Arranged Marriage

Civil Registry Office. Valeria Everhart frowned as she looked at the column for her spouse, hesitated for a moment, then turned to the man sitting beside her, "Your... your name..."

Shane looked at her, slightly curved his lips, ignored the suspicious gaze of the staff, took the form, and quickly wrote his name – Shane Hunter. 

Valeria glanced quickly, sighed in relief; so, this is his full name. 

Exiting the Civil Registry Office, Valeria looked down at the cream-colored paper in her hand and suddenly realized a fact. She... got married! And, it was with a man she had known for less than 24 hours. 

But her lips also carried a bitter smile; her marriage was just a transaction, a story that began a week ago. Valeria's father, Ed Everhart, ran a small business, but recently, there were problems with the financial chain, causing him great anxiety. 

After graduating, Valeria worked at a magazine, a nine-to-five job as a magazine editor. She wasn't cut out to be a boss like her father, preferring to live a quiet life as a subordinate. However, since the heartbreak in college, she had been single for many years, not dating at all. If it weren't for her father suddenly coming to find her, she would have forgotten that she was supposed to get married. At 28, while others were becoming mothers, she was considered a ‘leftover woman.’ 

She remembered the day her father said, "Valeria, in this family, there are only you and Vanya, my two daughters. Vanya hasn't even graduated from college and is several years younger than you. But, I am really helpless; our family is going bankrupt!" 

"Valeria, the person you're marrying is quite good. Thirty-five years old, a small business owner. Although he's divorced once, he's a good person. Don't be upset; I wouldn't make a wrong choice for you." 

Valeria accepted her fate. She had grown up with her father and knew his struggles. If the company failed, her father would collapse. So, she agreed to the arranged marriage. 

Valeria looked good—calm, quiet, with long, fair skin and clear stary eyes, perhaps inherited from the mother she never met. 

The blind date was set in a charming café. Since her breakup, she never thought she would have to go on a blind date herself. "Valeria, I have arranged everything for you. After entering the café, you'll see a man in a burgundy suit. That's your blind date. Get to know him. I believe he's a good match. People say divorced men are treasures. Look at how well I treat your aunt. So, don't act too reserved!" 

After entering the café, Valeria discreetly observed for a while. After all, she was going to spend her life with this person, and it was necessary to observe and then make a decision. The café had a tasteful atmosphere. 

"Hey, what are you doing?" While Valeria carefully observing the man in the burgundy suit, a waitress accidentally spilled coffee. 

"Sorry, sir, it was not intentional. I really didn't mean it!" The girl who spilled the coffee was charming, and when she bent down to wipe his suit, she revealed a subtle cleavage. 

The man in the burgundy suit flirtatiously lifted her chin. "Is a simple apology enough?" 

"Sir, I, I'll compensate!" 

"Compensate? You can't afford that!" 

"Sir, I really know I was wrong! I really know I was wrong!" 

"Then compensate with yourself! Go, tell your boss you're taking the day off today!" The man in the burgundy suit dragged the girl away, leaving Valeria shocked and guilty. 

This was her future husband? She was dumbfounded, clutching her bag. Although she wanted to do something for her father, could this man really be her husband? No, she needed to go back and discuss it with her father.

 As she was about to leave, another man in a burgundy suit walked in. He glanced at his watch, then looked around as if waiting for someone. 

"Waiter, a cup of English Breakfast tea!" His magnetic and deep voice was incredibly charming and elegant, showing he was well-educated. 

Could it be that the person just now wasn't him, but this man?

Taking a deep breath, Valeria slowly approached until she saw the watch on his wrist, confirming her suspicion.

"Hello, may I sit down?" Valeria, lacking experience in blind dates, felt a bit embarrassed. 

Shane put down the magazine, looked at her, and coughed a few times. "You're here!" 

At the moment he put down the magazine, Valeria was somewhat stunned. She had worked for a celebrity magazine, seen many stars, but none could compare to him. Gentle and refined, a warm smile on his face, as if bathed in the holy sunshine, very warm. Isn't the term 'warm man' popular now? It's not excessive to use it on him. 

"Hello, I am Valeria Everhart!" Out of courtesy, she introduced herself first. 

Shane glanced at Valeria and chuckled. "Do I have to follow suit and say hello? Valeria, right?" 

Valeria awkwardly smiled, but she wasn't as nervous as when she first arrived; her guard had lowered. 

"Here for a blind date?" Shane went straight to the point. 

"Yes? How about you?" 

"Me too!" 

...

 The conversation between Valeria and Shane wasn't long, just exchanging phone numbers before parting. 

That night, her father called, asking how it went. She spoke the truth, saying it was not bad. 

Unexpectedly, her father directly brought the registration sertificate and asked her to handle it. 

At one in the morning, she sent a message to Shane: "Let's get married!" And that's how the scene at the Civil Registry Office this morning came about. 

"Shane, my dad asked me to take you home for dinner!" 

***