Chapter 4 Familia Supra Omnis

"Pops! You can't be serious!"

"Oh, try me, Sebastian George," Lord Hamilton said in a challenging tone. "You know I am."

The old man threw a frightening look at the person he was talking to, causing the latter to step back. Never in his thirty-five years of existence had his grandfather looked at him like that. He was the apple of his eyes! But now, he gazed at him like a fierce tiger ready to devour his prey.

If looks could kill, Sebastian was probably dead by now.

This was perhaps what they call the ferocity of their family's patriarch: the fearsome tiger of the Hamilton clan.

Sebastian's grandfather has been alive for six decades but his ferocity was still intact. To his point, he was not a terror marquess of Cantonbury. He was often viewed as a silent gentleman. However, he had an aura that even a ruthless man would flinch. He was born a leader, that's for sure.

No one dared to question the authority of the marquess on Cantonbury, not even him, his grandson and only heir!

Sebastian sat down on the soft sofa and squeezed his hands. How did his grandfather take to arrange his marriage to a woman he barely knew?

Lily Smith.

He could still remember that poor lady. She was trembling in fear and completely traumatized by everything. What was worse was the woman was carrying the fruit of that horrible night, a constant reminder of an incident that destroyed both of them.

She was carrying the child that would bear his name.

He didn't know what to feel. They both didn't like what had happened. They were only forced to follow the orders of that idiot.

To live, to survive, to enjoy another day.

And they did, thanks to the efforts of the police officers assigned to look for them. The police officers found them before the man took their life of them.

When the kidnapper pointed the gun at him, Sebastian thought death was near him. Good thing that the police officers arrived before the gun was fired.

It was sad to think that the kidnapper escaped while in the hands of the police. How? Sebastian didn't want to know anymore. All he knew was that he was still suffering because of what that man had done to this day.

"Why do I need to marry her, Pops?" Sebastian asked. "There are plenty of ways to legitimize the child without me mar-"

"Because that's what I want!" The Lord of Cantonbury cut what he has to say. "You are thirty-five years old, Sebastian. It's about time that you settle and start a family with the woman who's carrying your child!"

He couldn't help but remember the face of the woman he had forced to sleep with the night they were abducted. They were taken separately to the police station after they were rescued. He had not seen her since. Moreso, there was no reason for them to meet after the incident. They were neither friends nor colleagues. They were strangers to each other.

Unfortunately for him, he was left with a damaged reproductive organ after the incident. As a result, he could no longer father an heir.

The young man sighed. He couldn't even speak. He already knew what his grandfather could do for that matter. When his parents tragically died, his Pops was left as regent of their clan until he reached the right age. It's a huge sacrifice for an aging individual like him. At times, Sebastian felt that his grandfather had not enjoyed the twilight of his life because of him.

But asking him to marry the girl he accidentally impregnated was too much. No offense to her but he would never marry anyone he wasn't in love with, Not now, not ever.

"I am sorry, Pops. But you'll know that I would never marry anyone except for Violet. "

"Oh, that girl?" Lord Hamilton scoffed. "Your selfish girlfriend?"

"Please stop it, Pops!" Sebastian yelled at his grandfather. "Please don't speak about her that way. Violet is a decent woman! "

"And why not?" he sneered at his grandson. "If not for her selfishness, we would not be in this situation. She knew exactly what was going on in our family! She knew about our bloodline crisis, and yet she remains indifferent!. How many times did she turn down your marriage proposal? I would never accept her as a part of this family. Not in a million years!"

It was a tough declaration from his grandfather. Sebastian wiped his face to calm himself.

If only his Pops knew about his girlfriend's condition, he would be ashamed of the allegations he threw against her. He knew very well how much Violet wanted to be his wife. If only the Lord of Cantonbury knew!

Sebastian felt the old man approaching his direction. He was expecting his grandfather would hug and pacify him as he always did. Or at least apologize for those harsh words he threw at Violet. But he was wrong. His Pops held his chin. His expression was l serious and firm.

