The Architect of Ruin

"You should thank me." Hendrick Wilson's sarcastic voice filled the car.

"I don't think that's necessary, since this was all my plan," Rose Wilson replied coldly.

She cast her gaze out the window rather than look at her father.

"I don't want to hear any refusal from her," Hendrick continued. "Because that would tarnish my family's name."

Rose didn't respond. She kept watching the street as the car slowed down and stopped at a fine-dining restaurant in the city center.

The click of her heels echoed down the hallway until the sound stopped at the door. Hendrick raised his hand, signaling her not to open the door just yet.

"This meeting feels like an arranged marriage to me."

Rose could clearly hear the conversation taking place inside. She let out a heavy sigh and immediately puffed out her chest so her father wouldn't look down on her.

"Tonight, your relationship with Liana Collin must end." A firm tone now came from inside.

"Task... he already has a woman." Hendrick mocked Rose in a whisper.

"That's easy for me to get rid of," Rose silenced her father.

"I will refuse this marriage." That firm refusal made Rose uncomfortable.

"You have no right to choose."

"Father!"

That shout prompted Rose to act.

"Open it," she ordered the servant, who immediately obeyed.

The door opened. She could feel the awkward atmosphere and the sharp stares that immediately turned toward her as she walked toward the chair that had been set out for her.

Rose let her father take the lead in this meeting by keeping both herself and Levin Stuart out of it, he remained seated, looking displeased. She put a piece of steak in her mouth and ignored the questioning gaze that kept fixed on her.

"It's time for you two to get to know each other better." Hendrick turned his attention to Levin. "Go outside and talk."

"All right, Father." Rose set down her cutlery and stood up from her chair.

For the first time, she met Levin's green eyes. Rose raised one eyebrow, signaling him to stand.

"All right, Mr. Wilson." Reluctantly, Levin approached Rose.

Rose accepted Levin's outstretched arm. She gently took it and began to step outside.

The night wind blew hard enough to scatter the leaves in the middle of the restaurant. Her steps halted as the man stopped. Rose looked back, where the large window in her father's room with Mr. Stuart faced her.

"Please, call off this wedding." Levin released his embrace.

Rose walked over to the pond nearby. "Why does it have to be called off?"

"I already have a woman I want to marry." Levin's conviction sounded so strong.

She turned around and looked at him again. "Why didn't you tell my father?"

"It'll be easier to call it off through you." Levin's answer made her smile slightly.

"I'm sorry if I don't see things your way." She took a step closer.

"What do you mean?" Levin furrowed his brow.

Rose stopped right in front of Levin, standing close enough to touch him. "Because I love you."

A breath of disbelief escaped Levin's lips. He took a step back. "We're not close enough for you to pull a joke like that."

Rose could feel Hendrick's gaze from behind the window. She closed the distance between them again. "Do I look like I'm joking?" Her eyes stared at him intensely, and her voice softened. "I truly love you, Levin Stuart."

An exasperated sigh brushed against her beautiful skin.

"If this marriage goes through, I'll hate you."

"That's fine, as long as you're by my side." She simply smiled in response to the threat. "It seems you don't know what's going on at your company."

"My company is doing just fine, Miss Wilson." The man assured her.

"It seems you don't know anything." Rose raised her right hand to brush away the leaves clinging to Levin's shoulder. "Mr. Stuart has suffered a massive failure in his invasion right behind you."

"What?" The shock made Rose fold her arms across her chest.

"You can ask your father about that directly. Most importantly, our wedding has been set for tonight," she said with a triumphant smile.

Levin shifted his gaze toward the window, where he saw the two parents shaking hands. Rose could sense the pent-up anger from Levin.

*****

The sound of the door slamming shut echoed behind Levin, triggering the outburst of anger he had been holding back.

"What have you been doing behind my back? What kind of betrayal have you committed that led you to sell me out to the Wilson family!" His rage reverberated throughout the living room.

"I did this for our family," Mr. Stuart countered. "I wanted to defeat The Wilson Group and give this victory to you."

