Chapter 1

"Father, what is this?" Daniel D'alore stormed into the workspace of his father's mansion. The elderly man was startled, shaking himself and pouring the coffee onto the sheets of paper that were piled up on his desk. He was shocked at his son's sudden outburst, and it infuriated him, but not enough for him to speak yet.

"Tell me what the goddamn hell this is." Daniel demanded, holding up a file that contained documents his lawyer had given him earlier.

"Danny, what is the meaning of this nonsense?" Mr. George D'alore finally spat, face reddened.

"Nonsense, father? Really? How about you tell me what nonsense this is." He asked, hand waving the file he carried as if his father couldn't really see what he was showing him.

George still could not believe his eyes. He was speechless for a moment, scanning the file Daniel held up to his face, until it dawned on him.

"Well son, if that paperwork is what has got you all riled up, then you were bound to find out one way or another."

"Did you really think I'd ever agree to this? To get married off to someone I've never met, like some thirteenth century arranged marriage bs? Both you and mum must've really lost it."

"Tone it down, young man. What we came to terms with with the Evertons is the biggest deal we've ever had to make. What more could you do for us?"

"It'll never in a million years happen, count on that." Daniel said and walked out of his father's study, throwing the papers on the floor.

The old, chubby man looked worried as he watched his only son and heir walk out on him. Everything had been stated in the document. Daniel was supposed to get married to the daughter of the Evertons, the biggest business moguls in the city, and the D'alore family would get a signed ten year contract with their company which was over billions of dollars. What was it that his son couldn't understand? What would Margerie, his wife, say?

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Most of dinner time passed in silence as the tension in the room grew. Daniel was too annoyed to look his parents in the eyes, and they didn't dare to utter a word to him about what was on that paper. His mother, however, was determined to get to him. He was her son after all, and she knew him more than she knew the back of her own hand. She could convince him, or at least try and get him to see reason in the deal with the Evertons.

"Dan-" She was cut short immediately.

"Did you even bother to check the news about Trinity Everton?" Daniel asked, sensing his mother's watchful gaze bare into him as he ate in silence. "All the atrocities, the scandals and whatnot. Did you not think that her already damaged reputation would smear the name of the D'alores?"

The thing about Trinity Everton was that she was more renowned for her affairs with married men or men in politics than her actual acting career. The media thought her acting was horrible and she only lived off the inheritance that was given to her by her parents. In fact, unlike her lovely sister, Donna, Trinity was the black sheep of their family and everyone knew this.

"Rumours will die down with time, Danny. You need to trust us. After all, marriage isn't something that has to tie you down. The both of you can come to an agreement, get a prenup if you feel the need to or keep an open relationship. Just do this for the sake of our family, please." Margerie said softly, hoping she was getting to him. She even took his hand and gave it a little squeeze.

Daniel looked at the wrinkled hand in his, his thumb gently rubbing over the greying skin. Her nails were done and painted a light red shade, and her ring finger showed the expensive life she had chosen when she decided to get married to the patron of the house. It was a twenty three karat diamond ring, worth over millions of dollars, but Daniel knew she cherished the price of that ring more than the love she never had for her husband.

Daniel smiled, and Margerie, knowing that face all too well, retrieved her hand and frowned at his stubbornness.

"I can't do it." He said simply.

"Fine. If you can't try to be at least reasonable, your father and I will see to it that you do get married to Trinity whether you like it or not."

He scoffed at her words, finding it unbelievable.

"You will be stripped of all your possessions, from your position at the company and all your automobiles, even to your house in D.C. You will have nothing but us until you learn to say yes." George said in a stern, cold voice and rose up to leave.

"I'm not a kid anymore, you can't take my things away from me." Daniel argued.

"You should've made your own money then." His father replied.

Daniel was a twenty nine year old business typhoon, worth over thirty billion dollars, but everything he had, even his personal businesses and finances were indirectly linked to his family name. Basically, nothing he had was really his until his father permitted it to be his.

He watched the both of them go upstairs to their room. A moment later, the maid came clearing the table and Daniel was left with his thoughts. He tapped impatiently, fighting his inner demons and groaned in frustration.

Fine then, have your way.

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Trinity came home drunk that night, carefully tiptoeing her way into her parent's thirty something year old manor. She could barely walk straight and it was dark already, the time well over midnight. With every staggering step she took, it felt like the darkness was determined to trip her over in the painful heels she wore. She reached out for anything to hold and steady her gait, but all she did was knock over a timely vase, one her mother had inherited from her grandmother. That was all the noise needed to alert the house of her presence. The lights suddenly came on and standing at the top of the stairwell was her mother glaring down at her.

"Your lack of shame never ceases to amaze me." Regina Everton said coldly, disappointment written all over her face as she watched her disgraceful daughter struggle to keep balance. "At least, be mindful enough to remove your shoes before you break something else."

"Hi, beautiful and wonderful mummy." Trinity slurred and smiled tipsily. She dragged her feet over to the large cushion at the center of the living room and collapsed unto its softness.

"Make sure you're sober enough tomorrow. We've had enough of your shenanigans, you'll be meeting the love of your life." Regina said and turned to leave.

"The love of my….? Who…who is the love of my life? I have a love of my life?" Trinity slurred on before finally passing out.