"Gavin, even if you are my father, you can't make me do this! I've told you, I don't like Ms. Yalton. I like men. I'm not getting married, and that's final!"
"Oh, what, you want the whole world to know your son likes men?" Archie clutched his phone, thumb poised to message every major news outlet, daring his father to stop him. Gavin's face reddened, practically vibrating with rage.
"Archie! What the hell do you think you're doing?!" He lunged forward, snatching the phone and smashing it against the hardwood floor. It shattered instantly.
Willow rushed over, wringing her hands. "Honey, please calm down! Don't do this!" Chester merely smirked, as if he'd won the lottery.
"Bro, honestly, you think you can defy Dad? He's our father. Whatever he says goes. Just do what he wants. It won't kill you."
"So what if you have to get married? Guys get married all the time. Doesn't mean you can't have a little fun on the side. You could be with guys if that's your thing. Who cares?"
Gavin looked at Chester, a glint of approval in his eyes. "See? Your brother gets it. He's got brains, unlike you." He sneered. "Why can't you be more like your brother, Archie? I don't care whether you like it or not. Until you do what I say, you're not setting foot outside this house. It's Christmas, for crying out loud. Stay home like a decent person."
Archie stared at the ruins of his phone, his face pale with fury. "Gavin, this is too much! I told you, I'm not getting married!" Gavin laughed coldly. "It's not your decision to make."
He grabbed Archie's arm and shoved him into his bedroom, slamming and locking the door. Archie rattled the doorknob, pounding on the door. "Let me out! Gavin, this isn't a joke. I have plans. I have to go out!"
"Go out?" Gavin scoffed from the other side. "Forget it. And don't even think about meeting your little friends. I'm not letting you see any of them."
"You bastard!" Archie yelled, pounding the door repeatedly. Silence fell; Gavin had lost interest in arguing. Archie gritted his teeth, furious. His phone was destroyed; he couldn't reach Callie or his friends. If he missed their post-holiday dinner, Callie would be worried sick. He needed a plan.
Scanning the room, his gaze fell on the window. As he moved to escape, Gavin appeared outside with two burly men.
"Trying to sneak out the window? Did you really think I wouldn't see that coming?" Gavin ordered his men to seal the window shut, preventing Archie's escape. Archie unleashed a torrent of curses upon Gavin. Gavin glared back, his voice icy. "Archie, you're my son. I can do whatever I want with you. If you won't listen, this is what you get. I'd love to see you try and get out of here now."