Page 9 of Hateful Games

But there’s only a single person deserving of it.

Mihir Kapoor.

Just the thought of marrying his offspring makes my skin crawl. No matter the effect her sharp-witted tongue had on me. I had almost expected a meek and obedient little thing. Or maybe Daddy’s precious bimbo and spoiled princess.

Instead, I was shot in the face by a stunningly lethal creature, with enough sass and sarcasm to make a weak man drop to his knees. But that doesn’t mean I want her. Quite the opposite, actually.

I neither like nor hate her.

Rosalie Kapoor is nothing but a pesky and distracting obstacle suddenly dropped in my path. A nasty bug. Hence, she has to be removed. I assumed it would be easy, but she’s turning out to be more difficult than I predicted.

A whole fucking week has flown by with no heeding to my threat on her part.

The snarky little bug is still attached to my hip as my fiancée.

Without her disagreement, there will be no getting out of the wedding from hell.

The match made in the wrath of our elders.

Tying our families together will only breathe life to old wounds and betrayals. If only my father could see it. But no, he’s too blinded by his own intentions. After all, it will bring him closer to her.

As long as I’m alive, it ain’t happening.

I would deny to marry Rosalie in a heartbeat and dare to go against my father for maybe the first time in my life. But my hands are tied. Because it was my grandfather’s last dying wish to bring truce to the two families.

I only love two people in my life. The first is my mother and the second was him.

He was sick of the constant fights, sneaky games of tearing each other down. So, he made me promise on his deathbed that I will always abide by what my father says. That there are wishes and hard truths only he knows and to trust him.

And if there’s ever a way to end the rivalry, listen to him.

Although, I’m really struggling to keep my promise.

In fact, I’m on the very brink of breaking it as I arrive at the Kapoors’ extravagant property. The smooth and cemented driveway decorated with large pinecone trees and a lavish garden with a view of the hills surrounding it.

In the middle of it sits the five-story mansion that rivals our own.

Because Mihir is an obnoxious and pretentious prick, the circular driveway is adorned with two large lion-shaped fountains with water sprouting out of their mouths.

Ironic, considering his daughter’s taste is entirely the opposite.

Warm. Understated. Otherworldly. A tad gothic.

Expected, since she’s a walking, talking goth Barbie.

That’s what they nicknamed Rosalie in high school. Flaming red hair, hypnotic coal-black eyes—she was the center of attention. Despite her best efforts to remain invisible. She could never fade into the background.

It wasn’t because of her father’s reputation or wealth behind her last name.

It was all her.

Being mine will only put her under the microscope. Knowing her, she will abhor it.

However, her parents are either deluded or simply don’t give a fuck because her mother rang yesterday and invited me to come spend time with my new fiancée. A lame attempt for us to get to know one another better.

Yep, I’ve been turned into a genie, granting everyone their wishes.

Everyone’s except my own.

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