Ximena slung her bag over her shoulder and softly hummed to herself as she stepped out of the hospital, her whole body lighter than it had felt in ages.

Eighty million!

The funding nightmare that had plagued her and her mentor for more than half a year had finally been settled, and in the most unbelievable way possible.

Even though Aydan was notorious for his permanent scowl and volatile temper, he had become her benefactor, and at that moment she honestly thought he might as well have descended from heaven.

While she was mulling over how to break the great news to her mentor, her phone buzzed in her hand.

The instant she saw the caller ID, the smile on Ximena's lips stiffened and vanished.

She drew in a steadying breath, mentally preparing for a confrontation she knew would be unpleasant, and then accepted the call. "Hello, Grandma…"

"Ximena!" The voice on the other end crackled with sharp energy and fury. "Do you have any idea what time it is? How can a young woman like you be out so late every single night?! Come home immediately!"

Before Ximena could get a single word in, the line went dead.

She stared at the black screen and let out a weary sigh.

Tonight, it seemed, was destined to be another exhausting showdown.

Thirty minutes later, the taxi pulled up in front of the Hayes Mansion, nestled in Osebury's well-known old-town enclave for the wealthy.

Ximena passed through the iron gates, crossed the manicured lawn, and walked straight toward the brilliantly illuminated main house.

The moment she stepped inside, an oppressive tension settled over her.

Directly opposite the entrance, an elderly woman sat upright in a chair, her presence imposing.

Her snow-white hair was arranged with flawless precision; she was Laura Hayes, the unquestioned ruler of the Hayes household.

"Grandma, I'm home." Ximena walked over with a gentle, ingratiating smile.

Laura didn't bother to raise her eyes, only letting out a low snort as she struck the floor with her cane.

"Stand properly."

The smile on Ximena's face faltered, yet she straightened and remained where she was.

"Do you have even a shred of respect left for me as your grandmother? Do you still remember the decorum expected of a member of the Hayes family?" Laura asked, her tone even but heavy with authority.

"Grandma, I was filling in for a coworker today, so I—"

"I'm not interested in your excuses!" Laura cut in coldly. "Answer me this instead—do you even know how old you are now?"

"I'm twenty-five."

"Twenty-five! You're no longer a child, yet you spend your days dodging respectable pursuits and keeping company with men. Have you ever spared a thought for the Hayes family's reputation?" Laura's irritation mounted with every word. "Our family has run businesses for generations, and I already indulged your father when he insisted on becoming a doctor. But you? You didn't just follow his path, you went further, choosing to specialize in… andrology! Are you determined to turn us into a public joke?"

Laura launched into it yet again.

Ximena lowered her head, silently rolling her eyes.

She had listened to this exact lecture countless times ever since she declared her major in med school.

She was just about to say something soothing and steer things away as she always did, when, unexpectedly, her parents—who had been sitting quietly on the sofa nearby—spoke up.

"Ximena, your grandmother is only thinking of what's best for you." It was her mother, Eva Hayes, who spoke.

She gazed at her daughter with evident concern. "You really are getting older; it's time you started thinking about dating."

Ximena stared at her mother, stunned.

These were the same parents who had once stood against the entire family to pursue medicine and marry for love.

Their example had been the very reason Ximena chose this path for herself.

Normally, whenever her grandmother exploded, they would back her up in one way or another.

So what had changed today?

She shifted her gaze to her father, Zachary Hayes, silently pleading.

Zachary met her eyes for a brief moment before looking away, clearing his throat as he agreed, "Your mother has a point. Starting a family should come before building a career."

Ximena's heart plummeted straight to the depths.

Something about her parents' behavior felt wrong, and she knew Laura must have cornered them again—cornered them badly enough that they were willing to offer up their own daughter to protect themselves.

"I've already asked an old acquaintance to help arrange a suitable match for you," Laura declared, clearly pleased now that Zachary and Eva were backing her. "The man's background and character are impeccable. He's a few years older than you and a little quiet, but steadiness is a virtue in a man. You will go on a date this week! If you dare try any tricks again, I'll cut off your medical career entirely!"

Taking away her right to practice medicine?

That threat struck exactly where it hurt most.

Ximena lifted her head, meeting her grandmother's unwavering gaze and her parents' averted eyes, fully aware that there was no way out this time.

In the end, she chose to give in.

"Fine. I'll go."

Laura blinked, clearly surprised by how easily Ximena agreed.

