Once the call ended, Madison lowered her gaze to her phone again.
The livestream was already over, but the Internet had exploded with the hashtag #KieranProposesToKristina, climbing straight to the top of the trending list.
Almost mechanically, Madison tapped into the topic. The first thing that appeared was Kristina's official engagement post.
From her verified account, Kristina wrote, "No matter how much time passed or how far life pulled us apart, you still came back to me."
Several photos were attached beneath the caption. The most eye-catching one sat in the center, showing Kieran's and Kristina's fingers intertwined while the diamond ring on her hand gleamed brightly beneath the light.
Madison kept staring at the image until her eyes began to ache from the dryness.
Slowly, she lifted her head and looked up at the sky. A mocking smile gradually formed on her lips.
...
Elin handled things far faster than Madison expected and arranged the blind date within only a few hours. At exactly eight that night, Madison arrived at a high-end restaurant according to the address Elin sent her.
The moment she stepped inside, her eyes swept across the room before eventually stopping near the window.
A man dressed in a black trench coat sat alone at the table there. His features were striking and cold, while the calm way he crossed his legs gave off a distant pressure that naturally kept people away.
Everything about him matched Elin's description perfectly.
However...
The second Madison recognized his face, her footsteps halted.
Out of everyone Elin could have introduced her to, she never imagined the blind date would turn out to be him.
Jeremy Yates.
Kieran's longtime rival.
For one brief second, Madison almost turned around and walked straight back out.
Still, the thought disappeared as quickly as it came. Another one took hold of her. Since she had already decided to move on, leaving now would only make things meaningless.
To Madison, this marriage was nothing more than a transaction anyway. She wasn't searching for love anymore, so who she married hardly mattered.
At the very least, Jeremy was attractive, and his reputation sounded far more respectable than Kieran's. Compared to that scumbag, Jeremy was infinitely better.
After quietly steadying herself, Madison walked toward the table.
Once she reached him, she pulled back the chair and sat across from him without hesitation.
"Good evening, Mr. Yates." Madison skipped all unnecessary small talk. "I'm here for the blind date. If you don't find me unsuitable, then let's get married."
Jeremy had been lazily spinning a lighter between his fingers. The moment he heard her words, the movement stopped.
Raising his eyes toward her, he looked genuinely caught off guard for the first time. A faint trace of amusement surfaced in his sharp, striking eyes. "Miss Wallace, that's quite an unconventional introduction."
Madison paid no attention to the humor in his tone. Instead, she frowned slightly and replied, "Elin should've already explained everything. I don't think there's any point wasting time with formalities."
A quiet sound of acknowledgment escaped Jeremy as realization settled in. Clearly, she had mistaken him for someone else.
Leaning back comfortably in his seat, he observed her with calm interest while maintaining a detached expression.
The silence between them lingered briefly.
Finally, Jeremy spoke again in a relaxed voice. "Miss Wallace, I assume you already know about the situation between Kieran and me?"
Naturally, Madison knew exactly what he meant.
The Yates family and the Stanley family had been enemies for years. Three years earlier, Jeremy seized a media corporation the Stanleys had nearly secured, and ever since then, both sides had openly clashed against each other.
Every time Kieran talked about Jeremy, hatred would creep into his voice. He always described Jeremy as someone dangerous, a man who looked refined and courteous outwardly while hiding a ruthless side underneath.
Although Madison had never met Jeremy face-to-face before tonight, she had seen plenty of his interviews and already knew the kind of man he appeared to be.
"I already know about it," Madison answered calmly.
Jeremy's smile widened slightly. "And despite that, you still decided to meet me?"
His gaze stayed fixed on her as he continued, "Kieran and Kristina's engagement is dominating every headline right now. So when you suddenly show up looking for a blind date, Miss Wallace, it's hard not to wonder whether this is your way of getting back at him."
Truthfully, revenge had never crossed Madison's mind before.
Still, she understood how suspicious it looked for Kieran's ex-girlfriend to suddenly seek out his biggest rival right after the engagement announcement.
Jeremy lightly tapped the metal lighter against the table in a slow rhythm.
"Don't take this personally," Madison said evenly. "Your family wants you to settle down, and I need someone to marry. That's the only reason."
One of Jeremy's brows lifted slightly. "You're making it sound very straightforward."
"Because it is."
A faint smile remained on Jeremy's face. "Then explain something to me, Miss Wallace. Where exactly is the mutual benefit in all this?"
Before coming here, Madison had already prepared her answer.
"We'll enter a six-month marriage arrangement," she said without hesitation. "During that time, we'll cooperate when necessary and help each other fulfill our individual needs. Once the six months are over, we'll divorce and move on with our lives."
Jeremy listened quietly while the smile at the corner of his lips gradually deepened.
"There'll also need to be a prenuptial agreement," Madison continued. "I have no interest in your money, and I expect the same respect regarding mine."
That finally seemed to catch Jeremy's attention. "Your money?" His eyes narrowed with amusement. "Miss Wallace, do you actually possess assets worth protecting from me?"
Madison didn't bother explaining herself. Instead, she met his gaze directly. "Are you agreeing or not? I only want a clear answer."
Jeremy watched her silently for several long seconds before suddenly smiling.
The moment he did, the sharpness around him softened slightly. His eyes curved naturally, making him appear approachable at first glance. Even so, Madison could still sense something dangerous hidden beneath that charm.
"Alright," Jeremy replied easily. "You've got yourself a deal."
Madison gave a small nod. "Then, when do we take care of the marriage registration?"
"Right now."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Jeremy rose from his seat and casually tucked the lighter back into his pocket.
Madison looked at him in surprise. "Now?"
"Yes, now. We're heading to register the marriage immediately."
Jeremy lowered his gaze toward her while a faint grin appeared on his lips. "You're clearly in a rush to get married, Miss Wallace. Since that's the case, we might as well do it tonight."
