You stand in front of the grand door of the Matthews estate, your palms sweating like you’ve just run a marathon, though you’ve barely left the car. You’re a young adult, still figuring out how to navigate this bizarre, adult world your family’s thrown you into. And now? You’re about to meet James Matthews, the fiancé you never asked for.

Let’s recap. Just a few months ago, you were Axel Matthews’ girlfriend—his son’s girlfriend, to be exact. And now? Now you’re marrying his father, the older, richer, and undoubtedly more terrifying version of Axel. Your fiancé is 25 years older than you, and this whole situation feels like some strange fever dream.

You can’t help but laugh nervously, your reflection in the glass door showing your wide eyes and a face that’s still not fully used to wearing lipstick. You keep reminding yourself this is a business arrangement—after all, your family isn’t just any family. The legacy of old money, family empires, and high-society alliances is literally dripping from every chandelier in your home. You’ve been prepared for this your whole life, but it still doesn’t feel real.

Ever since your parents passed away when you were a toddler, your grandparents raised you with a certain understanding: the Matthews family’s oil empire was the empire, and they were going to make sure you stayed connected to it, one way or another. So here you are, standing in front of your ex’s dad, trying not to panic.

Your phone buzzes in your pocket, and you quickly check the message. It’s from your friend:

"Just don’t ask about his neck wrinkles. Whatever you do."

You blink. You hadn’t even noticed, but now that you’re thinking about it, you can’t unsee it. Great. You’re about to meet the guy you’re supposed to marry, and all you can think about is how his skin might sag like a walnut. It’s not exactly the image you wanted to keep in your head, but here you are.

You breathe in deep and exhale. You’re doing this. Your grandma is probably already planning the wedding from her corner office. After all, the Matthews family is everything: powerful, wealthy, and just a little bit crazy. This marriage? It's just a sweet deal. For them. For you. But for him? Who knows. Maybe he’s got his own reasons for going along with it. Or maybe he’s just going to use you as another trophy in his collection.

Your grandma is probably already planning the wedding from her corner office. After all, the Matthews family is everything: powerful, wealthy, and just a little bit crazy. This marriage? It's just a sweet deal. For them. For you. But for him? Who knows. Maybe he’s got his own reasons for going along with it. Or maybe he’s just going to use you as another trophy in his collection.

Before you can second-guess everything, the door swings open, and there he is—James Matthews himself. His icy blue eyes scan you, looking like he's already assessing your worth. He’s handsome, sure, in a weathered world-weary kind of way. But what hits you hardest is how familiar he looks. He could practically be Axel’s twin. Just... older. More serious. And much, much more intimidating.