Others inherited successful businesses.
A few worked in finance or law.
Every introduction felt more like a business meeting than a romantic date.
Before dinner even arrived, conversations turned toward investments, family connections, and future expectations.
No one asked what made me happy.
They only cared whether our last names would look impressive together.
The Ultimatum
Everything came to a head shortly after my thirtieth birthday.
My parents invited me to dinner at the family estate.
The dining table stretched nearly twenty feet long, yet somehow the room still felt suffocating.
Halfway through the meal, my father carefully folded his napkin and looked directly at me.
“I think we’ve been patient long enough.”
I already knew where the conversation was heading.
“You’ll be thirty-one next year,” he continued calmly.
“It’s time to settle down.”
I nodded without responding.
Then came the sentence that changed everything.
“If you aren’t married before your next birthday, you’ll no longer receive financial support from this family.”