Chapter 3

Ava glanced at Liam, who was looking at her with a calm, unreadable expression. She knew it was her turn to speak, to give her official response.

She smiled faintly. "My parents have always taught me to honor my family's promises," she said, her words chosen carefully. "And after hearing Mr. Grayson speak of his friendship with my grandfather, I understand the weight of that promise. I'm willing to honor it."

It was a subtle but clear "yes."

Mr. Grayson' s face lit up with a genuine smile. "Wonderful! Ava, you are a remarkable young woman. Don't you worry, our family will treat you like our own daughter."

The atmosphere in the room became instantly lighter, filled with polite chatter and shared relief. The deal was sealed.

Then, Mr. Grayson dropped another bombshell.

"Since we are all in agreement," he said with a cheerful clap of his hands, "I see no reason to wait. Why don't you two get your marriage license tomorrow?"

Ava' s jaw nearly dropped. Tomorrow? She had just met the man. She looked over at Liam, expecting to see some sign of protest, but his expression was as calm as ever.

Her mind raced. This was moving incredibly fast. A part of her wanted to scream, to ask for more time. But another part, the pragmatic part, took over. The old man was clearly eager. He was in good health, but he wasn't young. Delaying might seem disrespectful or cause him unnecessary worry. She took a deep breath.

"That's... very fast," she said slowly. "But I understand your sentiment, Mr. Grayson. I agree."

Liam looked at her, a flicker of surprise in his grey eyes. It was the first real emotion she'd seen from him.

"However," Ava continued, turning to address both families. "I have one condition. Due to my career, I hope we can keep the marriage private for now. A public announcement and a wedding ceremony can wait until the time is right."

She was a public figure. Announcing a sudden marriage to a high-profile CEO would create a media storm she wasn't ready to handle.

Liam spoke for the first time on the matter. "That's a reasonable request," he said, his voice smooth and supportive. "I agree. We can handle the legalities first and keep it quiet."

Ava felt a small sense of relief. At least he was on her side with this.

She looked at him again, really looked at him. He was sitting there, perfectly composed, agreeing to marry a stranger tomorrow as if they were discussing a business merger. Yet, there was a certain grace in his acceptance, a steadiness that was strangely reassuring. His sharp suit, the expensive watch on his wrist, the confident way he held himself-it all screamed power and success. But his eyes, when they met hers, held a hint of something else. Something she couldn't quite decipher.