The Marriage Ultimatum

"No fucking way. I will not do this. I refuse to marry that girl." Valerio’s voice cracked like a whip across the large study, shaking the glass of the bourbon decanter resting on the desk.

Massimo Marchetti did not flinch. He stood with his back to the room, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out the floor-to-ceiling window at the estate grounds. The study was a fortress of wealth, lined with towering antique bookshelves and rich mahogany furniture, but right now, the air inside felt dense enough to choke on.

Valerio paced the length of the expensive Persian rug. His gray eyes were dark with fury. The sudden bait-and-switch infuriated him. For months, the arrangement had been set in stone. He was promised Gia Vitiello, the eldest daughter. She was polished, presentable, and understood the expectations of their world. Now, mere moments ago, his father had dropped the news that the Vitiello family had swapped the bride at the last possible second. He was expected to marry Alessia.

"Try to understand, Valerio. This wedding is necessary for the merger." Massimo spoke without turning around, his tone flat and undisturbed by his son’s outrage.

"Dad, it is not possible. I am not marrying a slut like her. We had a clear agreement for Vitiello's eldest daughter. Why the sudden change?" Valerio stopped his pacing, planting his feet into the carpet as he glared at his father's broad shoulders.

"We do not know their exact reasons for the switch. But the terms remain in our favor. They clarified that this marriage will only last for three years. It is a contract, not a real union. Because of that, the identity of the bride is irrelevant." Massimo turned to face his son, his expression carved from stone.

"Are you serious? You expect me to marry a known whore for a business deal? It is my life. You cannot force my hand." Valerio threw his hands up in frustration, the muscles in his jaw ticking.

Massimo’s calculated patience finally snapped.

Massimo slammed his palm flat against the polished surface of his desk, the sound echoing in the quiet room. "You will stay married to the Vitiello girl for three years. Once the time is up, I do not care if you divorce her or leave her in a ditch. We need this merger right now to solidify our territory and strengthen the company."

Valerio glared at the cold man standing before him. Massimo was a brilliant tactician, a man who built empires, but he was devoid of any paternal warmth. He never cared about his son's desires, only power and status. Massimo had raised Valerio to be a weapon, an emotionless asset designed to protect and expand the family business. He stripped away Valerio’s empathy until the son mirrored the father’s ruthless nature. Valerio was a cruel devil now, molded by Massimo's harsh hands, and that very upbringing fueled his deep-seated hatred toward the man who created him.

"You are blind to the consequences. What happens to the Marchetti reputation? The streets will talk when you welcome trash into this family as your daughter-in-law. Are you willing to lose our respect in society for this?" Valerio scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest.

Massimo warned, his eyes narrowing into dark slits. "Mind your tongue, Valerio. I do not care what the streets say. Only money and power speak in our world. I can shut any mouth with the right amount of influence. You lack the vision to see the wealth we will pull from this deal. This new status will push our empire to heights no one else can touch. It costs us nothing to make a girl like her a Marchetti for three years. But you will stay in this marriage for the full term. Do not make me repeat myself."

"Excuse me, then. I have no intention of tying myself down in the future, and I refuse to drag my name through the mud for your corporate greed." Valerio turned on his heel, his patience exhausted for the day. He headed straight for the heavy oak doors.

"Walk out that door and I will disown you."

Valerio froze. His hand hovered inches from the brass doorknob.

"I will strip your name. I will evict you from every property I own. You will forfeit your birthright and lose all claim to the Marchetti Empire. The choice is yours, Valerio. Walk away and become a nobody, or marry the girl for three short years and inherit the world." Massimo’s voice echoed off the book-lined walls, heavy with the weight of absolute authority.

Anger spiked in Valerio's blood like venom. His innate killer instinct flared, urging him to draw the weapon at his waist and put a bullet between his father's eyes. He wanted to watch the smug look bleed out of the old man. His hands curled into tight fists. He closed his eyes, inhaling a sharp breath, forcing the violent urge back down into the dark corners of his mind. He relaxed his hands and turned around. His gray eyes were hollow, masking the lethal rage burning beneath his skin.

"Fine. You win. I will sign the contract and marry the girl. Are you happy now?" Valerio kept his voice level, lifting his chin in a final act of defiance.

Massimo grinned in triumph.

"I appreciate your cooperation, son. Trust me, this is the best path for everyone. You are dismissed." Massimo waved a hand before shifting his attention to his wife, Rosa, who sat in a leather armchair near the fireplace. "Darling, start the wedding preparations."

Rosa offered a compliant nod. She picked up her phone and began dialing numbers, her voice low as she started spreading the news to their inner circle.

Valerio turned away from the domestic display. He stormed out of the study, the heavy oak doors clicking shut behind him. The grand hallway felt suffocating, the walls pressing in on him. He lashed out, driving his custom leather shoe into the pristine plaster wall. The impact sent a web of cracks spidering outward, a physical manifestation of his fractured control.

"Fuck. My whole life is screwed." Valerio dragged a hand through his dark hair, pacing the empty corridor like a caged predator.

The injustice of it all burned in his gut. He was supposed to get Gia. Instead, he was handed the family reject. Alessia Vitiello. The rumors about her were notorious in their circles. She was known to be uneducated, unrefined, and ugly. The Vitiello family treated her like a ghost because of her mother. Everyone knew Alessia's mother was a cheating bitch who slept her way through half the city behind Pietro Vitiello's back. That was why Pietro kicked her out and married Gia's mother. And the apple never fell far from the tree. Alessia was just another cheap replica of her mother's sins, destined to drag down anyone foolish enough to associate with her.

The thought of being legally bound to a woman like that made his stomach turn with pure disgust. Even if it was just a contract marriage, sharing a name and a roof with Alessia Vitiello for three years felt like a life sentence. But if he had to suffer through this mockery of a union, he sure as hell was not going to suffer alone. He stared down the long, shadowed hallway, his jaw clenching until his teeth ached. A dark, twisted promise settled deep in his chest, solidifying his chaotic anger into a singular, cruel purpose.

"Wait for the worst to come, Alessia Vitiello. I will make your life a living hell. Welcome to hell." Valerio muttered the words into the heavy silence, his eyes cold and devoid of any mercy.