Sophie was enjoying a pleasant evening with family when her grandmother, Evelyn, made a shocking announcement. Evelyn’s news wasn’t just surprising—it was life-changing. To receive her inheritance, Sophie had to get married within a month—right before Evelyn’s 70th birthday!
The living room buzzed with chatter as the family gathered at Evelyn’s big, old-style home. Dressed in pink as always, Evelyn stood out with her lively spirit. For years, she had been the heart of every gathering.
“Everyone, may I have your attention!” Evelyn’s voice cut through the noise. Her sharp eyes scanned the room. The talking stopped, and all eyes turned to her.
“Sophie,” Evelyn began, locking eyes with her granddaughter, who sat awkwardly under everyone’s gaze.
“You’ve worked hard on your career, and that’s something to be proud of. But in doing so, you’ve forgotten some of our family traditions.”
Sophie shifted uncomfortably. She’d expected this conversation eventually. Her grandma’s values came from a very different era.
Evelyn went on, “As the last keeper of our family’s values, it saddens me to see them fade away.” Her voice firmed. “That’s why I’ve decided—if Sophie doesn’t find a husband by the time I turn 70, she won’t be part of my will.”
Sophie froze. Her face turned pale as the room fell silent.
“Grandma, you’re not serious,” she whispered.
“I’m completely serious,” Evelyn replied. “I can’t leave my legacy to someone who doesn’t care to continue our family.”
Her tone left no space for argument.
Sophie’s frustration exploded. She stood up, her chair screeching on the floor.
“I’ve spent years building my career, working hard to get where I am,” she shouted. “And now I’m being punished just because I’m not married? That’s not fair!”
Evelyn looked calmly at her granddaughter.
“Life is full of choices, Sophie. You chose yours, and now I’m choosing mine.”
Shaken, Sophie left the room, slamming the door behind her. She sat in her car outside, tears streaming down her face in the still night.
Sophie decided to treat her grandmother’s demand like a project.
She dove into the dating scene, making online profiles, going to speed-dating events, and letting her friends set her up. But most dates were strange—or flat-out disasters.
One evening, she met Jason. He seemed normal at first, but then leaned in and whispered, “Did you know the moon landing was fake?” Sophie nearly spit out her drink. The date only got worse from there.
Next was Peter, who spent the evening talking about his exotic pet lizards.
“Here are Monty and Tweedy!” he said, proudly showing off pictures—not of lizards, but of his cat and dog. Sophie smiled politely but quickly lost interest.
Another date turned into a business meeting when Sophie, stuck in work mode, began discussing revenue trends and market strategies, not noticing her date’s blank stare.
After so many awkward dates, Sophie felt worn out and more hopeless than ever.
One afternoon at the office, she scrolled through her phone, sighing after another bad date. She looked up at her assistant, Steven, who was sorting papers nearby.
“Steven, can we talk?” she said.
“Sure, what’s up?”
“I need a huge favor. I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend—for one week.”
She added quickly, “I’ll pay you.”
Steven blinked in surprise. “Pretend to be your boyfriend? Are you serious?”
“Just for a week, until my grandma’s birthday. Then we can stop.”
Steven saw how upset she was and gave in. “Alright. But we need to make it look real.”
They started spending more time together, learning little things about each other.
Sophie, being a perfectionist, turned their conversations into interviews—asking about his views on marriage and even his credit history.
Steven finally suggested, “Let’s take the weekend and relax at my cousin’s lake house. Maybe we can act more naturally.”
Sophie agreed.
“Okay, how hard can cooking be?” Sophie joked, tying an apron in the lake house’s small kitchen.
“Just toss it all in and hope for the best,” Steven laughed, chopping vegetables.
They also tried fishing by the lake, but failed miserably. Sophie burst out laughing. “Why are we so bad at this?”
Steven smiled. “It’s not about catching anything. It’s just about spending time together.”
That night, they sat by the fire, wrapped in blankets and sharing stories.
“I used to think being strong meant doing it all alone,” Sophie admitted. “But this—this is nice.”
Steven passed her a marshmallow. “Good company makes life better.”
By Sunday, as they packed to leave, Sophie realized she liked being with Steven—not just for show, but for real.
“It’s strange,” she said in the car. “A weekend can change everything.”
Steven, feeling at ease, opened up. “I’ve been thinking. I want to start my own café or bakery. That’s my real dream.”
Sophie nodded, but kept quiet. She wasn’t ready to deal with how that might affect her own plans.
When they arrived at Evelyn’s house for the big dinner, the house glowed with warmth and the smell of food.
Evelyn greeted them excitedly.
“Steven, I’m so happy to meet you,” she said warmly.
“Thank you, Mrs. Johnson,” Steven replied politely.
Steven charmed everyone at the table. He told funny stories and fit in easily.
Sophie, though, acted distant. Her warmth from the lake house was gone. She barely looked at Steven.
Later, Evelyn noticed and pulled Sophie aside.
“Steven seems to really care for you,” she said quietly. “Don’t hurt him.”
Sophie forced a smile. “Everything’s fine, Grandma. He might even propose soon,” she lied.
Evelyn didn’t fully believe her.
Steven returned, holding snacks, and had likely heard the whole thing. The rest of the night, he was quiet and withdrawn.
He left without saying much—just a nod—and Sophie felt his silence deeply.
The next day, the office felt empty. Sophie found out Steven had quit. He came by to get his things.
“I thought we were growing close,” she said. “What happened?”
Steven sighed. “I thought we had something real after the lake house. But you went back to treating me like just an employee.”
Sophie looked down. “I got scared.”
“I can’t keep doing this,” he said. “And I’m not taking your money.”
He walked out, leaving her alone with her guilt.
On the morning of Evelyn’s birthday, Sophie carefully chose her clothes. She thought about Steven nonstop—the laughs, the talks, and finally, the heartbreak.
At the party, she froze when she saw Steven among the guests. Evelyn had invited him.
Sophie walked over, nervous.
“Steven,” she said, “I’m so sorry. I missed you. What started as pretending became real for me. I care about you—a lot.”
Steven softened. “I forgive you. I agreed to pretend because I’ve had feelings for you too. I hoped we’d find something real.”
Evelyn, listening nearby, walked over with a gentle smile.
“Sophie, you’ve finally understood what matters. That’s why you’ll get the inheritance. I was never going to give it to you just for marrying. I only wanted to push you toward what really counts.”
Steven then added, “And by the way, I opened my own bakery. I even made tonight’s birthday cake. Hope you’ll all stop by sometime.”
The evening became joyful, full of laughter and celebration. Evelyn looked at Sophie and Steven, content that her plan had led to something meaningful.
