"There you are! Where is your brother?" asked Brandon upon seeing his son entering the door.
"They're in the garden, dad."
"I see. Come and sit next to me... Tony had something to discuss with us."
"Alright. I'm all ears." Ross took a seat next to his father. He looked at the man across from them and exchanged nods. "Uncle Tony…"
"Well, now… First, as I have mentioned to your dad, I will not linger for long but must return to the state soon. However, Shenna and Yonah will stay in the country for good, so I am worried about my youngest. Although my eldest daughter already has a promising career and can help her uncle manage the hospital, I wouldn't stop her if she sought more knowledge and deepened her understanding of medicine."
"On the other hand, a giant foreign company actually made an offer to my youngest daughter, Isabelle. She was invited to appear and work in France, Italy, New York, and other places worldwide. However, I am skeptical about letting my daughter join the entertainment industry at her age. I have trust issues in the entertainment industry. I'm afraid my daughter might be exploited in this industry because Isabelle is considering accepting the offer, and we have an agreement that I will support whatever decision she makes when she's sixteen."
Tony added, "When Dad told me he wanted to visit his beloved homeland, I agreed immediately. I want Isabelle to see the entire world like her sister, Shenna. I wouldn't stop her from attending cosplay festivals and pursuing designing costumes. And so, I want my precious daughter to build her name locally as a start."
"Son, Tony is trying to say that he wanted Yonah to make a name for himself in Aurora first." Brandon chimed in.
"That's right. When we left twenty-five years ago, Dad invested in Medusa Entertainment Company, and even though he's away, he continues supporting the company until now, making him the chairman of the St. Michael Group of Companies. Now that the current CEO has died and he has no children he could pass on, the position is vacant, and so Dad Arthuro has to appoint a new CEO—someone we could fully trust."
St. Michaels Group of Companies is one of the leading companies in Asia. The Villegas are actually the most wealthy family in the country! Let the Varga fall in second only!
Ross was momentarily dazed as he digested the information in his head. He would not have been snapped back to his senses if his dad had not tapped his shoulder.
"Ross, Tony, and I agreed you would take over to manage the company."
"Dad?" Ross was in total shock, which made him mute for the moment.
"You heard your dad correctly, Ross. Once you make up your mind, you have to resign as VP. During your grandpa's birthday banquet, he will announce our partnership. Then, Dad Arturo will appoint you as the new director of the Medusa Entertainment Company as a start before you take over the St. Michaels Group of Companies once you marry my daughter."
Ross's eyes gleam as he listens further. He mumbled, "Medusa isn't just an entertainment company. It also has subsidiaries in the finance and fashion industries."
It was all under the St. Michaels Group of Companies!
Brandon concurred, "That's the point, son! Tony wanted you to help manage the company for Yonah."
"For Yonah?" At this point in the conversation, his interest was thoroughly piqued.
"That's right, Ross. As our two families will become one soon, I hope you can help me manage Yonah's career. She has no plans to be in a film, but she considers becoming a supermodel while she cosplays. She loves design, and I believe in her ability to succeed. Hence, I will support whatever she wants."
Ross didn't know how to react. He plans to run away from his arranged marriage with Shenna and stay away from Yonah.
But now the elders want him to be Yonah's guardian?
Is there any more shocking news than this?
Ross was lost in thought when Tony's phone suddenly rang. The middle-aged man excuses himself to answer the important call. Now that the father and son were left alone, Brandon took this opportunity to speak with Ross.
"Son, this is your chance to prove to your grandpa that no one is more capable than you."
Ross's expression soured as he sensed something was off about the conversation. A feeling of unease crept in and settled in the pit of his stomach.
For a moment, he was lost for words. And once he regained his composure, he steeled his resolve to be honest with his dad.
"I don't want to marry Shenna, Dad."
Brandon was shocked by Ross's confession. He snapped, "What did you say, Ross Michael?"
"What if I would not marry Sheena?" said Ross. "Would Uncle Tony still trust me to manage their company?"
Brandon sighed long and calmly said, "I knew it. You weren't certain whether to marry the eldest Villegas granddaughter."
"What do you mean by that, Dad?" This time, it was Ross who was shocked. Furrowing his brows, he asked his father.
"I'm also a man, son. Thus, I know. I have this feeling... Well, it's alright if you have no plan to marry Shenna."
Ross was stunned by his father's remarks, completely disbelieving that his father would understand him this fast.
"So? You wouldn't mind if I canceled the arranged marriage with Shenna?"
"I think it's okay. However, in one condition."
