FORCED MARRIAGE: I MARRIED A MAD BILLIONAIRE

"Miss Poppy, please!" A maid cried, breathless as she hurried after her. "Mr. Rowland said he doesn't want to be disturbed!"

But Poppy didn't care. She threw the doors open to her father's private study and stormed in.

"Father!" She shouted.

Rowland looked up slowly from behind his grand mahogany desk. He didn't look surprised. He didn't even flinch. Calmly, he placed his pen down, then glanced at the trembling maid. "Leave us," he said coolly.

The maid bowed quickly and hurried out, shutting the doors behind her.

"How dare you?" Poppy yelled angrily. "You bought my apartment building and threw out all my things like thrash?! You had no right!"

Rowland leaned back in his chair as a faint, infuriating smile grew on his lips. "You gave me no choice, child," he said calmly. "You've been acting like a fool, running from your responsibilities. I simply cleaned up the mess."

"That apartment was the only thing I had left!" she shouted. "The only thing that was mine!"

"Watch your tone, Poppy!"

Stunned, Poppy turned to see Dale standing close to her Father's desk with a frown. Beside him on the couch was Lauren, frowning mockingly as well.

She had been so angry that she didn't notice them.

"You don't speak to Father like that," Dale snapped. "You're embarrassing yourself!"

"She clearly has no shame!" Lauren added angrily. "If she did, she wouldn't barge in here and speak to her father this way!"

Poppy's fists curled into a ball as she felt her blood boil. It was'nt Lauren's insults that made her this way. It was the fact that she was in the same room with Dale.

"Why are you here, you disgusting scumbag?" She spat. "And who gave you the right to speak in my family's business?!"

Dale jaw clenched, but before he could retort, Lauren cut in. "He has every right to be here," she sneered. "He's married to Layla now. That makes him a part of the family whether you like it or not."

Dale's frown melted into a smug. "Screaming and playing the victim won't help you, Poppy. Father doesn't change his mind. If you want your property back, all you have to do is obey. You should be grateful I pleaded with him to go easy on you after convincing him that you will come back to your senses."

He took a step toward her. "And it's crazy how Father has to do something like this to make you concede, when I'm doing you a favor by willingly taking you in as my second wife. Honestly, who else can endure someone as pathetic as you?"

Silence fell inside the room, and then—

SLAP!

The sound echoed through the room.

While Dale's head snapped to the side as red handprints appeared on his cheek, Lauren and Rowland fell speechless.

Poppy's hand trembled. "You ruined my life. Don't you dare act like you're doing me a favor!"

Dale's hand flexed by his side. Since he was still in shock, it took a minute before his brain registered what just happened. Poppy slapped him?

"Poppy!" Rowland slammed his hand on his desk, standing to his feet.