Mr. Thomas sat in the living room of his house, enjoying a cup of coffee that had just been placed on the table by a servant, though he didn't touch it. His eyes were fixed on the front door, waiting for the arrival of his son, Bryan.
The sound of a car was heard outside, followed by footsteps approaching the door. Soon after, the door opened, and Bryan stepped inside with his usual unreadable expression. He wore a neatly tailored dark suit, his tie slightly loosened as if he had just come from a long business meeting.
"Father," he greeted briefly while removing his jacket and handing it to a servant.
"Bryan," Thomas replied, trying to smile despite the tension in his voice. "Sit down. I need to talk to you."
Bryan nodded without any expression. He walked over to the sofa in front of Thomas and sat down, crossing his legs casually. His sharp gaze was directed straight at his father, giving the impression that he was ready to listen.
"Is this about business?" he asked directly, as he usually did.
Thomas took a deep breath, rubbing his temples for a moment before answering. "Not entirely about business, although... yes, you could say it's related."
Bryan raised an eyebrow, clearly disliking the vague answer. "Just get to the point, Father. I don't have time for small talk."
Thomas was slightly taken aback. This was Bryan—always cold, logical, and difficult to approach. But he had to say it. "I met with Mrs. Agatha today," he said quietly, choosing his words carefully.
Bryan showed no reaction. "And?"
Thomas stared at his son closely, trying to find a crack in the emotional wall Bryan always maintained. "She suggested something... interesting. She proposed arranging a marriage between you and her daughter, Lucia."
Bryan remained silent for a few seconds, his expression unchanged. Then, he chuckled—a cold, emotionless laugh that made Thomas feel uncomfortable. "Lucia? I barely even know her personally; she was just a schoolmate," he said flatly.
"That's the point," Thomas replied, more seriously. "This is an opportunity to get to know her. She's a good girl, Bryan. And this relationship... could benefit us in many ways."
"She was just a schoolmate I hardly knew. That girl was too ordinary, nothing special about her."
Thomas frowned, feeling uneasy with his son's tone. "Bryan, you can't judge someone based on old memories. People change. Lucia has grown into a fine woman."
Bryan gave a small snort and stood up from his seat, walking toward the large window overlooking the vast garden outside. "Grown into a fine woman? Father, this isn't about being good or not. I'm not interested in that girl. Even back in school, she was a nobody. Just a quiet girl with no outstanding personality."
Thomas tried to suppress his anger. "Bryan, that's not fair. Lucia might not have stood out in school, but she has many qualities you don't know. At least give her a chance."
Bryan turned around, his gaze freezing the air in the room. "Why should I give her a chance, Father? I don't need a wife, especially not Lucia. Do you want me to pretend to be interested just for business? I won't do that."
His voice rose, full of determination. "I won't marry someone I don't even care about. And for what? To strengthen family ties? I don't care how beneficial our relationship with Mrs. Agatha could be or how much she wants to bring her daughter into this family."
Thomas clenched his fists, trying to control his emotions. "Bryan, you have to learn to see beyond the surface. This arranged marriage isn't just about business. It's about finding someone who could be your life companion. You can't stay alone forever."
Bryan laughed bitterly. "I've been alone all this time, Father, and I'm perfectly fine. I don't need a companion, especially not Lucia. I doubt she could even handle someone like me."
Bryan then stood straighter. "Lucia wouldn't survive dealing with my nature, Father. You know that. She's gentle, too fragile. I don't have time for that kind of drama. I'm not even sure she's strong enough to simply stand beside me."
"Bryan," Thomas warned, "be careful with your words. Lucia doesn't deserve to be spoken about like that. You don't know what she's been through in her life."
Bryan simply shrugged. "Maybe I don't, and honestly, I don't care. What matters is, I will not marry Lucia. Not now, not ever."
"Please reconsider, because this is a good opportunity for our business and your future as well. I want a grandchild, and you'd be getting a good wife," Thomas insisted.
Bryan chuckled, glancing up at the ceiling with a bored expression. "So, it's all about benefits? Am I just a tool to strengthen business alliances?"
Thomas shook his head, trying to ease the tension. "No, Bryan. I just think this could also be something good for you. You've been alone for too long. Maybe it's time you tried building a future that's about more than just business."
Bryan snorted softly, looking at his father with cold eyes. "I don't need anyone, Father. You know that. I'm fine on my own. A marriage like this... means nothing to me."
Thomas sighed heavily. "Bryan, I know you hate being dictated to. I'm only asking you to consider it, at least. Lucia isn't a bad girl, and... maybe she could bring something different into your life."
"I don't need anything different," Bryan snapped sharply, startling Thomas a bit. "I'm already busy enough managing business and my own life. Don't add unnecessary drama."
Still, Thomas didn't give up. "Bryan, listen to me. You can refuse, it's your right. But at least meet her. Talk to her. After that, you can decide whatever you want."
Bryan took a deep breath, looking at his father with a mix of frustration and boredom. "Fine," he said finally, though his tone was full of indifference. "I'll meet Lucia if it'll put your mind at ease. But don't expect anything more."
Thomas felt somewhat relieved. Bryan was stubborn, and Lucia... he wasn't sure the girl was ready to face Bryan's cold and arrogant nature.
Bryan simply gave a brief nod, then stood up. "If that's all, I'll head to my room. It's been a long day, and I need rest."
Thomas nodded, letting his son leave. As Bryan disappeared down the corridor, Thomas sat back down, wondering. Perhaps this arranged marriage would be the beginning of something new—for both Bryan and Lucia. But deep down, he still wondered if Bryan, with all his coldness, was even capable of letting someone into his life.
Meanwhile, Bryan walked out of the room, leaving Thomas with only a long, heavy sigh. The disappointed look on his face showed just how difficult it was to bridge the distance between him and his son.
As Bryan walked away, memories of his school days suddenly flashed through his mind. He remembered Lucia as a quiet girl who often sat at the back of the class, preferring solitude over mingling with friends. Her face appeared vaguely in his memory—a young girl who always seemed to carry a heavy burden on her shoulders.
Yet those memories were so ordinary, they only strengthened his conviction that Lucia was not the right person for him. For Bryan, life was about strength, control, and efficiency. And he saw none of that in Lucia.
As he headed toward his private quarters, his mind drifted back to the conversation with his father. In a low voice, he muttered to himself, "Lucia? Even if the world forced me to marry that girl, I would never choose her."