Rowan raised his head to stare at his father straight in the face, and as his mouth opened, he knew what he was about to say would bring down the Donovan's mansion.
Probably shattering it into pieces...
"I'm not getting married." Rowan announced, his voice rising louder than he had ever dared speak in this study.
The announcement hit the room like a bomb.
Richard's head snapped up from the papers on his desk, his eyes narrowing with shock, not at what was said, but at the volume, at the audacity.
"What did you just say?" Richard asked slowly, his voice dangerously quiet.
Rowan's heart pounded in his chest, but he knew he had come too far to back down now.
"I said I won't be getting married," Rowan repeated, his jaw clenched. "Not to Melissa. Not to any woman you choose for me."
Richard stood completely still for a long moment, just staring at his son with an unreadable expression.
Then, slowly, he leaned back in his chair.
