Forced Wedding; A Weird Freaky Love

While the guests are having the time of their life,enjoying the hors d'oeuvres champagne, rosé, cognac, whiskey, good wine, and other delicacies while thinking about the profits and gains they'll have accumulated during this union. Malayika, on the other hand, is facing some challenges.

He can't hold in his frustration any longer. If he doesn't get it out, he'll blow a fuse in front of the guests. And that could upset his grandfather and mother, and he doesn't want to face them, even less listening to them telling him how he let them down.

He can't afford to blow up in front of the cameras. It doesn't matter if he's angry or feels wronged. It's a family affair, so he has to act like everything is fine and smile to keep up appearances. That's what they live for.

He's had enough! He's frustrated with the lack of respect shown to him by the ColdGuards and the freedom his parents have taken away from him. They promised to let him choose a girl from all the ones they've chosen for him when he turns twenty-five, when he'll be ready to be the head of the Locke Company. Instead, he's like an idiot, being mocked by a family that has no respect for him. 

He let out a scream like a wild wounded animal, right in front of his friends, who were shocked to the core by his outburst. They'd never seen him lose control like that. It must be tough for him, but he keeps up the act until he's forced to face reality. They feel sorry for their friend.

His friend Terce, who was looking at him out of the corner of his eye in the mirror, ran up to him, a look of concern on his face. His cold and distant gaze softened a little as he saw his friend's condition. Meanwhile, Colin tried to calm Mal down, worried that the noise might attract bad intentions from outside. He knows how these folks live for gossip and snooping into other people's lives.

There's no way his friend would ever let someone film him at a moment like that. He's the proudest man he's ever known! He always had a smile on his lips when needed, the right state of mind, and the right words at the right time. It's so sad to see him collapse like this after so many years of friendship. They've never seen him even complain, and now look at him! He's tearing his clothes and screaming like a man in agony. Oh, what's the world coming to?

"Hey, man, it's gonna be okay, it's gonna be okay... look at me, it's gonna be okay." Colin told Mal, gently grabbing his chin to look into his eyes. "Listen, you don't even have to talk to her, let alone love her or spend time with her. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do. Your folks wanted you to tie the knot, and you did just that. You've done your part, and that's that. Besides, we'll always be there for you when you're feeling down, and we could spend time together like we often do, and leave her alone in her corner, right, Terce?" Colin whispered softly, trying to calm his friend down and make him feel better. 

He gave Mal some options that he had the power to control. Colin also asked Terce to confirm his words, who seemed to have lost his speech since the day Mal announced his engagement to the ColdGuard girl.

"Absolutely! Everything will stay the same, and you can always stick to the original plan you made with your grandfather. When you turn twenty-five, you can devote yourself fully to your duties as a husband. For now, though, you're only married on paper. They're not going to care what you do with her in your room, right?" The one called Terce replied quietly and softly, which was quite different from his earlier cold stance.

Then Terce strode to the dresser, grabbed the carafe of delicious bourbon and poured a glass for his friend, who was already feeling a little better after their comforting words. They had chased away the waiter who had been assigned to serve them earlier. There was no question of the Coldguard spying on them through their waiters and others – and they were free to enjoy their privacy in peace!

It's absolutely true! He has every right to show off, to play the part of the wild and reckless delinquent who respects nothing and no one! After all, he is human! He is flesh and blood, not a robot programmed to follow the whims and rules of others. He is free to make his own choices and live his life on his own terms – and that is fantastic! If his parents don't keep their word, he has the freedom to choose what's right for him! 

He doesn't have to play by the rules of being a husband just because his parents made him! And he isn't even a husband yet! He will be a husband when he is twenty-five, as he should be. Malayika thought as he took in his friends' words of comfort, realizing that he had no obligations to anyone. After all, no one had thought to keep theirs to him. This was his chance to start afresh! This was his chance to start over!

He's got this. Why is he having a panic attack over something he can handle with ease? The damage is already done. He just needs to take control of his own destiny and live the life he wants instead of always putting others before himself.

Anyway, his grandfather and mother didn't care about anything in that marriage as long as they stayed married for at least five years and their companies had a powerful member in their ranks.

Mal took a deep breath, grabbed the glass from Terce's outstretched hand and downed it in one gulp. Colin and Terce smiled at their friend as they cheered him up before helping themselves.

"Let's raise a glass to the first future husband among us, who isn't really a husband as he's not yet twenty-five, and to us, the country and the power it holds." Terce made a bold toast that got a few laughs from his friends.

Terce and Colin come from well-connected families: the Monjolie and the Duboises. They may own hotels, casinos, restaurants and more, but they are not as influential as the ColdGuards and Lockes, who have always been at the top. The Lockes and ColdGuards are not the same as the nouveau riche. They are not enemies because their businesses are unrelated and their ancestors have built good relations between them. There may be a few hiccups from time to time, but they never amount to anything.

While Malayika has found a way to cope with his forced marriage, in the north wing of the villa a young girl is surrounded by her worried older brothers. They're all concerned about her well-being and her new status, but she remains calm and in control, showing no negative emotions.

She smiles and seems to be floating on an invisible cloud, as if this marriage had not been forced upon her. She is already imagining herself in her new home, while the groom is struggling to accept his new situation. She would have liked her wedding dress to be different from the princess version she has in front of her. As if the sumptuous wedding dress is the only disturbing thing that doesn't suit her about this charade of a wedding.

The dress is a striking bluish white, evoking the image of a sunny cloudy sky with stars sparkling in the firmament. Its layers of sumptuous and voluminous petticoats exude extravagance, complementing the quality of the fabric and accessories. The diamond and pearl bustier accentuates her figure, giving her a bosom she could not have imagined even in her greatest delusions.

"Sisy, I don't understand why you're letting our mother decide on your marriage so early, when you're not even twenty yet. You're far too young to be getting married. And it's even worse that you have to marry that smug pretty boy who acts like he owns the world." A voice demanded her attention, breaking her out of her daydream and forcing her to focus on them. The voice was displeased and annoyed.

"We all have a contract that says we must be married by our thirtieth year, in a loving marriage or not. Father has been lenient enough to give us time to grow, to love, to fool around and to choose our own partners wisely. Kwanley himself has another six years before he finds himself in a disadvantageous position. And here you're letting our mother get away with doing whatever she wants without putting up a fight!" Tash, the third child of the ColdGuards and the older brother of the young girl, spoke in an assertive tone.

The other two brothers are also present, displaying a range of complex emotions as they listen to their youngest brother's grievances with a look of sheer determination on their faces. Kwanley sits on the edge of the dressing table, his almond-shaped eyes fixed on his younger sister, scrutinizing her every move. He's trying to find out something, anything that could help them take her away from here. 

He will seize the slightest opportunity to remove her from this situation as soon as he identifies the slightest hint of hesitation or doubt in her eyes or body language. However, he is unable to identify any irregularities that he can use to challenge his mother on this matter.

The girl is Zen; cool like stainless in a freezer. This is an unusual turn of events. He must be dreaming or experiencing some sort of distortion of the vision. The girl didn't have the slightest doubt in her eyes even less feeling reckless, when did his sister, who has always been a troublemaker, become so obedient and resilient?