C3 WELCOME TO HELL.

TOBY.

"I'm waiting, you know. We have to get there on time!" my dad snapped from downstairs.

And where were we going? The Coker's house.

"Mum, I thought you somehow managed to change his mind. I don't want to get married, and not to the fat and ugly Ruby!" I shouted at my mom.

Then, at that moment, a clumsy maid who was cleaning up my room chose to drop one of my beautiful vases. "Are you utterly stupid?! Do you even realize how much that costs? How would you, born and bred in poverty, even understand? Idiot! You're fired!" I snapped at the girl, who was already crying and frightened. She quickly ran out of the room.

Stupid maids! She should have known better than to be so careless when I was seething with anger.

"And Mom, you didn't answer me!" I directed my anger back at my mom, who flinched at the tone of my voice.

"Sweetheart, I tried, but you know how your dad is. He never listens to me. He's even stubborn about it being that girl," my mom replied calmly, trying to be careful not to further anger me.

If it were up to my mom, she would always do what I want. She loved me so much and would always go along with my wishes. But, admittedly, she could be cruel to others when I wasn't involved. However, she wasn't as wicked and mean as people painted her to be.

Okay, fine, she could be mean to other people, especially her employees and maids, so people hated her a lot. But to me, she would always be the best mother ever, because she was always loving and kind to me.

My last hope at that moment was Ruby. I just had to hope that she threw enough tantrums against the marriage for them to forget about the whole arrangement. It didn't even make any sense.

While we were in the car, my dad said what I had been expecting from him, which was why I wasn't throwing too many tantrums.

"I advise you to be on your best behaviour when we get to your in-laws' house. Don't you dare pull a stupid stunt!" he warned, while I rolled my eyes.

"But Dad, I still don't understand the pact at all. They're not even that rich. Are you doing this because he's your friend? I heard that their business is on the brink of ruin. They have nothing to offer us," I said, hoping to bring up points that would change my dad's mind.

"I decide what is helpful to us and what isn't. Do your part and leave the rest to me. Although there's a major reason I can't share with you right now, this is also a way to appease the public who have been protesting against our schools, accusing us of harbouring criminals and bullying just because they're wealthy. If we show them that our one and only son is marrying an average girl, they'll probably see us in a better light. So yes, we stand to benefit a lot too," my dad explained, while I remained silent, not even surprised.

Of course, it was to pacify the public as usual. Everything in our family revolved around maintaining our image.

Soon enough, we arrived at the Coker's home, and I wasn't particularly impressed with their house. It was in a decent neighbourhood, but not an affluent one. They were simply average.

A towering bald man, whom I recognized as Mr Henry Coker, and an elegantly slender woman, whom I assumed to be Mrs Coker, stood at the entrance of the door to welcome us as we pulled into their compound.

My dad greeted Mr. Coker, his grin stretching wide, and the woman reciprocated the gesture, while I observed them with an air of awkwardness.

"Toby, Toby! How have you been?" Mr Coker greeted us as if we were long-lost buddies, while I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and simply replied with a curt "Fine."

We made our way inside, heading towards the spacious dining room, and took our seats. "Sapphire! Ruby! Our guests are here!" Mrs. Coker called out.

A young, beautiful girl, whom I recognized as Sapphire, bounded down the stairs with careful steps due to her heels. She wore a lovely floral dress and looked as charming as ever. Sapphire appeared to be in her twenties, but I knew she was only nineteen. She had always appeared more mature than her age.

She greeted my mom, who promptly responded to her greetings. However, even after Ruby greeted me three times, Mom acted as if she didn't hear her, and I couldn't blame her.

Ruby was practically dressed in something resembling rags—a baggy pair of trousers and a faded shirt. She hadn't even bothered to make an effort to look presentable for the dinner. She looked just as unattractive as I remembered, although her excess weight had diminished to some extent, remaining mostly in her hips and bust. I glared at her as she approached my side. It was quite evident that even my mom was thoroughly disgusted by her.

I smirked knowingly, and I could detect a trace of a mocking smile forming at the corner of Mrs Coker's lips in secret. I suppose nobody liked Ruby, and for some reason, that made me immensely happy. My mom still didn't acknowledge her, so Ruby returned to her seat, her face displaying disappointment and dejection.

"Hey, Toby! You're still as handsome as I remember!" Sapphire greeted me as she took a seat on my left, while Jupiter sat on my right.

"I know, right?" I replied in a cocky manner.

"Ruby dear, your dad informed me that you've decided this. Would you like to share it with us?" my dad asked with an uncharacteristically sickeningly sweet voice.

What was this man up to? He was hardly ever nice. Niceness didn't run in our family's veins.

"Uh, yeah... I... I agreed," Ruby stuttered, causing me to nearly spit out my wine back into the glass. She agreed?! She really agreed?!

"Oh, I'm so glad to hear that. The wedding will happen swiftly, and my son can't wait to make you his wife," my dad said, smiling.

Indeed!

My mom glared at her with the same intensity as I did. Oh, Ruby, you've just made two formidable enemies. I can't help but wonder how you'll survive us.

Welcome to hell, dear wife.