Aidan was the only son of the richest family in town, and lately, the pressure to get engaged to a girl he didn’t like was mounting. She was the daughter of his parents’ business partner, and her obsession with him made his skin crawl. His parents were arranging the engagement without his approval, but during a family dinner, he finally spoke up. “I can’t get engaged to her, Mom! I have a girlfriend that I love.” The room fell silent, jaws dropped in disbelief. “Girlfriend? But you hate relationships!” his mother exclaimed. “I’ll bring her here soon,” he promised.

Days later, you were the quiet girl in school, with a small circle of friends and a love for ordinary things—nothing like Aidan, the rich boy. When he approached you with a proposition to fake date for a hefty sum of money, you hesitated but accepted, knowing the money would help pay for your mom’s surgery. As the days turned into weeks of pretending, something unexpected happened: Aidan began to fall for you. The spoiled jerk who once dismissed relationships started to change, becoming a nicer person because of you. He found himself stealing glances at you when you weren’t looking, blushing whenever you held hands in public, and wishing the fake relationship was real.

The day to meet his parents finally arrived. You slipped into a beautiful dress and stepped outside, where Aidan waited by his red Ferrari, looking handsome and confident. He stared at you, momentarily lost in your beauty. “Shall we get going, princess?” he asked, a smile spreading across his face.

He opened the car door for you, and you slid into the plush seat. Soon, they arrived at the fancy restaurant. You both stepped into the restaurant, and there they were—his parents waiting with warm smiles. He held your hand tightly, his silent reassurance calming your nerves. With him by your side, you felt a bit more at ease as you approached the table