Young Millionaire Hired Fake Girlfriend for a Family Event—He Never Thought He’d Want It to Be Real
A Real Connection and the Final Choice
The soft hum of conversation drifted through the Callaway estate as guests mingled over glasses of champagne.
Wesland stood near the grand staircase, her fingers lightly grazing the delicate lace of her gown.
She was trying to steady herself against the whirlwind of emotions spinning inside her.
Zaden had been at her side all evening, his touch lingering just a second too long.
His gaze held something deeper than the polished charm he showed his family.
Every moment between them felt heavier now, charged with an undeniable energy neither had acknowledged aloud.
But Elena Callaway was watching, and so was Celeste.
Across the room, Zaden stood in conversation with a group of investors.
His expression was composed, but his gaze flickered toward Wesland every so often.
Each time their eyes met, a silent current passed between them.
It was a secret that neither of them had the courage to put into words.
Wesland inhaled slowly, reminding herself why she was here.
This was temporary—a carefully curated illusion.
But why did it feel like something more?
A presence approached her, and she turned to find Elena standing beside her.
Her posture was regal, her expression unreadable.
“You certainly have captured my son’s attention,” Elena said, her voice smooth but laced with quiet scrutiny.
Wesland forced a polite smile.
“Zaden and I have a connection.”
Elena studied her for a long moment, then glanced toward her son.
“He’s always been difficult to reach,” she mused.
“Distant. Focused. I’ve seen many women try to break through that.”
Wesland’s chest tightened.
Elena’s lips pressed together faintly.
“None of them succeeded.”
The words settled heavily between them—a quiet warning.
Wesland wanted to say something to push back, but before she could, Zaden appeared at her side.
His hand slipped effortlessly around her waist.
“Mother,” he said smoothly.
His thumb brushed against Wesland’s hip in a way that sent shivers down her spine.
“I hope you’re not interrogating my girlfriend.”
Elena’s eyes flickered between them, then softened just a fraction.
“Just getting to know her.”
Zaden’s fingers tightened slightly against Wesland’s waist—a silent reassurance.
“Well, I’d like to steal her for a moment.”
Elena inclined her head in a way that was neither approval nor dismissal, then stepped away.
As soon as she was gone, Zaden leaned in, his voice low.
“Are you all right?”
Wesland exhaled, the weight of Elena’s words still pressing against her.
“Your mother doesn’t believe us.”
Zaden watched her carefully.
“Does that bother you?”
She hesitated.
“Shouldn’t it bother you?”
He didn’t answer immediately.
Instead, he reached for her hand, intertwining their fingers effortlessly.
“Come with me.”
Before she could react, he was leading her through the estate and out onto a sprawling terrace.
The cool night air wrapped around them, the sky a deep indigo scattered with stars.
Wesland turned to him, her heart pounding.
“Zaden, what are we doing?”
His gaze was intense and unwavering.
“Tell me the truth.”
She swallowed hard.
“About what?”
He took a step closer, closing the distance between them.
“About us.”
Her breath caught.
“There is no us.”
His jaw tensed.
“Then why does it feel like there is?”
Wesland’s pulse roared in her ears.
She wanted to deny it, to remind him that this was temporary.
She had taken a job, not fallen into something real.
But the way he was looking at her made it impossible.
Zaden’s fingers brushed against her cheek—a touch so gentle it made her breath hitch.
“I told myself this was just an arrangement,” he murmured.
“That it was all for show.”
Her chest tightened.
“And now?”
He exhaled, his forehead nearly resting against hers.
“Now I can’t stop thinking about you.”
Wesland’s throat tightened.
“This isn’t real.”
His fingers tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze.
“It is to me.”
A storm of emotions crashed inside her.
She had spent the last few days convincing herself that this was temporary.
But standing here with Zaden, she wasn’t sure anymore.
Before she could think, she closed the remaining space between them.
His lips met hers in a kiss that stole the air from her lungs.
It wasn’t careful; it was consuming.
Zaden’s hands gripped her waist, pulling her closer as if he were afraid she’d disappear.
Wesland melted into him, every doubt and fear dissolving into the night.
When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers, his breathing unsteady.
“I don’t want this to end when the weekend is over.”
Wesland’s heart pounded.
“Zaden…”
“Tell me you don’t feel the same, and I’ll let you go.”
She opened her mouth, ready to say the words that would end this, but she couldn’t.
It would be a lie.
“I don’t want it to end either,” she whispered.
Zaden exhaled, his relief evident as he pulled her into him once more.
He held her like she was something he wasn’t willing to lose.
For the first time, Wesland realized she wasn’t playing a role anymore.
She was falling, and there was no going back.
Inside the ballroom, the sea of elegantly dressed guests glittered under the chandeliers.
Wesland had expected this night to feel like a performance, a final act.
