Elara needed a date for her sister’s wedding, mostly to stop her mother from "casually" mentioning her ex-boyfriend every fifteen minutes. Julian needed a partner for a corporate gala to look "stable" enough for a promotion he was eyeing. It was a perfect, practical trade.

that highlight different styles of communication and emotional processing.

At their core, human beings are wired for connection. While the formulas and tropes may change to reflect shifting cultural values, our collective appetite for romantic storylines remains unsatiated.