Betrothed to the Wicked Tycoon

EVELYN GRACE

“Evelyn, babe, please—leave your work for later and come take a walk with me,” Tristan pleaded in that sweet tone he always used whenever he wanted something.

I paused and looked up at him. Tristan Donovan is the only person I can truly call a genuine friend. We were classmates in college, and he was once one of my suitors, one I rejected. Strangely enough, we ended up becoming best friends. Maybe it’s because our lives and struggles are so similar.

“Tri, don’t you have work? Your dad might scold you,” I reminded him.

Tristan still isn’t in charge of their company. He has to prove himself to his father first. Back in college, he was rebellious and constantly getting into trouble. Even so, being the firstborn in the Donovan family means the company will eventually be his, no matter how many siblings he has.

“Oh, forget about that! Dad’s going to hand me the company anyway. I’ll start taking work seriously once I’m the boss. For now, I want to enjoy life while I can. So please, babe—come with me,” he said, pouting dramatically.

I laughed at his expression. Taking off my glasses, I smiled at him. I didn’t have much to do at the office that day, so a short break didn’t seem like a bad idea.

“Fine! But we have to go straight home after, okay? I might get scolded by Dad!” I warned.

Tristan stepped forward and wrapped me in a tight hug.

“That’s exactly what I like about you! Don’t worry, we won’t be late getting home, Princess Eve,” he said with a grin before kissing my cheek.

Before we left, I changed into something more comfortable. Walking around in a pencil skirt and stilettos would have been exhausting.

“Let’s go, babe!” he said cheerfully.

I slipped my arm through his, and together we left my office. I told my secretary not to forward any calls, saying I had something important to attend to. 

Tristan insisted we take his car instead of driving separately. 

First, he brought me to an Italian restaurant, where we enjoyed a hearty meal. After that, he surprised me by taking me to an amusement park. I couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy, I hadn’t been to one since I was a child.

“Thank you so much for making me happy today, Tri!” I said, hugging him tightly.

He laughed softly, hugged me back, and kissed my forehead. Tristan has always been affectionate like this, even back in our school days. It’s one of the reasons we’ve remained so close.

“See? I told you I’d make you happy. Now you owe me again,” he teased with a grin.

I lightly punched his arm, laughing along with him.

Later, Tristan drove me home. I thanked him once more before he left. I arrived at exactly four in the afternoon, not late at all.

I walked into our house with a smile, but it quickly faded when I heard my parents shouting upstairs. They were in the home office, I was sure of it. I hurried up the stairs, the sound of their heated argument growing louder as I approached the door.

When I opened Dad’s office door, my suspicion was confirmed, Mom and Dad were arguing. The shouting stopped the moment they saw me. Dadd’s face was flushed red with anger, while Mom glared at him, just as upset. Without saying a word, Mom stormed past me and out of the office, leaving us alone.

Once she was gone, I shut the door and turned to face Dad.

“Dad, what was that? I just walked into the house and suddenly I hear you and Mom shouting upstairs,” I said.

He let out a long breath, sank into his swivel chair, and rubbed his forehead before looking at me.

“Your mother and I disagreed because she refuses to let us arrange your sister Eleanor’s marriage to Julian Dante, the second son of Jeanine and Maximilian Moore,” he explained.

My eyes widened. I could hardly process what he’d just said, let alone accept it.

“W-What? Dad, Ellie is still too young!” I protested, my voice rising.

“I don’t agree with Eleanor marrying Julian Dante Moore either,” he continued. “You should be the one to marry into the Moore family. You excel in business, and you’re the one I trust.”

His words left me stunned. For a moment, I struggled to breathe. Yes, Eleanor isn’t ready for marriage, especially to someone she doesn’t even know. But neither am I. I don’t want an arranged marriage. I want to marry for love, someone who loves me as much as I love him, not for business alliances or power.

But what choice do I have? I’ve never been able to say no to my father. I fear him, and I respect him.

All my life, I’ve followed my father’s wishes. Business was never my dream, I wanted to dance. I wanted to become a ballerina. But I’m James Wilson’s firstborn. The responsibility for our company falls on me. 

I’ve never complained. I never dared to. If I refuse, he’ll simply place that burden on my sister and I can’t allow that. I don’t want Eleanor to endure the same pressure I’ve lived with since childhood. Even when I was young, I was constantly pushed to be strong. All I could do was cry in secret and endure it.

“I told Maximilian that you should marry their son,” Dad continued angrily, “but Jeanine disagrees. She wants Eleanor instead. What does she even see in that child? She’s done nothing right in this family. Always rebellious, always causing trouble!”

“Dad!” I exclaimed.

I couldn’t bear hearing him speak about my sister that way. I looked at him, hurt and pleading, but his expression remained cold.

“Ellie is still young, and she is not a troublemaker. She’s an achiever, a good daughter and a good sister. But even so, it’s wrong to marry her off at this age. She’s too young,” I said firmly.

But Dad wouldn’t listen. His decision seemed set. He dismissed me, and I had no choice but to leave his office feeling defeated.

Why does our life have to be like this? Why can’t we choose our own futures? Why must everything be controlled, calculated, and decided for us? In this family, it has always been the same; no love, only business.

Will I ever find someone who truly loves me?

I don’t want to marry a man I don’t love or who doesn’t love me in return. I don’t want to end up like my parents, trapped in a loveless marriage. I can’t bear the thought of making my life even more miserable than it already is.

EVELYN GRACE

I still can’t shake off what I learned. My sister is being pushed into marrying a man she doesn’t even know.

Eleanor started working at our company because that’s what our parents wanted. I know she isn’t happy there. She dreams of becoming a fashion designer and starting her own clothing line. We have different dreams, but neither of us can pursue them because of our family’s expectations.

“Why do you look even sadder than usual? Are you the one getting married?” Tristan asked when he stopped by my office again. He comes by so often that it’s practically part of our routine.

I sighed and leaned back in my swivel chair, looking at him. “I feel sorry for my sister, Tristan. She has no idea what’s going on or what Dad is planning for her life. She’s too young to be tied to a relationship that could trap her forever,” I said seriously.

Tristan’s expression shifted, and he nodded in agr