CHAPTER 1

Having his hands tied behind his back and resting on a chair, the man yelled out in agony, "Agghh! Pl-please don't do this. I- I beg you," he was being severely beaten by two men, and both his lips and nose were already bleeding. They didn't stop until someone behind them started speaking.

They turn to face the visitor who shouts, "Stop!" before approaching the seized man. He firmly grasped the severely wounded man's neck and tightened the hold on it while standing in front of him.

He struggled for his life and tried to speak while breathing heavily, saying, "N-no, I- I- I can't breathe… P-please!" he said, releasing his hold on his neck and lowering himself slightly to stare into his eyes.

Mark smirked and tapped his face, saying, "Why should I let you live, not a chance."

The man who was already bleeding said, "P-please, I- I'm sorry," Mark who was now in front of him looked at him and raised an eyebrow.

He laughed and remarked, "Oh! Now you're sorry. So, you already know about your fault huh? Interesting."

"Y-yes, they told m-me. An-and I'm sorry. I-I didn't know t-that she's your w-wife. I-I got l-little d-drunk t-that's why I acted like t-that. I-I'm s-sorry," he muttered as he was gasping for air.

"Alright, but you are missing two major reasons why you are here."

"W-what?"

"First off, that is my friend, not my wife. The second and most important fact is that, regardless of who her spouse is, she is a woman. You must respect a woman's rights. Even if I'm not doing this for my friend, I'm still doing it since you're about to harass a woman. That is my fucking point!" Mark said and kicked his private area, A man who was already bleeding moans in anguish.

Someone entered the room and said, "Mark?! What are you doing here?" when Mark did not answer, he was asked again, "Hey, answer me, who the hell is he?"

"The guy who tried to touch your wife, that's who," Mark continued, kicking the abducted person in the face once more.

"Aghhhhhh..."

Mark responded, "You deserve it asshole. " Callie shook her head and laughed. She then gave the bodyguards the order to remove him. After that, they left the building and proceeded inside the living room of their rest house.

Addison asked, sipping her beverage, "What's the news, Mark. Is he dead or what?"

He let out a loud sigh, "I didn't kill him because this person dragged me here," Mark said and took a drink from the table.

Addison questioned, "Hm, why did you do that Callie?"

"Oh god, I think he is already dead Addison. Mark beats him hard; he can't even say a word. If that man received another punch from Mark, he's going to see the hell." Callie replied with a grin.

"Good for him," Mark said annoyed.

"Oh, come on Mark. It's ok, Arizona is fine. I mean, he didn't even lay a finger on her," Mark 'hummed' as Callie remarked.

Addison remarked "Ok, then I'm going. Tomorrow, I have a meeting to attend," she was about to stand up when Callie spoke.

"Oh, by the way, congratulations Addie," Callie high-fived Mark, "I almost forgot," she added, while they both laughed, Addison just observed them.

"Huh! For what?" Addison questioned.

They chuckled as the both of them continued, "For your marriage."

Addison said, "What the heck! Are you crazy or what!? Who's having a wedding? " They stopped laughing and gave her a serious look.

"You Addison. Your parents want you to get married soon." Callie replied.

"What! They didn't tell me anything about it," Mark stood up and patted Addison on the shoulder as she responded.

"Oh, come on, Addie. You need to get married, simply love somebody. Addison, it's the greatest feeling in the world. Do it for your parents, please. Look at us, we too got married and are content with our lives, right?" Mark stated and Callie nodded, "So, buddy, it's your turn now."

Addison rubbed her head and murmured, "Shut up, this is your fault. Who told you to marry this early huh?" Addison replied, "I'm going to meet my parents. If anything happens, call me ok," Callie and Mark nodded in agreement. Then Addison walked away.

"Do you think Addison can leave this marriage easily?" Mark asked as they observed Addison leaving.

They then exchanged glances and laughed once more as they both said, "I don't think so."

Currently, Addison is in front of their home. She honked a car horn; the gate was then opened by their watchman. She drove inside, parked the car in their garage, and then entered the house. Her parents were having dinner when she arrived home. When they saw her approaching, her father welcomed her.

"Oh, come here Addison. Let's eat," she went to the dining table and sat down.

"How are things doing in business, Addison? You've been away for a while," Captain asked.

Addison replied, "Everything's okay Papa, and I already ate. I just want to talk with you guys," they went to the living room and sat on the couch after eating. Across from them, Addison turned her head to face them.

"So, what is it, Addison?" Bizzy asked.

"About the rumor of me getting married, Mama," as stated by Addison.

