Chapter Two

"Where is she?" Daniel Chen barked into his phone, pacing in front of the registry office entrance.

His assistant Julia had assured him everything was arranged. The woman from the matchmaking service would be here by nine sharp. It was now nine twenty, and there was no sign of her.

"I'm trying to reach her now, Mr. Chen," Julia's apologetic voice came through. "The agency isn't picking up either."

Daniel ran a hand through his hair, frustration mounting. He had exactly four hours before he needed to be at his grandmother's bedside with a wife in tow. Four hours to fulfill the promise he'd made to the woman who'd raised him after his parents abandoned him to chase their Hollywood dreams.

His grandmother Eleanor had been diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer two months ago. The doctors said she had weeks left, maybe days. Her dying wish was simple: see her grandson married and settled before she passed.

Daniel had tried to explain that marriage wasn't something you rushed into, that he needed time to find the right person. But Eleanor was adamant. She'd seen too many wealthy heirs destroy their lives and fortunes through loneliness and poor choices. She wanted Daniel anchored, grounded by a partner before he inherited Chen Technologies.

So he'd lied. Told her he'd been seeing someone seriously for several months. Told her they were planning to get married soon. The look of pure joy on her face had made the deception worth it.

But now that Eleanor was fading fast, the lie needed to become reality. Julia had found a solution: a discrete matchmaking service that specialized in contractual marriages. No emotions, no complications. Just a legal arrangement that would satisfy his grandmother and secure his inheritance.

The plan was perfect. Except the woman had apparently vanished.

"This is unacceptable," Daniel said, his voice low and controlled despite the anger simmering beneath. "I don't care what you have to do. Find me someone. Now."

"Mr. Chen, I don't think I can arrange another candidate in time. Perhaps we should postpone and explain to your grandmother that..."

"No." The word came out sharp. He wouldn't break his grandmother's heart. Not when she had so little time left. "I'll handle this myself."

He ended the call and shoved the phone into his pocket, his mind racing through options. He could call one of the women from his social circle, but they'd all expect something real from him eventually. He could try another agency, but there wasn't time.

"I'll do it."

Daniel turned to find a young woman standing a few feet away. She'd clearly been crying, her eyes red and slightly swollen, but she'd wiped away the tears. She stood straight, chin lifted, meeting his gaze directly.

"Excuse me?" he said.

"I'll marry you," she repeated, her voice stronger this time. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. You need a wife. I need..." she paused, something flickering across her face. "I need to not feel like a complete fool today."