Diego tossed and turned on his bed, the soft rays of sunlight crepping through the curtains, just as he slipped deeper into a slumber, a sharp knock on the door startled him awake.
"Diego, honey, are you in there?" Maya called softly, There was no response, only the sound of silence echoing back at her.
After a moment's hesitation, she opened the door and stepped inside, The sight that met her surprised her,Diego lay sprawled across his bed, the duvet twisted around him like a cocoon
"My God, Diego! Get your ass up!" she hollered, shaking him urgently.
"Ugh, I don't feel like going out, please just leave me alone," Diego retorted sharply, his voice thick with remnants of sleep. He pulled the covers over his head
Maya's frustration bubbled to the surface, and she pulled off the duvet at once "Your dad won't be happy to hear this. Don't you have an important conference to attend?"
"Yeah, Dad, Dad, Dad. It's always about him!" Diego snapped, pushing himself up with a sudden burst of anger. "Whay about what I want?" His voice was laced with defiance, and the air in the room shifted, now thickening with an unspoken tension.
Maya's brow furrowed, and her voice softened. "Where is this coming from, Diego?" she asked, concerned.
"Exactly! You and Dad conspired to sell me off into an arranged marriage to Congressman Kenneth' daughter, Lucia!" Diego's voice boomed
"What?—how did you find out about that?" Maya's eyes widened in disbelief.
Diego leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms with a smirk. "I guess you guys tried hard to conceal it, huh?"
At this moment, the atmosphere tension grew thicker.
Just then, his father entered, the atmosphere shifting in an instant. His presence commanded respect, but today his eyes glinted with something sharper—cold authority.
"Since you've found out," his father said in a calm yet piercing tone, "it doesn't stop you from getting married to her."
"Start getting prepared for work immediately" he ordered firecly
"Now, don't make me repeat myself," his father continued, his voice low but firm.
"No! I'm not stepping out of this room until you two fix the mess you've created!" Diego raged, his emotions boiling over.
"Besides, I have Diana. She's ready to get engaged, so please call off this whole drama, Dad!" Diego's voice softened, a plea slipping into his desperation.
"Then she's willing to marry you too?" His father stepped forward, his demeanor shifting slightly.
Diego breathed heavily, frustration coursing through him. "We've planned to take things slow—"
"Diego, I tried my best by asking you to bring a girl over in just one week,one simple wish you couldn't fulfil and Now I don't care if you're taking things slowly!" His father sighed heavily, tilting his head back
" Diego,you've left me with no choice,Prepare yourself, your wedding is in two weeks." The words crashed into Diego leaving him stunned.
"What? My wed—" Diego began but could barely get the words out before his father interrupted.
"Don't even think about messing things up, Diego. I will have you dropped from your CEO position, and you'll never have the opportunity to lay your hands on my belongings. Think hard but don't think long."
With that final pronouncement, his father strode out of the room, leaving Diego frozen with shock. Maya followed suit, the door closing behind her with a finality that echoed like a gunshot in the silence that confronted him.
Diego dropped back onto his bed,Ruffling his hair in frustration, he tried to process everything his father had just said. Two weeks? The thought alone sent panic racing through him, making his heart seem to beat rapidly.
"An arranged marriage?" He had never imagined a life bound by such constraints, and yet here he was—trapped in a net of family Duties and expectations.
The silence in the room was suffocating, but amidst the frustration, another thought emerged. What about Diana? The mention of her had felt so simple, yet the reality of their relationship was anything but. They had plans, dreams to explore together, but marrying Lucia would shatter any chance of a future for them.
Shooting up from his bed, Diego paced the room, back and forth, his mind reeling. "I can't let this happen," he whispered fiercely, determination coursing through him. He had to find a way to break free from this arranged fate.
His phone buzzed on the nightstand, pulling him from his thoughts. He grabbed it eagerly, As he unlocked it, he found a message from Diana waiting for him—simple yet immediate.
"Hey! Are we still on for lunch today? Can't wait to see you! "
Diego's heart leapt at the thought of her. As he typed a response, he contemplated how he could explain the situation without loosing her, Diana had gone crazy about getting engaged ,it took him days and continuous efforts to sort things out with her
"But this — Getting married, how would she respond to this" he thought
"Hey, yeah, looking forward to it! Just got caught up in something at home…"
He hit send, taking a moment to collect himself before glancing at his reflection in the mirror.