"But let me say this first," Ximena went on. "I'll meet him, but whether anything comes of it is up to fate. You can't force him to fall for me, can you?"

Laura flicked her hand impatiently. "Very well. Remember your words; I'll have the butler send you the details."

"Understood!" Ximena turned and hurried back to her room.

On Sunday morning, right on the dot at ten, Ximena showed up at the most exclusive club in all of Osebury—the Pinnacle Lounge.

For this so-called matchmaking affair, she had gone out of her way to dress "appropriately."

Using the room number the butler had provided, she made her way down the corridor.

Two stone-faced men in black suits guarded the entrance, far more frightening than any ordinary club security.

Ximena couldn't help scoffing inwardly—this was just a blind date, yet they were treating it like a high-level summit.

Just as she lifted her hand to open the door, it swung inward from the other side.

A poised, well-kept woman in her middle years appeared before her.

When her eyes landed on Ximena, the woman's smile stiffened for a split second before smoothing out again. "So you're Ximena, yes? Come along, everyone's been waiting."

Before Ximena could process what was happening, she was warmly ushered inside.

The moment she stepped in, she froze in disbelief.

A large group of people crowded around a massive circular table.

Seated at the center was her grandmother, Laura, sitting upright and composed, while her parents fidgeted uneasily to her left.

On Laura's right sat a refined middle-aged couple and next to them—someone all too familiar, someone who made Ximena instinctively want to bolt.

Aydan!

What on earth was he doing here?!

When Aydan took in what she was wearing, a flash of surprise crossed his face before sinking into unmistakable contempt.

Ximena's emotions twisted into a chaotic knot.

She had imagined every possible outcome, but never once had she expected her grandmother's carefully selected match to be Aydan of all people.

"Ximena, why are you just standing there? Come over and say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Dixon." Laura spoke through clenched teeth, her eyes carrying a thinly veiled warning.

Ximena inhaled slowly, forcing a smile to her lips.

At this point, she had no choice but to steady herself and go along with the charade.

She strutted forward, intentionally exaggerating the sway of her hips as she slipped into the vacant chair beside Aydan, a suffocating cloud of cheap perfume instantly spreading around them.

"Good morning, Mr. Dixon, Mrs. Dixon," she purred sweetly, even throwing Aydan an overdone wink. "My, this gentleman looks awfully familiar—haven't we crossed paths somewhere before?"

Aydan didn't so much as lift his lashes, and the air around him seemed to drop several degrees.

The elegant woman who had greeted Ximena earlier—Aydan's mother, Sylvia Dixon—barely managed to keep her smile intact.

Her gaze darted from Ximena to her impassive son before she sent a silent, imploring look toward Laura.

Laura's expression darkened, clearly wishing she could haul her unruly granddaughter away for a thorough reprimand.

Yet with the Dixon family present, she swallowed her anger and explained stiffly, "Ximena… has been indulged by us. She's rather spirited and enjoys… playing roles from time to time."

Ximena's parents, Eva and Zachary, looked like they wanted to sink straight through the floor.

There was no salvaging this; the arrangement was finished before it began.

A thick, uncomfortable quiet settled over the room.

It was Aydan's father, Alexander Dixon, who finally spoke up.

He let out a booming laugh and said, "Young people should have character. Aydan is far too serious—these two might actually balance each other quite well."

Upon hearing that, a jolt of panic shot through Ximena.

Alexander didn't seem… displeased by her outrageous getup?

That made no sense at all.

After that, the discussion lurched clumsily from the weather to economic trends, and then from family anecdotes to future business plans, as both sides strained to ease the tension.

Ximena kept her head lowered, scrolling on her phone and occasionally giggling at nothing.

She was determined to sell the image of a carefree, defiant girl hopelessly glued to social media.

From the corner of her eye, she sneaked glances at Aydan, only to find him rigid and unmoving.

Aside from lifting his cup for the occasional sip of water, he didn't make a single unnecessary movement.

Perfect.

Schemes spun wildly through Ximena's mind.

With her current getup and Aydan's frosty attitude, this match was guaranteed to collapse.

At last, after a painful stretch of polite chatter, attention returned to the two young people at the center of it all.

Laura cleared her throat and asked carefully, with both expectation and scrutiny, "Aydan, what's your impression of our Ximena? Are you satisfied with her?"

Every gaze immediately snapped to Aydan.

Ximena stopped tapping at her phone and lifted her head, her expression openly eager for the spectacle.

