2

Ethan Pov

Sunday mornings in the Cole mansion were never quiet.

I sat at the long dining table, scrolling through emails even though it was the weekend. A habit. Or a curse. Hard to tell anymore.

"Ethan," my mother started in her usual warning tone, "keep the phone away during breakfast."

I ignored her.

She cleared her throat louder.

"Ethan. Phone. Down."

I dropped it on the table with a sigh. "Happy?"

"No," she said immediately. "I'll be happy when you give me good news."

Here we go.

My father folded down his newspaper slightly. "By 'good news,' your mother means—"

"I know what she means," I muttered, reaching for my black coffee.

"No, clearly you don't," my brother Ryan chimed in, grinning like the idiot he proudly was. "Because you're still single. At thirty-two. Tragic."

"Oh, I am," he said, stuffing a bite of toast into his mouth. "I'm just also focused on your sad bachelor life. You sure you're not just married to your laptop, bro?"

Before I could respond, my sister Sierra chimed in from across the table, smirking behind her juice glass.

"Seriously, even people who swear they'll 'never get married' are tying the knot these days. What exactly is your plan? Live alone with your laptop forever?"

"I don't need a plan. I'm fine."

My mother placed a hand on her chest. "Fine? Fine? Who wants to be 'fine' at your age?"

I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Mom…"

"No. Listen." She scooted closer, lowering her voice like she was delivering a national secret. "You're thirty-two. Handsome. Successful. Independent. But do you know what you're missing?"

"Peace?" I offered.

She smacked my arm lightly. "A wife!"

Then she spoke again, gentler this time. "Ethan, I just want you to be happy."

"I am happy," I insisted.

All four of them stared at me like I'd told the world's funniest joke.

I set down my cup. "I don't need marriage to validate my life."

Sierra arched a brow. "No one said marriage would validate your life. But maybe… it'll bring something good into it."

I didn't respond.

Because I didn't have an answer for that.

My father finally spoke, folding his newspaper fully.

"Your mother is right, Ethan."

I leaned back in my chair, looking at all of them looking at me.

"I have someone in mind," I muttered — mostly to shut them up.

The reaction was instant. The dining table lit up like I'd just announced world peace.

My mother actually clapped. Ryan elbowed me like a ten-year-old. Sierra squealed. It felt like I'd just announced world peace instead of merely hinting at someone.

"REALLY? Who? Who? We accept! She'll be so lucky to have you," my mother declared proudly.

I almost snorted into my coffee.

Lucky? To have me?

If only she knew.

But I didn't bother arguing. Experience had taught me that debating with my family was equivalent to setting myself on fire for entertainment.

My father finally spoke calmly, but with that barely hidden curiosity that only comes out for business deals and potential daughters-in-law.

"So?" he asked, voice deceptively even. "Who is it, Ethan?"

I set my mug down. No drama. Just truth.

"Lily."

And boom. Three simultaneous, dramatic gasps.

You'd think I'd announced I was marrying an alien.

"You're dating?!" Sierra screeched.

"No," I deadpanned. "We're not dating. She probably hates me. But she's the most practical, logical girl I know. You get what I mean."

"I love her," my mother declared instantly.

"Same. Approved. Lily it is!" Ryan added with a grin.

I glared at him. "Relax. She doesn't even know it yet. I'm going to talk to her today. If — IF she says yes, then you can all go crazy. Till then, behave. You're scary enough as it is."

"Should we come?" my mother asked, already half-standing. "We're ready to meet her family anytime."

"No, Mom." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Let me talk to her like a normal human being first. If she agrees, then family introductions come next."

My father spoke again, his tone approving. "I like her too. I've noticed her every time she's been here. Smart girl. Polite. Sensible. And since she knows our business, things stay in the house. If she agrees, we have no objections."

Of course they'd already studied her.

Lily had been to the mansion multiple times — mostly when my schedule was too loose to justify going to the office. She'd worked in my home office, shared a few lunches with the family… but this level of enthusiasm? Over just her name?

They were already pairing us up, mentally decorating the wedding venue, planning our kids' future schools.

I sipped my coffee.

Did I like Lily? No. Not the way they were imagining.

But she was… familiar. Efficient. Quiet. Bearable.

And I was 32. Not getting any younger. My parents wanted me married. Settled. Responsible. Whatever that means.

And frankly, she was the only woman who didn't exhaust me within five minutes. I was used to her presence. Three and a half years of working side by side did that. Having her around 24/7 would only make my work easier.

Yes, it was selfish. I know it.

But I'm not a saint. Never claimed to be one.

And as far as practical choices go? Lily was the most practical one I had.

If she said yes…

I'd marry her.

Not out of love or romance. Not everything needs to be lovely and romantic.

For me, practical choices have always taken me far ahead of others.