Chapter 229 Hierarchy of Needs
Kaelen's approach was pretty slick, no doubt about it.
Vanity was just part of being human. Everyone got a bit of it. Finding someone completely without it was like spotting a unicorn. Most people loved flattery and admiration. Ignoring it altogether? That took some serious willpower.
This idea fit right into Oberon's Hierarchy of Needs. Oberon, this big-shot expert on human behavior, said folks' needs stack up in five levels.
At the bottom, one had got the basics: food, water, shelter – the stuff one need to stay alive. No negotiating here; without these, they were done for. Luckily, most folks today could cover these basics.
Once one had got those sorted, they start worrying about safety and security. They needed a stable place, no threats, no chaos. This let them build a life. In places like Golden Valley, this was usually a given.
Next up, humans wanted connection, belonging and love. This was the third level: love and belonging. Folks craved family warmth, romantic love and real friendships. These bonds made life more than just surviving.
The fourth level was where it got interesting. This was about esteem: wanting respect, recognition, admiration. Folks needed validation, a sense of worth beyond just getting by. This could mean career success, social status, or just respect from peers. This needed drives a lot of their goals and dreams.
At the top of the pyramid was self-actualization: becoming the best version of oneself. This was where artists, visionaries, and innovators lived, driven by a purpose beyond the material world. Few people got here; it took talent, opportunity, and unshakeable self-belief.
Relationships, especially romantic ones, were all about this dance of needs and desires. Folk were drawn to people who met their unmet needs, who made them feel safe, loved, respected. It was no shock that women often looked for partners with financial stability and ambition; these traits hit those deeper needs for security and status.
But Willow was a different story. She came from money, so her basic needs were more than covered. She had her pick of suitors, each more impressive than the last. To win her over, one had to go beyond the material, beyond the surface.
Kaelen, even though he really liked Willow, got this. He knew a straight-up emotional approach wouldn't cut it. Willow wanted recognition for her own achievements, not just her family's wealth. Her esteem needs were still unmet.
So, he came up with a plan: a big, public gesture to show her worth. By donating a chunk of cash in her name, he'd boost her status, make her the talk of the town. It was a calculated move, aimed right at her deepest desires.
Most women would have been blown away by this. But Willow wasn't most women. She appreciated the gesture, sure, and there was a spark of real excitement in her eyes. But it wasn't the game-changer Kaelen had hoped for. Her heart, it seemed, stayed out of reach.
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