She could practically script what was about to happen.

Aydan would coolly voice his displeasure, rise from his seat, and walk out without a backward glance.

After all, only days earlier, she'd crossed him badly—and even managed to squeeze a hefty sum out of him.

There was no way he could possibly be pleased with her.

He would reject her outright, she would offer a token apology, and they would part ways cleanly.

Instead, reality struck her hard and fast.

Aydan slowly set his glass down, his eyes locking onto Ximena.

There was amusement in his gaze—and something sharp, like the promise of payback.

Then his lips parted, and he said, "I was smitten with Dr. Hayes the second I saw her."

Ximena was struck dumb.

The curve of her lips stiffened on her face, and her thoughts evaporated into nothing.

Did Aydan really just say he was smitten with her the second he saw her?

Had he completely lost his mind?

She had gone out of her way to make herself look unbearable—her make-up, her outfit, her behavior, everything, yet he had the audacity to say he had fallen for her the moment he saw her?

Aydan felt a surge of revulsion the instant the words left his mouth.

There was no honesty behind them, not even a shred.

He was sitting here today for the same reason she was—because there was no escape.

At first, he had planned to reject everything outright and leave without hesitation.

But the moment his eyes landed on Ximena's intentionally hideous getup, a malicious impulse surfaced.

This woman had disgraced him in the hospital and tricked him out of eighty million the other day.

And now she thought she could sabotage this matchmaking with ease and walk away unscathed?

Not a chance.

She wanted to cause chaos, but he had no intention of letting her win.

She dreaded being cornered into marriage by her family, so he would personally lock her into one.

Once she became his wife, she would be entirely within his grasp. And his secret? It would be forever safe.

Disregarding the disbelief written all over Ximena's face, Aydan turned toward his parents and hers seated on both sides and added with apparent sincerity, "I'm extremely pleased with Dr. Hayes. I hope we can marry soon."

His statement detonated like an explosive right in the middle of the room.

The three members of the Hayes family, along with the Dixon couple, were rendered mute with shock.

Laura, in particular, could hardly trust her hearing.

The joy had come too abruptly, leaving her struggling to absorb it.

At the same time, Ximena felt frozen to the bone.

He wanted to marry her? And soon?!

She was convinced Aydan had gone insane.

She wanted to leap to her feet, shout her refusal, and storm out.

But!

From the corner of her vision, she caught sight of her grandmother's face, glowing with delight.

Ximena knew all too well that if she rejected this match on the spot, Laura would follow through on her threat and ensure Ximena would never work as a doctor again.

Yet if she stayed silent, did that mean she truly had to marry this scheming, vindictive man?

A reckless thought suddenly sparked in her head.

After all… she was still responsible for managing Aydan's condition, and their paths would cross often.

Why not play along for now and placate both families?

Given enough time, she could always cite incompatibility and part ways with him, couldn't she?

This would allow her to keep her career intact and gain a temporary reprieve from her grandmother's relentless matchmaking.

With that realization, Ximena reached a decision.

She inhaled deeply, lifted her gaze to meet Aydan's provocative stare, and her expression bloomed into a dazzling smile.

"Very well," she said in a gentle tone, "I also believe… Mr. Dixon and I are quite well matched."

Her words cast the room into another stretch of unsettling quiet.

If Aydan's consent had been unexpected, then Ximena's bizarre appearance combined with her declaration was nothing short of disturbing.

Laura was the first to regain her composure; she reined in her overwhelming excitement and confusion before exclaiming, "Wonderful! Since they're both fond of each other, let's finalize this marriage!"

Alexander promptly followed with a booming laugh. "Mrs. Hayes, I agree. Since the timing is right, why not move quickly, choose an auspicious date, have them register the marriage, and plan the wedding gradually afterward? What do you all say?"

"I think it's perfect!" Laura said brightly, her face lit with delight. "I'll have someone select a lucky day immediately!"

Ximena could only watch as her entire future was decided in a handful of sentences.

Her parents, who had been tense moments earlier, now appeared visibly relieved, even casting approving looks in her direction.

Ximena found herself at a loss for words.

She felt like merchandise on a table, with buyer and seller happily striking a deal and even discussing when to put her to use.

She shot a glance at Aydan, silently pleading for him to slow things down, even if just a little.

Yet Aydan merely raised his glass and took an unhurried sip, clearly savoring the scene, with no intention of intervening.

Ximena clenched her teeth inwardly, while keeping that sweet smile firmly in place.