
I dial Malik's number.
It's time to change tactics.
To manipulate differently.
More deeply.
I hang up.
A warning.
...
POV Esther
I wake up with a heavy heart.
Knowing that I'm going to marry this man turns my whole world upside down.
The thought of living with him… sharing a roof, a daily life…
My stomach tightens.
Damn it…
Couldn't my parents really have found anyone better?
But what's done is done.
Since yesterday, my phone hasn't stopped ringing.
Malik.
Again and again.
I decide to ignore it.
That liar doesn't deserve a single second of my thoughts anymore.
I focus on what se:
My family.
Myself.
The only positive thing in all of this is that Leila is arriving tomorrow.
I've missed her so much.
We'll make up for lost time… I can't wait.
Today, we're welcoming my future in-laws.
Who would have thought?
Me, Esther Alex Besson, getting married…
And on top of that, an arranged marriage.
I would have laughed in anyone's face if they'd told me this a few months ago.
Mina and I have to go to the jewelry store.
Apparently, to choose a ring for Mr. Grumpy.
I finish getting dressed, grab my bag and my phone, and leave my room.
In the living room, I find my parents sitting side by side, watching a movie like two love-struck teenagers.
"Good morning, lovebirds," I say with a smile.
"Watching a movie this early? Don't you have anything better to do?"
They look up, amused.
"Why? Are you jealous?" Mom teases.
I shake my head.
"Not at all. We can clearly see who the jealous one is here… and it's you."
I don't let her reply and slip between them just to annoy her.
"Esther!" Mom exclaims.
"Can't you sit somewhere else?"
Dad just laughs softly.
I pretend not to hear and turn to him.
"Dad, how are you?" I ask, hugging him.
"Very well, my darling.
You look ready."
"Yes. We're just waiting for Mina and then we're good."
"Alright. The guards will accompany you."
"No, Dad, please… not the guards."
He looks at me sternly.
"Esther, don't start again. You promised."
"Yes, but I'm with Mina…"
He sighs.
"Fine. One guard. Non-negotiable."
"Okay… that's better than nothing."
Mom steps in.
"Alright, that's enough. You can let go of my husband now."
I laugh to myself and stand just as Mina arrives.
"Shall we go?" she asks.
"Yes, of course."
We say goodbye to my parents and get into the car, heading to the jewelry store.
The Jewelry Store
When we arrive, we get out while the drivers go park.
Just before entering, my attention is drawn to a woman.
She is elegant, classy, with a soft, natural beauty.
Her skin is pale, almost luminous.
Her chestnut hair is pulled into a perfect bun, not a single strand out of place.
She's wearing a light-colored coat, perfectly fitted, and simple heels.
Everything about her radiates refinement.
But what touches me the most…
Is her gesture.
She bends down toward a small boy who is clearly homeless and discreetly hands him some money with a kind smile.
My heart tightens.
A simple act.
But so deeply human.
"She's beautiful…" I murmur.
Mina nods.
We then enter the jewelry store.
The place is bright, refined, silent.
I begin my shopping.
For Mom:
A delicate white gold necklace with a teardrop-shaped pendant set with a discreet diamond.
Elegant. Timeless. Exactly like her.
For Dad:
A Swiss watch, black leather strap, silver dial—simple yet commanding.
A man's watch. With character.
For Mina:
A fine rose gold necklace with a small engraved medallion.
She refuses at first, but I insist.
I want to make her happy.
For myself:
Two delicate silver anklets engraved with my initials.
A symbol. A reminder of who I am.
For Leila:
Dangling earrings shaped like leaves, set with small emerald-green stones.
I know she'll love them.
And finally…
Mr. Grumpy's ring.
I'd almost forgotten… if it were up to me, I wouldn't have bought it.
A white gold ring, simple yet elegant, with a subtle engraving on the inside.
"Ma'am, your purchases will be ready shortly," the saleswoman says with a polite smile.
"We'll wrap everything."
"Alright, thank you."
She walks away.
"Do you think Mom will like the necklace?" I ask Mina.
"She'll love it.
But you should be wondering whether Tony will like the ring," she says with a mischievous smile.
"Whether he likes it or not, I don't care at all.
How do you even know his size?" I add.
Mina shrugs.
"I think it was Alex who—"
She doesn't finish her sentence.
A voice suddenly shatters the calm.
"NO! THIS IS NOT OKAY!"
I jump to my feet.
"Esther—"
I hear Mina's voice, but I don't pay attention.
I run toward the voice, with her right behind me.
In another room of the jewelry store, a small crowd has gathered around two people.
I'm about to step closer…
But Mina grabs my hand.
My heart starts pounding faster.
Something is wrong.POV Christophe Belrose
I don't need Malik to speak.
I know how to recognize failure.
The reports are clear.
Too clear.
The attempt to get closer to Esther Besson did not succeed.
Worse still…
Tony Arrisone has entered the equation.
I slowly close the folder lying on my desk, the leather snapping softly in the silence of my office.
The Arrisones…
With their power combined with that of the Bessons, things are becoming dangerously complex.
An alliance between these two families would make Esther almost untouchable.
"Three days," I say coldly into the phone. "Not one more."
On the other end of the line, a brief silence. Then a hesitant voice:
"Sir… Malik now refuses to act."
A slow, icy smile stretches across my lips.
"Then he forgets who gave him his name," I say calmly.
"And above all… he forgets the price of disobedience."
I stand and walk toward the large bay window.
The city spreads out before me, bright and arrogant.
