Chapter 228: The helplessness
Liam arrived at the Lawson family villa. The smell of tobacco filled his senses the moment he stepped in. His sharp gaze swept across the room until it landed on his father, Rowan, sitting by the bar in the corner of the hall with a glass of wine in hand.
"You are finally here," Rowan said in his deep, composed voice, taking a sip. He gestured to the seat next to him. "Come, sit."
Liam walked up to him. "Dad, I’ve something to tell you," he said urgently.
"Sit first," Rowan replied calmly, pouring another glass and sliding it across the counter to him. His eyes studied his son with quiet curiosity. "What’s got you so worked up?"
Liam took the glass but didn’t take a sip. He put it aside, his impatience evident. "You won’t believe what I saw tonight," he blurted. "Let me show you."
Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he scrolled the screen down until he found the photographs of Riya and Zachary. "Here, look at this." He held up the phone in front of his father’s eyes. "This is the perfect woman you picked for me. She is having an affair with her uncle, the Grants’ sworn enemy. Do you still think she is fit to be my wife?"
Liam’s father simply glanced at the photograph but didn’t show any interest in checking it properly. Instead, he reached for a cigar, lighting it with deliberate calm.
"If she truly cared about Zachary, she wouldn’t have agreed to marry you," he said, exhaling smoke in lazy circles. "It’s just a passing affair. You’ve been with plenty of women yourself. Don’t tell me you expect your wife to be a virgin."
Liam couldn’t believe what he had just heard. He scowled, displeased. "I am not saying I want a virgin," he snapped vehemently. "But she is hooked up with Zachary. You are well aware of what kind of man he is. And you also know that he has enmity with the Grants. Yet you still expect me to marry her? Are you even listening to yourself?"
"Enough," Rowan thundered, slapping the bar counter. His eyes flashed with fury. "Why are you making such a scene over something so trivial? She is an adult. She can sleep with whomever she wants. What matters is that she agreed to this marriage. Don’t forget how crucial this alliance is."
He lifted his chin, his voice hardening. "You have been away from town all those years. You have no idea what I’ve gone through to keep this family and the company afloat. We need the Grants’ backing and investment. Without their support, the Lawson Group can’t function properly."
But Liam wasn’t willing to agree it this term. "I am an established designer now. I can help you recover the losses. We don’t need to depend on the Grants all the time. And we certainly don’t need this marriage deal. Trust me, Dad. I can make things right..."
"Humph," Rowan let out a cold snort. "Your small fashion design company is not sufficient to support the huge Lawson Group. Don’t be delusional, son. Be practical."
He exhaled deeply, his expression softening. "I understand how you feel." He put a hand on his shoulder. "But don’t get emotional over a woman. This marriage is just for appearances. She’ll be your wife in name only. You are free to live however you want."
Liam’s insides filled with bitterness at his father’s words. "I don’t want such a kind of marriage. I want something real. I want to marry the woman I love."
With each word, his voice grew louder. His desperation reached its peak. "I refuse to marry her," he shouted.
"Liam, are you opposing me?" Rowan thundered in a threatening way.
"Yes, I am," Liam shot back, meeting his father’s furious gaze without flinching. "I only agreed to this arrangement because of our long-standing ties with the Grants. But I had no idea she was involved with Zachary. He is their sworn enemy—ours too. How can you expect me to trust a woman like her?"
He cocked his head, shooting him a look of disbelief. "That woman is a snake. If she can betray the Grants, what makes you think she won’t turn on us next?"
His voice steadied with finality. "I won’t marry her. Not now, not ever. You can’t force me anymore."
Rowan clenched his fists, his eyes shutting tightly. Helpless energy coursed through him. But ironically, he couldn’t show it.
He already knew about Riya’s involvement with Zachary. Despite this, he could do nothing. Zachary was holding a secret that forced Rowan to stay silent and protect their affair.
Rowan had no choice but to agree to his terms. Even knowing the truth, he pushed his son to marry Riya to help Zachary hide his secret affairs. Now facing his son’s fury, a wave of unease settled over him. He had no idea his son, too, would find out about Zachary and Riya’s relationship.
A darker fear crept in.
What if Liam’s rage led him to do something reckless, something that would put him into further danger?
Frustrated, he groaned, rubbing the back of his head roughly, "Ugh...Why can’t you understand it? I’ve told you before—this marriage is crucial, for us, for the company. Can’t you be a little more reasonable?"
His blunt words only deepened Liam’s hurt. "Do you even care about me?" he exclaimed, his hands shaking with anger and pain. "I’m your son, not a bargaining chip for your business deals."
"Liam, Liam," Rowan hissed with rising anxiety. "You are not getting it. Why are you so fixated on this? It doesn’t matter who Riya is sleeping with—Zachary or anyone else. It’s irrelevant. Stop worrying about her affairs and focus on yourself and the company."
Liam’s eyes narrowed as he studied his father. The faint sheen of sweat glistening on Rowan’s forehead didn’t escape his notice. He doubted whether his father was in trouble.
"What’s going on, Dad?" he asked cautiously. "Are you hiding something from me? Tell me the truth... maybe I can help."
Rowan’s eyes softened as he looked at him. His composure finally broke. His shoulders sagged as he let out a heavy sigh. With his shaky hand, he lit up his cigar yet again and sucked the smoke deeply.
"There is a problem," he muttered slowly. "No one can help. If you refuse to marry Riya... everything will collapse."
Liam felt chills seeping into his bones as he watched his father. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice faltering.
Rowan looked at him apologetically. "I’m sorry, Liam," he mumbled. "It was my mistake. It’s because of my carelessness."