Jaxon Barrett leaned back in the leather chair of his sleek, modern apartment; the city's vibrant pulse visible through the expansive glass windows. His usual air of controlled detachment was now tinged with an undercurrent of agitation. The notification on his phone had been a simple message, but its contents had sent him into a spiral of disbelief and anger.
His father, Kieran Barrett, had summoned him to the family estate. The words "arranged marriage" had flashed like neon in his mind, and he knew immediately that this was not a request but an ultimatum. As he made his way through the familiar opulence of the Barrett mansion, the cold, marble floors and grand chandeliers seemed more oppressive than ever.
Kieran Barrett was seated behind his mahogany desk, his imposing figure a stark contrast to the plush surroundings. The office was a shrine to Kieran's wealth and power, filled with framed accolades and portraits of the Barrett family's storied past. But today, the room felt stifling, its elegance overshadowed by the tension in the air.
"Jaxon," Kieran's voice cut through the silence, each syllable dripping with a tone of authority that Jaxon found increasingly intolerable. "Sit down."
"I'm just fine standing." Jaxon said leaving no room for argument, his tone one of utter disgust and bitterness.
"Sit." Kieran said firmly.
Jaxon took a seat, his posture rigid and his expression a mask of barely contained fury. His father's eyes, sharp and calculating, fixed on him with a disconcerting intensity.
"I'm sure you're already aware of the recent developments," Kieran began, his voice steady. "The Sinclair's financial situation has forced us into an arrangement. You're to marry Aurora Sinclair. Although they are facing financial crisis their connections could be of great impact to our cooperation."
Jaxon's face twisted into a scowl. "Are you serious? This is some kind of joke, right? You can't be serious about this."
Kieran's expression hardened. "This is not a joke, Jaxon. The Sinclair's business is failing, and this marriage is a strategic move to secure our financial interests. It's a necessary step to maintain our position."
Jaxon stood abruptly, his chair scraping loudly against the floor. "A strategic move? You're sacrificing my life for a business deal? You know how much I despise the Sinclair family. This is beyond unacceptable."
Kieran's eyes flashed with anger. "You will do as you're told. This marriage is non-negotiable. I've made arrangements, and the decisions have been finalized."
Jaxon's anger boiled over. "You can't just dictate my future like this. I have my own life, my own plans. You can't expect me to simply accept this and pretend its fine."
The room seemed to vibrate with the intensity of their confrontation. Kieran's voice grew cold and unyielding. "If you refuse, Jaxon, you'll be cut off from your inheritance. You will have nothing."
The threat hit Jaxon like a physical blow. His eyes narrowed, and his fists clenched at his sides. "So, this is your answer to everything. Threaten me until I comply. I should have known."
The mention of the inheritance and the power it held triggered a rush of memories—of his childhood, of the constant arguments between his parents, and of the fear that had haunted him for years. Jaxon's thoughts flashed back to those turbulent days.
He was just a boy then, small and helpless, hiding behind the door of his parents' bedroom, listening to the violent arguments that echoed through the mansion's halls, keeping him up at night. His mother's voice, once soft and soothing, had become a battleground of accusations and pain. Kieran's rage had been unrelenting, and the sound of furniture being smashed and harsh words being exchanged was a recurring nightmare.
Jaxon's mind raced with questions that had never been answered. Why had his parents fought so often? What had driven his mother to tears, and why had Kieran's anger been so consuming? The arguments had escalated into a crescendo of violence, culminating in a final, tragic night when his mother had been taken from him.
He remembered the phone call he'd received that night—Kieran's voice on the other end, cold and detached, informing him of his mother's death. Jaxon had been left with a void and an unspoken rage, trying to piece together the fractured memories of his childhood.
"Do you understand now?" Kieran's voice pierced through Jaxon's thoughts. "This is about survival, Jaxon. You will comply, or you will lose everything."
Jaxon's gaze was steely as he faced his father. "You think threatening me will make me forget what happened? You think this will make me accept your decisions without question? You're wrong."
Kieran's expression was unreadable. "You have no choice. You will marry Aurora Sinclair, and you will do your duty to the family."
Jaxon turned on his heel, his anger propelling him towards the door. "I don't have to accept this, and I won't. I'll find a way to make my own decisions, even if it means walking away from everything you've built."
As he stormed out of the office, Jaxon felt a mixture of defiance and despair. He swore to find a way no matter the cost. The weight of his past and the constraints of his present were pressing down on him, leaving him with a sense of hopelessness. He was trapped in a life dictated by others, haunted by the memories of a violent childhood, and grappling with a future he had no control over.
The hallway seemed to stretch endlessly as he walked, his footsteps echoing with the rhythm of his frustration. The past was never far behind, and the present was a constant reminder of the conflicts he could not escape. Jaxon knew that the path ahead was fraught with challenges, and he was determined to confront them, no matter the cost. His phone suddenly began buzzing, he looked at it and it was a call from his personal assistant who he had been having an affair with for almost a year. Aurora Sterling. She was calling to remind him of their meet up which he had entirely forgotten about due to the events of the day. He had to update her on the recent happenings.