Jenis Hotel – Inside a Luxurious Suite
A man and a woman's clothes were scattered all over the floor—even their underwear had become part of the chaos.
A man lay on his stomach while the woman beside him rested her face and hand on his bare back like it was the softest pillow in the world.
Suddenly, a loud ringtone echoed through the room. After the second ring, the man groaned in his sleep.
He reached out with his hand, eyes still closed, feeling around for the phone.
"Who the hell is it?" he grumbled, clearly annoyed.
"Zane," the woman murmured sleepily.
Zane opened his eyes halfway and looked at the caller ID. His expression immediately changed.
Dad.
He sat up quickly, The woman fell back on her back, and frowned.
"Dad?" he answered, holding the bed sheet to cover his lower half.
"Zane, where are you?"
"Is something wrong, Dad? Why are you calling so late?"
"Nothing's wrong, son. Just come home quickly. I have urgent news."
"What kind of news?"
"I'm not talking over the phone. Just come home, and I'll tell you."
Zane looked at the phone screen. It was 1:54 a.m.
"Dad, do you know what time it is? It's almost 2am Can't this wait until morning?"
"Thirty minutes. Be home."
Beep. Beep.
Zane snorted and rubbed his forehead. He stood up to gather his clothes.
"Zane, are you leaving already?" the woman asked, sitting up and holding the sheet to her chest.
"Sorry, Yaniya. Something came up. I have to go."
He didn't even look back.
"But you said you'd stay with me until morning…"
The woman, Yaniya Samuel, pouted. She was a not-so-popular model on social media and had been chasing Zane Ernesto—her boss—for almost a year.
After so many tries, she finally got him to come to her apartment. She thought if she could get him to spend a night with her, maybe he'd start dating her.
But here he was, leaving her in the middle of the night.
Zane furrowed deeper and replied coldly. "The deal was just to sleep. Not 'till morning. It's done now. Bye."
He slammed the door behind him without a second glance.
Yaniya threw her pillow on the ground.
"Bastard!" she growled.
---
Ernesto Estate – 20 Minutes Later
The drive from the hotel to his family home usually took 45 minutes, but thanks to the empty roads, Zane made it in just 20.
His red Ferrari rolled through the gates of the massive Ernesto estate—his family's mansion. He rarely visited. He preferred his own place in a more high-end, quieter area.
But tonight, he had no idea why his father had called him out of the blue.
He rang the doorbell, and it wasn't long before the door opened.
His mother, Isabella Ernesto, greeted him cheerfully.
"Zane!"
Zane gave her a soft smile and hugged her. "Hi, Mom."
"Son,It's so hard to see you these days. I bet if your father didn't call you, you wouldn't even remember you have a mother," she teased.
Zane pinched the bridge of his nose. "It's not like that, Mom. I've just been busy with business. I was planning to visit, really."
"Fine,fine come quickly"
"Right why did that old man have to call you in the middle of the—"
"Ah—ouch!"
She smacked his back.
"Who are you calling an old man? Your dad is still as healthy and young as when I met him!"
Zane chuckled. "Alright, alright. So where is he? And what's the big news?"
He walked past her into the living room.
His father, Theo Ernesto, was sitting on the couch, holding a teacup like it was part of his throne.
"Dad, what's going on?" Zane asked, slumping onto the other couch.
Theo glanced at Zane with a sharp gaze. His eyes immediately caught the red marks on his son's chest and neck.
"Were you with a woman again?"
Zane groaned. "Dad, not this again. I'm not a child. Do you want me to be a priest or something?"
Theo shook his head but didn't reply.
Before Isabella could say anything, their daughter Zara ran into the room wearing her bunny pajamas.
"Oh my! Are we having a family pillow talk in the middle of the night and My dear brother is here too"
Zara flopped onto the couch beside her brother.
"What's going on? And why didn't anyone wake me up for the drama?"
"Your dad has something to tell us. You were asleep, that's why I didn't wake you," Isabella replied.
"Really? What is it, Dad?" she tilted her head, just as Zane grabbed a glass of water.
Theo crossed his legs and said calmly, "Tonight, I want to announce that I've found my daughter-in-law."
Zane spit out the water. Right onto the carpet.
"Eww, brother!" Zara pinched her nose.
"Sorry," Zane muttered, then turned to his father. "Wait… what did you just say,Dad?"
Theo repeated, "I've found your bride."
Isabella blinked. "What do you mean, by daughter-in-law Theo?"
Zara grinned. "He means your son's wife, Mom."
"You think I didn't know that, you silly girl?"
Zara stuck her tongue out. "Ah right."
Isabella shook her head. "Wait—are you serious, Theo?"
Theo nodded. "Yes. I've chosen a girl for Zane."
Zane sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Dad, I'm not a child. I can choose my own bride," Zane replied sharply.
Theo frowned. "And how exactly will you do that? All you do is sleep around with—"
"Theo!" Isabella cut him off. "Zane is right. He's not a kid anymore. He has the right to choose."
Theo didn't back down. "It's because you spoiled him that he's like this. Do you know what the media says about him? The famous Zane Ernesto is a playboy who spends every night in hotels and women's apartments!"
Zara burst out laughing. "Haha! Dad, you read those too? My brother is famous, Right?.. hahaha" she laughed again.
Zane glared at her.
She quickly raised her hand. "Sorry," she said, then shrugged.
"Dad, seriously, this isn't funny. Just tell me who it is. Who's this girl you've randomly picked for me?"
Theo leaned back with a smile. "Today, I saw Lannister's daughter recite a heartfelt poem to her father. It brought almost everyone to tears. Even I was touched. That's when I decided—she will be my daughter-in-law."
Zane was stunned. "You chose a bride for me… because of a poem?"
"That's right." Theo nodded.
Zane: "…"
Zara: "…"
Isabella: "…"