Demon CEO's Hidden Love: Mr Grayson Stole Me From My Abusive Husband-Chapter 164: A Compulsory Marriage Arrangement

Serena tipped her shades up the bridge of her nose, and pulled up on her scarf, making sure to keep her face hidden. The bar that Scott had picked was barely in business with only the bartender and a drunk in attendance. But still, she couldn’t afford to be reckless, not with the scandal with Luther and Cassie’s online squabble.

After a tensed half hour of waiting, she heard the bell jingle behind her. Her phone vibrated in her bag, she quickly took it out, but right before she answered, a hand tapped her shoulder.

She froze.

"Who-"

"Serena?" frёewebnoѵēl.com

Upon hearing her brother’s voice she looked over her shoulder to see Scott, dressed in dark shades and a grey cap. He took off his disguise, and sat on the stool next to her.

He signaled the bartender over, "We don’t want to be disturbed for the next hour." He pulled out his wallet and took out some dollar notes. "Here." He slipped them to the bartender.

With a nod, the bartender took the notes and went over to the semiconscious drunk. He lifted him over his shoulder and took him inside, leaving the siblings to themselves.

"What the hell were you thinking calling me out?! You and I have no business with each other." Serena spat at him, taking her scarf off.

"Cut me some slack, I was the one who helped you trap Luther in the first place, wasn’t I? This, and that, and all this, is because of me." He pointed at the accessories and luxury clothes she had on.

Serena hissed, "It’s also your fault I met that drunk bastard Julian. It seems all the men you bring into my life come with problems." She shook her head, irked by her past years.

"So? You’re finally out of money? That’s why you suddenly remembered you had a sister. You left the city without anyway to call or find you, and now you’re back." She hissed, "So, how much do you owe?"

Her brother shook his head, "After all these years you still couldn’t figure out how to use your brain." He opened his wallet fully in front of her, flaunting the neat notes inside.

Serena gasped, "Did you steal that? Is that what this is? You’re back to your old ways."

Scott shook his head, "If anything I’m here to give you something I took away. If you’ll have it."

She narrowed her eyes, "What are you talking about?"

Mallory sighed, staring at the call log on her phone, particularly at the unanswered calls she placed to Matthew.

"Please, answer." She whispered, tracing her thumb over her chest, where her aunt’s necklace should’ve been.

Thinking back on it, her heart sunk at not being able to find the necklace, especially after searching so hard for it.

Where could it have gone? She thought, as she tried placing another call through, only to be interrupted by her cousin, Vance.

"Why the hell are you just sitting there? Don’t you have a date with that Grayson boy? Desmond?" he asked.

Mallory felt shivers run down her spine. "He cancelled." She lied. Although she could tell that Desmond wanted nothing to do with her, a feeling she felt was highly mutual.

"Tch," he hissed, "If only you spent half as much time making yourself look pretty rather than making those fucking horrible designs."

She groaned, "Why are you here, Vance?"

"I only came to check if you’re securing your marriage to Desmond Grayson-"

She shook her head and looked over her shoulder. "I mean, why are you here? At the Villa? You said you were expanding our business abroad, and yet here you are, back home, doing nothing but causing trouble."

Vance’s lip twitched, "Haa." He sighed, balling his fists. "You have a sharp mouth on you now, it seems you’ve picked up a nasty habit from that bastard Matthew."

"He isn’t to blame for your insufferable nature." Mallory retorted.

He scoffed. "This fucking bitch, you’re defending a guy who refused to take his punishment and ran away?"

Ran away?

"What are you talking about?" She pensively asked, her gaze lingering to the line of calls he missed on the call log.

Vance wore an all knowing look. "Gossip travels fast, and right now everyone’s heard how he was punished by his cousin, Maverick." The corners of his mouth lifted into a smile, "From what I heard, Maverick demanded an arm’s worth of all of the wealth Matthew currently owned, in exchange for harming his sister’s arm."

Mallory knitted her brows. An arms worth? How would that even be measured?

"But that bastard took flight that night, and hasn’t been seen up until now. It seems he can’t bare to part with a few dollars. Considering he isn’t worth much to begin with in the first place." He laughed, having his fill of the situation.

"What’s even funnier, is that his grandfather agreed to this, letting Maverick determine how much ab arm’s worth is. And if that bastard doesn’t return home soon, he’ll be kicked out of the inheritance race, permanently." He laughed some more, causing tears to well up.

"What?" she gasped under her breath, "That’s unfair! They could demand any amount and Matthew would have to comply. Does no one want to hear his side of the story?"

Vance raised a brow, "What? Don’t tell me you feel sorry for him."

"What’s wrong with that? He’s being wrongly punished, what sort of family would do this-"

"The family you’re going to get married into." His tone hardened, he walked over and placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze.

She levelled her gaze on his hand, "The more I learn of them, the more I want nothing to do with them. Vance," her voice sharpened, "I don’t want to marry-" he cut her off by digging his fingers into her shoulder.

"Listen here you whiny bitch-"

"Vance!"

"Your marriage isn’t a topic up for debate. You may not know this, but even before the Graysons, the arrangements to marry you off have already been set in motion." He revealed.

Mallory’s heart skipped a nervous beat.

Vance cracked a broad grin, "Be it to some old fart or to some illegitimate bastard, your fate was sealed. So," he loosened his grip, but still kept his hand on her. "You either marry a Grayson, or take your chances with whomever your parents choose..."