In an attempt to persuade Nathan Andrew to settle down, his father used a powerful leverage – threatening to seize the family business unless he committed to marriage and found a wife. Despite Nathan's persistent resistance, a deal was struck where he forgave a massive debt in exchange for the hand of a humble woman, even though she was the one he had once easily discarded, Elizabeth Richards. Heartbroken and shattered, Elizabeth reluctantly agreed to marry the strikingly wealthy tycoon who had knocked on their door with this proposal. The arrangement benefited both parties: her law school education would be covered, and for Nathan, it meant appeasing his demanding father and having a public face to showcase. However, it was evident from the start that their union was founded on lack of genuine affection, with both parties determined to maintain a distant relationship.
