The Monarch Crown System

3. The Humiliating Shoot

“Your constant quarrels with my daughter, Celeste, have been damaging our family’s reputation,” Henry said coldly. “If she divorces you now, with all these rumors circulating, the public will cancel us.”

He folded his arms.

“So here’s the deal—I'll give you the fifteen million. But in exchange, you will make a public video praising our family… saying how well we’ve treated you… and you’ll take the blame for all the problems.”

Henry continued, smiling like a snake.

“And we’ll mention your illness publicly. Who knows? Maybe some sympathetic fools will donate money for your treatment.”

Elias’s jaw dropped. Disbelief. Humiliation. Rage.

He knew exactly what Henry was doing.

This wasn’t new. The last time Henry embezzled public funds meant for road construction, he forced Elias to take the fall—threatening to throw him out if he refused.

The public had cancelled him, and every company rejected his CV afterward. Elias’s reputation had never recovered.

And now… they wanted to use him again.

“My own wife’s father?” Elias asked, voice trembling. “You’d take advantage of me like this?”

“What choice do you have, Elias?” Susan replied with a smug tilt of her chin. “It’s either that… or you die. We’re not wasting money on someone who isn’t even part of this family.”

Elias turned desperately to Celeste.

“Celeste, please… help me. You can’t let them do this to me. Not after everything I've done for this family.”

Celeste shifted uncomfortably, avoiding his touch.

“I—I don’t know, Elias. In case you need reminding… I’m pregnant with your child. So it’s either you do what my father asks, or I’ll abort this baby.”

“Celeste…?” Elias whispered.

“You’re pregnant?”

His world stopped.

A child—his deepest dream. To raise his son or daughter, love them, guide them…

But if he died in six months, he would never even see the baby’s face.

His heart plummeted.

“But Celeste… you’re my wife,” he breathed. “You know this is wrong. You know it.”

Susan waved her hand dismissively.

“Oh, please. Celeste knows exactly where her loyalties lie. She’s a Halston—she belongs to this family. Not to some pitiful son-in-law like you.”

“She is a Halston, Elias,” Henry added sharply. “Her loyalty isn’t to you.”

Elias felt anger rising in his chest, his fists tightening.

“How can you treat me like this? I’m a human being—not a tool you can use and discard!”

Henry leaned forward, eyes hard.

“Watch your tone, boy. You’re in no position to demand anything. Take the deal… or leave it. Those are your only options.”

Elias’s mind raced. He saw no escape.

If surviving long enough to meet his child meant humiliating himself publicly, then…

So be it.

“You’re lucky we’re even considering helping you,” Celeste added while adjusting in her seat.

Elias inhaled shakily.

“…Alright.”

“I’ll do it,” he said at last, defeated.

Finally arrangements was made for the shoot and it was now the D-day.

Alright, Elias, please get it right this time,” the director sighed, rubbing his temples.

“This is the last time we’re restarting this video.”

“I’ll reset the cameras. Just… focus. Please.”

He stepped back, lifted his hand, and counted,

“Three… two… one… go!”

Elias cleared his throat, fixed his eyes on the camera, and began reading the script.

“Getting married to my lovely wife, Celeste, was the best thing that ever happened to me. Our marriage has been a blessing, and Celeste is the best support system any man could ever ask for—”

“Cut! Cut, cut!” the director groaned loudly.

“Elias, for heaven’s sake—did you eat this morning?”

He stared at him incredulously.

“This is the tenth take. You keep making the same mistake. Do you need your glasses? Are you sure you’re reading the script clearly?”

The director picked up the script and tapped it.

“Master Henry said you must mention your in-laws. Use this exact sentence.”

He read slowly, as if speaking to a child:

“My father-in-law, Henry Halston, has been absolutely good to me and my family since I married their daughter, Celeste.”

He continued, “And don’t forget the part about planning to have a child before the end of the year.”

Elias stared at him. “I have to tell the public that?”

“It doesn’t matter what you want,” the director snapped. “Just say it so the message sounds convincing.”

He waited.

“So? Do you understand?”

Elias didn’t bother protesting. He never won any argument in this house. His life had been dictated by Henry from the day he entered this family.

Right now, he only wanted to finish the humiliating video and go inside to take his medication.

The day had stretched unbearably long.

Despite doing most of the work—both at home and at the office—his position in the Halston household was no better than that of a glorified errand boy.

He made their coffee, set their table, managed schedules, cleaned, ran errands…

All while being mocked by Celeste, who treated him like a servant rather than a husband.

“This is what you get,” he thought bitterly, “when you stubbornly marry into a family your own once rejected—back when they were still wealthy.”

“Yes, we can proceed,” Elias finally responded, voice dull. “I just need to finish before I take my medication.”

Lung cancer wasn’t something he could ignore. The doctor had stressed that missing his drugs for even three days could kill him.

If not for the baby Celeste carried, he would rather die with dignity than bear this disgrace.

“Just one more take,” the director said. “Make it convincing. Otherwise, how will we refute the rumors that Celeste has been treating you like a slave?”

Elias let out a humorless laugh.

“Rumors? Are they really rumors? I wish they were merely allegations.”

“Shhh!” the director hissed, glancing nervously toward the hallway.

“Master Henry will hear you. Focus. We need this video posted on all platforms before evening.”

“And if I don’t coperate?”

Elias said, almost to himself but he had lost his patience at that point.

The director’s brow furrowed in anger.

“Hey! Elias! What has gotten into you! Stop delaying this shoot you fool!” He snapped.

“If you dare call me a fool again, I swear I’ll make you regret it.” The director thought he had heard wrong but it was truly Elias’s voice.