Captain responded, "It's not a rumor, kitten,"

"What?! But I don't want to get married!" Addison protests agitatedly, "And I don't have a stable relationship to get married to."

"Calm down, Addison," Bizzy said. Her mother then went into detail about the person she was going to marry. A part of Bizzy and the Captain could understand Addison's reaction to her getting married to someone she doesn't know, so they patiently waited for her to process the news she had just heard.

"WHAT KIND OF PARENTS ARE YOU! OU ARE PERMITTING YOUR DAUGHTER TO WEDD A STRANGER?!" Both of Addison's parents were taken aback when she screamed at them.

The Captain warned her daughter, "Watch your mouth young lady," adding, "You can be mad at us, but this is going to happen whether you agree to it or not, and that is definitive!" Addison lowered her head in shame after saying to her parents. She was never the kind to argue with her parents; in fact, she and her parents are quite close and she never disobeyed them.

Her father sighed heavily and said, "Kitten, look at me," to which Addison gently complied. He felt bad for shouting at her after witnessing the tears running down their daughter's cheeks. Addison lays her head on her father's shoulder as Captain goes closer to her and wraps his arms around her for comfort.

"I hope you understand us, Addison. We just don't want you to be alone," Bizzy spoke.

"I'm not."

"Look at you honey, your world revolved only to the business. Your best friends already got married and are happy, and we also want that for you. We want someone to look after us after we die. This is our request for you, please just accept it," Bizzy remarked while sobbing.

When Addison eventually recovered, she responded, "Ok, fine. I'll marry whoever you want," wiping her face, "Are you happy now?" Her parents swiftly glanced at her with their brightest smiles on. They knew she couldn't refuse. Addison shook her head, "So, who is the person that I'm going to marry?" Addison enquired.

"She'll meet you at the restaurant tomorrow. I already told your friends about this, so they'll be coming with you. Addison, just treat her nicely." Bizzy said while glaring at her.

"Yeah, yeah," Addison murmured and secretly smirked.

"We will see then, my bride," she said to herself.

The following morning, Addison got out of bed early. She got up early and completed her morning ritual since she wanted to get to the workplace. A maid knocked on her door as she was getting ready in front of her mirror.

"Ms. Addison, breakfast is ready. Your parents summoned you downstairs," the maid informed her.

Addison responded, "Okay. I'll be right there. You can go," she entered the dining room after getting ready. She greeted her parents and sat down next to her mother, saying, "Good morning, Mama, Papa."

Her mother greeted her, "Good morning, honey."

"Good morning, kitten. Looks like you ready to go."

The next morning, Addison woke up early in the morning. She wanted to go to the company so she got up early and did her morning routine. As she went to her mirror to get ready, a maid came and knocked on her door.

"Ma'am, breakfast is ready. Sir and madam called you." The Maid said

" Okay. I'll come. You can go." Addison said. after getting ready she went to the dining room. " Good morning, Mama, and Papa. " She greeted them and sat down next to her mom.

" Good morning honey. " Her mom said.

"Of course, I have a meeting to attend so I have to go there early," they both looked at her as she added, "What?"

"Addison, Are you serious? Your fiancée came today to meet you. We told you already about this, Addison Adrianne Forbes Montgomery." Bizzy stated as she stared at her.

"Fine, God. I'll go there to meet her. Besides, my friends also will be there, right? So don't worry, Mama," in response to Addison's words, her mother sighed.

She gulped and nodded as her mother said, "Addison, I'm warning you. Don't you dare leave her alone there or be rude to her?"

No matter how powerful a mafia leader she is, her parents always terrified her. Well, respect as well not just fear. They have her utmost respect; Addison is unable to refuse them. because she is aware that her parents have never treated her unfairly.

She left her parents' house after that chat and headed to the company. She left her car parked and stepped out of the car. People can now see a true ruler; she never gives her staff a random smile. Let's just say that every time she went outside, she developed a frigid aura. Considering that she didn't want others to get too close to her. Other than her parents and closest friends, she didn't trust anybody.

That is Addison, the superior. She immediately went to her office room after exiting the elevator. Her only response when her staff members greeted her 'Good Morning' was to nod.

As soon as she entered her office, her secretary announced that the meeting would begin in 30 minutes. Addison nodded in agreement. After this meeting, "I'm canceling all of my arrangements," Addison remarked, and her secretary gave her a suspicious look.

Her secretary began to respond, "Um, but boss yo-" when Addison interrupted her.

Addison stated icily, "I said, CANCEL. MY. ALL. PLANS, today," her secretary gasped and nodded in agreement.