Chapter 3 – A Billionaire’s Ultimatum

The moment Nathaniel stepped into the Knight estate, he could already feel his father's disappointment hanging in the air like a thundercloud ready to burst.

The grand marble floors gleamed under the expensive chandelier, and the entire house smelled like old money and even older expectations.

Richard Knight sat at the far end of the living room, a man in his late fifties but still radiating the intimidating presence of a CEO who could end careers with a single phone call. His salt-and-pepper hair was slicked back, and his tailored suit probably cost more than most people's annual rent.

His mother, Eleanor Knight, perched elegantly on the couch beside him, sipping tea like this wasn't a full-blown intervention waiting to happen.

On the opposite couch, his older brother Alexander Knight sat with his usual air of superiority, legs crossed, dressed in his signature business suit. Unlike Nathaniel, Alexander had fully embraced the family legacy, managing several divisions of their father's empire without a single scandal attached to his name. His sharp blue eyes flickered with judgment the moment Nathaniel walked in.

And then there was Sophia Knight, the youngest of the three. Dressed in casual designer wear, she lounged back on the couch with a lazy smirk, scrolling through her phone. Unlike Alexander, who probably wanted Nathaniel to fall in line, Sophia enjoyed the entertainment his scandals provided.

"Ah," Richard said, barely looking up from the financial newspaper he was reading. "The prodigal son returns."

Nathaniel sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets. "Nice to see you too, Dad."

"Is it?" Richard finally looked up, his sharp gaze scanning his son from head to toe like he was evaluating a stock about to crash. "Because from where I'm sitting, it seems like you've been too busy tarnishing the family name to care about seeing me."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. Here we go.

"Your scandals are everywhere, Nathaniel." His father tossed the newspaper onto the table. The front page screamed:

 'Nathaniel Knight: Hollywood's Favorite Playboy or a PR Disaster?'

"You think this is just about you?" Richard continued, his tone calm but razor-sharp. "Every time you make a fool of yourself, it affects the company. The Knight name is more than just your little acting career."

Nathaniel clenched his jaw. His little acting career?

Alexander sighed, rubbing his temples. "Do you ever stop to think about the consequences? The shareholders aren't exactly thrilled about your latest… escapade."

Sophia, however, chuckled and tilted her phone toward Nathaniel. "Oh, I don't know. Some of these memes are gold. Look—someone Photoshopped your face onto a tabloid cover with the headline 'Knight of Sin.'"

Nathaniel smirked. "Creative."

Richard wasn't amused. "This isn't a joke, Nathaniel."

Eleanor sighed dramatically, setting her teacup down. "Darling, your father just wants what's best for you."

"Oh, I'm sure he does," Nathaniel muttered. "Let me guess. You already have a solution lined up? Some business partner's daughter you want to throw me at?"

Richard folded his hands, not denying it.

"She's a well-bred young woman from the Montgomery family—"

"Nope." Nathaniel cut him off. "Not happening."

His father's expression didn't change, but the air in the room shifted.

"Nathaniel." Richard's voice dropped into a dangerous calm. "You're spiraling. Your career is on the line. Your reputation is in the gutter. Do you honestly think you can fix this mess by yourself?"

Nathaniel exhaled slowly, meeting his father's stare.

"Yes," he said firmly. "Because I made this mess, and I'll clean it up myself."

Richard leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. "And how, exactly, do you plan to do that?"

Nathaniel smirked. "Simple. I already have a plan."

Eleanor blinked. "You do?"

"Oh, absolutely." Nathaniel pulled out his phone and scrolled to the photo Olivia had shown him earlier. He turned the screen toward them.

Diana Reed.

"I'm going to be in a relationship," Nathaniel said smoothly. "A committed, wholesome, social-media-approved relationship."

Richard narrowed his eyes at the screen. "Who is this?"

"Diana Reed," Nathaniel said casually. "Instagram influencer. Model. The woman who's going to save my reputation."

Silence.

Then—

Eleanor clapped her hands together, delighted. "Oh, she's stunning! And she has quite the following. This might actually work."

Alexander frowned. "You're telling me your entire solution to this disaster is… pretending to date an influencer?"

Sophia snorted. "Honestly, I think it's genius. Fake it until you make it, right?"

Richard, however, remained cold. "And what makes you think this woman will agree to this?"

Nathaniel smirked. "Because Olivia did her research, and Diana isn't interested in relationships either. She likes her independence, and her brand.

Richard tapped his fingers on the table, considering. "And if this doesn't work?"

Nathaniel leaned in, voice lowering. "Then I'll accept whatever punishment you have planned."

His father's eyes gleamed with challenge. "So if this fails, you'll step down from acting and take a corporate position in one of my companies?"

Nathaniel hesitated for half a second too long.

Richard smirked, sensing his hesitation. "Ah. There it is. The fear of real work."

Nathaniel gritted his teeth. "It won't fail."

Richard exhaled, then nodded. "Fine. You have three months to prove to the world that you can maintain a respectable relationship. If, by the end of those three months, you're still a scandal magnet…"

He let the unspoken threat linger.

Nathaniel knew exactly what was at stake. His career, his freedom, everything.

"Deal," he said, voice firm.

"Very well." Richard picked up his newspaper again, effectively dismissing him. "You may go."

Nathaniel turned on his heel and walked out of the room, heart pounding. He had three months to convince the world he was a committed man.

No problem.

All he had to do was convince Diana Reed.

…Yeah. This was gonna be a nightmare.