CHAPTER 103: TOO BLINDED BY LOVE

"Now tell me, are you even aware of what’s in these photos? Do you know she’s seeing other men behind your back not just your brother, but also some unknown man?"

Rome remained silent. He couldn’t bring himself to defend Sylvia, because even he didn’t know how to justify her actions.

All his suspicions hardened, confirming the betrayal he had feared from Sylvia. His chest ached from simply holding the photos in his hands.

"Tch... what a fool."

His father muttered, but Rome ignored him. He didn’t want to fuel any more of his father’s disgust toward Sylvia.

"You know, she’s the kind of girl who could become your weakness. What do you think will happen if these photos reach our company directors? You’ll become a laughingstock, not just you, but our entire family for letting yourself be blinded by her without our intervention. That’s why I hate to say it, but she is not the woman for you."

Rome lifted his head to meet his father’s gaze His jaw clenched tightly. These were the words he hated to hear from him.

"She is not a decent woman. Even your grandfather has seen these photos. He already expressed his disbelief and disgust that a woman like her is the one you intend to marry. He even said he doesn’t want her to be part of our family. She flirts with your brother and spends time with another man. She is not the kind of woman who deserves to stand by your side."

"That’s why, on your birthday, I’ve already arranged your postponed engagement with Ingrid. I asked her family to allow you to get engaged with her again because I can no longer rely even on Greece. He’s a playboy who doesn’t even respect his own brother, especially after having an affair with your girlfriend. It’s better for you to settle with Ingrid than with that cheating, low woman—"

"Stop it, Dad. I will not marry anyone but Sylvia."

Rome’s voice was cold, cutting him off sharply. For the first time, he met his father’s piercing glare with defiance.

His father’s glare sharpened.

"Huh... it seems you’ve completely become a fool. If you remain stubborn and refuse to listen to me, then go ahead, choose her over this family! Even with all these photos, with her blatant betrayal staring you in the face, it seems she would still be your choice."

"Dad... enough."

Rome’s fists clenched, knuckles turning white. His jaw tightened as his gaze locked on his father’s without flinching.

" I know what you think of her, of me, of everything. But I will not let anyone decide who I love or who I will spend my life with. She may have made mistakes and betrayed me, but she’s the only one I want by my side."

"It seems I have raised a fools without even realizing it. One of my sons is a playboy who toys with women, and you, Rome whom I thought was different turn out to be just as foolish. I did not raise you to throw your life away for a single woman. You will regret it if you choose her. No one in this family will ever accept her. Even if you marry her and have children, no one will acknowledge her. So now, think carefully about your decisions. On your birthday, everything has already been arranged. Your plans to propose to her will not happen. Only your engagement with Ingrid will proceed. Whether you like it or not, there is nothing you can do to change it."

"Dad. I will not marry Ingrid! I will not settle for anyone else. You can disapprove, the family can disapprove... but I will choose Sylvia. I will defend her, just as I’ve defended you and this family in everything you’ve asked of me. She is mine, and I will not betray what I feel for her, no matter what you say."

"Have you completely lost your mind, or has that woman truly poisoned your brain? Do you want me to drill it into your head that she doesn’t love you the way you love her? She’s only using you for her own gain! She’s an orphan, a woman after your money! She will be your downfall if you continue indulging in your obsession with her!" His father’s voice thundered with anger.

However, despite that, Rome remained resolute. He didn’t flinch, didn’t cower. He refused to let his father’s anger dictate his heart.

"I don’t care. As long as she’s with me, I’ll give her everything, even if the cost is my own downfall. No matter what you say, Dad, my mind will not change. She is the woman for me."

"Huh! You’ve completely gone insane! I don’t know from whom you inherited this stubbornness, but you are the worst! It would be one thing if you felt this way about a decent woman. Even if she wasn’t from an influential family, we could still accept her into this family. But now, seeing who she really is... that she flirts with anyone and is only after your money... that is not the kind of woman this family will ever accept! You are risking everything for someone unworthy, someone who will only bring shame!"

