"NO!"
The scream could be heard from miles away.
"I'm not going to marry some stranger. Hell, I'm only 21! Leave me alone about it!" shouted the voice again, brimming with anger.
"Arthur, honey," came a soft voice, cutting through the steam of rage. "Please do this for me—for your dad."
"What do you think I am? Just someone you can trade away for your own selfish reasons?" Arthur snapped, still fuming.
Soft sobs echoed in the room, slowly melting Arthur's resolve.
"Mom," he sighed, pulling her into an embrace. "You know you can't just cry your way into getting what you want. I'm only 21. I want to live my life—not be tied down to some stranger I've never even met."
"Just try, son. Maybe the two of you will come to adore each other eventually. And if not... you can divorce him after two years. I'll talk to your father about it, alright?" his mother, Christi, said between soft sniffles.
"Fine," Arthur muttered in defeat. "I'm only doing this for you and Dad. But this is so unfair to me."
Hearing that, Mrs. Miller's face lit up with happiness. She kissed Arthur on the forehead.
"I'll inform your father right away!" she said, leaping out of the room with excitement.
Arthur, on the other hand, flopped back onto his bed, rubbing his temples in frustration.
"If only Dad's company hadn't taken that massive hit," he muttered, dragging a hand down his face.
Just then, his phone rang. It was his dad.
"Why the hell is he calling me now? I already agreed to his stupid plan," Arthur grumbled, answering the call. "Yes, Dad?"
"They're coming to see you tomorrow—before the marriage. Be on your best behavior and wear something decent."
Arthur rolled his eyes.
"Did you hear me?" his father said sharply, snapping Arthur back to reality.
"Yes, Dad. Got it," he replied quickly. The line went dead.
"Why do these things always happen to me?" Arthur groaned to himself. "Dad won't hand over the company to me because of my idiot brother."
He shadowboxed the air, pretending to punch said brother.
"I don't even know the name of my soon-to-be husband. How is any of this supposed to work? This is insane."
Lost in thought, Arthur suddenly jolted upright, a spark flashing in his eyes.
"Idea!"
"What if I act in a way that'll make him break off the marriage? Or better yet, divorce me as fast as possible?" he said, a gleam of mischief in his voice.
"You're a genius, Arthur," he smirked to himself.
"I'll be waiting for you, Mr. Husband," he said with a mischievous giggle.