"I'm pregnant?" Aria murmured under her breath as she stared at the two bright pink lines on the pregnancy test kit.
Her fingers trembled slightly as she held the small device, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.
She hadn't even planned to check.
For the past two weeks she had been feeling strangely sick, dizzy in the mornings, nauseous at the smell of food, and constantly exhausted. At first she had brushed it aside, thinking it was simply stress.
But earlier that morning, curiosity pressed at her.
Just to be sure, to clear her mind, she had taken the test.
And now it was positive.
Two unmistakable pink lines.
"I'm… pregnant. Pregnant for him?" Aria whispered in disbelief, her throat suddenly dry.
Her hand slowly moved to rest on her stomach as if trying to confirm the impossible truth.
Her chest tightened.
"I don't even know where he ran off to," she thought bitterly.
"We both had sex and he just… ran away."
Aria squeezed her eyes shut as a complicated mix of anger, frustration, and something she refused to acknowledge swirled inside her.
"Fine. I don't blame him for running away," she admitted silently. "I'm evil… just like the rest of my family."
Her lips curled into a faint, self-mocking smile.
"If he managed to escape from me, then that's probably the best thing that could have happened to him. As long as he stays hidden forever… especially from my father."
Her hand moved to her forehead as a dull headache began to form.
Her mind raced rapidly.
"I better abort the pregnancy," she concluded quietly. "I have no choice."
The words felt heavy even inside her own thoughts.
"I'm getting married soon anyway… to my long-time classmate who is now a famous engineer. Our families joining forces is exactly what my father wants."
Her shoulders slumped.
"And father always gets what he wants."
Knock! Knock! Knock!
The sudden knocking on her bedroom door startled her so badly that her entire body jerked.
Panic immediately rushed through her veins.
Quickly, she scrambled up from the bathroom floor and tossed the pregnancy test kit into the dustbin before anyone could see it.
"Sister! What are you still doing in there?" Eve's voice sounded from behind the door. "You know father doesn't have much patience. He hates it when someone keeps him waiting."
"I'm coming, Eve!" Aria replied immediately.
She quickly splashed water on her face, trying to steady her breathing before opening the door.
Only then did Eve finally retreat down the hallway.
*****
A few minutes later, Aria entered the grand dining hall.
The long dining table was already set with luxurious dishes....steaming soups, roasted meats, fresh fruits, and delicately prepared pastries.
Normally, the sight would have made her smile.
But today…
None of it matters.
"What's wrong with you these days, Aria?" her father, Mr. Wilson, asked the moment she sat down across from him.
His sharp eyes studied her carefully.
"You're always late for breakfast, lunch, or dinner lately. That's not like you."
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
"Are you okay?"
"Oh… yes, Father," Aria replied quickly, forcing a polite smile.
"I've just been a little busy these days."
She swallowed hard and lowered her gaze to the plate in front of her.
But the luxurious food that usually brought her so much joy now only made her feel nauseous.
Even the smell of it made her stomach churn.
She pressed her lips together, fighting the urge to gag.
Even though she was glad that the father of her unborn baby had disappeared, a small part of her still wished she could see him one last time.
Just once.
Just to know that he was truly safe.
But fate had already decided otherwise.
It is what it is. she thought with a quiet sigh.
"Are you ready for tonight?" Mr. Wilson suddenly asked, pulling her out of her swirling thoughts.
Aria blinked.
"Tonight?"
"You're meeting your future husband," he clarified calmly.
"Oh yes!" Aria answered quickly, clearing her throat.
"I'm ready to marry Thomas as long as it benefits our family."
It's not like she could refuse anyways.
She forced another smile.
"After all, his family is famous for their engineering achievements, and they're also well known in the medical field."
"Thomas?" Mr. Wilson repeated slowly, raising an eyebrow.
A strange silence filled the dining hall.
"I haven't even told you your future husband's name yet."
Aria froze.
"Oh…" she laughed awkwardly.
"Well, I knew Thomas back in college. It's been a long time since we've spoken, but I'm sure we could get along again."
Her laugh sounded forced even to her own ears.
Inside, her heart pounded nervously.
I really hope we'll get along. she thought with a heavy sigh.
"Well," Mr. Wilson finally said.
"You're not getting married to Thomas, Aria."
The words dropped like a bomb.
Both Aria and Eve froze instantly.
Shock flashed across their faces.
"Huh?" Aria blinked in disbelief.
"So… I'm marrying someone else again?" she asked, leaning back in her chair with a dry laugh.
"You see, I'm not even surprised anymore when my suitors turn me down."
She shrugged casually, though her voice carried a trace of bitterness.
"You are a Mafia Lord after all, Father. A ruthless one at that."
She gestured vaguely with her fork.
"And the rumors about me being just as ruthless as you are all over the news."
Aria sighed heavily.
"Any ordinary family would be terrified to marry into this one. They'd probably think you might wake up one day and decide to kill them all."
She gave a faint, sarcastic smile.
