Chapter 1617

Ten years ago in Valtara, Glenn Hagrid, a young man, was polishing a pool cue, but his mind was not on the game. It was fixed on Ron, who was lounging in the corner with a cigarette smoldering between his fingers. "Ron, I heard that the Blue family from South Florivera sent a bride your way. Instead of checking her out, what's got you stuck here watching us shoot pool?" At the mention, Ron took a couple of hard drags on his cigarette and crushed it into the ashtray. "So eager for a girl, huh? Why don't you marry her?" Glenn shot back with a grin, "I would love to, but our grandpa won't allow it." Glenn, Ron's younger cousin by a year, was always one step behind in the family's pecking order. In Valtara, where the Hagrids were top dogs, and the Blues of South Florivera were high society, a marriage between these families was no small affair. It was a power move, carefully orchestrated by the elders who were selecting and reselecting the perfect match. After much deliberation, the Hagrid family settled on Ron as their representative for the alliance, and the Blue family naturally sent their eldest daughter, Emma. Ron stayed silent. He picked up his pool cue and, with a series of swift and precise shots, sank every ball into the pockets, not leaving a chance for anyone else. With the game over, Ron felt more agitated than ever. He yanked at his collar irritably. "Let's go grab a drink." "Sure thing," Glenn said, grabbing his coat. Just then, his phone blared with an incoming call. "Ron, did you turn off your phone again? Jake is calling me now." Jake Bartlett was the Hagrid family's longstanding butler. Ron ignored him and strode out. Glenn quickly answered the call. "Jake, it's me. Yes, yes, I'm with Ron... Look, he doesn't even listen to Grandpa; how am I supposed to influence him?" While on the phone, Glenn's response abruptly changed mid-sentence. "Alright, alright, alright, I'll bring him back, even if I have to hog-tie him." After hanging up, Glenn rushed to catch up with Ron. "Grandpa has issued an ultimatum. If you don't head back now, he's going to have you dragged back, kicking and screaming." Ron did not break stride, utterly unaffected. Glenn followed him into the elevator. "I've heard the Blue's daughter is a real beauty, a knockout. Why not meet her first? You might end up not wanting to leave." Ron retorted, "Zip it," and Glenn quickly shut up. The two reached the underground parking on level minus one. As they stepped out of the elevator, they were immediately encircled by a group of stern-looking bodyguards. "Sir, your grandpa has sent us to escort you back." Their words were polite, but their stance screamed abduction. Ron's eyebrows arched in amusement. "And what if I refuse to go with you?" The lead bodyguard replied, "Sir, we've been ordered to ensure your return. If you resist, we'll have to take action." A wise man picked his battles, and Ron knew better than to tangle with his grandfather's bodyguards. Acknowledging their prowess, he smartly chose not to provoke a fight and obediently got into the bodyguards' car. About half an hour later, they arrived at the Hagrid residence. As the bodyguards parked, Jake hurried to meet them. "Mr. Hagrid, your grandpa is fuming. When you see him, keep it sweet, will you? The last thing we need is to rile him up further." Ron asked, "Are my parents here too?" Jake replied, "Everyone's gathered today to discuss your marriage. How could your parents miss it?" Ron let out a cold snort. His marriage had been arranged from start to finish without his consent, forcing him to marry a girl he had never even met. In this day and age, it was a sad state of affairs to be bound by parental decree, marrying a stranger.