Chapter 2

(Aurora’s POV)

After arriving at the cafe, I tried to clear my head and concentrate on my work. The midday rush had just settled at the cafe. The hum of conversations, the soft clatter of cups, and the distant hiss of the espresso machine filled the air. I wiped down the counter with practiced ease, my mind drifting as the rhythm of the cafe worked like clockwork around me.

My colleague, Rain, breezed in from the back, holding her phone with a grin so wide it was impossible to ignore. Rain was a burst of energy on most days, but today, she was positively radiant.

“Aurora!” She squealed, almost startling me. 

“You won’t believe this!” I chuckled softly, setting down my cloth. 

“What is it this time, Rain? Another celebrity crush?” Rain gasped dramatically, clutching her heart as though wounded. 

“Excuse me, another? No, no, no! This is THE crush. The one and only Asher Skylar. Look at this!” She shoved her phone toward me and I glanced at it with mild curiosity.

The screen displayed a candid photo of Asher Skylar, the famous actor whose face was plastered across billboards, magazine covers, and streaming platforms. He was dressed in a sleek black suit, holding a golden award, his smile dazzling and confident.

Rain sighed dreamily. 

“Isn’t he just... perfect? That jawline, those eyes, that smile! Oh, if I could even be in the same room as him, I’d probably faint” She clasped her hands together, looking up as if thanking the universe for his existence.

I smirked, shaking my head in amusement. 

“You do know he probably has fans like you swooning over him in every country, right?” Rain leaned on the counter, unfazed. 

“Of course! But I’m special. He just doesn’t know it yet”.

I laughed lightly, turning my attention back to the phone. My amusement faded slightly as I studied the picture again, my brows furrowing ever so slightly.

It wasn’t the first time I had seen Asher Skylar, how could it be? He was everywhere. But today, something about the photo struck me differently. His smile, though brilliant and seemingly genuine, didn’t reach his eyes. There was a shadow there, a subtle sadness that most people wouldn’t notice unless they looked closely.

Rain didn’t catch on, too lost in her reverie. 

“Do you think he’s single? I mean, probably not. But a girl can dream, right?” I tilted my head, eyes lingering on the photo. 

“He looks… tired” I murmured, more to myself than to Rain. She blinked, confused. 

“Tired? Are you kidding? He looks amazing!” I nodded absently, my mind wandering. 

“Sure, he does. But his eyes… they don’t match his smile” She frowned, taking the phone back to scrutinize the photo herself. 

“I don’t see it. He’s just perfect. Maybe you’re reading too much into it. Or you’re immune to his charm, which is crazy because he’s literally Asher Skylar”.

I shrugged, brushing off Rain’s words, but my thoughts lingered. Asher’s face, though handsome and polished for the cameras, seemed to tell a story that was different from the narrative everyone else saw.

I turned back to the counter, busying myself with organizing cups. 

“I guess perfection looks different to everyone” I said softly. Rain sighed, returning to her phone. 

“Well, for me, it looks exactly like Asher Skylar” I smiled faintly, but my mind was elsewhere. 

I thought about what it must be like to live under that kind of spotlight, to have the world see only what you wanted them to see. I wasn’t sure why it bothered me so much, but something about the image of him lingered in my mind, like a question I didn’t have the answer to yet.

The sun had dipped below the horizon by the time I reached home. The faint glow of streetlights illuminated the narrow corridor leading to the door. I let out a tired sigh as I inserted the key, my mind still swirling with thoughts from the day, Rain’s fangirling, the familiar rush of the cafe, and the constant weight of the marriage proposal hanging over me.

I opened the door quietly, stepping into the dimly lit living room. The soft murmur of my parents’ voices reached my ears before I had a chance to announce my arrival. I froze. My mother and father were seated on the worn-out sofa, deep in conversation. The tone of their voices was low, serious, and laced with worry.

I paused, instinctively hiding behind the wall that separated the entryway from the living room. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but something in their hushed tones compelled me to stay.

“I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up, Mark,” my mother said, her voice trembling. 

“The bills keep piling up, and I can barely manage with the cleaning jobs. And your company hasn’t given you a raise in years. We’re drowning”.

My father let out a heavy sigh. 

“I know, Sophie. Believe me, I know. Every month, I try to stretch what little we have, but it’s never enough. And now, with Aurora working at the cafe... it’s not fair to her. She deserves better than this”.

I pressed my back against the wall, my heart sinking as I listened. I had always known things were tough, but hearing it laid out like this made it feel so much more real, so much heavier.

“That’s why I think we should consider Mr. Skylar’s proposal,” my father continued, his voice tinged with reluctance. 

“I hate even thinking about it, but... it could solve everything. Aurora wouldn’t have to struggle like we did. She’d have security, stability... everything we can’t give her”.

“But, Mark... it’s not just about the money. This is her life, her future. What if she doesn’t want this? What if she ends up unhappy?” My mother’s voice cracked as she replied.

“I know,” He said, his voice heavy with guilt. 

“But what choice do we have? Mr. Skylar is offering us a way out of this mess. A chance to give Aurora a life we could never afford. And maybe… maybe those boys will treat her well. She’s strong. She can handle this”.

My hands tightened into fists at my sides. My father’s words, though spoken out of love and desperation, struck me deeply. I didn’t blame him, I knew he only wanted the best for me but the thought of my future being decided like this, as a solution to our financial problems, made my chest ache.

“Do you think she’d agree to it?” My mother’s voice broke through the silence.

“I don’t know,” My father admitted, his tone almost pleading. 

“But we have to ask. If she says no, we’ll figure something else out. I just don’t want to see her suffer like this anymore”.

I stepped back, my heart pounding. The conversation wasn’t just about money…it was about me. My parents, the people I loved most in the world, were trapped in a situation that seemed to have no other solution.

I quietly turned away and made my way to my room, my steps were light so as not to alert my parents. As I closed the door behind me, I leaned against it, my mind racing.

They were trying to protect me, to save me from a life of hardship. But could I really go through with marrying strangers for their sake? For their survival?