Levin clutched his brown hair. He didn't want to shout anymore. "Why didn't you involve me?"

"Because you wouldn't be able to defeat The Wilson." Mr. Stuart's should cut him to the quick.

"Don't you trust me?" He patted his chest, which felt tight. "I'm Levin Stuart, your son! I'm the one who saved this company from ruin. How could you betray me like this?"

"If you're so confident," Mr. Stuart grabbed Levin by the collar, "prove to me that you can defeat them."

"How can I defeat them when you've already destroyed your own company?" He roughly shook off his grip.

"Accept this marriage and take everything they have," Mr. Stuart gripped Levin's shoulders tightly. "That's the only way to save Stuart Corp. Do you understand? Leave Liliana and focus on your marriage."

He shook off that hand again. The disappointment he felt made it hard for him to speak. "You... you're the worst father."

Levin left the room, carrying immense anger and disappointment.

*****

The sound of Rose's D'Orsay heels echoed through the VIP room. She took short steps as she walked past the dresses on display, but none of them caught her eye.

"Can you make the most beautiful dress for my wedding?" she asked the designer who had been walking behind her the whole time.

"Of course, Miss," the designer replied simply. "I'll get everything ready right away."

Rose walked over to the sofa and sat down. As she was reading the boutique's catalog, her personal secretary approached and whispered something that made her smile sweetly.

"Leave us."

John understood the order and asked everyone to leave the room as soon as Levin entered.

"You seem so serious about this wedding." Levin didn't want to beat around the bush.

"Sit down, help me pick out a dress that suits me." Rose patted the sofa next to her.

"I'm here to call off this wedding." Rose could sense the anger Levin was carrying.

She closed the catalog in her hand and looked at the man. "Are you going to choose it while standing there?"

That repulsive smile was directed at her. "I don't want to be near a woman like you."

"All right," Rose stood up. "We'll pick out the dress while standing."

She watched Levin take a deep breath. "Don't you have ears?"

"Can't you see these beautiful ears of mine?" Rose jingled the diamond earrings she was wearing. "My ears only hear what I want to hear."

"Call off this wedding." The anger finally burst out.

"Even if you refuse and scream as loud as you can, this wedding will still take place." She changed her tone to a colder one.

"Don't you mind spending your life with someone who doesn't love you?"

"That doesn't matter to me, as long as I still love you."

That answer triggered a laugh that was loud yet sharp. "You're going to love someone who doesn't want you-who even hates you?"

"Of course, because I'll make sure my love for you is greater than your hatred of me." She proudly declared her feelings.

The laughter turned into a look of hatred. "You're utterly repulsive, Rose Wilson."

"This repulsive woman is going to be your wife, Levin Stuart." She folded her arms across her chest. "Didn't Mr. Stuart tell you what would happen if this marriage is called off?"

"I didn't-"

"I'll tell you." She began to move toward him. "The Wilson Group will acquire everything owned by Stuart Corp, without exception." Her steps stopped right in front of Levin.

"Take whatever you want; I don't care." Those eyes came closer, challenging him. "Because I won't fall because of that."

A smile spread across her beautiful face. "Youre too arrogant to see what will happen to your family or even to yourself. The relationships you've built will kneel at my feet and turn away from you. And in the end, you'll all end up in prison."

"Prison! What are you going to do for my family?" Levin tugged at the collar of the midi dress she was wearing.

Rose raised her left hand and gripped the muscular arm wrapped around her. "It's not me who's doing it, but your father who started it all."

The grip began to loosen. "You're so full of yourself and arrogant that you can't see what your family is facing."

"How do you know what's going to happen to my family?" The strong hand finally dropped.

He brought his face close to his opponent's ear. "Because your family is under my control."

That painful whisper made the green eyes tremble in disbelief. His broad chest felt tight and hot.

"You don't need to see your lover. Let me be the one to end it all."

The sound of D'Orsay's footsteps retreating felt like a hammer blow to Levin's body, which stood frozen in place, unable to move in the face of the reality he had to confront.

To Be Continued~~~

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***