Chapter 4: The lady that caught my attention

Dave*

I had been seated for a while, fingers tapping lightly against the table as I waited for the blind date my father had arranged. The pressure to marry sat heavy on my shoulders—as the only son, the responsibility rested squarely on my neck. I agreed to this nonsense not because I wanted to, but to calm my mother’s constant worry.

My attention drifted when a woman nearby raised her voice, confronting her man about cheating.

“Man, one of the reasons I hate marriage, dawg,” I muttered to my P.A—who was more brother than employee. “Just look at that.”

“You still gotta marry, man,” he said. “Or you wanna die childless?”

“There are plenty of kids to adopt,” I snapped. “You’re not even under pressure like me. Why is Father leaving you alone and breathing down my neck?”

“Last time I checked,” he smirked, “I’m not the only son. You are. Stay woke.”

“You’re enjoying this, huh?” I scoffed. His grin said it all.

“I’m heading to the restroom,” I said, standing. “If she’s not here when I’m back, they can forget marriage until I’m ready again.”

I heard raised voices and footsteps but decided to use the men’s restroom first.

When I stepped out, chaos greeted me.

A man was carrying a woman away, while another lay sprawled on the floor—her elbow bleeding freely. I recognized her instantly. The same woman from earlier.

What kind of abusive mess is she trapped in?

“Hey—let me help you,” I said, scooping her into my arms and rushing her to the hospital. She was light—slim, curvy, exactly my type.

At the hospital, I had to step out briefly. Apparently, my blind date had called my father, complaining that she couldn’t find me—conveniently leaving out how late she was.

“Dave, Rebecca said you kept her waiting,” my mother said, studying my face.

“For someone meeting her future husband,” I replied calmly, “she was too lazy for my liking.”

“How so?” Mom asked.

“I waited. She didn’t show. Something urgent came up.”

Dad spoke from across the room. “Then reschedule.”

“Dad—”

“You must give me an heir,” he said firmly. “Not one—two. Maybe three.”

“Dad that's a lot”

“Make it happen” he said

I laughed because that pressure alone made it impossible.

“I’ll catch you later.”

“What about the date?” Mom asked.

“Tell Henry to go on my behalf,” I shouted while leaving.

“He’s your P.A!”

“He’s your son too,” I joked, heading back to the hospital.

That’s when I saw him—Greg—twisting her injured arm like it meant nothing.

“Get your hands off her!” I barked, charging forward.

That was when I learned her name—Sylvia Johnson.

She stirred something in me. Something I hadn’t felt since Rose—the woman I planned to marry, broke me, cheated and vanished.

“Marry me,” I blurted, consequences be damned.

How could I explain love at first sight? Would she even believe me? My reputation already painted me as a playboy.

“I just want to teach him a lesson,” I said quietly. “Men like him don’t deserve mercy.”

“I want to give him a second chance,” she replied.

Second chances. Always the same mistake.

I handed her my card. “Unlimited. Use it. Call me when you make up your mind.”

I hoped she would.

“I think I’m ready to love again,” I told Henry on the phone.

“You made up with Rebecca?”

“No. The lady from the hospital… something about her just sits right with me.”

“She’s married.”

“She’s getting divorced.”

“That’s fast.”

“My heart is faster,” I said, hanging up.

“Son, you’re back,” Mom said.

“Yes—and guess what?”

“What?”

“You’ll be having a daughter-in-law soon.”

She smiled, delighted. “Who is she?”

“You’ll meet her soon. You’ll like her.”

“What about Rebecca?” Dad asked.

“She should go back to whoever she was with while keeping me waiting—or Henry can marry her.”

Dad smiled. His only concern was grandchildren.

Later, in bed, her face wouldn’t leave my thoughts.

 Sylvia. A woman meant to be cherished—yet wasted on a fool. I’d teach her husband how to treat a woman, if he ever crossed my path again.

My phone rang.

Unknown number.

“Dave,” her soft voice trembled, “can you come get me? Greg said his lawyer will send the divorce papers. I can’t stay here another day.”

My chest tightened.

“Send me the address,” I said, already out of bed.

“Where are you going this late?” Mom asked.

“To get my woman.”