Free Web NovelChapter 513: Dad, tell them no!
I felt the blood drain from my face. Pregnant? From one night of madness?
Wait, how did he even know what happened? Did he have spies watching his sons?
It was very likely.
My heart was thumping heavily. I didn’t know I had such a constitution. If I did, would I have considered the consequences properly before I begged them to touch me last night?
"Since you were all ’lascivious’ enough to share him," the Chairman continued, glaring at his four sons, "and since we cannot determine whose blood the child carries, there is only one solution that protects the family name. You will all marry him. Legally, socially, and physically. You will live together in the West Wing and learn to be a family."
"What?" Seo-Jun and I shouted at the same time.
Ah, this jerk... Why was he the one surprised, along with me?
I turned to my father, my heart breaking at this news. The chairman was slamming marriage at me without even hearing my own opinion. Not like he heard from his sons either. freёwebnovel.com
"Dad, tell them no! I’m not a prize! Don’t I have a say?"
My father looked up at me with sad eyes, and those eyes stopped the words in my throat.
He looked at the Chairman, then back at me, before shaking his head. He didn’t have to say it. If I walked out, my father wouldn’t just lose his job; he’d lose everything. They would crush him.
I felt the four Alphas staring at me—some in shock, some with dark satisfaction. I took a deep breath, clutching the hem of that expensive blazer until my knuckles turned white. If I was going down, I wasn’t going down for free.
"Fine," I said, my voice shaking but loud. I stepped forward, ignoring the way Ki-hoon tried to reach for my hand. "It’s just marriage. But I feel like I’m being sold. So, if I’m being sold, then the price is going to be high. After all, I am an Omega of the highest quality."
The Chairman narrowed his eyes. "Go on."
My heart was breaking, and I was not okay with this, but I crossed my heart. It was for the good of my father. And for the good of me as well. It was time to show them I was no pushover.
"First," I said, pointing at the four men behind me. "I want a hefty dowry. Not for me, but into a trust fund wallet that no one but me can touch. Second, I don’t care if I’m the gardener’s son; they have to treat me with respect, like their equal. No ’toys,’ no ’kittens,’ and no being passed around when I don’t want to be."
Seo-Jun scoffed, but a look from his father silenced him.
"And most importantly," I looked at my dad, my voice softening. "My father gets a one-month fully paid vacation starting today. And a full medical check-up at the best hospital in the country, paid for by this family. He’s worked himself to the bone for you. He deserves to rest while I... while I carry on your family name."
The room went silent. The Alphas looked at me like they were seeing a different person. I wasn’t the crying rabbit anymore. I was a person making a deal with the devil.
The Chairman actually let out a dry, short bark of a laugh. "The gardener’s son has a spine. Very well. The terms are accepted."
He looked at his sons.
"Don’t return to the school grounds yet. Take your ’wife’ home. And try not to break him before the wedding."
The West Wing of the estate was a palace disguised as a prison. It was sprawling, filled with marble floors that echoed every step and floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out over the gardens my father used to prune.
As soon as the doors clicked shut, leaving me alone with the four Alphas, the heavy silence returned. They were all watching me—waiting for me to break, waiting for the "rabbit" to scurry back into its hole.
But I didn’t. I walked straight to the center of the massive living area, turned around, and crossed my arms.
"Since we’re stuck here, let’s get one thing straight," I said, my voice cold and clear. "I am the one carrying the heir to this family. That gives me the power here, not you." ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Seo-Jun let out a low whistle, leaning against a velvet armchair. "Look at those teeth. The bunny really does bite."
"Rule one," I snapped, ignoring him. "No one touches me without my permission. Last night happened because of the heat. That’s over. If any of you try to force yourselves on me in this house, I will tell your father you’re endangering the child. I doubt he’d be happy about that."
Jin-Yeok raised an eyebrow, impressed despite himself. "A logical play. Leveraging the Chairman. I can respect that."
"Rule two," I continued, looking at Min-Cheol. "I am not your entertainment. I am not a ’toy’ or a ’pet.’" My eyes rolled towards Seo-Jun. "You will call me Jo-Pil. Not ’Bunny,’ not ’Kitten.’ If I hear those names again, I’m locking my bedroom door, and you won’t see me for a week."
"Tch, you’re no fun. Pet names are cute." Seo-Jun muttered, but I was serious.
"Call me by my name unless I agree otherwise," I claimed.
Min-Cheol pouted, but he nodded slowly, his eyes wide. "Got it. Jo-Pil it is."
"And rule three," I said, my gaze finally landing on Ki-hoon. He was the only one who hadn’t smirked or commented. He just looked at me with that heavy, pained intensity. "Don’t act like you’re my protectors. You all put me in this position. Don’t pretend you’re the heroes of this story now that it’s convenient."
Ki-hoon flinched, his jaw tightening. "Jo-Pil, I told you—"
"I don’t care what you told me," I cut him off. "You’re all the same to me right now. You’re the men who took advantage of a servant’s son, and now you’re the men I’m forced to marry."
I looked around the room, making sure I caught every one of their eyes.
"I’ll be in the master suite. Alone. Don’t bother me unless it’s for a meal or a doctor’s appointment."
I turned on my heel and walked away, my heart thudding so hard it felt like it was going to burst through my ribs. I could feel their four gazes burning into my back—confusion, lust, anger, and something else I couldn’t name.