Exactly like Alex Besson.
"Sir," my man continues, "according to our sources… the Arrisone family is planning to unite with the Besson family."
I turn around sharply.
"You mean… a marriage?"
"Yes, sir. An arranged marriage."
My blood runs cold.
Uniting their families through marriage…
That ruins everything.
She would be protected.
Watched.
Out of my reach.
Alex…
Always one step ahead.
But this time, there's no way I'm letting my plan fail.
"When will the marriage take place?" I murmur.
"We don't know yet. They're not releasing any information. Everything seems… very discreet."
Of course.
Alex will do everything to protect his daughter.
"And my son?" I ask in a low voice.
"Is he aware of this union?"
"No, sir. We don't believe so."
I clench my jaw.
"This marriage will not happen," I say slowly.
"And if they think this will all end with a quiet ceremony… they are gravely mistaken."
I dial Malik's number.
It's time to change tactics.
To manipulate differently.
More deeply.
I hang up.
A warning.
POV Esther
I wake up with a heavy heart.
Knowing that I'm going to marry this man turns my whole world upside down.
The thought of living with him… sharing a roof, a daily life…
My stomach tightens.
Damn it…
Couldn't my parents really have found anyone better?
But what's done is done.
Since yesterday, my phone hasn't stopped ringing.
Malik.
Again and again.
I decide to ignore it.
That liar doesn't deserve a single second of my thoughts anymore.
I focus on what matters:
My family.
Myself.
The only positive thing in all of this is that Leila is arriving tomorrow.
I've missed her so much.
We'll make up for lost time… I can't wait.
Today, we're welcoming my future in-laws.
Who would have thought?
Me, Esther Alex Besson, getting married…
And on top of that, an arranged marriage.
I would have laughed in anyone's face if they'd told me this a few months ago.
Mina and I have to go to the jewelry store.
Apparently, to choose a ring for Mr. Grumpy.
I finish getting dressed, grab my bag and my phone, and leave my room.
In the living room, I find my parents sitting side by side, watching a movie like two love-struck teenagers.
"Good morning, lovebirds," I say with a smile.
"Watching a movie this early? Don't you have anything better to do?"
They look up, amused.
"Why? Are you jealous?" Mom teases.
I shake my head.
"Not at all. We can clearly see who the jealous one is here… and it's you."
I don't let her reply and slip between them just to annoy her.
"Esther!" Mom exclaims.
"Can't you sit somewhere else?"
Dad just laughs softly.
I pretend not to hear and turn to him.
"Dad, how are you?" I ask, hugging him.
"Very well, my darling.
You look ready."
"Yes. We're just waiting for Mina and then we're good."
"Alright. The guards will accompany you."
"No, Dad, please… not the guards."
He looks at me sternly.
"Esther, don't start again. You promised."
"Yes, but I'm with Mina…"
He sighs.
"Fine. One guard. Non-negotiable."
"Okay… that's better than nothing."
Mom steps in.
"Alright, that's enough. You can let go of my husband now."
I laugh to myself and stand just as Mina arrives.
"Shall we go?" she asks.
"Yes, of course."
We say goodbye to my parents and get into the car, heading to the jewelry store.
The Jewelry Store
When we arrive, we get out while the drivers go park.
Just before entering, my attention is drawn to a woman.
She is elegant, classy, with a soft, natural beauty.
Her skin is pale, almost luminous.
Her chestnut hair is pulled into a perfect bun, not a single strand out of place.
She's wearing a light-colored coat, perfectly fitted, and simple heels.
Everything about her radiates refinement.
But what touches me the most…
Is her gesture.
She bends down toward a small boy who is clearly homeless and discreetly hands him some money with a kind smile.
My heart tightens.
A simple act.
But so deeply human.
"She's beautiful…" I murmur.
Mina nods.
We then enter the jewelry store.
The place is bright, refined, silent.
I begin my shopping.
For Mom:
A delicate white gold necklace with a teardrop-shaped pendant set with a discreet diamond.
Elegant. Timeless. Exactly like her.
For Dad:
A Swiss watch, black leather strap, silver dial—simple yet commanding.
A man's watch. With character.
For Mina:
A fine rose gold necklace with a small engraved medallion.
She refuses at first, but I insist.
I want to make her happy.
For myself:
Two delicate silver anklets engraved with my initials.
A symbol. A reminder of who I am.
For Leila:
Dangling earrings shaped like leaves, set with small emerald-green stones.
I know she'll love them.
And finally…
Mr. Grumpy's ring.
I'd almost forgotten… if it were up to me, I wouldn't have bought it.
A white gold ring, simple yet elegant, with a subtle engraving on the inside.
"Ma'am, your purchases will be ready shortly," the saleswoman says with a polite smile.
"We'll wrap everything."
"Alright, thank you."
She walks away.
"Do you think Mom will like the necklace?" I ask Mina.
"She'll love it.
But you should be wondering whether Tony will like the ring," she says with a mischievous smile.
"Whether he likes it or not, I don't care at all.
How do you even know his size?" I add.
Mina shrugs.
"I think it was Alex who—"
She doesn't finish her sentence.
A voice suddenly shatters the calm.
"NO! THIS IS NOT OKAY!"
I jump to my feet.
"Esther—"
I hear Mina's voice, but I don't pay attention.
I run toward the voice, with her right behind me.
In another room of the jewelry store, a small crowd has gathered around two people.
I'm about to step closer…
But Mina grabs my hand.
My heart starts pounding faster.
Something is wrong.