CHAPTER 7 (THIRD PERSON POV)

The woman sitting across from him had no idea who he really was. The man before her was Ethan Golden Newton, CEO of Newton Group and  the richest man in the continent. But tonight, he was simply “Golden Newton,” a supposed mid-level employee. He had made sure of that—no driver, no security, no mention of his last name. His grandfather had arranged this blind date, and Ethan wanted to know if the girl could see the man, not the name.

When the waiter arrived with their drinks, his expression didn’t change. He watched the slight tremor in her hand as she lifted her glass, and his thoughts grew colder. Another woman pretending to be delicate.

The drama between him and his grandfather that morning came back to him: "grandpa what is the meaning of this document?" Ethan had asked his grandfather.

"The document states that you have been removed from being the CEO of the Newton Group."

"Grandpa, you have no right to remove me from the CEO seat." Ethan countered his grandfather.

"Young man, I am still the founder, chairman and president of the Newton Group worldwide, and that gives me the right to remove anyone I want including you. You know what? you have two days to get married to the woman I picked out for you. If at the end of two days, and you are not married, I will hold a world-wide press conference declaring your cousin the CEO of the group."

That threat completely unsettled Ethan. If the threat was coming from any other man, he wouldn't have given it a second thought, because Ethan Golden Newton was the most powerful man in Westminister and beyond. But when it comes from his grandfather, he was completely helpless.

He had agreed only because it was easier that way.  It would cost him nothing—a quick marriage, then a quiet divorce once he found the real woman who had saved him that night. That was all this would ever be.

Ethan  couldn’t afford to be moved by a stranger sitting across from him. Especially not one who believed she was meeting an ordinary employee when, in truth, he was the man who signed every paycheck in the company.

He had agreed to the dinner under one condition: that his identity stay hidden. He would act as a mid-level manager and see what kind of woman his grandfather had chosen for him. If she turned out to be shallow or greedy, he would still marry her quietly, keep his word, and end the marriage later.

That was the plan.

But as he watched her now, Ethan wondered if there was a mistake somewhere.

Ava leaned forward slightly, her expression calm and her voice steady. “I know it sounds forward, but I’ve lived long enough to value truth over pretense. So I’ll be honest.”

He tilted his head. “Go on.”

“I want a home,” she said. “Not a mansion or a perfect story—just a place where trust is real and loyalty isn’t just a word people say. I’m not afraid of work or hardship. I’m afraid of being alone in it.”

Ethan listened without interrupting. Her tone was simple, but it caught him off guard.

He didn’t show it. He never did. But he asked quietly, “And what if I can’t give you any of that?”

She smiled faintly. “Then I thank you for your time, finish my tea, and wish you well.”

Her calm reply made him pause. He cleared his throat. “You’re very certain about what you want.”

“I have to be,” she said. “Uncertainty breaks people.”

Their eyes met for a moment. Ethan held her gaze, trying to read her, but she didn’t look away.

Then she said, “If you think we’re compatible, I don’t want to waste time.”

He frowned slightly. “What do you mean?”

Her voice stayed steady. “Will you marry me?”

The words stopped him completely. For a man used to negotiations and deals worth billions, Ethan had never been caught so off guard by a single question. He drew in a quiet breath and covered it with a low chuckle.

“You move fast,” he said, his tone dry.

“I believe in clarity,” Ava replied. “If you don’t, that’s fine. But I’d rather be honest than pretend.”

Ethan studied her for a long time. She didn’t seem nervous or calculating. She looked at him directly, calm and serious.

For the first time that evening, he wasn’t sure what to think of her