Chapter 3 Family Pressure

While Sophia was immersed in her financial troubles, on the other side of the city, in a glass and steel building that loomed majestically over the urban landscape, Ethan Blackwood was facing pressures of a different kind.

Ethan was the CEO of one of the largest corporations in the country, a business empire that spanned diverse industries, from technology to energy. He was known for his relentless determination in business, but in recent months, an even greater pressure had been weighing on him: the pressure from his family.

The Blackwood dynasty was one of the wealthiest and most influential families in the country. They had deep connections to the business and political elite, and the expectation was that Ethan, as the heir to the family fortune, would play a significant role in both business and society at large. But there was a condition imposed by his grandfather in the will: Ethan had to marry by his thirtieth birthday.

Ethan was now on the verge of turning thirty, and his birthday was rapidly approaching. The pressure from his family to choose a bride and get married was overwhelming. They arranged meetings with daughters of other magnates, introduced him to debutantes from high society, and constantly reminded him of his obligation.

However, Ethan had no interest in marrying for convenience or to meet his family's expectations. He believed in true love but had not yet found the right person. And he refused to make a hasty choice just to satisfy his family's wishes.

In his spacious living room, overlooking the city he commanded, Ethan was lost in thought as he gazed out the window. He knew the deadline was approaching, and he felt increasingly trapped.

Ethan's thoughts were a tumultuous whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He leaned against the windowpane, his brow furrowed in deep contemplation. The weight of familial expectations bore down on him like an anchor, threatening to pull him into a life he had never wanted.

He had always envisioned a marriage based on love, a connection that went beyond mere convenience or social standing. His parents, who had succumbed to the pressures of arranged unions, had cautioned him against such a path. Their marriage had been a cold, loveless affair, a stark reminder of what he sought to avoid.

Ethan's commitment to his principles was unyielding. He refused to betray his own values, even in the face of relentless family pressure. His grandfather's will may have stipulated marriage, but it could not dictate the terms of his heart.

As the days counted down to his thirtieth birthday, Ethan found himself at odds with his family, engaging in tense conversations during extravagant family gatherings. His parents pleaded with him to acquiesce, to choose a suitable bride from their carefully curated list of candidates. His siblings, all already married within the Blackwood circle, urged him to consider the greater good of the family's legacy.

But Ethan remained resolute. He would not enter a loveless union, no matter how dire the consequences. He was determined to find a way to fulfill his grandfather's will on his own terms, to preserve the sanctity of love in his life.

Each day that passed, the weight of the impending deadline pressed upon him like an ever-tightening vice. He had explored every avenue, searching for a solution that would allow him to retain his freedom of choice. Yet, as his thirtieth birthday loomed, he felt a sense of desperation creeping in.

One evening, as he stood on the balcony of his penthouse apartment, staring at the city lights below, Ethan's phone rang. It was his father, the stern patriarch of the Blackwood family.

"Ethan," his father's voice was a stern reminder of the responsibilities that weighed on his shoulders. "We need to talk. Your birthday is approaching, and you cannot keep defying the family's wishes."

Ethan's jaw clenched, his frustration simmering beneath the surface. "Father, I've told you before. I won't marry for the sake of tradition. I want a marriage based on love."

His father's response was measured but firm. "Ethan, your grandfather's will is clear. You must marry by your thirtieth birthday, or the consequences for the family's legacy will be dire. Think about the Blackwood name, the generations that came before you."

Ethan's grip on the balcony railing tightened. He felt trapped, torn between his principles and the weight of family expectations. But he couldn't let go of his belief in love, even if it meant challenging the very foundations of the Blackwood dynasty.

As he hung up the phone, Ethan knew that time was running out. He needed a solution, a way to fulfill his grandfather's will without sacrificing his ideals. Little did he know that an unexpected proposal from a stranger named Sophia Rodriguez would soon offer him a glimmer of hope, even as it pushed the boundaries of his convictions.

Days turned into nights as Ethan grappled with the impending deadline. He considered all possible options, from hiring a matchmaking agency to staging a fake engagement just to appease his family temporarily. But each idea seemed like a betrayal of his core beliefs.

One evening, while sipping a glass of whiskey in the dimly lit solitude of his penthouse, Ethan's thoughts drifted to the encounter with Sophia Rodriguez. He had heard of her agency, known for its innovative digital marketing strategies. The memory of her spirited determination and the way she had stood out from the crowd at the charity event played on his mind.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, then picked up his phone and began to search for information about Sophia. He discovered that her agency was indeed struggling financially, much like his own predicament. He also learned that Sophia was fiercely independent, driven by a passion for her work.

A daring idea began to take shape in Ethan's mind. What if he could strike a mutually beneficial deal with Sophia? If he could provide the financial support her agency desperately needed, perhaps she would agree to a marriage of convenience, one that satisfied the requirements of his grandfather's will.

The concept was audacious, to say the least. Ethan couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt at the thought of involving Sophia in such an arrangement. Yet, as he considered the proposal, he couldn't deny the potential benefits for both of them.

If he presented the idea to Sophia and she agreed, it would buy him more time to find true love without the pressure of his looming deadline. It was an unconventional plan, and he wasn't even sure if Sophia would entertain the notion. But he was willing to take the chance, to explore the possibility of a marriage that, while initially based on convenience, might evolve into something more meaningful.

Ethan knew that he had to tread carefully. He didn't want to come across as insensitive or self-serving. He needed to find the right words to convey his proposal to Sophia, emphasizing the potential advantages for her agency while respecting her independence and values.

As the days passed, Ethan prepared himself for the pivotal conversation that could alter the course of both their lives. He hoped that Sophia would at least consider his proposal, recognizing that it was born out of desperation, but also driven by a shared desire for something genuine in a world that often prioritized appearances over authenticity.