Forbidden Love [BxB]

Side Story Part 4

The Days Before Meeting Ryan Once Again

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Parsa's POV

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After finishing my mandatory military service, I was accepted into university almost without delay. No surprise there—it was all part of my grand plan: to appear as the dutiful son, biding my time until the right moment would arrive to break free from him.

Bring down the king once you get power...

I majored in business management, just as my father had mapped out. Not out of genuine interest, but because, at that stage, I was supposed to comply with him. He loved the idea of me walking the exact path he'd laid out, as if I were some puppet with no strings of my own, especially after Ryan was out of my life. So, I played along, following his foolish plan all the way to a master's degree. It made him proud—or whatever passes for pride for someone like him.

But of course, that wasn't enough. It never was. While I was buried in academic studies, he dragged me into his precious company, starting me off as an intern. Why waste time with just textbooks when I could "get my hands dirty," as he liked to put it? His belief that practice was the real teacher was just another way to tether me to his world. And I went along with it.

His final agenda was ensuring I married someone of his choosing, someone who would secure the "Aslani legacy" and deliver the one thing he seemed to want even more than a successful heir—grandchildren. His empire would need its next generation, after all.

He moved faster than I expected, setting me up with a few women he approved of as soon as I finished university. I could see the satisfaction in his eyes every time he thought he'd cornered me into doing exactly what he wanted.

I played my part, nodded when necessary, and went through the motions. But underneath? I was counting the days, biding my time.

For now, I let him believe he was winning. That's what he needed—his ego stroked, his world perfectly under control.

Laugh all you want, Father...

Until you can...

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Following my third blind date—another pointless attempt by my father to marry me off—I headed straight for his house. Thirty minutes later, I stood behind the front door, waiting for it to open. The familiar weight of obligation hung in the air.

A young girl opened the door, a new face. She looked at me, uncertain, her eyes red and puffy as if she'd just finished crying.

"I'm... sorry... but who are you looking for?" she asked hesitantly, gripping the door handle tightly, clearly unsure of herself.

I smiled coldly, my voice low and deliberate. "I'm the chairman's son."

Her eyes widened with realization, fluttering nervously as she scrambled to stand aside. "Please come in... Young m-master," she stuttered, stepping back in a hurry.

I moved past her with slow, deliberate steps, my gaze briefly lingering on her. A new maid... Interesting... I walked into the living room, noting the subtle shifts in the household since I last visited.

Parmis was sprawled on the sofa, surrounded by textbooks. Her head lifted when she saw me. "Oh, Parsa. What are you doing here?"

I smirked, moving toward the sofa. I sat down, leaning my head back against the cushions and extending my legs with casual indifference. "I came to see your ugly face."