Rome’s face hardened. He didn’t want to defy his dad, but he also refused to let anyone insult Sylvia for her flaws.

"Do you wonder where I got my stubbornness from? Who else could it be but you, Dad? I heard from Grandpa that you fell in love with Mom despite her being poor and even having a history of cheating on other men. So what makes me different from you? What makes me different for also falling for a woman with the same flaws—"

Before he could finish, his father’s hand shot out, gripping him by the collar and shoving him hard against the wall.

"You fool! Words are not enough to wake you from your obsession with that woman! You’re dragging your mother into your madness too. Maybe it’s time I knock some sense into you!"

His father grabbed him again and slammed him even harder against the wall. Rome’s expression didn’t change, even as the anger and violence raged around him. His mind was focused entirely on Sylvia.

"Stop it! Stop it!"

His mom had entered the office, rushing between them without him noticing.

"What do you think you’re doing, Denmark?! You’re hurting your son!" she cried, pulling him away from his father.

His father glared at her, seething.

"That fool has completely lost his mind! He doesn’t even respect us as his parents! I don’t want to see him for the meantime. It’s better if you keep him away from me before I disown him completely!"

"Denmark, calm down! You shouldn’t say that to your son. He’s probably just hurt, and that’s why he’s saying things he doesn’t really mean—"

"What? Then how about this! How do you explain this?"

His father threw one of the photos directly at his mom, silencing her completely.

"W-what is this?"

Rome watched closely as his mom froze while holding the photo his father had thrown at her. It wasn’t like the ones he had seen earlier. This one was different.

The photo showed Sylvia and Daniel leaving the same hotel together. Daniel had his arm around Sylvia, as if he were supporting her while they walked out.

His mom’s face went pale, her hand trembling as she clutched the photo tighter.

She bent down and began to pick up the other photos scattered across the floor, her expression shifting from shock to disbelief as she studied each one.

Rome, however, didn’t know what to feel. His chest felt hollow, his thoughts tangled. He just stood there, letting both his parents look at him. His father with unrestrained rage, and his mom with pity and concern.

Then, the pity in his mom’s eyes shifted. Concern melted into disappointment, and disappointment hardened into hatred.

"Rome... let’s talk for a moment."

His father’s brows furrowed as he turned coldly toward his mom.

"What? That’s all? You just want to talk to him after everything you’ve seen?"

"Stop it, Denmark. I want to talk with Rome privately. Calm yourself first."

Before Rome could react, his mom tugged at his arm, pulling him out of his father’s office.

She didn’t stop until they stepped onto the balcony beside his father’s office.

The night air was cool, brushing against his skin, but the atmosphere between them was suffocating.

She paced back and forth for a moment, as though trying to steady her anger. Then, she turned and fixed him with a cold, piercing stare.

"Rome. I heard half of your conversation with your father. And I want to be honest with you, I am deeply disappointed."

Her words sank into him, heavier than the accusations his father had hurled earlier.

"I’m disappointed that you still defend your girlfriend despite everything you’ve seen. And what hurts more is that you even used my past as your shield, just to justify Sylvia’s betrayal to your father. You don’t know the full story of what happened between me and your dad. You only know half-truths."

Rome’s brows furrowed, his lips parting slightly, but his mom pressed on.

"If you think I was like Sylvia, then you are gravely mistaken. I did not betray your father the way you’ve been led to believe. We had misunderstandings, yes, but I never cheated. That story you heard from your grandfather, it wasn’t the whole truth. It wasn’t what you think."

She then raised the photo in her hand, almost shoving it in his face.

"Look at this. What I’ve seen in these photos is clear. Sylvia is cheating on you. Unlike me, who was simply misunderstood, she is betraying you openly, without shame. And you know it too, Rome."