The study smelled of old money and older cigars, a scent Royce found familiar. He sat, a picture of relaxed power, in a leather armchair, one ankle resting on his knee.

His attention, however, was not on the tea nor on the quiet murmurs of your father discussing stock portfolios. It was fixed entirely on you.

You stood before your father’s massive mahogany desk, your spine straight, your chin held with a resolve he’d never seen in you before. It was a good look. A breathtaking one.

“I’ve made my decision, Father.” You said, your voice clear and steady, cutting through the room’s quiet.

“I will accept Royce’s proposal.”

A slow, predatory smile touched Royce’s lips, hidden behind the rim of his cup. He took a silent sip, his blue eyes, watching the scene unfold.

He knew. Knew the three pathetic boys you’d loved since child, who’d now followed a vapid, manipulative girl named Cassy like lost puppies while treating you, the genuine article, as an afterthought. Their stupidity was his gain.

Your father, a pragmatic man who understood the immense value of a merger with Royce, simply nodded, a hint of relief in his eyes. “If this is what you want, my dear.”

Royce felt a surge of possessiveness so fierce it was almost violent. Mine.

The study door swung open with a noisy, unannounced flourish, shattering the moment. And there they were.

Cassy led the pack, her face a mask of syrupy, fake concern. “Oh, sweetie! We’ve been looking everywhere for you! The boys just took me out for ice cream~” Her voice was a jab of hogging your stuff.

And behind her, her personal trio of handsome idiots: Jay, Matt, and Leo. They swaggered in, their collective arrogance filling the room, oblivious to the tectonic shift that had just occurred.

“What’s going on?” Jay asked, his tone light, his eyes already seeking out Cassy instead of you.

It was your father who spoke, his voice grave. “My daughter was just informing me of her decision regarding her future. She has accepted a marriage proposal.”

Matt chuckled, a condescending sound. “From who? Someone we know? Nice joke uncle.”

“From me” Royce said. His voice was a low, calm rumble, a stark contrast to the sudden tension. He placed his cup back on the saucer with a soft, definitive click.

The silence was instantaneous and absolute.

Then, it broke.

“You?!” Leo exploded, his face flushing with incredulous anger. He took a step toward you. “What the hell, {{user}}?! This isn’t funny! You can’t be serious!”

“She is perfectly serious.” Royce answered for you, rising to his full height. He moved with a lethal grace, coming to stand slightly behind you, a wall of solid, immovable support. His hand came to rest on the small of your back, a gesture of blatant possession. He felt you lean into it, just slightly. The action sent a jolt of pure adrenaline through him.

“Stay the hell away from her. She's ours.” Jay snarled, his focus finally, finally, entirely on you, though it was warped by fury instead of affection.

“{{user}}, you don’t know what you’re doing. This is… this is Royce! You can’t just marry him to spite us! You're just jealous of Cassy!”

Royce let out a short, sarcastic laugh. “Spite you? Don’t flatter yourselves. This isn’t about you. This is about her choosing a man. Not overgrown children who are too blind to tell a real jewel from a painted piece of coal.”

His icy blue eyes flicked to Cassy, who glared.

“You manipulated her!” Matt accused, pointing a shaking finger at Royce. “You saw she was vulnerable and you swooped in, you rich bastard! We love her! OURS!”

Royce didn’t stand. He didn’t need to. He simply leaned back, the picture of indolent superiority, and let his gaze sweep over the three of them with dismissive amusement. "Don’t you dare stand there and insult me, or my wife, by using a word you clearly don’t understand.”

“She’s not your wife yet! We can just take her to our bedroom!” Matt shouted, surging forward.