The soft hum of Phnom Penh's bustling streets filled the space as Pasco sat in the dimly lit corner of a rooftop lounge. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, gazing at the horizon where the Mekong River reflected the faint blush of twilight. His mind was elsewhere, lost in the ebb and flow of thoughts he couldn't control. The life he had built here felt like a delicate glass sculpture—beautiful but fragile, and always at risk of shattering.
The sound of footsteps behind him jolted Pasco from his reverie. He turned to find a figure he hadn't
expected—his father, Jean-Claude Lafontaine, with
his polished demeanor and commanding presence, stepping into view. The elder Lafontaine was the epitome of old-world sophistication, from his tailored suit to the faint scent of expensive cologne that announced his arrival before he spoke.
"Pasco," Jean-Claude began, his voice smooth yet
clipped. "It's been too long."
Pasco stiffened. "Not long enough, apparently. What are you doing here?"
Jean-Claude's lips curled into a faint, practiced smile.
"I'm here for you, of course. A father has the right to
see his son, doesn't he?"
Pasco's grip on his glass tightened. He knew better
than to trust such pleasantries. His father wasn't a
man to waste time on mere sentimentality.
"Cut to the chase," Pasco said coldly. "What do you
really want?"
Jean-Claude chuckled lightly, a sound devoid of
warmth. "Always so direct. Fine, then. I'm here to
discuss your future, Pasco. It's time you stop this…
experiment of independence and take your rightful
place in the Lafontaine legacy."
Pasco felt his stomach churn. He'd heard these
words before, countless times, each syllable a chain threatening to bind him. "I've already told you. I'm not interested in your plans."
"Ah, but you haven't heard the full proposal," Jean-
Claude countered, taking a seat across from him. He clasped his hands on the table, his expression
unreadable but undeniably calculated. "I've recently secured a lucrative partnership with the Érguet family. You remember them, don't you? Owners of one of the largest conglomerates in Southeast Asia."
Pasco's chest tightened. He didn't like where this was going.
"And?" he asked, his voice carefully neutral.
Jean-Claude leaned forward, his tone growing
serious. "They have a daughter, Colette. Bright,
accomplished, and quite beautiful, if I may add. A
union between you and Colette would cement our
families' partnership and secure your position as the heir to our empire."
For a moment, Pasco was stunned into silence. Then, he let out a bitter laugh. "You flew halfway across the world to arrange a marriage for me? You can't be serious."