Chapter 2

SELENE

The morning sun was already high when I arrived at work, but I barely noticed it. My feet dragged across the pavement as I made my way into the community center, the place that usually brought me some peace and comfort. Today, though, the weight of what had happened at home hung over me like a dark cloud, dulling the warmth of everything around me. My heart still ached with the fresh sting of betrayal, and every time I closed my eyes, I saw Lucas standing there with Olivia, cold and indifferent.

I tried to push the memory away, focusing on the task at hand—cleaning the common area and getting everything ready for the day’s activities. But no matter how much I tried to distract myself, the pain lingered, gnawing at the edges of my mind.

“Selene, dear, you look a little pale,” Mrs. Wallace, one of the elderly ladies who often came to the center, remarked as I passed by with a tray of tea. Her concern was sweet, but all I could do was force a small smile.

“I’m fine, Mrs. Wallace,” I lied. “Just a little tired, that’s all.”

She didn’t seem convinced, but she let it go, patting my hand before shuffling off to join her friends in their usual card game. I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding, glad she didn’t push further.

I made my way to the back of the center where Old Mr. Thompson was sitting by the window, gazing out at the garden. He was always there, in that same chair, waiting for someone to talk to him. Most people found him a bit intimidating because of his sharp tongue and blunt demeanor, but I liked him. He reminded me of my grandfather, in a way—grumpy on the outside, but with a heart of gold underneath all the grumbling.

“Morning, Mr. Thompson,” I greeted him softly, setting his tea down on the small table beside him.

He glanced at me over the rim of his glasses, his brows furrowing in concern. “You look like you’ve been hit by a truck,” he said, his voice gravelly but not unkind.

I couldn’t help the small, bitter laugh that escaped my lips. “That’s not far from the truth.”

He narrowed his eyes at me, clearly not satisfied with my vague answer. “Well, don’t just stand there looking sorry for yourself, girl. Sit down and tell me what’s eating you up.”

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should really spill my problems to him. But something about Mr. Thompson made it easy to talk, and before I knew it, the words were tumbling out.

“My sister’s pregnant,” I started, my voice quiet, almost as if saying it out loud would make it hurt more.

He grunted, taking a sip of his tea. “So? That’s hardly the end of the world.”

I shook my head, staring down at my hands. “It is when her fiancé was supposed to be my fiancé.”

That got his attention. He set his cup down with a soft clink and leaned forward, his eyes sharp. “What do you mean?”

I sighed, the weight of it all crashing down on me again. “Lucas… he was supposed to marry me. We were practically engaged. But yesterday, Olivia came home and announced that she’s pregnant… and that she’s marrying him. I didn’t even know they were seeing each other behind my back.” The bitterness in my voice was unmistakable, and I couldn’t stop the tears from welling up in my eyes.

Mr. Thompson didn’t say anything for a long moment, just watching me with a frown. When he finally spoke, his voice was softer than usual. “That’s a rotten hand you’ve been dealt, Selene. I won’t lie to you about that.”

I nodded, wiping my eyes quickly before anyone else could see. “And now my parents are giving me seven days to find someone to marry or they’ll pick someone for me. They’re threatening to marry me off to this awful man… I don’t know what to do.” My voice wavered, and I stared out the window, feeling more lost than ever.

There was a long pause before Mr. Thompson spoke again, and when he did, there was a strange twinkle in his eye. “Why don’t you marry my grandson?”

The words were so unexpected, so out of the blue, that I blinked at him in disbelief. “What?”

“My grandson,” he repeated, as if it were the most obvious solution in the world. “You should marry him. Problem solved.”

For a moment, I wasn’t sure if he was serious or just trying to lighten the mood. I stared at him, waiting for him to crack a smile, but he didn’t. He just sat there, completely serious.

“I… I can’t marry your grandson,” I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. “I don’t even know him.”

Mr. Thompson shrugged, leaning back in his chair. “Well, you’ve got seven days, don’t you? Seems like enough time to get to know someone. Besides, he’s a good man. Smart, hardworking. Couldn’t do worse than him, I’ll tell you that.”

I let out a nervous laugh, shaking my head. “I’m sure he’s great, but… I don’t think that’s really an option, Mr. Thompson.”

He grunted, waving a hand dismissively. “Why not? You need a husband, and he’s available. Sounds like a perfect match to me.”

I didn’t know what to say. The idea of marrying someone I’d never met seemed ridiculous, but then again… what choice did I have? My mind was still racing, trying to process everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. And here was Mr. Thompson, casually suggesting I marry his grandson like it was no big deal.

I forced a smile, trying to steer the conversation away from the absurdity of his suggestion. “I appreciate the offer, but I think I’ll need more than seven days to figure out my life.”

He shrugged again, his eyes twinkling with something I couldn’t quite place. “Just think about it, Selene. You never know.”

I chuckled, feeling a small bit of lightness break through the heaviness of my heart. “Oh, sure, Mr. Thompson. Why not?” I said with a grin, playing along. “I’ll marry your grandson, no problem. Just let me know when to start planning the wedding.” I gave him an exaggerated wink, hoping to keep things light.

He raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a smirk. “That’s the spirit, girl. I’ll hold you to that.”

We both laughed, and for a moment, it felt good to let go of the seriousness of my situation, even if it was just for a little while.

We chatted for a few more minutes, but the heaviness in my chest didn’t lift. When my shift was over, I said goodbye to Mr. Thompson and headed home, feeling just as lost as I had when I arrived that morning. The thought of having to find a husband in seven days weighed on me, and I had no idea how I was going to manage it.

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of knocking at the door. Groggy and still half-asleep, I stumbled out of bed and made my way downstairs, wondering who could possibly be visiting this early.

When I opened the door, my breath caught in my throat.

There, on the doorstep, was an enormous bouquet of roses—red, white, and pink, arranged in the most stunning display I’d ever seen. Alongside the flowers was a large box, tied with a ribbon, and an envelope tucked neatly into the bouquet.

For a moment, I just stared at it, trying to make sense of what I was seeing. Slowly, I reached for the envelope and opened it, my hands trembling slightly as I unfolded the note inside.

Selene,

Will you marry me?

I stared at the note, my mind racing. Marry? What… who…?

I glanced around, half-expecting to see someone waiting nearby, but the street was empty. The only thing there was the bouquet and the mysterious proposal.

I stepped back inside, clutching the note in my hand, my heart pounding in my chest. Was this some kind of joke? Who would send something like this?