On Her Daddy's Bed (Adeline and Luciano) novel Chapter 51

Author’s POV.

Riyyan descended the stairs, all glammed up and confident, her heels clicking sharply against the floor with each step. The sound echoed through the grand house, announcing her arrival to everyone in the vicinity. Her mind was fixated on one thing—the image of the man she had dreamed of, and there he was, sitting in the chair, seemingly engrossed in his phone.

She couldn’t help but take him in. He looked even more striking in person, as always. Axel was dressed in his favorite color—black—like the night itself. His black trousers fit him perfectly, and his T-shirt, unbuttoned just enough to reveal his chiseled jawline and the muscular abs beneath, made her heart race. The sleeves of his shirt were rolled up, exposing his well-defined arms, veins bulging slightly with each movement. His curly hair was a bit unruly, but it only added to his raw, masculine charm.

As she made her way down, her heels clicking with every step, she saw him finally raise his gaze. For a split second, she thought he might look at her, but instead, his eyes quickly returned to his phone, dismissing her without so much as a second glance.

Her heart sank in disappointment, but she pushed the feeling down, knowing that she couldn’t let it show. She reached the bottom of the stairs and continued walking with poise, trying to suppress the fluttering in her chest. Axel’s indifference stung more than she cared to admit.

She didn’t let it hold her back, though. Her focus was on one thing—this moment. Her father was right there, after all, and she couldn’t let her feelings for Axel distract her from the plan.

“Good morning, Dad,” she greeted warmly, walking toward him and planting a soft peck on his cheek.

“Good morning, pretty one. You look stunning,” her father replied with a smile, his eyes gleaming with pride.

Riyyan chuckled, a slight blush creeping up her neck. “I always do,” she teased, winking at him. He nodded, clearly pleased with his daughter’s confidence.

“Yes, Princess, just reminding you,” he said with a wink, his gaze drifting back to Axel, whose attention was still focused elsewhere.

Riyyan’s attention turned to Axel. She took a step closer, her heels clicking louder in the now-silent room. “Hi, Axel,” she greeted, extending her hand to him.

He looked up at her hand, his gaze cold and distant. After a long moment, he took her hand into his, his touch firm but devoid of warmth.

“Good day, Riyyan,” he responded curtly, his dark eyes never fully meeting hers. He released her hand almost immediately, his coldness lingering in the air.

Her heart dropped as he pulled away so quickly, but she managed to force a smile, willing herself not to show how much it hurt. She reassured herself that having him didn’t have to be about love. Love could come later; for now, she had a plan.

Taking a seat next to her father, she silently stared at Axel, her mind racing with thoughts of how to win his affection, or at least his attention. The maids began serving drinks, but her focus remained on Axel.

Her father cleared his throat, breaking the silence. “Thank you for honoring my urgent invitation, Axel,” he said, his tone both respectful and serious.

“I would like you to go straight to the point, Mr. Li. I have a few more meetings to attend to,” Axel responded, his voice impassive as ever, making it clear that he wasn’t interested in pleasantries.

Mr. Li nodded, clearly used to Axel’s blunt demeanor. He leaned back in his chair, eyeing the younger man before continuing. “I’ll be as snappy as possible,” he replied, signaling that it was time to get to business.

Axel gave a curt nod, his expression unreadable as he relaxed into his seat. He wasn’t one for small talk, and everyone in the room knew that.

“After some thought, Mr. Axel,” Mr. Li began, his voice laced with careful calculation, “I believe it would be wise for us to extend our business relationship into something more… personal.”

Axel raised an eyebrow at this suggestion, his dark eyes narrowing slightly. He knew exactly where this conversation was going, but he remained silent, letting Mr. Li continue.

“Seeing that we’re both in the same line of work, both involved in the mafia and with a shared interest in growing our businesses, I think it would be a smart move to strengthen our connection even further,” Mr. Li said, pausing for effect. He glanced at Riyyan, then back at Axel. “What I’m suggesting, Axel, is that you and Riyyan get married.”

Riyyan’s heart skipped a beat as she waited for Axel’s response. She had heard her father’s proposal before, but hearing it aloud still felt surreal. She stole a quick glance at Axel, hoping to gauge his reaction.

Axel’s expression darkened immediately. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes locking onto Mr. Li’s. “And your point is?” he asked, his tone colder than before.

Mr. Li, undeterred, continued, “That you marry my daughter. Think of it as a way to solidify our business alliance. We could benefit from both sides—marriage and business.”

Axel’s eyes narrowed even further, his patience clearly thinning. “Are you threatening me?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous.

Mr. Li shook his head, trying to keep the conversation civil. “No, I’m simply suggesting it as a mutually beneficial arrangement,” he said, his tone tinged with frustration.

Riyyan’s heart tightened as she watched the exchange. She could see the tension between the two men, and it only served to remind her of how hard it would be to get Axel’s approval.

“I’m not interested in marrying your daughter,” Axel said bluntly, his voice devoid of emotion. The words hit Riyyan like a punch to the gut, and she couldn’t stop the tears that welled up in her eyes. She clenched her fists tightly, trying to control the storm of emotions inside her.

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