Our Accidental Forever Chapter 6: The Rule of Marriage

Arec's POV:

The mont I stepped through the front door, I felt the weight of the day settle on my shoulders like a leaden cloak.

It had been a grueling day at the office, endless etings, frustrating negotiations, and the constant pressure of knowing that every decision I made was being scrutinized by those who were eager to see take the reins of Denco Groups.

But there was still one obstacle in my way. And as I handed my briefcase to the waiting servant, I had a feeling I was about to run headlong into that obstacle yet again.

"Is Grandmother still awake?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

The servant, who'd served our family for years and knew better than anyone the tension that simred between my grandmother and , gave a sympathetic look.

He opened his mouth to reply, but before he could utter a word, I heard the familiar sound of my grandmother's voice descending from the staircase.

"Arec, dear, is that you?"

I sighed. "Speaking of the devil," I muttered under my breath, earning a knowing smile from the servant, who quickly made his exit, leaving to face the inevitable.

"Yes, Grandmother. Good evening," I said, forcing a polite smile as she approached.

My grandmother, Eleanor Weston, was the very embodint of the old-world matriarch, elegant, commanding, and utterly relentless.

She was the one person in my life who could make feel like I was still a child, no matter how much power or influence I wielded at Denco Groups.

And right now, she was looking at with that familiar mixture of affection and stern expectation that never failed to unsettle .

"We need to talk," she said, skipping any pleasantries, her tone leaving no room for argunt.

I felt the tension in my neck tighten. I knew exactly what this conversation would be about. It was always about the sa thing.

"Grandmother," I began, trying to keep my voice steady, "can it wait? I've just co back from work, and I'm exhausted."

But she was already shaking her head, dismissing my plea with a wave of her hand. "No, it can't wait. That work you're so obsessed with might be taken away from you if you don't find yourself a wife before the next board eting."

And there it was, the ultimatum she'd been issuing for months now, always with the sa unwavering conviction. The rule that had haunted since I was old enough to understand it, the one thing standing between and the CEO position I'd been working toward my entire life: marriage.

I sighed heavily, the frustration bubbling up inside , threatening to spill over. "Seriously, Grandmother? Can't we have this conversation another ti? I'm tired and stressed out. I need to rest."

"Arec, you can't keep avoiding this," she said, her voice sharp with impatience. "You need a wife to succeed the company, and you need her now. The board is growing restless, and they won't wait forever."

Unbelievable. I clenched my fists, trying to keep my temper in check, but it was a losing battle. "I've told you a thousand tis, Grandmother, I don't need a wife to run the company. I'm perfectly capable of handling it on my own."

Her eyes narrowed, and she took a step closer, her presence as formidable as ever. "That's not for you to decide, Arec. This rule has been in place for generations. Your father followed it, your grandfather followed it, and so did every other man who led Denco before you. Are you saying you're better than all of them?"

I swallowed hard, the anger rising in my chest like a tidal wave. "I'm saying the rule is outdated and irrelevant. Tis have changed, Grandmother. We don't live in the 19th century anymore. A man's ability to run a company isn't determined by whether or not he has a wife."

Her expression hardened, and I knew I was treading dangerous ground. But I was too angry to care.

"The rule is there for a reason, Arec," she said, her voice low and firm. "It's not just about having a wife; it's about proving that you can take responsibility, that you can manage a household and be the head of a family. If you can't do that, how can you expect the board to trust you with the entire company?"

I felt a surge of frustration, the words spilling out of before I could stop them. "I've been managing Denco Groups for years now, and I've done it damn well. The board knows that. They've seen the results. My marital status has nothing to do with my competence as a leader."

She shook her head, her expression one of deep disappointnt, and that hurt more than I wanted to admit. "You're missing the point, Arec. It's not just about competence. It's about tradition, about upholding the legacy that your ancestors built. If you can't see the importance of that, then maybe you're not as ready to lead as you think you are."

I stared at her, my heart pounding in my chest, the weight of her words pressing down on like a physical force.

This was the woman who had shaped so much of who I was, who had guided through the complexities of life and business, who had been there for in ways no one else had.

And yet, right now, all I could feel was anger, anger at her, at the stupid, archaic rule that was holding back, and at the crushing pressure to conform to a tradition that made no sense in the modern world.

"Why can't you understand?" I said, my voice rising despite my efforts to keep it calm. "I don't need a wife to prove that I'm ready to lead. I've dedicated my life to this company, and I'm more than capable of running it on my own terms."

"And those terms don't include a family?" she shot back, her eyes blazing with determination. "What kind of life do you think you'll have, Arec, if all you care about is work? Do you really think you'll be happy without soone by your side, without a family to co ho to?"

I opened my mouth to respond, but the words caught in my throat. The truth was, I didn't know what kind of life I wanted outside of work. I'd spent so many years focused on my career, on reaching the top, that I'd never really thought about anything else. But I wasn't about to admit that to her.

"That's not the point," I said, my voice tight with frustration. "This isn't about my personal life, it's about my ability to lead the company. And I shouldn't have to get married just to prove that."

She sighed, a weary, resigned sound that only made angrier. "Arec, you're my grandson, and I love you. But you're being stubborn and shortsighted. The board won't wait forever, and neither will I. You need to find a wife, and you need to do it soon. This isn't just about you, it's about the future of our family, of everything we've worked so hard to build."

I couldn't take it anymore. The frustration, the pressure, the constant nagging, it was all too much. Without another word, I turned on my heel and stord out of the house, the door slamming behind with a loud, echoing bang.