259: The Unseen Battle

Alex's days had become a monotonous parade of potential brides, each dinner an orchestrated attempt by families to merge wealth and influence through marriage. Despite the allure of convenience, Alex's heart remained anchored to a single wish, a dream he nurtured in silence. Yet, standing against his grandfather's relentless scheming felt like battling a tide with bare hands. In a surprising turn, his grandfather's pressure paused. Alex wondered if this brief respite was a sign of his grandfather's relenting or merely the eye of a brewing storm. "Alex, tonight's arrangement has been called off," the assistant revealed, a hint of surprise in his voice. "It seems your grandfather is reconsidering his strategy." Skepticism shadowed Alex's thoughts. "Or perhaps he's plotting a more intricate web. Tell me, who was I supposed to meet tonight?" "The daughter of the Harrow family. She's had her eyes on you for years," the assistant confessed, tapping on his tablet, displaying inf