Page 509 of Hate Mates

The realization hit me like a cold wave. Viriato, in his infinite wisdom, had decided that the way to solidify their power was to tie their two families together by blood—through Nádia. It wasn’t just a political move. This was personal. Viriato had chosen his daughter to marry one of Carlos’s sons, binding the two families in a way no alliance could.

Of course, his thoughts weren’t just on preserving his family line, he was also focused on securing the protection of another powerful family to ensure the safety and future of his precious daughter. But as the words left his mouth, I couldn't help but feel the sting of impending disaster. This wasn’t the right move—not by a long shot.

Uniting with the Medeiros family was like inviting a pack of hungry wolves into the fold. Sure, they were powerful, but they were also treacherous. Every alliance came with a price, and with it came the possibility of betrayal. There was no such thing as true loyalty in this game—not among men like us. It was all about power, and when that power shifted, so did the alliances.One wrong move and the Medeiros family could turn on us faster than a snake striking its prey.

I detested the thought of this union more than I detested theamiira. It wasn't just about merging families, it was about throwing open the gates to a thousand dangers, a thousand knives waiting to be plunged into the back of the very people who thought they were in control. But it was too late now. The decision was made, and there was no going back.

I could feel the weight of it pressing down on me. The future of this empire was about to shift, and all I could do was watch as the pieces fell into place. The last thing I wanted was to be caught in the middle of a blood-soaked power struggle, but that was exactly what was coming. All because of one woman—the source of every frustration, the bane of my existence.

I glanced up to watch Nádia, completely unaware of the storm about to hit her.

Chapter Three

NADIA

Iwas burning with anger, rage bubbling up from deep inside me as I stormed into my father’s study. I couldn’t believe what he had just done.Arranged marriage?The very thought felt like a slap across my face. How could he make such a decision without even consulting me? Didn’t I have any say in this?

I whirled on him, my voice sharp with betrayal. “Howdareyou,painho? How dare you make such a decision about my life without even asking me? I’m not some commodity to be handed off like a piece of property!” I could feel the sting of the words, but it didn’t matter. I had to make him see.

His eyes were calm, too calm, as if this was all just a part of some grand plan. His usual warmth toward me was gone, replaced with something colder, more distant.

“Sit down, Nádia,” he ordered, his voice low and dangerous.

I shook my head, fire rising in my veins. “No! I won’t. You can’t justhand me overto some man I’ve never even met. This is my life, not some pawn move on a chessboard!”

He took a deep breath, his gaze narrowing on me. “You will sit. And you will listen, because you don’t understand the weight of what I’m doing here.”

I wasn’t going to back down. “No, you’re not doing this for me. You’re doing it for yourempire,for power. But you’re not thinking about me. You never do.”

He stepped forward, his presence looming over me as if trying to contain a beast within. “This is for thefamily. You will do what’s required of you. The Medeiros family is the only thing standing between us and complete ruin. Do you understand?” His voice was a harsh whisper, each word like a crack in the silence. “You are not just my daughter anymore. You are aNogueira.And you have a duty to this family, to carry on the legacy I’ve built.”

“Legacy?” I spat, disgust clawing at my throat. “You think I owe my life to this?”

His eyes hardened, and for a split second, I saw something I had never seen before—pure, unrelenting rage. The edge of his voice was a growl as he spoke again. “I am still the head of this family, Nádia. You willabideby my orders. Make no mistake, I could have married you off to my cousin back in Brazil—a man thrice your age and more than willing to do what’s necessary to tame you. But for the sake of my love, I decided against it. This was the only way, do you hear me? There was no other way! And if I find out you’ve done anything to sabotage this marriage, I will make sure you understand what happens when you disrespect my decisions.”

His fingers dug into my arm with a force that made me wince, his face mere inches from mine. I flinched, and for the first time in my life, I saw the man who had sewn fear into the world around him.

“You will do this, Nádia. For the family. For the legacy. And if you ever think about crossing me again, I’ll deal with you myself.”

The words hit me like a slap, cold and unforgiving. I could feel the heat rising in my chest with every pounding heartbeat, but deep down, I knew there was no fighting it. Not now. Not when the weight of his authority pressed down on me like an iron fist. I yanked my arm out of his grasp, taking a step back, but the anger was still there—sharp, burning, relentless.

I wanted to scream, to throw something, to do anything to break free of this suffocating cage he had built for me. But instead, I stood frozen, my heart racing as I silently fumed.

He took everything from me—my choice, my freedom, my dignity. His voice echoed in my mind, and I couldn’t stop the flood of thoughts that came rushing in.Would he have done this to his own wife, too, if she was still alive?

I hated the thought of it, but the more I turned it over in my mind, the more I realized it wasn’t beyond him. He would do whatever it took for power, no matter who it crushed. If it meant using his wife as a pawn in some sick maneuver, then so be it. In this world, sacrifice spoke more volumes than simple bloodshed.

“You’re wrong,o senhor,” I whispered, detaching any endearments between us, my voice shaking. “You’re wrong about all of this.”

But he didn’t respond. He didn’t need to. The silence between us was deafening.

I turned on my heel, the tears stinging at the back of my eyes, but I refused to let them fall. This wasn’t about me anymore. This was about his empire, and I was nothing more than a pawn in it.

As I stormed out of the room, my heart felt heavy with betrayal. I needed to escape. I needed torunfrom all of this before I lost myself entirely.

I didn’t make it far before I saw Romy leaning casually against the wall, that infuriating smirk already in place. He had witnessed it all, I was sure of it. His eyes followed me as I stormed past him, his expression a mix of amusement and something else I couldn’t quite place.

“Well, well,” Romy said, his voice smooth and mocking, “Seems like you got exactly what you deserved.”

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