"A crown of thornes and stars to show the world that we are as much of dreamers as they are but we are merciless and restless in achieving our goals"

In this modern era, money brings two things: power and respect. One needed wealth to ensure power and respect.

And you know what ensures power, respect and wealth altogether?

The answer is simple Arranged Marriages.

A marriage of convenience.

But little do they realize marriage is marriage- love or arranged. Both require the same level of commitment, love, trust and respect.

––––––––

It was the D- day for Xin Zhenyi. Well, not in a good sense. Not in a good sense at all! She drank straight from the bottle, not bothering with the glass. It was barely the second bottle yet. Yes, it was not enough! 

"Mind sharing?" Fan Bingbing her assistant aka her friend asked as she tried to discover what was wrong with her boss aka friend today. She had never seen her behaving that way. Although Zhenyi had problems with her head and temper, it was still too much for her to drink so much. 

Handing her the bottle, she leaned back, closing her eyes.' God, I was going to murder someone Xin Zhenyi said in her mind. Every single thing was a nuisance to her. To say she was frustrated would be an understatement. She agreed that she might be the most frustrating creature to everyone else because of her temper and personality. In her defence, if they had a life like her where she would be hunted down every day. 

"This is such a sad day." 

Fan Bingbing frowned when Xin Zhenyi took the bottle back.

Zhenyi wondered what her friend would take to leave her alone for a while. She really had such a bad day where she would like to be alone and scream and yell to feel a bit good. 

Alas! It was not possible. 

"What's the man's name ?" She asked, picking the file in front of Zhenyi. She had guessed that Zhenyi was angry and sad because of that one forbidden subject. 

Ignoring her question for a moment, Zhenyi thought of all the things she could do to stop her father and grandfather from ending this marriage bullshit. 

"Long Jie, "Zhenyi said, taking another gulp. Look, even his name was frustrating. Imagine the frustration he would bring to her life. 

"Arranged marriages are such an old-fashioned concept that has almost lost their practicality. How can you get married to a man you've never met before? You don't even know what he looks like" Fan Bingbing asked. "What if he is an old man? Worse a man with tens of mistresses?" 

It would have been a good point if Zhenyi had an answer to her question.

Can she say her future-in-laws are loaded?

Alas! But did it matter?

Never mind, she chose to answer Fan Bingbing's question.

"The Longs are one of the most powerful clans, if not the most powerful family in the whole of China but the most powerful in Beijing. My Grandfather wants an end to this long-going rivalry between the Longs and the Xins, " Zhenyi replied. " So, even if I had no idea how he looked, or if he was attractive or hideous, I have to marry him. Because it doesn't matter. I am supposed to marry him because according to my father and grandfather, this is the best thing to do." 

He could be a man with a pot belly for all she had to care for. 

Her grandfather had talked of this marriage for the past two decades. She was almost a child back then, but later as she grew up and realized how a man was selected for her, it only upset her. She had grown up in the west and maybe it was the reason why she was not very happy with the whole system of arranged marriages. 

"So, it's like a political marriage just like how princesses were married to princes of other regions for benefits," Fan Bingbing concluded. It really left a bitter taste in her mouth. She had never seen someone as capable as Zhenyi but even someone so capable had to bow down at one point. Because of family. 

Family is always the weakness. 

"More or less, " Zhenyi sighed. What should she call her arranged marriage? Political marriage or marriage of convenience? At least, the marriage of convenience at least gives convenience but all she was getting was one inconvenience after another. 

"My condolences for your happy wedding, " Fan Bingbing laughed. Ah, it was so fun to see Zhenyi like this. 

___ ___ ______ ______

Hello guys!

If you like arranged marriage and mafia tropes, it's for you. If you're into steamy romance it's for you. This book is inspired by my very first and favourite mafia book. In the end, we all are inspired by something or someone. That book was my inspiration to write something like this and I did.