THE EXILED LORD

CHAPTER 5

“That’s enough, June!!,” Mr Leon snapped at his wife, his voice firm and unrestrained, “Ever since he got here you haven't said anything positive. Don't belittle the young man.”

Margaret huffed, crossing her arms. “What’s there to speak positively about? A man who disappeared for years and came back empty handed, is a big joke.”

They both had no idea what Luca and his father Dorian Ashford had accomplished over the years, but Leon was doing this to retain Luca's dignity as a man.

He ignored his nagging wife and turned to Luca with a warm smile he said; “Come inside son.”

“Thank you uncle.”

Luca Ashford followed him into the villa, his expression unreadable.

As he walked into the lavish sitting room, he could recall the way he used to play around as it didn't change much. There were still some traces of his childhood memories filled with laughter, more like nothing changed.

The only thing different was that, the warmth that once filled the room was gone.

On one of the couches was seated elegantly by a beauty named, Amelia Thornton.

Her once-gentle eyes filled with warmth now held a cold edge, and Luca immediately understood.

Whatever connection they had shared in the past while growing up, when they were kids was long dead.

“Hi Amelia.”

“Luca, I heard you were back.” Amelia uttered sternly with no emotions.

How could there be? They never stayed in touch ever since he left, so they were pretty more strangers than old acquaintances.

Leon looked at the two of them, smiling, it was no surprise that they were unfamiliar with one another… looking at them he saw that they were a perfect match, he smiled and uttered;

“Well you too haven't seen each other in a long time. Back then when you were kids you were so close and inseparable.” he added;

“I even made a promise with Luca's father that when you both grew up you would get married! Now that Luca is back, there is time for you both to catch up. By tomorrow, you both should go to city Hall tomorrow and get your marriage certificate!”

“What?! I personally don't agree to this.”

“Dad! How could you do this?!”

The two voices of protests came out simultaneously at the same time from Amelia and June.

Luca was somewhat embarrassed and felt awkward, he thought they already knew about his reasons for coming back, but right now, that wasn't the case.

This made Leon upset, his face blatantly turned red.

His authority as the head of the family had just been challenged by both his wife and daughter in front of his guest and he wasn't going to take it.

“What do you mean by this?! Are you refusing to listen to me now?” Leon asked angrily.

Amelia protested, “Dad, how can you decide my marriage so casually?! You didn't even ask for my opinion!”

June on the other hand was furious but for a different reason, she was very much angered because she had already planned for Amelia to marry someone else—someone who, in her opinion, was wealthier and more suitable for her daughter, than Luca could ever be.

“I am your wife Leon, how could you not tell me anything about this? Is being your wife and the mother of your daughter not enough for you to include me in your plans? There is no way this is happening, I object to this.” June uttered sternly.

Leon Thornton was about to lash out when a knock on the door was heard which halted the conversations.

Seeing Luca, Jason's expression darkened slightly, but he still pretended to be polite as he asked, “And this is?”

Leon frowned, but instead of answering he calmly said, “Jason, this isn't a good time for a visit. We have important family matters to discuss, and it's inconvenient for outsiders to be here.”

At that moment, June interrupted Leon, huffing angrily,

“Wait a minute! Who said Jason is an outsider? He's the husband I've chosen for Amelia!”

“Mom, what kind of mess are you making again?!” Amelia was stunned—she had gained two fiances in a single day?

“Exactly! June, what kind of nonsense is this?” Leon was equally shocked.

June scoffed, “What? Amelia is my daughter too. If you can arrange a fiancé for her, then so can I!”

Jason quickly grasped the situation. He glanced at Luca who was dressed in cheap clothing, and sneered.

“Aunt June, Uncle Leon, I am sure you both know plenty about me. I am the heir of the Stewart family. Just like the Thornton family, our family is a second-tier family in this city—we are well-matched in status.”

“I’m currently the CEO of our family business managing hundreds of employees.”

“And thus gentleman here… may I ask which family you come from and what position you hold?”

Luca looked at Jason's provocative smile, finding it rather amusing.

“Me? My family isn't worth mentioning. I’m not an heir, how would I hold any title? I work at a quarry, and oversee a few unruly quarry workers.”

“Pfft…” Jason let out an exaggerated laugh. “A quarry? Don't tell me you’re actually hauling stones around covered in dust?”

Jason then feigned gentlemanly politeness and said,

“Uncle, aunt, my sincerest apologies, but I find it utterly humiliating for the Stewart family to have me competing with someone like this…”

Leon's face turned ashen, while June, on the other hand, beamed with delight. She smugly added, “Exactly! Jason comes from a good family, he's outstanding in every way—how could this quarry worker possibly be compared to him?”

Leon roared in fury, “So what?!”

“I made a promise with Luca's father long ago. Their engagement was arranged when they were just children—am I supposed to go back on my word now?”

Amelia's expression darkened. The four people in front of her treated her like a commodity. Did she really have no say in her own future?

However before she could voice her frustration, the Villa's main door was suddenly kicked open with a loud bang.

“Well, well, what's all the fuss about?” A gang member with a cocky grin sauntered in, followed by more than a dozen thugs welding various clubs and sticks.

Leon's face twisted into a scowl as he shouted, “Who the hell are you people? How dare you break into the Thornton family's villa? Are you tired of living?”

The gang leader's smirk darkened as he strode up to Leon, jabbing a finger against his chest.

“Old man, is that how you talk to someone from the Brown gang? Listen up—you’ve got an overdue debt. Pay up now, or you're gonna regret it!”