Where’s My Husband?

Eve

The moment we got home, the door hadn’t even clicked shut before I spun on Mia.

“What the hell did you do back there? At the wedding, or whatever it was now, since it didn’t even happen?”

My voice came out sharper than I intended, but I didn’t care. My head was pounding, my chest still tight.

Mia dropped her purse on the couch and rubbed her forehead tiredly. “Eve, I had no choice—”

“No choice?” I scoffed, taking a step toward her. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I should’ve stopped you back there. Now tell me; what exactly do you expect me to do? Nate broke the engagement. Should I crawl back to him and beg? Is that what you were hinting at? Does that sound reasonable to you?”

Her eyes widened. “Eve, that’s not what I meant—”

“Then what?” I snapped. “Explain it to me. Because from where I was standing, it sounded like you were trying to keep the fairytale alive for everyone else while my life was burning down.”

Mia took in a shaky breath. “I’m sorry. Truly. But your aunt was on your neck. You saw the way she was looking at you. She wouldn’t even let you breathe, Eve. If I hadn’t said something, she would’ve humiliated you in front of everyone.”

I rolled my eyes, pacing in frustration. “Yeah, right. So now what? You told them the wedding still stands. Meaning they all expect a new date, right? Meaning I’m supposed to magically fix something that’s already dead.”

She sighed deeply, her hands on her hips. “Can you just calm down for one moment? We can actually think about this.”

“Well, I can’t,” I muttered, running my hand through my hair, careful not to tug too hard because my head was still throbbing from how I’d yanked the veil off earlier. “There’s nothing to think about. He’s gone. He left me at the altar. He has a family, for God’s sake. There is nothing to think about.”

The silence between us thickened, heavy and suffocating.

Then Mia lifted her head.

“I do have an idea, though.”

I paused, narrowing my eyes at her. “An idea?”

She nodded slowly.

“What’s that?” I asked, not sure whether to hope or dread whatever she was about to say.

Mia swallowed once, her gaze steadying.

“Well… you’re probably not going to like it.”

“Just say it.” I asked, already losing patience.

She took a deep breath. “We look for a man.”

I blinked. “A man for what, Mia?”

“For you,” she said plainly. “Someone we can ask to… marry you.”

I stared at her, sure I misheard. “Mia, what?”

“Not for real!” she rushed out, hands flying up. “Just—temporarily. We pick a new date, pretend the wedding is back on, everyone calms down, your aunt gets off your case… and later, you end the relationship. Clean, simple.”

I almost laughed.

“That is the stupidest idea I’ve ever heard,” I said flatly. “Where on earth are we even going to find a man? Who do we even know? We don’t have any man in our lives except your little brother, and he’s—he’s barely out of college!”

“I know,” she said quickly. “But don’t worry. It’s my job to find the guy.”

I stepped closer, incredulous. “But are you really saying I should marry some complete stranger?”

“Not really,” Mia insisted. “Since you two will be breaking up after a few months anyway. It’s just a charade. Nothing more to it.”

I stared at her, jaw tight. “You’re insane. Where exactly do you think you’re going to find this guy?”

Mia shrugged as if it was the easiest thing in the world. “Leave it to me. I’ll handle it. I’ll do it quickly too. But…” She pointed a finger at me.

“You have to be ready to pay him. At the end of the day, no man is entering this madness for free.”

I dragged my fingers through my hair, breath shaky with frustration.

“This is such a bad idea, Mia.”

“It is,” she agreed immediately. “A very bad idea. But look at us—what choice do we have? Your aunt practically wants blood. If we don’t produce something soon, she’ll ruin you.”

That part, unfortunately, was true.

I let out a long sigh and sank onto the edge of the couch.

“Fine. Whatever. I don’t know what else to do.”

Mia sat beside me, placing a gentle hand on my back.

“I’ll find someone good, Eve. I promise.”

But even as she said it, a heavy feeling settled in my chest. If this was the solution… then what kind of disaster was waiting ahead?

***

Morning came far too fast.

I barely slept, my mind pacing in the dark, circling around Mia’s ridiculous plan like a trapped animal. But by dawn, I forced myself up, dressed sharply, and headed to the office. My father’s company—my company—towered above the city like a promise I wasn’t ready to lose.

The moment I stepped through the glass doors, something felt wrong.

People stared. Not the usual respectful nods or quick greetings. These were stiff, uneasy, whispering behind folders and pretending not to look at me. My heels clicked against the marble floor, echoing far too loudly.

As I neared the elevator, two security guards stepped in front of me.

“Ma’am,” one of them said, avoiding my eyes. “You need to wait.”

I frowned. “Wait for who? I’m going to my office.”

“Ma’am… management requested it.”

My irritation flared. “Management? I am management.”

Before I could argue further, a cold, familiar voice sliced through the lobby.

“Eve.”

My stomach dropped.

Aunt Clarissa stepped out from behind the reception area, dressed in her usual immaculate suit, the color of storm clouds. Her smile was thin, and hungry.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, forcing my voice to stay steady.

She lifted a file in her hand, tapping it lightly against her palm.

“I came to address your… unfortunate situation.”

Heat rushed to my cheeks. “If this is about the wedding—”

“Oh, it is,” she interrupted smoothly. “And about the empire your father left behind.”

She handed me the file, and my fingers trembled even before I opened it. Inside was a document I had never seen before—an amendment bearing a signature and a heavy official seal.

My father’s seal.

I read the lines twice, three times, and still couldn’t breathe.

“A woman without a husband cannot inherit the controlling shares of the company,” Clarissa recited as if reading scripture. “Unless married, the authority passes to the next eligible family member and their spouse.”

“No,” I whispered. “No, this can’t be real. My father would never sign something like this.”

Clarissa’s smile widened. “And yet, there it is."

“I don’t believe this,” I said, shaking my head. “This is wrong. It’s impossible.”

“Believe whatever you want,” she replied. “But legally? It’s binding. And let’s be honest—you’re just a weak Omega who doesn’t deserve a company, let alone the family’s empire. Anyway, since you’re… tragically single, the board will transfer control to me and my husband. For stability, of course.”

My blood boiled. “Over my dead body.”

She lifted an eyebrow, amused. “Well, unless you’re planning to get married in the next few weeks, I’m afraid the board has already begun the transition."

“Well, I am getting married,” I snapped. “This week.”

A beat of silence. Then—

Clarissa laughed.

It wasn’t a pleasant laugh. It was sharp, mocking, echoing across the polished lobby.

“You?” she said. “Married this week? To who? The phantom groom who vanished? I already heard what happened so spare me, little child.”

She nodded to security.

“Take her out.”

“What?! Don’t touch me!” I tried to step back, but the guards gently, and embarrassingly guided me toward the exit as the entire staff pretended not to see my humiliation.

Outside, the air felt hotter, and heavier that it made my vision blur with rage. The moment the guards released me, I pulled out my phone with shaking hands and hit Mia’s number.

She picked up immediately. “Eve?”

“Find a man,” I said, my voice breaking with fury. “Find a man today. As fast as you can. I don’t care how. I am getting married this week.”