Chapter 03

Elizabeth... He remembered her perfectly: the delicate smile, the most beautiful he had ever seen, the grayish-blue eyes that sparkled when they looked at him, the honey-colored hair that fell in soft waves... She had always enchanted him with her discreet, simple, and sweet manner. 

And now she was agreeing to marry him for money?

As Martha continued to speak, John felt betrayed. The young woman he had thought was different was just another gold digger.

“At least she’s pretty; we can’t deny that. She’s tall, slender, with beautiful features—she even looks like a model, and that counted for a lot.” Martha remarked, unaware of her son’s inner turmoil. “And if you have children…”

“Enough, Mom!” John exploded, surprising his parents.

Roger raised his eyebrows in surprise

“What’s wrong, son? Don’t you like your mother’s choice?”

“I need to think,” John said coldly, leaving the office and wandering aimlessly through the Walker mansion, which looked like a castle.

John went to the game room. 

At the bar in the back, he poured himself a generous shot of whiskey and downed it in one gulp. He gripped the glass tightly and slammed it down on the counter in anger. 

The image of Elizabeth wouldn’t leave his mind. Her sweet smile, her soft voice, her simple manner, her eyes that always sparkled whenever she looked at him.

How could he have been so wrong?

He believed Elizabeth was different from the high-society women he was used to associating with: spoiled, frivolous, obsessed with shopping, travel, and designer clothes. 

She seemed to be the opposite of all that: discreet, unpretentious, gentle, kind, genuine. But now, it all sounded like a big act.

John remembered well the first time he saw her, at the city’s elite club. 

The young woman’s beauty immediately caught his eye. Curious, he sought to find out who she was and learned that she belonged to a rising family. 

At the time, she was only seventeen. Their eyes met, and Elizabeth blushed visibly, which drew a smile from John and made her, in his eyes, even more charming.

He was already twenty-three years old; he had finished his studies early thanks to his high IQ and dedication to his studies. 

He was mature and responsible; while most young people wanted to enjoy life by spending their parents’ money, he was already working at the Walker Group. 

For that reason, he considered Elizabeth too young and immature for a serious relationship at that time.

After that first date, they ran into each other a few more times, but soon she left to study abroad, while John rose through the ranks at the Group. 

To test his skills as a businessman, his grandfather sent him to manage a struggling refinery in the southern part of the country. 

John not only turned the situation around, making the business profitable, but also expanded its operations. 

Before long, he was promoted to director and returned to headquarters with the status of a business prodigy.

Ambitious, John aspired to the presidency of the conglomerate. To that end, his grandfather had imposed a non-negotiable condition: the heir had to be married, as proof of maturity and responsibility. 

John would not agree to marry just anyone, not even for the presidency of the group. His ambition did not go that far.

There were several candidates who would do anything to be his wife, but none of them sparked his interest—until he learned that Elizabeth had returned. 

Although the Stewarts were part of high society, they belonged to a more modest circle and were not invited to the most exclusive events. At John’s request, the family began to be included on the guest lists.

At first, he just watched her. While other young women vied for his attention, Elizabeth remained discreet. 

Every now and then, their eyes met, and she blushed, which continued to charm him. Little by little, John drew closer.

He was talkative, while she spoke little. Whenever their eyes met, there was a sparkle in her eyes and a shy smile that captivated him. 

He learned that Elizabeth had turned down the advances of several of his friends, and his admiration for her only grew; his heart raced every time he saw her. 

Had he finally found love?

John took another sip of his drink and sank into the sofa. Disappointment gnawed at him. He felt like a lovesick fool, completely blind.

The truth hit him like a blow: her family was on the verge of bankruptcy, and she was pretending to be a sweet, innocent girl to win him over. 

He had almost fallen into her traps.

It would have been better if she were like all the others; at least then he would know who he was dealing with. 

But being deceived? That he couldn’t stand.

The sun was beginning to set, and John stared at the glass in his hand as if he could find some answer there. 

The disappointment was bitter. More than that: humiliating. 

The man who orchestrated multimillion-dollar mergers and led business strategies with cold precision had been naive when it came to feelings. 

He stood up and walked to the window. 

He looked out at the vast estate with its gardens and the golf course. In the distance, the city lights began to twinkle. And there he was, alone, drowning in feelings he despised: heartache and disappointment.

“Love doesn’t exist. There are only interests,” he thought, taking another sip. 

While his mother was talking about the contract, he had already decided not to accept it, but upon learning it was Elizabeth, he changed his mind.

“So you want to marry me, Elizabeth?” he murmured, staring into the night that was beginning to fall. “Well, you’ll regret trying to deceive me.”