OUR MESS.

“Yes, Payton Vass. You will marry me.”

Payton did not know what was more surprising. This man showing up at her house… or knowing her name.

She was sure she did not tell him that.

Seeing the expression on her father’s face, she shifted uncomfortably and moved over to Max who had a betrayed look on his face.

“Max…” she called him in a whisper as tears dropped from her eyes.

“Mr. Thorn,” came her father’s voice.

“Hi, Mr. Vass.”

“You all must have seen the video and must have been disturbed by it…” he said as his face dropped on Payton who was torn between pleading with her boyfriend or rushing over to him.

“I… we were not expecting you.”

Payton frowned as her father fidgeted in front of the man and she moved over to him instantly.

“Dad, you can’t welcome him in. He did this to me!” She hollered.

No one answered her, instead, King kept his eyes pinned on Will, Payton's father.

“How may I help you?”

“I am sure you heard me. You saw the news. You know what is going on, and I am going to marry your daughter.”

“You must be delusional,” Payton cut him short with a scoff.

“You will marry me, Payton. There is no way out of this,” he shook his head.

“You wish! My father believes me. I have a fiancé that I am going to marry. Damn you if you think I will happily fall into your arms!” She cussed.

“Fiancé? Who?” King raised his brows.

Payton hissed, moved over to Max, and then curled her arm around his arm.

“Here. I have a man I am going to marry. You don’t think what happened will…” she was still saying when Max slowly moved his arms’ from hers while he shook his head.

“M… Max?” Her voice broke and tears laced in her eyes.

“The last thing I would expect from you is this…” he started as he moved away from her.

“You acted like you loved me… you said you wanted us to build a family together but… this? You are getting married?” 

“Max… I promise…” She burst into tears again and shook her head.

“It is not what you think. I don’t know this man,” she shook her head.

“Stop lying, Payton! Fuck!”

“Max…” she moved over to him again and grabbed his hand.

“I wish you happiness in your marriage that is yet to come,” he shook his head, yanked his hand away, and walked away after sparing King a short stare.

“Goodness, Max!” Ava shrieked.

“He must be so angry. I warned you, Payton! I tried stopping you last night!” Ava hollered and then rushed after Max.

What is she saying?

Payton wondered as she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

“How touching,” King nodded his head.

Payton sniffed, dashed over to the man, and then raised her hand to slap him.

However, King was quick, he grabbed her wrist halfway and pulled her closer to himself.

“This is not the time to be angry, Payton. You better do as I have said.”

Payton snatched herself away from him and then turned to her father who seemed like he did not even mind the man’s presence at all.

“Dad. You know the kind of person that I am.”

“Your indecent video is out there… on the internet,” he points his index finger to nowhere in particular.

“I know… but… are you agreeing to this?”

“At least, you two are in a relationship. He said you are his fiance,” Will said.

“You trust him?!” She takes a glance at the man who only watched them like whatever they were discussing was not his business.

“I have always known that she is not to be trusted. I only pity that poor boy, Max,” her stepmother, Serah shook her head as she spared her a dirty look.

Payton knew that this woman had never liked her. After all, she had never hidden it.

After her mother passed away eleven years ago, her father brought in Serah after three years and announced that he was going to marry her.

Although Serah had a child, her father still went ahead to marry the woman.

When it was time that she took over her mother’s art gallery three years ago, Serah had opposed strongly. She said that she was not capable and that she did not deserve the company.

Still, it was given to her as it was her mother’s dying wish and her father had respected her mother a lot.

“You went to your fiancé’s party, but instead, you spent the night with another man! Are you not shameless?!”

“Serah, please!” Payton snapped as she swept her hair to the back.

“This is between my father and I,” she shook her head.

“Oh? Now you are going to pass your aggression on me?” Serah mocked.

“Please, Serah. Can you give us a moment?” Will said.

“You want me to leave?” Serah scoffed.

“Please.”

Serah eyed in anger before she walked away, brushing Payton aside.

After Serah had left, leaving only the three of them, Payton stared at King who looked around the house.

“I will have a moment with Payton alone,” King said.

Will nodded his head and looked around before he understood that the man was telling him to excuse also.

“Oh… well,” Will nodded his head and then moved away gently.

“Dad!”

After her father was away, leaving just the two of them in the living room, she turned to look at the man and said curtly,

“I reject your proposal.”

“I am not proposing to you,” he shook his head.

“Good, then. This conversation is over,” she said and then prepared to walk away.

“The investor that was going to invest in your father’s company had just canceled due to the scandal,” he started, making the woman stop abruptly.

“What?”

“I am telling you that your father might lose the deals, and investments to his company because of you,” he dropped his eyes on her.

“Because of me?”

“And… your company. The art gallery that your mother left for you… the art gallery that reminds you of her will run down and will cease to run again because of this scandal.”

“A… are you threatening me?”

“Threatening you? Come on, it’s common sense. You might not know, but people are so quick to cancel others.”

“I will not marry you,” she stated firmly.

“You will, Payton. In a week, we shall tie the knot,” he said.

“You are insane.”

“This is our mess, Payton, and we shall both pay for it,” he said, staring at her menacingly.