"Fiancée? I don't remember asking you to marry me," Luke replied. He draped his arm on the back of the couch and crossed his legs.
Summer's hand trembled, but she kept it hidden. If Luke saw a trace of weakness, he was going to pounce on it.
He might have looked like a licentious, debauched young master with all his women, but he was a good businessman. Make no mistake, he would bite at the jugular once he saw an opening.
"You don't have to," Summer answered, staring into his eyes. "Grandfather Arthur asked how you are doing."
Luke's face turned dark when he heard his grandfather's name. No matter how rebellious he was, as long as people mentioned his grandfather, he had no choice but to endure.
"You made a mess, Luke." She didn't want to bring this up and only wanted to bring food to him. She didn't believe in the latest scandal, but it hurt.
Now, the food was in the trash bin, rotting. She cooked for him, but he had no chance of tasting it.
"Mess? Is this something new?" Luke asked, standing up. His lips curved in disdain.
Summer raised her chin. "You're bringing shame to your family name. The Winston family is an aristocrat clan with deep lineage connected to royalty!"
Luke strolled to the floor-to-ceiling window overlooking New York City. "Do you think I care?"
"Luke!" Summer's voice raised. "Your latest scandal dragged your name and your brother through the mud! The board of directors is angry."
At the mention of his brother, Luke's face grew conflicted. He frowned, glaring at Summer.
"Don't mention my brother," he harshly said. "He's in Europe, and there's no need to drag him into this!"
His silver eyes turned dark like a stormy day. Luke was angry, but Summer had no room to retreat.
Her lips pursed in a straight line.
"Luke, you watched the news. Radiant Entertainment Company is directly under Winston Conglomerate. And you're Logan's brother. Your scandal with Kim Long dragged Radiant to the gutters."
Luke didn't answer and only stared at Summer like he wanted to devour her whole.
"Think properly about what you should do, Luke. Radiant Entertainment company price is decreasing, and it's affecting Winston Conglomerate," Summer said with finality.
"Think about it." Summer turned around and left. Luke stayed rooted on the spot, staring at the space before him.
"Fuck," he cursed and kicked his desk. Of course, he fucking knew of what was happening around him.
Luke kept tabs. His last fling, Kim Long, dragged his name in a drug scandal. People knew him as the licentious, party-goer CEO, but he never touched drugs.
It was a big no-no.
Because of this scandal, the board was angry. He dragged his twin brother, Logan, through the mud as well, even if he was in Europe spearheading Winston Conglomerate.
His company, Radiant Entertainment, was directly under Winston Conglomerate, but his brother gave him full autonomy. His brother and he had a close relationship, and he listened to him—most of the time.
As for Winston Conglomerate, Forbes listed it as the third biggest company in the world.
"Shit," Luke cursed again. His phone rang.
Checking it, he noticed it was his grandfather. The reckoning had come. He sent the messenger first, Summer, and now, the old man was ready to give out his punishment.
"Hello," he grumpily said.
"Come home. Immediately." His grandfather hung up. Luke stared at his phone. He would have preferred if his grandfather scolded him, but he didn't.
He avoided going back to the main house for years, but he still had to go this time. Luke grabbed his Armani jacket and left the office.
****
"Unfilial bastard!" The sound of the cane hitting bare skin echoed in the room.
Luke kneeled with his hands raised above his head.
"Bastard!!!" his grandfather shouted again, the cane followed. "You're a dog!"
Luke trembled and bit his lip so hard it bled. A moan or even a whimper didn't escape his lips.
"Who told you to do drugs? Women? You fuck a lot of women when a nice woman is waiting for you to marry!" Arthur shouted again, and the continuous sound of cane hitting flesh ensued.
"Oh." A sound came out of Luke's mouth, and he fell to the floor. His back was a mess of gore. Blood and human skin mixed, trailing to the floor. If people looked closely, they could see white bones under the red patches.
Arthur kicked Luke's side. "You must marry, Summer or you'll say goodbye to your Radiant Company. Your brother is the President of Winston, but I still hold the final say. Also, Logan won't protect you this time as you made a terrible mistake."
Trembling on the floor, Luke tried to look up at his grandfather's departing figure.
"Bring him to the doctor." He heard his grandfather coldly say to the butler at the side before he collapsed.