A wealthy tycoon made his son tie the knot with a down-to-earth farmer as a tough lesson. But he was blown away by what his son pulled off…

Emma didn’t turn around. Enjoy what? This. Richard gestured around the kitchen, frustration lacing his words.

This whole thing, having me here, dealing with this ridiculous situation. Do you enjoy watching me struggle out there, looking like an idiot every day? Emma finally turned, her face unreadable as always. I didn’t ask for this any more than you did.

That’s not an answer. Richard shot back, his voice rising. You’ve been treating me like an outsider since the day I got here.

I get it. I’m not a farmer, but I’m trying. Does that mean anything to you? Emma took a deep breath, setting the rag down on the counter.

Trying. You’ve been here, what, a month? You still act like this is all temporary, like you’re going to pack up and leave any day now. I’ve lived my whole life on this farm.

It’s not some punishment to me, Richard. It’s my life. Richard blinked, taken aback by the firmness in her voice.

He hadn’t really thought about it that way. To him, this was just a prison. To her, it was home.

I never asked to be here, Richard muttered, running a hand through his hair. None of this makes sense. Emma crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly.

No, it doesn’t. But that doesn’t change the fact that you are here. And if you’re going to stay, then stop acting like the world owes you something.

No one’s going to hold your hand out here. Richard’s frustration flared again. I didn’t ask for anyone to hold my hand, but I’m also not used to being treated like I don’t exist.

Emma’s expression softened, but only slightly. I don’t treat you like you don’t exist, Richard. I treat you like a grown man who has a lot to learn.

You want me to pat you on the back for every little thing you do? That’s not how this works. The words stung, but Richard couldn’t deny the truth in them. He’d spent his entire life being praised for even the smallest accomplishments, constantly surrounded by people who told him how great he was.

Out here, there were no easy wins, and Emma certainly wasn’t the type to hand out praise just for showing up. I’m trying, Richard said again, this time more quietly. I really am.

Emma studied him for a moment, then nodded. I know, but trying isn’t enough. You have to commit.

You have to actually want to be here, not just go through the motions until you can leave. Richard looked away, unsure of how to respond. Did he want to be here? Not really.

But he didn’t want to go back to New York, either. Not yet, at least. The thought of returning to his old life, where everything was handed to him, didn’t sit right anymore.

Something had shifted, even if he wasn’t ready to admit it to himself. I guess we’ll see, he mumbled, more to himself than to her. Emma didn’t press further.

Instead, she turned back to the sink, her focus shifting back to tasks at hand. The conversation was over, but the tension lingered, a quiet reminder of the gap between them that still needed to be bridged. Richard stood in the kitchen for a while longer, feeling the weight of the silence settle around him again.

He wasn’t used to being this out of control, this powerless. But maybe that was the point. Maybe that’s what his father wanted all along.

As he made his way back to his small bedroom, the sense of frustration clung to him. But somewhere underneath, there was a flicker of something else. Something that felt almost like resolve.

The days rolled on, each one blending into the next. But something had started to shift in Richard’s routine. He still hated the early mornings, the grueling work, and the blistering summer sun that beat down on him relentlessly.

But somewhere in the monotony of farm life, he began to notice things. Little things. The quiet, for one.

The stillness of the mornings before the rest of the world seemed to wake up. Back in New York, his mornings were filled with noise. Traffic, phones ringing, people moving in a hurry.

But here, the only sounds were the soft rustle of the trees, the distant clucking of the chickens, and the gentle hum of the wind sweeping across the open fields. At first, it was unsettling, like the silence was too loud. But now, he found it almost peaceful.

Richard still couldn’t shake the feeling of being out of place. But there were moments when, standing in the field with the sun low on the horizon, he felt like he was a part of something larger than himself. It was a strange sensation…