Chapter 1 A Ridiculous Blind Date

Selena Clarke sat in the café, her eyes red from crying. Her father, Gregory Clarke, had been diagnosed with terminal liver cancer. His life was now on a countdown, perhaps only a month or less. What Gregory worried about most was Selena's younger brother, Lucas Clarke, and her future marriage. While she could look after Lucas, she really couldn't figure out her own marriage. So, she sent her profile to a dating agency and started going on blind dates. As long as it eased her father's worries, it didn't matter who she married. "Hello, Ms. Clarke. Sorry to keep you waiting." Adam Nash sat down across from Selena after checking the photo on his phone. Then, he casually placed the keys to his BMW on the table. "It's alright, I just got here too." Selena quickly regained her composure and smiled. "Ms. Clarke, I've already learned a bit about you through the dating agency. Your education and work are acceptable to me. You're also exactly my type, so I'm quite pleased with you," Adam said with a smile. He looked at Selena with satisfaction, as she was the most beautiful woman he'd met on any of his blind dates. Selena had fair skin and a lovely face. Her refined elegance was akin to that of a lotus flower, making her beauty hard to ignore. Despite being picky about women, Adam found himself already eager to marry her. "Thank you." Selena smiled politely. Just as she was about to ask Adam a few questions, he spoke again. "Ms. Clarke, I'm sure you're already aware of my situation. I work at Carter Group, and my monthly salary is 15 thousand dollars. On top of that, I own a 170-square-meter four-bedroom house and a BMW. "After we get married, I won't be adding your name to the property deed. It's my property before the marriage, after all. I'm sure you're a modern woman, so I don't expect you to make unreasonable demands. "I've looked into the typical wedding gifts, and I plan to give you 88 thousand dollars. But this isn't just a gift from husband to wife. You could also give me some cash, or even prepare more wedding gifts yourself. Personally, I'd prefer if you brought more gifts so that our wedding feels more extravagant. "I'm not in a rush to have kids since I'm only 29, but you're 24. Women at that age are considered getting older, so it's better to have kids right after the wedding. Otherwise, your figure could change, and you'll age even faster. "Also, I'm the only son in my family. If our first child is a girl, we'll have to try for a boy. I'm sure you understand. "Let's not forget that men and women are equal now. Taking care of the family isn't just the man's responsibility anymore. If you decide to work, I'll have my parents help with the child until you're able to take over. But if you want to stay at home for the child, I'll give you two thousand dollars a month for living expenses. Either way, you won't be left empty-handed. "My work is usually pretty demanding, so I hope you'll handle most of the house chores. Especially since I'm a bit of a neat freak, I really want the house to always be clean and tidy. "Also, my parents had a tough time raising me. They're getting older and deserve to enjoy life, so I need you to be more considerate of their wishes. "On top of that, your dad isn't working, and your little brother is still young. I know you spend most of your salary on your family. But once we're married, I really hope you'll put our family first...." Selena had always been an easy-going person, but Adam's words really got to her. He was being completely unreasonable. He wanted gender equality when it came to earning money and supporting the household, but when it came to chores, that was all on Selena. His parents worked hard to raise him, but did her parents have it any easier? Selena felt that Adam's mindset was seriously flawed, as he only cared about his own interests. She held back her anger and said, "Sorry, we're not a good match." "I think we are! Wait, don't tell me I'm not good enough for you. I make more money than you, and I have a car and a house," Adam said. He frowned as he looked at Selena, who was undeniably beautiful. With that, he added, "Although you're stunning, you should know that a woman's youth doesn't last forever. Since you still have your looks, you should be smart and marry a man with potential while you can!" Suddenly, a cold laugh came from the table next to them. "Heh!" This made them glance over, especially Adam, who was visibly irritated. It was a handsome guy in a white hoodie, Samuel Carter. He was talking to the fashionable woman across from him, "Yeah, I'm 28. I only have a small three-bedroom apartment bought on a mortgage and a regular car. But I graduated at 26, and I've only been working for two years. So, I don't agree with your point that having no savings at 28 means someone lacks personal ability. "And by the way, I make 10 thousand dollars a month, while you only make three thousand dollars. I don't see any problem with how the dating agency arranged our dates. Anyway, you're not interested in me, and I'm not interested in you." With that, Samuel stood up and gave Adam a mocking look. His gaze rested on Adam's head, implying, "Women's youth is fleeting, but men aren't immune either. In a few years, things like baldness, weight gain, and oiliness will catch up with you." He deliberately stressed the word "baldness".