He got up up walking out from his room quickly, heart racing as he walked down the stairs,every step echoing the storm brewing within him. Anger surging through him and a burning sense of injustice coursed through his veins. His mind was consumed with thoughts of Lucia—an arrangement he had never approved .
Reaching the bottom of the staircase, Diego stormed into the living room where his parents sat, His father's icy demeanor met him, a show of control that only fueled Diego's anger further.
"Diego," his father began, a warning etched in his tone, "you need to understand—"
"No!" Diego shouted, the word erupting from him like a cannon shot. "I will not marry Lucia! You can't force me into this!" His fists clenched, and he felt an overwhelming urge to lash out, to make them understand the depth of his conviction.
"Enough of this childish behavior!" his father shot back, rising from his seat, his stance authoritative and unyielding. "This is not a game. This decision affects our family's reputation and Future
"Reputation? Future?" Diego spat, his voice thick with disdain. "What about my life? What about what I want? You're pushing me into a life I don't want, and I refuse to stand by and let you control me like a puppet!"
Diego frustration finally reached a boiling point. In a fit of reckless fury, he turned and punched the wall with all the force he could muster. The sound was thunderous—a resounding crack that echoed through the room, instantly drawing all eyes on him. Pain shot through his knuckles.
His breath hitched as he felt the sting of pain, watching as drops of blood began sliding down the white wall, leaving crimson trails that starkly contrasted with the surrounding decor.
Maya gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock, eyes wide. "Diego!" she exclaimed, rushing forward, but Diego was lost in his tempest of anger.
"Do you see this?" he shouted, raising his bruised hand, blood dripping down to the floor "This is what you're doing to me! You're breaking me!"
His eyes darted around the room, landing on items that had once been untouchable—family portraits, decorative vases, and treasured memories that now felt like chains binding him to a future devoid of choice. He walked up to them breaking everything he could lay his hands on. He grabbed a nearby vase and hurled it against the wall. It shattered into a thousand glittering pieces, scattering chaos across the floor.
"Diego, stop this!" his mother cried out in desperation, her voice trembling.
He turned to her, anguish etched into his features. "How can I stop this when you and Dad Intend on ruining my life? You think this marriage will bring happiness? It'll just trap me!"
Sweeping his hand across the coffee table, he sent picture frames crashing to the ground, pieces of glass splintering everywhere, Each shatter fueled his rage—
"Diego, please!" Maya's voice trembled, desperation wounding her words. "This isn't the answer!"
"It's the only way you'll see!" he countered, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "You don't understand what I want, who I am! You're willing to trade my future for your comfort!"
His father's patience wore thin, frustration rising in the air around them. "This is a mistake, Diego! You think rebellion will change anything? It won't. You're still getting married to Lucia!, now stop this madness cause you're still getting married to Lucia"
Diego felt his breath hitch; his father's words were like daggers piercing his heart. He couldn't bear to hear that name again, the sound of it jolting him like icy water splashed in his face. "I'd rather walk away from this family than marry her!" he screamed, the anguish breaking free.
With those words hanging heavily in the air, the room fell into a stunned silence. Diego's pulse raced greatly.
Wounded, he staggered back, falling into the armchair, his chest heaving. A wave of fatigue washing over him as Blood continued trickling down from the wounds he had inflicted on himself, but the physical injury felt minor compared to the emotional scars running deep in his heart.
With tears of frustration pooling in his eyes, he finally met the expectations of his father and mother. "I won't marry Lucia. I refuse," he whispered, voice hoarse as he wiped the sweat from his brow.
Maya stepped closer, her maternal instincts kicking in despite the chaos. "Diego, we can discuss this. You don't have to destroy everything in your path to prove your point," she implored, each word sincere and vulnerable.
"This isn't destruction, Mom. It's desperation," he murmured, pain etched into his features. He bowed his head, exhaustion washing over him .
Diego eyes finally fell on his dad who hadn't said anything for a while now.
"Take him back to his room, and clean up this mess" he ordered the guards Walking away.