2. Prologue

*Miller family, Liam's POV...

I don't believe it... He's not serious. He can't be serious.

Mr. Miller: We're going to meet the "Denoire" family in two days, Liam. Their daughter should already be here... She's the one you're going to marry.

Liam: SORRY?! That's out of the question, Dad!

I said, standing up suddenly angrily. I look at my mother who hasn't said anything since earlier.

Mr. Miller: You have no choice Liam.

Liam: (annoyed) Well yes! It's my life, I'm telling you! It's up to me to decide what I want to do with it!

Mr. Miller: Ah okay... But know that your future depends on this union.

I stare at him in incomprehension.

Mr. Miller: "DenMil Corp"... As you know, we partnered with the Denoires for its creation and are majority shareholders.

Yeah, that I know.

Mr. Miller: You certainly don't notice that you've lived in carefree and opulent life since you were born, but business isn't going very well for us at the moment. We're doing our best, your mother and I, but there are a lot of problems with the other businesses we own and we've even had to sell some and close others. We need fairly substantial funding to get back on our feet. If it continues like this, in the long run, we will be obliged to sell our shares to "DenMil Corp" to the Denoires and that is what I avoid...

I still don't understand what this has to do with this story of marrying his partner's daughter.

Mr. Miller: David Denoire offered to buy out all of our shares, but I said to myself that I should talk to you about it first since I was planning to leave my seat in this company to my only son once he finished his studies... Since I wasn't willing to do that, he suggested we be locked into a five-year contract instead. A marriage contract between my son and his youngest daughter who lives outside the country. I don't really know why he wants to marry her, but anyway... With this he will give me all the help I need.

Liam: How does helping you condition me to marry his daughter and me? Isn't this guy supposed to be your friend?!

Mr. Miller: Associates, not friends... In business, there is no such thing, it is well known. And given the help I need, it would be complicated to repay him even in the long term. Without forgetting the interests... On the other hand, his proposal suits us better. His help during the time you are married will be without conditions other than those set out in the marriage contract. That's why I accepted.

Anything !

Liam: And me in all this?!

Mr. Miller: You? You what? Do you want to lose your inheritance? Your current pace of life? If that's it, say it and we'll drop everything! You won't say that I didn't ask your opinion before.

I didn't answer at the time because I had never thought about this scenario.

How did we get here?

Mr. Miller: If you agree, let me know tomorrow. We're supposed to meet them in two days like I told you.

Liam: (sighs) But dad... I already have a girlfriend. You know, Neiya... And then what girl of our generation, in their right mind, would agree to be married like that?

Mr. Miller: As for his daughter, I don't know and it doesn't concern me. On the other hand, it would be better for you to stop this relationship immediately if you really plan to get married. I say this for your own good.

Liam: It's unfair... Neiya and I have been together for so long! How can you ask me to break up?

I turn to my mother.

Liam: Are you okay with that, mom? You know how much I love Neiya and yet...

Mrs. Miller: It's not about love here, darling. It’s your future that we’re talking about right now.

It's not true...

Mrs. Miller: I'm sure Neiya can understand if she loves you as much as you think she does. Besides, it's just for five years and not your whole life... Think about it, my son.

It's not possible... My parents don't care so much about how I feel that they just plan to set me up with whoever comes along? What exactly do they know about this girl? What if she was a crazy woman or something...?

Liam: (sighs) Fuck...!

I leave the room bored and leave the house.

There, I'm saturated, I can't see myself sleeping here today. I need to calm down first...

*Denoire family, author's photo...

After dinner the whole family gathered in the living room waiting to speak to the youngest who has lived outside the country since she was fifteen. His brother, who is the youngest in the family, tries to call him, but for more than fifteen minutes it rings in vain. In this family, there are three girls and one boy. The eldest Roselyne, the youngest Don, the youngest Iris and the youngest Venus.

Mr. Denoire: What is she doing not responding? However, it is not that late.

Roselyne: Dad, it’s two in the morning in France. Certainly, she is sleeping. Unless she's not there anymore.

Ms. Denoire: How is it not there anymore?

Don: Well, last month, she was saying that she might come back here to the States for work.

Mr. Denoire: And no one considered it necessary to inform me of this?

Don: Considering how tense things are between you...

Mr. Denoire: Anyway, let's move on... It's all the better anyway. She will only have to stay once for her wedding. In any case, what she's doing at the moment doesn't really appeal to me... Keep calling her. Unless she purposely doesn't respond.

Mrs. Denoire: Darling... Maybe we should try again tomorrow during the day.

Mr. Denoire: What do you mean tomorrow? She has to be there in two days for the meeting with the “Miller” family! We need to warn her today.

Iris: What if she doesn't come?

Everyone turns to her.

Iris: Well what? Dad, you don't realize it, but considering the way you took her out of here six years ago, I doubt she'll jump for joy when she finds out what you have for him. announce.

Don: (sighs) How exactly do you plan to convince her to marry Dad? It is unknown how much Venus may have changed during this time. You haven't even let him come back here once since he left.

Roselyne: Even before she left, she was already causing trouble. Imagine now.

Mr. Denoire: Exactly, I preferred that she stay away from here. Now I think she has matured a little.

Don: I still think this marriage is a terrible idea.

Mr. Denoire: A bad idea, you say? Do you think what she's doing right now is good?!... I'm just trying to find her a good match! And who better than Liam Miller who has good references?

Don: You don't even know him personally.

Mr. Denoire: His father only praises him and that is enough. The few times I saw him at galas with his family, he made a very good impression on me. He's a good boy.

Don's phone starts ringing, interrupting them. Looking at the caller's name he sees that it is Venus.

Don: It's her!

Mr. Denoire: Put it on loudspeaker.

He picks up and puts it on loudspeaker.

To be continued...

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Kisses ?