Apricity

Fifteen Days Before

"I don't want to get married."

Bloom's voice was firm, but her father remained unmoved.

"This is the least you can do for me," he grumbled, pushing his plate away and rising from the dinner table.

Her mother, ever the peacekeeper, spoke up. "Your dad only wants what's best for you. He wants you to settle down."

Bloom swallowed the bitterness creeping up her throat. When has he ever cared about what’s best for me?

She forced a small smile. "It's okay, Maa. I can handle it."

And with that, she stood and made her way to her father’s study.

She didn’t bother knocking. She never did.

"Don’t look at me like I’m being a brat,” she said, crossing her arms as she entered. “For your information, you are the one being a nuisance, not me."

Her father’s patience thinned. "If you're here to fight, leave. If you're here to agree, then speak."

Bloom tilted her head. “Fine. I’ll get married…”

Her father’s eyes flickered with satisfaction. But it was short-lived.

“—on one condition.”

His gaze darkened. “And that is?”

"You will not give your surname to those bastards. Do whatever you want outside this mansion and the corporation, but I don’t want them involved in my business or my family. Your legal wife will always be my mother, and no one else is taking over the company except for me."

Her father pointed a finger at her, seething. “You’re going too far.”

She chuckled darkly, stepping closer. "No, Dad. You went too far when you got rid of my brother for them."

His jaw clenched.

Bloom’s voice remained steady. “I won’t let you hurt Mom or me. We own enough shares to ensure that. So either you accept my conditions, and I go along with this marriage, or I stay right here and make sure you die of anger.”

A heavy silence settled between them.

Her father exhaled sharply, rubbing his temple.

"Do we have a deal, Mr. Astor?" she asked, her tone almost mocking.

"...Fine. We have a deal."

A smirk played on her lips. "Good. Then I'll have my lawyer send you a contract draft first thing in the morning. Because I don’t trust you."

She turned on her heels and left, knowing full well her father was fuming behind her.