Single Dad Agreed to Pretend to Be Her Date for One Weekend—Then Discovered She Was a Millionaire
Chapter 2
Ethan’s daughter, Lily, immediately hated the idea.
“Daddy, you’re going on a date?”
“Pretend date.”
“That sounds worse.”
Ethan laughed.
They were eating pizza at the kitchen table.
Lily narrowed her eyes.
“Who is she?”
“Her name is Olivia.”
“Is she pretty?”
Ethan smiled.
“Yes.”
“Do you like her?”
“No.”
Lily looked suspicious.
“You answered too fast.”
Ethan pointed at her.
“You’re nine.”
“And observant.”
He laughed.
Lily had become very observant since her mother left.
Three years earlier, Ethan’s wife had walked out after deciding she wanted a different life.
She had taken almost nothing.
But she had left Ethan with a child who needed stability.
So he built his life around Lily.
He worked as a project manager for a construction company.
He cooked.
He cleaned.
He attended school meetings.
He learned how to braid hair badly.
He remembered dance recitals.
He had stopped dating because every woman he met eventually wanted a life Ethan wasn’t ready to offer.
His daughter came first.
Always.
On Friday afternoon, Olivia sent him the address.
Ethan stared at it.
It wasn’t a restaurant.
It was a private estate.
He searched the location.
His eyebrows rose.
“Okay…”
Lily looked over.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“That’s your worried face.”
“I don’t have a worried face.”
“You do.”
Ethan smiled.
Then his phone rang.
Olivia.
“Hello?”
“Hi.”
“Everything okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sound nervous.”
“I’m not nervous.”
“You are.”
He laughed.
“You’re very confident for someone who hired a fake boyfriend.”
“I have a good feeling about you.”
“That’s dangerous.”
There was silence.
Then she said:
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For agreeing.”
Ethan looked toward Lily.
“Don’t thank me yet.”
He had no idea how right he was.
