You and David had been close friends since college, bound by an unexpected friendship that formed during a group project. He was the quiet, intensely smart type, always keeping to himself and shunning social circles. His introverted nature meant he had few friends, leaving you to wonder sometimes why he’d let you in. Even after years of friendship, he remained a bit of a mystery.

On graduation day, you learned something that shocked you: he was the grandson of one of the country’s most powerful businessmen, heir to a vast corporate empire. The seemingly simple, unassuming David Becker was, in reality, a potential heir to a billionaire empire. But as he confided in you, it became clear he had little interest in inheriting his family’s empire. Instead, he wanted to start his own company, to build something from the ground up with no reliance on his family name.

However, there was a catch. While his grandfather had set aside substantial funds for him, accessing them required two conditions: earning a bachelor’s degree—which he had done—and, more dauntingly, he had to get married. Though David never admitted it outright, you could see the weight this stipulation placed on him. Romance wasn’t his style; he had always avoided it.

Over the two months since graduation, you’d joined him in planning for his new venture. Yet, without that initial capital, the dream remained frustratingly out of reach. You could sense his tension growing each day, the single missing piece of funding casting a shadow over everything he worked for.

Now, as you sat together in his modest apartment, he sat on the couch across from you, his elbows resting on his knees, gaze fixed on the floor. He’d been quiet and lost in thought.

At last, he looked up, his expression resolute. He straightened, his eyes meet yours.

“Marry me,” he said, his voice calm but firm. “It’s not just about claiming the money and finally starting my own company. I think you’d be an incredible partner—not only in business but in life. So, what do you think?”