Chapter 1

Ava Hayes finished her last schedule for the day and felt a wave of exhaustion wash over her. She got in the car, her assistant driving, and leaned her head back against the seat. All she wanted was to go home, take a hot bath, and fall asleep.

When she walked through the door of her family' s house, the familiar scent of her mother' s cooking filled the air. It was a comforting smell, one that always meant she was truly home.

"I'm back," she called out.

Her mother, Grace, came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. "Ava, you're just in time. Dinner is almost ready."

Her father, Robert, was sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper, and her older brother, Daniel, was scrolling through his phone. It was a typical evening scene.

But as they sat down at the dinner table, Ava noticed something was off. The usual light chatter was missing. Her parents kept exchanging glances, and her brother seemed unusually quiet.

"Is something wrong?" Ava asked, putting down her chopsticks. "You guys are acting weird."

Grace sighed and looked at her husband. Robert folded his newspaper and placed it on the table.

"Ava," her father began, his voice serious. "There's something we need to tell you."

The atmosphere grew heavy. Ava felt a knot form in her stomach. "What is it?"

"It's about a promise your grandfather made a long time ago," Grace said softly. "An arrangement with the Grayson family."

Ava frowned, confused. "The Grayson family? You mean, the Grayson family?"

"Yes," Robert confirmed. "Your grandfather and old Mr. Grayson were very close friends. They made a promise that their grandchildren would marry each other."

Ava stared at them, the words not quite making sense. A marriage? An arranged marriage? It sounded like something out of an old-fashioned movie. "You're kidding, right?"

"We're not," Daniel said, finally looking up from his phone. "It's real."

Her father explained the history. The deep bond between the two families, the promise made on a handshake that had been honored for generations. He explained that the Graysons were a respected and powerful family, and this alliance was meant to be a source of strength for them both.

Ava listened quietly, processing the information. The shock was real, but it wasn't the kind of explosive, world-ending shock she might have expected. Her life was already so public, so managed by others. In a strange way, this felt like just another contract, another arrangement.

"Okay," she said, her calmness surprising even herself. "So I have a fiancé."

Her family looked at her, stunned by her easy acceptance.

"You're... okay with this?" Grace asked, her voice filled with concern.

"What's the point of not being okay with it?" Ava said with a small shrug. "It's a promise. It's important to you. And honestly, my love life isn't exactly a priority right now."

Her father looked relieved. "Thank you for understanding, Ava."

"The Graysons want to move forward with this soon," her mother added gently. "They'd like for you to meet him."

"Him? Who is he?" Ava asked, a flicker of curiosity finally breaking through her pragmatic exterior.

"Liam Grayson," Daniel said, a hint of respect in his voice. "He's the CEO of Grayson Corp. A very capable man. From what I've heard, he's a good person. Responsible, smart, and very handsome."

Ava raised an eyebrow. "Handsome, huh?"

"Very," her mother confirmed with a smile, trying to ease the tension. "You'll see. They're hoping you can meet this weekend."

Ava nodded slowly. "Okay. This weekend it is."