Grandpa Hale and Grandpa Carter had been through hell together—shared rations in the trenches, covered each other’s backs in crossfire, and swore to watch over each other’s families long after the uniforms were hung up. So when tragedy struck the Hale household—Mr. and Mrs. Hale lost in a sudden car crash, leaving their 22-year-old granddaughter, Lila, adrift—Grandpa Hale didn’t hesitate to turn to his oldest friend.“Promise me you’ll keep her safe, Jim,” he’d said, gripping Grandpa Carter’s hand like it was a lifeline. “She’s all I have left.”Grandpa Carter, a man of his word, didn’t need to think twice. Enter his grandson, Ethan Carter—28, sharp-suited, and running a Fortune 500 company like he was born to command. Ethan was used to contracts and spreadsheets, not… marriage proposals. But when his grandpa sat him down, eyes soft with that rare vulnerability, he knew he couldn’t say no.“Lila needs stability, Ethan,” Grandpa Carter had said. “A roof over her head, someone to look out for her. You’re the only one I trust.”So, three months later, Lila found herself standing at the altar in a dress she’d picked up last minute, staring at Ethan—tall, broad-shouldered, and looking just as confused as she felt. He’d offered her a stiff, polite smile. “I’ll respect you. That’s a promise.”Lila had nodded, her voice small. “Same here.”And just like that, they became Mr. and Mrs. Carter.