Ava unexpectedly falls for the man her parents arranged for her to marry. But when unsettling rumors about him surface days before their wedding, she devises a test to uncover his true intentions.

Ava caught her breath as she gazed at Walter, the man her parents had arranged for her to meet. He rose from his seat, impeccably dressed in a sleek suit that showcased his athletic build, his blue eyes sparkling under the elegant lighting.

Ava’s heart fluttered as he smiled and helped her to her seat.

“Ava, meet Walter, my son,” his mother said.

For illustration purposes only. | Source: Pexels

“What do you think?” whispered Ava’s mother, Hilda, noticing her daughter’s reddened cheeks.

The families sat at a grand dining table in a restaurant, the air filled with apprehension and anticipation. Ava, initially resistant to this arranged meeting, found herself unexpectedly drawn to Walter. His gentlemanly demeanor throughout the dinner and subsequent meetings only deepened her admiration for him.

So a few weeks later, when he went down on one knee and proposed, she didn’t think twice before saying yes.

“I’ll marry you!” she exclaimed as Walter slid a diamond ring onto her finger.

The wedding was set, and with only a few weeks to go, Ava and her friend Hillary went to a boutique to pick a wedding dress for Ava’s special day.

They had just gotten there and were waiting to be attended to when they heard two women whispering in the background.

At first, Ava tried not to pay attention, but with how loud they were, it was impossible not to hear a few words, especially when she heard Walter’s name.

“You mean Walter, the blue-eyed playboy, is getting married?” one woman whispered incredulously.

“Apparently, his parents found him a millionaire’s daughter,” another woman added.

Ava desperately wanted to continue listening but was interrupted when one of the attendants approached her since it was her turn.

“You heard those people talking in the lobby, didn’t you?” Hillary asked as they followed the attendant.

“Do you know how many Walters there are in this state?” Ava replied, dismissing the rumors. She was convinced her Walter was different.

An hour later, Ava drove to Walter’s mansion. The recent rain had left the roads wet, and as she approached his mansion, she noticed a group of homeless people huddled by the roadside, trying to keep dry.

Ava slowed her car to avoid splashing water on them and rolled down her window to offer them some money, only to be taken aback after hearing their conversation.

“That rich guy in the red car splashed water on us! All that money has gone to his head! And that money isn’t his, I bet! It’s his parents’!” grumbled a bearded man.

“With his handsome looks, he thinks he can do anything,” a woman added bitterly.

Shocked and confused, Ava rolled up her window and drove into Walter’s estate, wondering if they were discussing him. She had seen his compassionate side, like his charity work, but she now doubted if it was just for show.

As she entered his house using the spare key she always had, she was stunned to hear him yelling on the phone.

“Get them out of here! I want all of them gone!” he bellowed, his face contorted with anger.
His tone suddenly softened when he turned around and spotted her.

“I don’t want to see those beggars suffer in this rain. Find them a place, now!” he commanded, hanging up.

“Ava!” He smiled and approached her. “I saw some homeless people in the rain. It broke my heart, so I was arranging shelter for them,” he explained. Ava didn’t know what to say and nodded. Throughout the evening, she acted like everything was fine, but it wasn’t.

Their wedding was in a week, after which Walter was to be appointed as the director of one of her father’s charity organizations.

As Ava reached home, she discussed everything with Hillary and devised a plan to test Walter’s true character.

“It will. People let down their guard easily around strangers, and this particular actor I hired is pretty good,” Ava explained.

The next day, they met at Walter’s favorite café, concealing their faces under big hats.

“Aren’t you worried Walter might get angry if he finds out?” Hillary asked cautiously.

“He won’t know if all goes well,” Ava reassured her, waiting for Walter’s arrival. She’d already texted him and set her plan in motion. Babe, can you get me a coffee from your favorite place? I’ll be waiting at your office, she’d written.Later, she would text him that she couldn’t make it due to some work.

As Walter entered the café, Ava watched him closely. Dressed in a white sweater and black pants, Walter attracted admiring glances as he ordered. Ava’s heart swelled with pride, but she was anxious about the actor she’d hired to test him.

“I hope everything goes well,” she murmured to Hillary.