"I did everything for you, Sebastian. I gave you everything that you asked for. I have not asked for anything in return except for one thing, that you give this family an heir. "

After speaking, the old man handed something to Sebastian. It was a gold signet ring. Engraved on the top of it was the Hamilton coat of arms, an image of a tiger underneath an eagle in wingspread. Written underneath it were three Latin words:

Familia Supra Omnis. Family Above All.

"Whether you like it or not, you will marry Lily Smith. You are a Hamilton and it is time for you to do your duty as its heir. " And then, Lord Hamilton finally left the room leaving his grandson to drown in his own thoughts.

******************

"Of course, Devon. What about?"

Devon swallowed hard after hearing the innocent question. It has been three days since that visit from Lord Arthur Hamilton. However, he only gathered enough courage to talk to Lily until now.

"You are spacing out. What's wrong?" the girl asked. Lily's question was full of concern.

Devon heaved a sigh. He tweaked his hair. He also turned slightly to his side to hide the tears that were about to fall. After another deep breath, he bravely faced his sister.

"Let's talk about the future of your unborn child."

"I don't understand, Brother. Everything is okay. I will carry this child to full term. What is-"

.

"You will marry Sebastian Hamilton."

"Huh?"

"You will marry the father of your child. Sebastian's grandfather and I have already talked. We will arrange your wedding soon. "

The whole household became quiet. No one dared to speak. Lily just stared at her brother and tried to understand what he meant.

"Hold up, Brother. What wedding? What are you saying?"

"You heard me, Lilian. You will marry the man who made you pregnant. "

She had never heard her older brother call her Lilian so she knew very well that everything he had said was not a joke.

Lily touched her stomach. Honestly, she still didn't know how she should feel about her unexpected pregnancy. She was certainly not excited to be a mom, but she would never hate that child. She was still in her right mind to think the life growing inside her also did not want to be in such a situation. Like her and Sebastian, the baby was innocent.

"What wedding? Why do I have to get married? There were many single moms out there. But still, their children grew up fine. I can still pursue my dreams despite my accidental pregnancy!

"But not everyone was raped like you! Can you imagine what your child's future will be like when he grows up? What will people say to him? That he is the son of a rapist?"

"Stop!! I don't want to hear anything more from you!" Lily fell to the ground and covered both of her ears with her hands. "How can you tell those things to me when you knew exactly what had happened to me!" she said while tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Devon went on to say, "I am telling the truth, Lily. It was hard to accept, but that is the reality! The memory of that night will stick on you and your future child. But there is still a way to save your child's dignity. The Hamiltons are ready to take responsibility for the child you are carrying. They will make your child their heir. Your lives will be prosperous. You will no longer suffer the judgment of society because the Hamiltons are ready to correct everything," Devon explained at length.

The girl continued to cry over another blow to her life. When would all her despairs come to end?

All her plans were slowly crumbling. What about her dream of becoming a film actress? What about Alistair?

The girl bit her lower lip. To think that she would marry another man besides the young man her heart had loved for a long time was another nightmare. But she could do nothing. Whether she wanted to protest or not, her older brother was right. No matter what she does, she will never be able to run away from her past. The worst part was that her child would share this burden with her.

"You have been through so much at your age," Devon continued. "And as a brother and your only family, I will not allow that little honor left in you to be tarnished." Then, Devon left the room without looking back.

Lily was left crying her heart out. From a sheltered twenty-two-year-old fed with brotherly love, this was her life now.

She was to become a contract wife, a woman who just carried her husband's last name.

But for such a victim of a horrible yesterday, it would suffice. It wasn't easy to marry a man you didn't love. This was not the life she had dreamed for herself.

She knows that her brother was just protecting her and her unborn child from the judgmental society. It wasn't easy but she would blindly accept the fate set for her by God.