"So really… I can't blame them. Maybe I'm just not destined to get married," Aria said with a heavy sigh, leaning back slightly in her chair as she stared down at the untouched food in front of her.
Her fingers lightly tapped the edge of the table as if she were thinking out loud.
"Maybe I'm only destined to keep living here," she continued bitterly, "hiring male prostitutes whenever I feel like it and enjoying my life to the fullest."
She gave a dry laugh that carried no real humor.
"You are getting married," Mr. Wilson suddenly said, his deep voice cutting through the heavy atmosphere at the table.
Aria and Eve immediately looked up.
"But it won't be to Thomas," he continued calmly. "Although you will still be marrying into his family."
Both sisters' eyes widened in confusion.
"Wait… what?" Eve asked, completely losing interest in her food as she set her utensils down. "Then who exactly is she marrying, Father?"
Mr. Wilson calmly wiped his mouth with a napkin before speaking again.
"You're getting married to Thomas's grandfather."
The words fell into the room like thunder.
For a moment, the entire dining hall became silent.
Aria's fork slipped from her fingers and clattered softly onto her plate.
Eve's mouth slowly fell open.
"His… grandfather?" Eve repeated in disbelief.
"Yes," Mr. Wilson replied as if discussing something perfectly normal.
"The old man has had his eyes on you for quite some time now," he explained, glancing toward Aria. "But he only recently told me about it."
He leaned back comfortably in his chair.
"And you'll be the new Madam of their household. His current wife passed away not too long ago as you already know."
Mr. Wilson's lips curved into a satisfied smile.
"You'll live a life full of luxury, Aria. In fact, the man hasn't even married you yet and he has already transferred a number of treasures and properties into your name."
Aria blinked slowly.
"Huh…?"
Her brain struggled to process the information.
Did I just hear that correctly? she wondered inwardly with a scoff. Did he seriously just say I'm getting married to a man in his eighties?
"Are you serious right now, Dad?" Eve suddenly burst out with a disbelieving laugh.
Her chair scraped loudly against the floor as she leaned forward.
"You're selling my sister off!"
"I'm not selling her," Mr. Wilson corrected coldly.
"I'm offering her a life of unimaginable luxury."
He gestured dismissively with his hand.
"Since all the young men in this city refuse to marry daughters from our family, Aria has finally found someone willing to take her as his wife."
His tone grew calculating.
"And once the old man dies… she will inherit most of his fortune."
Aria slowly rose to her feet.
Her chair slid backward across the marble floor with a harsh sound.
"So that's how it is?" she said quietly.
Her voice trembled slightly with anger.
"To you, your daughters are nothing more than tools… tools you can use to gain more wealth."
Her fists clenched tightly.
"You're just trying to marry us off to every rich family in the city to satisfy your endless greed!"
Her breathing became heavier.
"That same greed of yours killed Mom!" she shouted suddenly, her voice cracking with emotion.
"And now you're sending me into a pit of hell too… all so you can acquire even more riches for yourself!"
"Aria!" Mr. Wilson barked sharply.
"Don't call my name!" she snapped back immediately.
Tears burned in her eyes but she refused to let them fall.
"I've already been going through so much these past few weeks," she continued angrily.
"I've been trying so hard to keep my cool. I even agreed to get married if it would benefit our family."
Her voice rose again.
"But I never expected that you'd sell me off to an old man! Someone who's older than you!"
The tension in the room became suffocating.
Mr. Wilson's expression darkened.
"I've already made my decision," he said firmly.
"You will marry the old man, Aria."
His tone left no room for argument.
"I don't care what names you call me. That marriage will happen."
He slowly stood up from his chair.
"And unless you believe you're old enough to disobey me now, you will follow my orders."
His cold eyes locked onto hers, his voice turned harsher.
"I did not raise daughters I cannot control."
With that, Mr. Wilson turned and began walking toward the exit of the dining hall.
But before he could leave....
"Will the family I'm marrying into still want me if they find out I'm pregnant?"
Aria's voice echoed through the hall.
Her words froze everyone instantly.
Mr. Wilson stopped mid-step.
Eve's body stiffened.
Aria crossed her arms and let out a faint scoff.
"I'm pregnant, Father," she announced calmly.
"For another man."
The silence that followed was deafening.
Mr. Wilson slowly turned around.
"You already know what to do about that situation."
His voice was emotionless.
"Terminate the pregnancy. The wedding will proceed as planned."
He shrugged lightly.
"I'm not terminating my baby."
Aria's declaration rang through the room.
Shock flashed across Mr. Wilson face.
"I'm keeping this child," Aria continued firmly, one hand instinctively moving to rest over her stomach.
"So you'd better cancel that marriage contract."
Mr. Wilson's expression turned dangerously cold.
"You will terminate that pregnancy not the marriage contract," he said slowly. "Or prepare yourself to leave this mansion while the idiot who got you pregnant also ends up dead as well as his family members."
"Leave the mansion? Like seriously?" Aria murmured under her breath but then Mr Wilson already left.