A millionaire tests his girlfriend by bringing her to a dilapidated house, proposing she marry him to see if she’s truly in love with him—or just his wealth.

Andrew Hardy grew up in a home where love was always overshadowed by money. His mother had only married his father for his wealth, and once Andrew was born, she felt her “duty” was done. She eventually left his father, leaving Andrew with the painful memory of his dad’s heartbreak.

Determined not to repeat his father’s mistake, Andrew swore he’d never marry a gold digger. He wanted a life built on love, not money.

After finishing his education in England and then Australia, Andrew returned home with little connection to his hometown. He wasn’t widely known, except as the son of Danton Hardy, heir to Hardy Industries. But that’s how Andrew liked it—he preferred to stay under the radar.

“Dad, I’m thinking about working at the company,” Andrew told his father one day.

Danton, overjoyed, replied, “That’s wonderful! You can start as vice-president of marketing.”

Andrew quickly shook his head. “No, I want to start from the bottom and work my way up. No one should know I’m your son. Let me be an intern in the marketing department.”

His father was surprised. “Are you sure? The pay isn’t much!”

Andrew grinned. “That’s fine. I’ll still live at home, right?” They both laughed, and Andrew’s plan began to take shape.

He bought a modest used car and started dressing like a regular intern, blending in with the rest of the staff at Hardy Industries. Andrew loved it. He became friends with his co-workers, especially another intern, a kind girl named Cynthia who soon became his closest confidante.

One day, Andrew was jogging when he bumped into a girl leaving Starbucks. She spilled her coffee all over him, gasping in shock. “Oh my God, I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed.

Andrew smiled, brushing it off, but as he looked up, he froze. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen.

“I’m fine,” he managed to say, “but would you have coffee with me?” Her name was Linda, and she laughed, agreeing to join him for another coffee. Soon after, they started dating.

Andrew was head over heels in love. He was sure Linda was “The One.” He told his grandmother, who raised an eyebrow. “Sweetheart,” she said, “a pretty face doesn’t guarantee a good heart.”

“Gran,” Andrew countered, “Linda thinks I’m just an intern. She has no idea who I really am!”

His grandmother wasn’t convinced. “Andrew, you may not know who she really is either.”

His best friend Cynthia echoed the concern. “I went to high school with Linda,” Cynthia told him. “She’s beautiful… and ambitious.”

Andrew brushed it off, but Cynthia knew Linda wouldn’t settle for someone she thought was poor.

Determined to test Linda’s true intentions, Andrew hatched a plan. He bought a five-carat diamond ring and rented an old, run-down house in a less desirable neighborhood. Then, he invited Linda over, telling her he had a surprise.

He took her to the shabby house, where he had scattered rose petals and lit candles to set the mood. Yet, despite the effort, Linda was clearly disgusted by the setting.

Andrew got down on one knee and presented the ring. “Linda, I love you. Will you marry me?”

Linda stared at him, stunned. “Marry you? Here? Are you serious?”

Andrew beamed with love. “Dead serious.”

She laughed in his face. “This dump? You think I belong in a place like this? I thought we were just having fun, Andrew!”

Andrew, still trying, said, “I know you deserve better…”

Linda cut him off, sneering at the ring. “What is that, the biggest fake diamond you could find? I’m not marrying someone who can’t give me the life I deserve!” She stormed out, leaving Andrew devastated.

For days, Andrew was a shadow of himself. Cynthia noticed the change, and one day gently told him, “She wasn’t worth it.”

Andrew, still heartbroken, lashed out. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

But deep down, he knew Cynthia was right. He tried to apologize, but Cynthia had asked for a transfer. Realizing how much he missed her, Andrew decided to make things right.

He showed up at Cynthia’s door with flowers. “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. I need my friend back,” he pleaded.

Cynthia shook her head sadly. “Andrew, I can’t be just your friend anymore. I’m in love with you.”

Before she could finish, Andrew kissed her. Soon after, they became inseparable. A year later, they were married in a beautiful ceremony, and the headlines that followed declared: “Hardy Heir Marries in Romantic Ceremony.”

As for Linda, she sipped her morning coffee in shock, realizing she’d missed her chance to marry a millionaire.