"What?! He's deformed?!" Seraphina Anderson, a beautiful blonde-haired and green-eyed girl, widened her eyes in shock. "Are you out of your mind?! Why did you set me up with a useless man like him?!"
She sat next to Julius Anderson, her father.
"I'm sorry, $weetheart, but I know what's best for you," Lucius said, smiling sweetly at his eldest daughter.
"I disagree!" Victoria, Seraphina's mother, opposed her husband's crazy idea. "Are there no wealthy men in our country anymore that you would set our daughter up with a poor man like him?!" She gave Damian a disgusted glance while the young man looked down.
"I agree with Mother," Cassandra replied firmly. "What would our family and colleagues say if Seraphina married a man of unknown origins?! Do you want to bring shame to our family?!"
"You'd better shut up!" Lucius rebuked irritably. "I am the one who has the power to decide anything in our family!"
"But you can't be arbitrary with me! It's my life, and I should be able to marry and reject anyone I want!"
"How dare you defy me?!"
"Of course!"
"Now, leave my house and place all the facilities you've been using on the table, including the car keys, black card, and all the jewelry. You'll never set foot in my company again! You're fired!"
"What?!" Seraphina was utterly wide-eyed. Didn't she hear it wrong? Her biological father kicked her out in defense of a strange man.
Victoria rose to her feet and glared at Lucius. "How dare you expel our daughter! You should have kicked out this bastard!" She kicked Damian's wheelchair until he fell down.
"Insolent!" Lucius reflexively slapped his wife into the chair. "Don't you ever hurt him!"
Victoria stared at Lucius in disbelief and disappointment. "How dare you slap me!"
"I've never been afraid of losing a wife who only spends my money! If you don't like my decision, then leave my house immediately! I don't want to see your face and two daughters again!"
Cassandra cried. "You have the heart to kick us out!"
"Of course. Even though you're my daughter, that doesn't mean I'll let you become arrogant. I never taught you to look down on the poor. But now you will experience how it is to be poor and despised by many!"
"BODYGUARD!"
Not long after, six burly men arrived.
"Escort them out of my house, but before that, take off all their jewelry and take their wallets, cell phones, and black cards."
The men nodded obediently and did so.
"No! You can't take them!"
There was a tug-of-war between the six bodyguards and the three women, but the bodyguards managed to grab all their valuables and drag them out of the house.
Lucius sighed heavily while massaging his temples. "I'm sorry. You must be disappointed with the behavior of my children and wife."
Damian, the man with albino skin and blue eyes, smiled. "That's fine. But don't you feel sorry for them? They must be very hurt by your decision to kick them out."
"Leave them alone. I'm tired of their arrogance and haughtiness. They need to be reprimanded once in a while to wake up."
‡‡‡
Afternoon
"Why did you want to see me? Have you changed your mind?" Lucius took a leisurely drag of his cigarette, ignoring Seraphina standing before him.
Now, the beautiful girl's appearance had changed drastically. Her makeup was smeared, and her clothes were disheveled like a hobo.
"I'm willing to marry that jerk... er, I mean... that guy you set me up with," Seraphina corrected herself.
Lucius glanced at Seraphina doubtfully. He was surprised and confused. Yet, in just a few hours, she agreed to it. That sounded absurd.
"Are you sure?"
Seraphina snorted softly, then nodded. "Yes."
Lucius chuckled happily. He knew driving away his daughter and wife was the most effective way to push her. This was because the three women could not survive without money and luxury.
"Good. I'm glad to hear that. Tomorrow, we will hold your wedding."
"What?! Tomorrow?!"
"Yes."
"That's crazy!"
"Why? Isn't sooner better? You'll quickly settle into my palace and enjoy the luxuries I provide."
'Damn! If it's like that, there's no chance of getting rid of her!' Seraphina clenched her fists tightly.
"What's wrong?" Lucius frowned suspiciously. "Why do you look upset?"
"Nothing."
"You can't lie to me. Did you have a plan to get rid of Damian so that you wouldn't marry him? Is it true that your decision to marry him was just a cover for you to have a chance to get rid of him?"
Seraphina shook her head quickly. "No. I... I was just shocked!"
"How was it? Do you agree?"
"Okay." She showed a fake smile.
★★★
The next day.
The wedding was attended only by Seraphina's extended family. Per the girl's request, Lucius did not invite colleagues and officials.
The event was simple but luxurious. After a few hours, the event ended.
Lucius handed Seraphina the room key. "You will no longer sleep in your room but in the bridal chamber with your husband."
She accepted it with a fake smile. "Thank you, Dad."
Lucius turned to his son-in-law. "I hope you can make my daughter happy."
Damian smiled. "I will do my best for her."
'Until death, he can never make me happy.' Seraphina cursed inwardly.
"Go in and rest; you must be tired."
Seraphina nodded and pushed Damian's wheelchair to the upstairs room, away from his father and brother.
"Push the wheelchair yourself because I'm not your helper." Seraphina left Damian in the elevator and went to the room.
Groping for the wall, Damian moved his wheelchair to the room and entered.
"Where do I sleep?"
"You sleep on the floor and can't use a pillow."
"But it's so cold on the floor; at least give me a blanket as a base."
"No!"
Damian snorted softly, then lay down on the floor. His body was shivering violently from the cold temperature of the air conditioner.
"Why is it so cold in this place?"
Seraphina glanced at Damian with a sly grin. "That's the beginning of your misery. I swear I will torture you to make you leave."
***
A few months later.
"Honey, what do you want to eat? Let me get it for you." Seraphina smiled sweetly at Damian. The Anderson family was enjoying breakfast at the dining table.
"I'm glad to see you guys are so harmonious." Lucius smiled happily.
"Of course. I'm fortunate to have a good husband like Damian."
If only you knew, Mr. Lucius, Damian thought to himself.
"Oh, yes. I forgot to tell you." Lucius placed the fork and spoon on the plate, then seriously looked at his wife, two daughters, and son-in-law.
"What's wrong, Dad?"
"Today, I'm leaving for Beijing for a month. Seraphina, I want you to take good care of Damian."
"Daddy, take it easy. I will definitely take care of him."
"Daddy is starting to calm down because you have started loving him."
After finishing breakfast, the four escorted Lucius to the front porch and let him go.
"Thank goodness he's gone. So, we no longer have to pretend to be kind to this useless man!" Cassandra kicked Damian's wheelchair out of the way.
"You're right, sweetheart. Now it's time to have some fun. Come on, let's go to the mall."
The three of them left Damian alone on the terrace.
"Hey. Wait for me. Please take me to my room." Damian pleaded.
Seraphina chuckled sarcastically. "Don't be spoiled! I'm not your maid!"
"But your father told you to care for me, and you promised him."
"I'm just pretending, you idiot! Do you think I'd take care of you?! No!"
Damian clenched his fists tightly, disappointed.
"Are you mad? Go to Daddy if you can catch up with him!" Seraphina laughed mockingly, then walked in.
'Why are they so mean to me?
"Let me help." Sarah, the maid at the Anderson house, volunteered.
"Thank you. You've always been good to me."
"No problem, but Mr. Damian must patient. Don't take offense to miss Seraphina's behavior."
"I know."
Sarah looked at the young man with concern. She was a witness to all the crimes of Seraphina and her family. However, she dared not report it to Lucius for fear of being fired.
"Don't pay too much attention to me. I'm fine. And, don't report their crimes to Mr. Lucius."
Sarah was surprised. "How did you know? Did you just read my mind?"
Damian chuckled. "Of course not. It was just a coincidence."
"You're right. There's no way any human can read someone's mind." Sarah laughed softly.