Chapter 36
Marriage to Arianne had never crossed Franz’s mind before. Just as Lily said before, Arianne was like the moon, far and out of his reach. Yet now she was being subjected to the board, which was seeking to assume authority by affiliating with the Rochefort family through marriage.
He disliked the idea of Arianne marrying him out of responsibility or repayment for Alex’s favors.
Instead of returning home after work, he paid Lucas a visit in his office.
The lawyer seemed to expect his visit and gestured for Franz to take a seat across from him.
“Is there any other way?” Franz asked him.
Lucas stopped typing on his keyboard and leaned back in his seat to look at his cousin.
“Shouldn’t you be happy that Ms. Summers is going to marry you?” he asked in return.
Franz shook his head. “No, not like this p>
It felt like trapping Arianne instead.
“There must be another way, Lucas. Can’t we just establish my veto powers instead of pushing Arianne to be an Interim CEO p>
Lucas hummed, crossing his legs and intertwining his hands together.
“It isn’t enough, Franz. You know this,” he reminded Franz.
Franz fell silent. The media persistently attacked his reputation, questioning his ability and legitimacy at the company. Enemies were waiting for a chance to bring them down. He didn’t like the idea of Arianne taking the front lines to save them.
Seeing the conflicted expression on Franz’s face, Lucas sighed.
“Do you really think Ms. Summers is someone who would be forced into something she didn’t want to p>
Franz shook his head, but wasn’t that the very reason why he couldn’t allow her to marry him like this?
Franz didn’t answer right away, while Lucas waited patiently for him to calm down.
“I know she wouldn’t be forced,” Franz said finally. “That’s the problem p>
Lucas shifted on his seat and studied his cousin for a moment.
“Franz, coercion and consent are opposites,” he said. “In situations like this, they rarely are p>
Franz frowned. “That doesn’t make it better p>
“No,” Lucas agreed. “But this is the best solution we have right now p>
He reached for a folder from the top drawer of his desk and slid it toward Franz without opening it.
“This is the charter interpretation the board requested,” he said.
Franz glanced at it but didn’t touch it.
“If Arianne accepts,” Lucas continued, “it won’t be because she feels cornered. It will be because she decided the current situation cannot be prolonged any longer p>
“And you are okay with that?” Franz asked.
Lucas paused. “It’s not my place to judge her choices p>
Franz let out a slow breath. It’s not that he didn’t understand what Lucas was saying.
“Right now, the company doesn’t need any sentiment. It needs something that can’t be challenged once it’s in place. Ms. Summers understands this. That’s why she was willing to do it.” Lucas continued.
Franz looked away.
Outside the office window, the city was already engulfed by the darkness. Lights flickered from buildings far away.
Lucas sighed and removed his glasses to clean them.
“I also think Ms. Summers agreed to this arrangement because it is you she was going to marry,” he continued.
Franz looked at him, confused this time.
“What I’m saying is that she’s confident she’ll be able to perform the position because she has your back. If the scenario were different and we offered her the CEO position, I have no doubt she would turn it down. Her authority would look powerful, but it would be conditional. That would put her in the position five years ago at the Summers Corporation p>
Franz’s jaw tightened. That’s precisely how the Summers family destroyed her. Titles protect systems; they do not protect people. Arianne would not voluntarily step back into that trap.
Finally, he reached for the folder and opened it. He didn’t read every line. He didn’t need to. He read the important things. Limits, conditions, escape clauses that weren’t really escapes. In this marriage, Arianne wouldn’t gain much compared to him.
“At this point, the board has already considered her as permanent. Her transition to become an Interim CEO would be nothing but formality. No one would dare to question her legitimacy if she were to become your wife. Ms. Summers understands this p>
“Have you discussed this with her?” Franz finally asked.
“Her assistant just dropped some documents before you arrived earlier. It seems she has already considered this solution as well beforehand.” Lucas put his glasses on and handed another document to his cousin.
“The guardianship over the twins is explicitly defined. Non-operation unless triggered,” he continued.
“And this marriage?” Franz asked.
“Real in every sense, but reviewable in case a party wants to dissolve it. A pre-nuptial agreement was also prepared for you to review.” Lucas gave Franz a pointed look.
Lucas opened the folder and read the contents of the pre-nuptial agreement. He already expected to see clauses that protect each of their interests and properties.
“If I agree,” he said. “I have to ensure that she won’t bear all the blame and risk from this marriage p>
Lucas nodded once. “Then you’ll need to insist on it. In writing, so no one would dare to defy it before anything moves forward.
Franz stood. He didn’t look relieved. He looked like someone who understood that avoiding the impossible is futile.
“I need to speak to her again,” he said.
Lucas didn’t stop him. “Then do it before the board reconvenes p>
Franz left Lucas’s office without another word.
The corridor outside was dimmer as most lights had already lowered for the night. A few doors remained open, bringing faint voices of the remaining employees. He walked past them without slowing, his steps fast and deliberate.
The folder rested under his arm. He could feel its weight even without opening it again.
By the time he reached the elevator, his phone beeped.
A message notification. One line preview showed it was from Arianne.
“I’m still in the office p>
He didn’t reply immediately.
For the first time that evening, Franz didn’t try to frame the situation in terms of duty or responsibility. He didn’t consider what the board would say or how the market would react.
The elevator arrived, and the car descended in silence. A moment later, it slowed, then stopped.
When the doors opened, he stepped out and turned back toward the executive wing.
The decision hadn’t been made.
But the window for avoiding it was closing.
And this time, he intended to meet it directly.