MTLNOVEL CHAPTER 169
Upon hearing what Robert just said, his father's eyes narrowed, but Robert didn't stop. He knew he had to speak his truth, here and now.
"Yes, I understand that everything this whole arrangement was made for the sake of the family business. I know how much it cost this family to pull strings and build that connection. But even with all that in mind, I still believe that my happiness should come first. I can't pretend anymore, Dad. Abigail is not the woman I can spend the rest of my life with."
There was a moment of silence, his father watching him closely, his face unreadable. But Robert wasn't done.
"I'm not going to lie to you, Dad. I know you must have heard whispers already. But I want you to hear it directly from me, I haven't made any decision yet about anyone else. Yes, there's someone I've been paying attention to. But nothing has happened. I haven't made any move. I'm just… watching."
He paused for a moment, choosing his next words carefully.
"But what I can assure you is this," Robert said, locking eyes with his father. "If you think marrying Abigail was good for business, then this woman… she's something else entirely. She's not just cultured and graceful, she's incredibly sharp when it comes to business. She doesn't live in past glory, she creates it. She's the type of person who knows how to build, how to expand, and how to lead."
Seeing the look on his father face, Robert could tell that his father was listening now, not just hearing, but truly processing what he was saying. So he continued, even more confidently.
"You remember that mega estate I told the family about? The one I said I was close to sealing a deal with? The one we all said would change the face of this city once it launches?" Robert took a step closer. "That estate… it's hers. She owns it. And I didn't even know at first. When I found out, I realized just how much potential she carries. She's not just valuable personally, Dad. She's a door to bigger opportunities new business, new power, new alliances."
He let that sit for a moment. Then, softly, he added, "So I'm not being rebellious. I'm just making a choice, not just for love, but for a future that aligns both my happiness and the legacy of this family."
At that moment, Robert's father didn't even give him the chance to finish what he was saying. The moment Robert opened his mouth to speak, he was sharply cut off.
"Robert!" his father barked, his eyes dark and filled with disappointment. "Just shut your mouth and listen for once in your life. Do you even look like someone who truly understands what's at stake here? You think this is about love? You think I care about some woman who owns a fancy estate?"
Robert swallowed hard, biting down on the anger rising in his throat.
His father didn't wait. "I looked into it. I looked very well into it. That estate? That business deal you're talking about? There is nothing there, nothing that benefits our family. Nothing that matches what we've already secured with Abigail's family. You made it so easy for that woman. You were acting like a child, not a businessman."
He took a step closer to Robert, pointing his finger right at his chest.
"You forgot your family. You forgot your responsibility. You want me to back that kind of reckless emotional decision? Over my dead body. I will never back such foolishness."
Robert clenched his jaw but said nothing.
His father continued, "My decision has been made. And it is final. Don't even think about going close to that lady again. I don't want to hear her name. I don't want to see her face. As far as this family is concerned, she does not exist. Abigail is the one for you. The family has made a decision. I have made a decision. And both stand."
He took a deep breath, his voice dropping to a calmer but deadlier tone. "I was going to give you time. I thought maybe you just needed space to get yourself ready. But now, from the way you're talking, from the way you're looking, you look like someone who's going to break away from this family's plan. That's why I've made another decision."
He paused. "The wedding between you and Abigail is next week."
Upon hearing what his father just said, Robert's eyes widened. "Father, what did you just..."
"I said enough!" his father thundered, raising his hand as if ready to slap him again. "Don't you dare push me. Don't push me to the point where I'll start making even more drastic decisions that you won't like to handle. You better swallow that pride in your chest and accept what I've just said. Or else..."
He didn't finish the sentence, but the silence that followed said everything Robert needed to hear.
At that moment, Robert's father narrowed his eyes with a cold intensity that could make even the most defiant soul shrink. The tension in the room was thick, the air heavy with the weight of dominance and unspoken threats. "Robert," he said, his voice low but vibrating with fury, "do not push me to the point where I go and speak to that lady myself. Because if I do, you and I both know exactly what comes with that."
His words weren't just a warning they were a declaration of power. Robert, though burning with frustration on the inside, clenched his jaw tightly and lowered his eyes in an effort to control his growing rage. He had no desire to speak anymore, but those last words from his father hit him like a punch to the gut.
He knew this man too well.
His father was not the type to bark without biting. Once his mind latched onto something, there was no stopping him. He would go to any length to ensure his command stood unshaken. And Robert also knew Korra. The last thing he wanted was for her to think his family was made up of cruel, cold-hearted people who manipulated everything to their gain. If his father approached her God forbid, everything would crumble. Her trust in him, her dignity, and maybe even her safety.