Page 18 of The Echo of Forever

His brows shot up, and I almost regretted offering.

“You two can get married right away,” his father interjected, looking between us expectantly. “It’ll solidify our alliance and protect Jayden.”

I shook my head, ready to decline, but my father chimed in before I got the chance.

“Let’s set a date,” he suggested, giving me a look that said not to defy him.

They started discussing timelines, all while Jayden and I stared at one another. He had ample opportunity to speak up and put a stop to our lives being planned for us, not even five minutes after learning his brother had been murdered.

But the sick fuck smiled instead and went to touch my face.

Off pure instinct, I slapped his hand away.

“I hate to be the bearer of more bad news, but I won’t be marrying anyone,” I cut in, earning a glare from my father. “None of you have the authority to force me, and even if you did, I’d rather fucking die.”

Silence stretched between us, the weight of my words suspended in the air. Everybody could fuck off.

Carmen returned just in time, pulling me away to have a private chat with wary eyes.

“What’s all that about?”

I flicked my wrist to dismiss the question.

“Got anything good?”

She looked over my shoulder then back at me, leaning in to whisper, “He was at the auction when it happened.”

“Mmm,” I hummed. “So, he deserved to die.”

Carmen nodded.

“So far it’s looking like a targeted hit, but they’re keeping the rest of the details on the hush for now.”

I spun in my five-inch heels and approached the group again, which had begun to speak in hushed tones, more than likely planning exactly what I’d turned down just moments before.

“Seo-Yeon, I’ll make a deal with you.”

Her red-rimmed eyes met mine.

“The only deal I want is you marrying Jayden by the end of next month.”

I sighed and checked the time.

“And if I find the man who killed your son and bring you his head, then what?”

“If you do that,” she started, not skipping a beat. “We’ll cancel the deal. But I want to see proof. I want to see him dead, and I want it done so everyone knows he paid for what he did to my fucking son!”

I liked her to an extent, because at least Seo-Yeon didn’t pretend to hide her ugliest impulses behind a smile. And because, unlike my own parents, she didn’t expect me to burn myself alive for someone else’s agenda unless there was something in it for me.

“Done,” I promised, holding my hand out to seal the deal. “I’ll bring you his head before the date you set for the wedding. Maybe even mail it direct.”

Jeremiah’s death had become the longterm solution I needed to end this marriage alliance amicably. But push comes to shove, I’d send them all to the grave before ever saying‘I do’.

CHAPTER 6

ECHO

I tooka breath before my uncle made his grand entrance, making a mental note to give the receptionist a bonus for the heads-up.