He knew it! His dad is a cunning businessman. He shouldn't have forgotten that everything comes with a condition.
"Alright… What is it, Dad?" He will negotiate as long as the condition isn't extreme.
"Fine. I will help you annul the marriage agreement between you and Sheena. I will talk to your grandfather… However, you will only end your relationship with Shenna until I say so."
Hearing that, Ross's countenance dimmed. "What are you saying now, dad?"
"You heard me, son. This isn't the right time to cancel your arranged marriage with Shenna until your brother has no solid footing within the Villegas family."
"What?" Ross almost lost it. He was surprised, beyond shocked. He wondered if his dad was still speaking the human language. "You were selling your son, Dad. Is that your glorious plan?"
Ross objects. To think of Yonah marrying his brother breaks his heart. However, does he have the right to prevent that from happening?
"As we all witnessed, your brother is head over heels with Yonah." Brandon went on. "If I cannot change your mind about marrying Shenna and becoming the first son-in-law of the Villegas family, then at least don't end your relationship with her yet."
Ross wishes to stop this conversation. He believes that his father's behavior is getting ridiculous. Thus, he insists, "What if I wanted to marry the woman I love?"
"If you were persistent about bringing that woman into our family, then she could wait until Shaun and Yonah tie the knot!"
"Dad!"
"Son, we need you! Please understand, could you?" Brandon looked at his eldest son steadily. But Ross would not give in.
"Can you hear yourself, Dad?"
"This isn't just important for your grandpa. But it is more crucial to me, son... to us! Do you understand that?"
Ross darkened his countenance. He doubted that the man next to him was still righteous.
"Dad, I could sense the hidden meaning of your words."
Brandon scowls. He looks at his son with a deep sense of meaning, but Ross shows objection to following his requests. His son is forcing him to reveal the secret he keeps.
"Alright, son. Eventually, you will know the truth. Son, this is a secret your grandfather kept, which he only shared with me. And so, I hope you cooperate."
"I think whatever you say now, Dad, sounds outrageous."
"No, listen first. Like I said, you can marry anyone you like. I would not stop you. But not until your brother married Yonah. Do you understand that, son? Take the CEO position in the St. Michaels Group of Companies that no one can steal from you; even one of your cousins will take over as Sheena's groom."
"What are you telling me now, Dad?" Ross hates to beat around the bush. He urges him, "I want you to enlighten me."
'Shenna marrying one of my cousins?' he mused inwardly.
"Son, I am sure your grandpa would speak to marry off Shenna to one of your cousins once you cancel your marriage with her. You know better that Franco and Jester are not inferior to you. Those two also received a favor from your grandpa. But his first choice is you. Now, listen carefully, Ross. Everything you knew belonged to the Varga is a lie, son."
"What?" Ross tried to comprehend his dad's every word, but he seemed to fail to take everything in.
"That's right, Ross. Half of our assets belong to the Villegas family. When they migrated to the US, all their assets were entrusted to your grandfather."
Ross chuckled upon hearing that. "Dad, you are not the person who makes a joke about our assets."
Despite Ross's laughter, Brandon remains emotionless. Ross's eyes dramatically widened. "You're not kidding me?"
"You know me very well, Ross. That's why you must consider it first. Are you going after your heart's desire? Or a bright future as the father of Villegas' heir?"
Villegas heir...
Shenna's children are automatically next in line to inherit everything—unless he wins over Arturo and Antonio's hearts since the one he wants to marry is Yonah!
However, the significant obstacle is his brother, who is in love with the same girl as he is.
"Ross, since you are not interested in marrying Shenna, I want you to take Shaun as your right hand and teach him everything you know. I want you to make your brother a perfect husband for Yonah."
The last sentence reverberated throughout his entire being. Ross was aggrieved.
"You must be kidding me, Dad!"
"Did I say wrong?"
Ross was rendered speechless. He couldn't find any words to counter. Why is he against his dad's plans? He breathed in and let out a long sigh to calm himself down. Before his dad suspected him, he had to explain himself.
"You heard me right, Ross. Suppose you aren't interested in marrying the eldest Villegas's granddaughter. In that case, the least we can do is train your brother to be the perfect Villegas grandson-in-law to the youngest, and I need your help to teach Shaun to meet that family's high expectations."
"They need a reliable man to entrust their wealth to protect the next generation... Son, your grandfather actually entrusts you to step in and be the perfect grandson-in-law. And so I am telling you to consider marrying Shenna… You must think of your future son…"
Ross was in disbelief, listening to his father blab further.
For the first time, the man he admired, looked up to, and even considered his hero was actually a giant, greedy monster!