Soft music played in the background as the three men sat around the small round table, two cuddled against each other, while the other sat on his own, all three of them contemplating the single man's life decisions.

"Are you sure about this?"

Phawin wanted to laugh at the question, but the lump in his throat made it a difficult task and all that came out was a strangled crock.

He opened his mouth to deliver a smart comment so as to express his bitterness when the door to the room opened with a loud creak, a gust of wind that seemed to carry the collective uncertainty of the moment flowing through.

"It's time, boy."
The older man, his father announced, sparing his oldest son a mere glance and throwing a disapproving look at the other couple who shrank in their place, yet held onto each other tightly.

Suppasit Guntachai was a great man, or so people said. He had money, a carefully curated image, a pretty wife, three sons to look after his multiple companies all over Germany, and much more. To the outside world, he was a great husband, a great father, and a respectful man who was open-minded, understanding, and wise beyond age. A gentleman, oozing with charisma even in his sixties.
Only his family knew what kind of man he really was.
An ignorant husband.
A lousy father.
And a greedy man with a mind as narrow as a strand of hair.

His ideologies were strict and narrow and he didn't believe in love and friendship.
Money.
Just money.

So, when he saw a chance to expand his business to another country, he was quick to propose the idea of making familial ties.

And now, here they are.

With a deep breath, he stood up, dusting his blazer off of invisible dirt, his blonde hair dye fading away to make way for the natural black locks which was styled to stay perfectly, parting at the side. His multiple earrings were, however, removed at the order of his father.

He shot a quick look at his friends who gave him warm smiles.

"Good Luck!" Pharm Trivinij, his best friend's boyfriend and now his friend gave him a slight pat on his back as his boyfriend Dean or Dean Ratthanon Wongnate, his best friend since middle school gave him a thumbs up.

"You got this."

The walk to the hall was awkwardly silent as both the father-son duo avoided each other's eyes, their shoes clicking loudly on the floor as they walked.

Win had a lot to say to the older man.
But, every time he looked at the other, his tongue went stiff at the memories of the beige belt that he used to get hit with as a child.

"You better be on your best manners, boy," Suppasit warned as they reached the door of the cathedral where the supposedly traditional wedding was supposed to take place. "You better not change your mind or I'll make sure you're black and blue. You hear me?"

Win was quick to nod in affirmation. "Yes, phâaw."

"Good. Now, smile wide and make it look convincing. I've got a reputation to keep and a new deal to be signed by the end of the day."

With the amount of times he'd heard his father's threats and sharp words, one might think that he'd be numb to this by now. But he wasn't. Every word felt as sharp as the first time he heard them years ago.
Back then he really had reasons to be scared of his father, who once angry didn't consider their age or their size before throwing them around. And he was always angry.
Growing up as a clumsy child and an exemplary big brother who loved his younger ones beyond any other, he had been disciplined a lot by his father. He remembers hiding in the cupboards of the dusty storeroom where he wouldn't fit in now as he grew up in fear even though he's taller and probably stronger than his father.

Blinking back the tears that had formed in his eyes and swallowing the lump in his throat, he pushed open the archaic doors of the impressive cathedral with a wide smile, his mother, Ploynarin Guntachai joining him there.

She had given him a wide smile with glossy eyes and a red nose.
"You're all grown up now!" She had said, as some of the wives of his father's business partners cooed at them both.

He had smiled at her, trying to be as convincing as possible, wondering if this was yet another staged drama in his life, scripted by his father of course!

Taking another deep breath, he walked forward, his parents on either side of him with wide smiles and teary eyes as the many guests watched them, some familiar, some not. Some wishing him luck, some expecting some sort of drama.

His bride, whom he had never met before, but who was wearing the engagement ring her picked for her under the strict eyes of his father, was yet to come.
He at least hopes that she's nice.
Maybe, just maybe they could work things out and fall in love, have a family, raise some kids together and grow old with each other.

Little did he know, beneath the veneer of this forced union, a deeper truth awaited discovery—a truth that would redefine not only his destiny but also the essence of his own identity.