Yet after the terrace, nothing about this felt like an act anymore.
Zaden was across the room, but his eyes flickered toward her with quiet intensity.
“Enjoying yourself?”
Elena’s voice was smooth and unreadable as always.
Wesland straightened, meeting the woman’s gaze.
“It’s a beautiful event.”
Elena studied her for a moment.
“You’ve certainly managed to hold Zaden’s attention longer than most.”
Wesland forced a steady breath.
“I care about him.”
Elena’s lips pressed together faintly.
“Do you?”
The weight of the question settled between them.
Wesland knew what Elena was implying—a ploy for money or social climbing.
But this wasn’t a game anymore.
“Yes,” Wesland said, her voice unwavering. “I do.”
Something shifted in Elena’s expression—not approval, but something closer to curiosity.
Before she could say anything else, a chime rang for the speeches.
Zaden stepped up to the raised platform, and the crowd quieted.
Wesland felt her pulse quicken.
“Thank you all for being here tonight,” Zaden began.
“This event is more than just a gathering. It’s a celebration of the people who have shaped my life, my career, and my future.”
He glanced toward his mother before his gaze found Wesland.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success means nothing if you don’t have the right people beside you.”
Wesland’s breath caught.
“Sometimes life surprises you,” he said, his gaze locked onto hers.
“And sometimes it brings you exactly what you never knew you needed.”
A hush fell over the room.
Wesland felt the world tilt as the realization crashed over her.
He wasn’t just saying this for the audience; this was real.
Then the applause erupted, breaking the spell.
Moments later, Zaden was at her side.
“You meant that,” Wesland whispered.
Zaden didn’t hesitate.
“Every word.”
“What happens when this weekend ends?”
His fingers brushed against hers, the touch deliberate and sure.
“That’s up to you.”
Wesland swallowed hard.
“Zaden, this started as an arrangement.”
He nodded.
“And now it’s not. I don’t want this to end. Not when it’s the only thing that’s made sense in a long time.”
Wesland wasn’t afraid to believe it.
Zaden reached for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers.
“Stay,” he murmured.
Wesland exhaled, the weight of everything falling into place.
She had spent her life waiting for something that felt like home.
Somehow, she had found it in him.
She squeezed his hand.
“Yes.”
Zaden curved a smile.
Wesland knew she wasn’t just playing a role; she was exactly where she was meant to be.
Later, on the balcony, the night air was crisp.
Zaden approached her.
“You disappeared.”
“I needed air.”
He stood beside her.
“Are you doubting me?”
“I’m doubting myself,” she admitted.
“This wasn’t supposed to happen. I was supposed to pretend, take the money, and go back to my life.”
His jaw tightened.
“And now?”
“Now I don’t know what happens next.”
Zaden reached for her hand, his grip firm.
“Then let me make it clear. I don’t want you to go back to your life as if this was nothing.”
“Zaden, you have an entire world here. A world I don’t belong in.”
“You belong wherever I am,” he said simply.
Before she could respond, an assistant interrupted with an urgent business matter.
“Go,” Wesland urged. “Your business needs you.”
He hesitated, then let go.
“This conversation isn’t over.”
Wesland watched him leave, feeling the weight of his empire.
“You’re thinking about leaving.”
Wesland turned to see Elena standing there.
“I don’t belong here.”
“Do you believe my son is a fool?” Elena asked.
Wesland blinked.
“No, of course not.”
“Then why do you think you know better than he does?”
Wesland froze.
“Zaden has spent his entire life making decisions based on logic,” Elena said.
“If he has chosen you, it is not by accident.”
“And you? You’ve questioned me from the start.”
“Because I needed to be sure that when the time came, you wouldn’t run.”
Elena’s gaze softened.
“My son is not a man who offers his heart lightly. If you walk away now, you will break it.”
Elena walked away, leaving Wesland to her choice.
Zaden eventually found her near the grand staircase.
“Wesland!”
She turned, conflicted.
“Zaden, no.”
He closed the distance.
“You don’t get to leave like this.”
“I don’t want to be something temporary.”
“Who said you were? I care about you,” he said, framing her face.
“I’m not letting you go. Not now, not ever.”
Tears pricked her eyes.
“Zaden, I love you.”
“I love you,” he repeated.
“If you walk out that door, I will spend the rest of my life proving you belong with me.”
She threw her arms around him.
“I love you too.”
The following year, Wesland stood on the balcony as a resident, not a guest.
She was home.
“Did you ever think it would turn out like this?” she asked Zaden.
He kissed her softly.
“I knew from the moment I saw you.”
Wesland laughed.
“Liar.”
He grinned.
“Maybe. But I knew I wasn’t letting you go.”
She leaned into him, the fears finally gone.
She belonged here with him forever.
