Felix stood in front of the expansive window in his father's office, looking out over the city skyline. The sun was setting, painting the horizon in hues of orange and pink, but the beauty of it all felt lost on him. His stomach churned with anxiety as he waited for his father to arrive. He could sense the storm brewing; the tension in the air was almost palpable.
The sound of the door opening snapped him from his thoughts. His father, Carter Riether, stepped into the room, his presence commanding and cold. Dressed in a tailored suit that screamed authority, Carter's expression was one of displeasure as he looked at his son.
"Felix," he began, his voice smooth but laced with an edge. "I received some interesting news today." He leaned against the large mahogany desk, arms crossed, surveying Felix as if he were a puzzle to be solved.
Felix's heart raced, the apprehension coiling tighter in his chest. "What news?" he asked, trying to sound nonchalant despite the growing dread within him.
Carter's lips curled into a slight smirk, a precursor to whatever bombshell he was about to drop. "I hear you've taken quite an interest in one of the scholarship students A girl named Faerie, if I recall correctly."
Felix's breath hitched, and he felt the walls of the room close in around him. "Dad, she's—"
"Don't," Carter cut him off sharply. "Do not defend her. You think I don't know the kind of girl she is? A charity case. A nobody trying to climb the social ladder on the back of my son. Do you have any idea what kind of embarrassment this is for our family?"
Felix's face flushed with anger, but he quickly suppressed it. He had learned long ago that showing emotion around his father was a mistake. "I care about her, Dad. She's not what you think."
Carter scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "Oh, really? What do you see in her? Her background? The fact that she's fatherless and raised by a drug addict? You're throwing away your future for someone like her? You know the position you hold, Felix."
Felix clenched his fists, fighting back the bitterness that threatened to spill over. "And what position is that? The perfect son who does everything you say, even if it means sacrificing my happiness?"
Carter stepped forward, his voice lowering, threatening. "You need to understand something, Felix. If you continue down this path, I will have no choice but to consider Freddie as my heir to the Hera Empire."
The name hung in the air like a weight. Felix's younger brother had always been the favored son, the one who could do no wrong in their father's eyes. The thought of Freddie taking his place ignited a flicker of rage and resentment deep within him.
"Freddie?" Felix echoed, disbelief lacing his tone. "He's just a kid. I've worked my whole life for this! I've done everything you've asked of me, and now you'd throw me aside for him?"
Carter's eyes narrowed. "This isn't just about you, Felix. It's about our legacy. You're tarnishing the Riether name by associating with someone of her caliber. You need to think about the future of this family and the business."
Felix felt his chest tighten as the weight of his father's words settled over him. He had spent years trying to be the perfect son, striving for his father's approval, but now he was being forced to choose between his family and the one person who made him feel alive. "I won't give her up," he said, his voice resolute despite the tremor in his heart.
"Think carefully about what you're saying," Carter warned, his voice ice cold. "You may think you have the luxury of choices, but the reality is, the moment you start to defy me, you lose everything. You'll lose your place in this company, in this family. I will not allow a nobody to ruin everything I've built."
Felix's mind raced, caught in a whirlpool of emotions. He felt trapped, the walls closing in as his father's threats loomed over him. The bitterness rose like bile in his throat. "And what if I don't care about your empire? What if I just want to be with Faerie?"
Carter leaned in closer, his eyes cold and piercing. "Then you're no son of mine. Remember, the Riether name holds power, and if you're not willing to uphold it, you'll find yourself alone in this world. Choose wisely, Felix."
As his father turned to leave, Felix felt a surge of defiance. "I won't let you control me anymore," he called after him, the words feeling like a small victory even as they tumbled from his lips.
Carter paused at the door, a chilling smile gracing his lips. "We'll see how long that resolve lasts, son. I expect you to think this through before making any rash decisions." With that, he exited, leaving Felix alone in the oppressive silence of the office.
Felix stared out at the sprawling city below, his mind a tumultuous storm of anger and fear. He didn't want to lose Faerie, but the threat of losing everything he had worked for loomed large. He felt like a pawn in a game he had never agreed to play, trapped between duty and desire.
With a heavy heart, he turned away from the window, knowing that the real battle was just beginning. It was no longer just about love; it was about fighting for his future, for the girl who had stolen his heart against all odds. Felix knew he had to make a choice, and it had to be soon. The weight of legacy pressed down on him like a vice, but the thought of losing Faerie was a pain he could no longer bear.
He had to find a way to make both worlds coexist or risk losing everything that mattered. And deep down, he was ready to fight for it, even if it meant going against the very foundation his father had built. The only question was how far he was willing to go to protect the girl who had changed everything for him.