Chapter 4

All three young people—Ethan, Noah, and Scarlett—stood facing Daniel, their expressions a mix of confusion and curiosity. Daniel, however, seemed distracted, his eyes scanning the room as if searching for someone. Sensing his concern, Johnathon stepped forward and spoke quietly, "I informed Mr. Elijah, Chief, but I don't think he will be joining us."

"Is he at home?" Daniel asked, a hint of frustration in his voice.

"He's not at home," Johnathon replied.

Daniel let out a long breath, pulling his phone from his pocket and dialing Elijah’s number. As he expected, there was no response from the other end. After a moment of waiting in vain, Daniel pocketed his phone and turned his attention back to the room.

"I assembled everyone here because I wanted to share something very important with all of you," Daniel began, his tone serious. He paused, letting the weight of his words settle over them. After a moment of silence, he continued, "Ethan and Noah, I believe you both know Jacob, our former manager?"

"Yes, Father, we know Jacob," the brothers replied in unison.

"Good," Daniel nodded. "I also assume you both are aware that he's no longer with us?"

"Yes, Dad," Noah responded, his voice tinged with sadness.

Scarlett, growing impatient, interjected, "So what does this have to do with our meeting?"

Daniel shot her a stern look, his gaze silencing her immediately. He took a deep breath before continuing. "Ethan, I made a marriage proposal to Jacob's daughter, Rachel, on your behalf."

The room fell into a stunned silence. Ethan’s eyes widened in shock, and Noah looked at his brother, trying to gauge his reaction. Scarlett, who had been impatient just moments before, now stood frozen, trying to process what her father had just said.

Ethan finally found his voice. "Father, why would you do that without consulting me?" His tone was calm but laced with disbelief.

Daniel took a deep breath, trying to maintain his composure. "I know this is a lot to process for you, Ethan, but I felt I had no other choice," he said, his voice a mix of frustration and resolve.

Ethan, still grappling with the shock, furrowed his brow in confusion. "What do you mean you had no other option?" he asked, his voice tinged with both curiosity and disbelief.

Daniel sighed heavily, the weight of his decision evident in his expression. "I promised Jacob that you and Rachel would marry, and that I would bring Rachel into our family as a daughter-in-law. It was a promise I made to a dying man, someone who was like a brother to me."

Ethan’s confusion quickly turned to anger. "Who are you to decide that, Dad?" he demanded, his voice rising with emotion. "You can’t just dictate my life like this!"

Daniel’s eyes narrowed, and his voice turned cold with fury. "Don’t you dare talk to me that way, Ethan. Have you forgotten who you’re speaking to?"

But Ethan didn’t back down. His anger flared as he met his father’s intense gaze. "It’s my life we’re talking about here, Dad. I have every right to be frustrated, to feel betrayed. You made a decision that affects my entire future without even asking me."

"There's no future for you without this family," Daniel responded, his voice laced with fury and authority.

Ethan's eyes narrowed, the sting of his father's words cutting deep. "Are you threatening me, Father?" he asked, his voice steady but filled with defiance.

"Do I have to?" Daniel shot back, his tone cold and unyielding.

Ethan, refusing to be intimidated, took a firm stance. "I cannot do this. I cannot accept this marriage proposal," he declared, his decision made without a moment's hesitation.

Daniel's expression shifted, his brows raising slightly in challenge. "Are you sure about your decision?" he asked, his voice dripping with a mix of warning and curiosity.

"I am damn sure," Ethan replied, his conviction unshakable.

Daniel took a step closer, his voice low and menacing. "Okay, Ethan, if that is your final choice, then listen to my final words as well. If you don’t marry Rachel, you won’t get your share of the family assets. That includes the inheritance money from your grandfather. You and I both know that the inheritance is tied to your marriage, and without my consent, you cannot access the family shares either."

Ethan's face tightened as the implications of his father’s words sank in.

Daniel continued, a smug smile creeping onto his face. "So, if you don’t plan on marrying Rachel, that’s totally fine. You can do whatever you want with your life. But just know this: without that money, you’ll be working under me for the rest of your life. You’ll never be able to start your hotel business, just like you’ve always dreamed. You can’t break away from this family without the resources I control."

Ethan's heart pounded in his chest as he absorbed his father’s ultimatum. The weight of Daniel’s words felt like a chain, tightening around him, trapping him between his desire for independence and the cold, hard reality of the power his father wielded. He knew that refusing the marriage would mean giving up everything he had worked for, everything he had dreamed of achieving on his own. But agreeing would mean sacrificing his freedom and possibly his happiness.

Daniel watched his son carefully, the smugness never leaving his face. He knew he had cornered Ethan, forcing him to confront the harsh truth: in their world, power and wealth were intertwined, and without them, dreams could easily wither away. The choice was now Ethan’s, but either way, Daniel was confident that he would come out on top.