Bound by Honor

Chapter 1: The Proposal

The air in the private dining room of La Rochelle was thick with unspoken animosity. Crystal chandeliers cast sharp reflections on the long mahogany table, where two families sat opposite each other, as though preparing for battle rather than a meal.

The Farnsworths occupied one side, their patriarch Pietro Farnsworth seated at the head. His tailored suit was immaculate, and his silver hair combed back with precision that mirrored his personality. Beside him sat his wife, Bianca, her posture rigid and hands folded on the table, projecting an image of icy grace. At the far end, Athena Farnsworth sat silently, her sharp brown eyes scanning the room with a lawyer’s knack for detail.

Across from them, the Devereuxs exuded their own brand of power. Arthur Devereux, a heavyset man with a booming voice, drummed his fingers on the table, his gold watch catching the light. His wife, Vivienne, wore a faint, perfunctory smile, her gaze darting nervously between the families. Leandro Devereux lounged at the far end, his dishevelled hair and loose button-down shirt a pointed contrast to everyone else’s formal attire.

Athena and Leandro barely glanced at each other. They both knew why they were here.

"Let’s get to it," Pietro said, breaking the tense silence. His voice was sharp, the kind that brooked no argument.

Arthur leaned back, his chair creaking. "You’ve always been direct, Pietro. Fine. We’ve been at this feud for what? Thirty years?"

“Thirty-two,” Pietro corrected, his expression hardening.

Athena suppressed a sigh. She had heard the story a thousand times—the betrayal that set the families at odds. Pietro’s construction empire had been undermined when Arthur, then his closest ally, had outbid him for a massive government contract. What followed were decades of underhanded sabotage, lawsuits, and outright hostility, all of which bled into every facet of their lives.

“And where has it gotten us?” Arthur continued. “Our businesses are bleeding money because we can’t stop undercutting each other. Meanwhile, the younger generation doesn’t give a damn about the feud.”

Leandro sat up at this, his lips quirking in a smirk. “Oh, I’m sorry. Were you expecting us to care about your decades-old pissing contest?”

“Leandro,” Vivienne hissed, glaring at her stepson.

Pietro ignored the comment and pressed forward. “It’s time we put an end to this. For the sake of both our families.”

“An end?” Athena interjected, her voice calm but firm. “You mean a truce. Convenient, considering your latest acquisition is failing.”

Pietro shot her a warning glance, but Arthur chuckled. “Smart girl. Just like her father.”

Leandro muttered under his breath, “More like a carbon copy.”

Athena shot him a look that could freeze fire.

Arthur raised a hand to forestall further argument. “We have a solution. A way to merge our interests and stop this petty back-and-forth for good.”

Athena’s stomach twisted. She could feel the trap coming, even before Arthur spoke the words.

“A marriage,” Arthur announced, his gaze shifting between Leandro and Athena.

The room went utterly silent.

“A marriage?” Athena repeated, disbelief colouring her usually measured tone.

Leandro, for his part, burst out laughing. “You’re joking. Right? Please tell me you’re joking.”

“No joke,” Arthur said, his tone deadly serious. “Athena and Leandro. A union of our families, to show the world we’re united.”

“That’s absurd,” Athena snapped.

“I agree,” Leandro said, pushing back his chair. “I don’t do… unions.”

Pietro spoke then, his voice cold and calculated. “It’s not absurd. It’s necessary. Your marriage would solidify a partnership that could save both our businesses. The press will see it as a reconciliation, investors will regain confidence, and the family names will rise again.”

Athena felt the heat rise to her face. “You’re seriously proposing that I sacrifice my life for a PR stunt?”

Pietro turned to her, his gaze steely. “This is about more than you, Athena. It’s about the family.”

Leandro scoffed. “Oh, here we go. ‘The family.’ Always the excuse for your schemes.” He stood abruptly, pacing the room. “I’m not some pawn you can move around on a chessboard, Dad.”

“And what exactly are you, Leandro?” Arthur snapped. “A penniless artist? Do you have any idea how much I’ve shielded you from the consequences of your… choices? It’s time you contributed something meaningful.”

Leandro stopped, his jaw tightening. Athena noticed the flicker of anger in his usually carefree expression.

“You don’t get to lecture me,” Leandro said quietly. “Not after everything you’ve done.”

Bianca Farnsworth broke in, her voice smooth but laced with iron. “Enough. This isn’t just about you two. This is about ending a feud that has poisoned both families for years. Athena, Leandro—neither of you want this, we understand. But sacrifices must be made.”

Sacrifices. The word echoed in Athena’s mind. Wasn’t that all she’d ever done? Sacrifice her social life, her passions, even her sleep, to climb the ranks of her father’s firm? And now this?

Leandro’s derisive laugh cut through her thoughts. “You can’t force us into this. It’s ridiculous.”

“No one’s forcing you,” Pietro said. “But you’ll find that life will be… much easier if you cooperate.”

Athena’s eyes narrowed. She knew that tone—manipulative, bordering on threatening. Her father wasn’t asking. He was commanding.

Leandro ran a hand through his messy hair and looked at her for the first time that night. “So, what do you say, lawyer? Think you can stomach living with a broke artist?”

She shot back, “Only if you can handle someone with actual ambition.”

Their parents exchanged satisfied glances.

“It’s settled, then,” Pietro said, rising.

“Wait—” Athena began, but it was too late.

As the two families filed out, leaving her and Leandro behind, she felt the weight of what had just happened settle on her shoulders.

Leandro leaned against the wall, his hands shoved into his pockets. “Well, this should be fun.”

Athena turned to him, her voice low and furious. “Don’t think for a second I’m happy about this.”

Leandro smirked. “Oh, don’t worry, princess. The feeling’s mutual.”

As they stared at each other, the room seemed to shrink, the gravity of their situation pulling them into an orbit they couldn’t escape.

Athena’s internal monologue was a storm. Bound by family. Bound by duty. And now, bound by him. God help me.