Arranged Marriage

“Good morning, my love.”

A soft female hand lifted the covers, searching the bed for her beloved. When she felt he wasn’t there, she pulled the cloth from her face.

Din Cooper stood in front of the mirror, knotting his tie. She crawled back beneath the covers. “I see you are all dressed and ready for work,” she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep.

Din approached the bed, climbed onto it, and leaned over her. He slowly pulled the blanket from her face. Beth stared into his ocean-blue eyes and whimpered softly, then gave him a warm smile.

“Mrs. Cooper, you are really beautiful,” he whispered before kissing her gently on the lips.

Beth’s face lit up. “Mrs. Cooper, huh?” She kissed him back. “I love the sound of that.”

Din grinned. “It will be yours in no time.” He started to rise, but she grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

“Do you really have to leave today?” she asked, pouting. “How about spending the whole day with me?”

Din sighed and sat on the edge of the bed. Beth sat up straight, watching him closely.

“Beth, I’m really busy. I need to meet with a client and hand the manuals to Khalid. You know how Granddad is.”

He cupped her cheek, and she leaned into his touch. “He doesn’t like me,” she said quietly.

“That’s not true. He likes you. He just isn’t— good at showing it.”

“Babe, he looks at me with disgust.” Beth rolled her eyes. She reached up to adjust his tie. “Anyway, make sure you come home early. I’ve prepared a nice surprise for you.”

Din’s expression brightened. “A surprise? Can you at least give me a hint?”

Beth laughed and shook her head. “That’s why it’s called a surprise, silly.” She smiled softly. “Come here.”

Din leaned in. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. He breathed her in before letting go.

“Do your best today,” she said. “I have a feeling it’s going to be a fantastic day for you. I can already sense it!”

Din smiled, warmed by her constant cheerfulness. Seeing Beth happy made everything feel lighter, even if his grandfather might ruin his chances with her.

He still couldn’t understand why his grandfather disliked Beth so much. She was courteous, beautiful, well-dressed, and genuinely kind. Sometimes he wondered if she was even from this planet.

“Alright then,” he said. “Make sure you have fun too.” He pulled out his card and handed it to her. “For shopping.”

Beth shook her head. “But I still have money left from the last one you sent.”

“Take it, babe. You are my princess.” He placed the card in her palm and kissed her once more. “Have fun. Daddy will be back soon.”

She waved as he left the room with his briefcase and car keys.

***

Din parked his car in the company garage, grabbed his briefcase, and headed toward the building. His employees greeted him respectfully as he walked inside.

He had spent his teenage years learning everything about building cars and running a successful business, just like his grandfather. At first, the fear had been overwhelming. Cars were what had killed his parents, after all.

He was only fourteen the night of the accident. He could never forget that day. His grandfather had argued with his father that evening. Din never learned what the fight was about, but he remembered how furious his father looked when he grabbed his and his mother’s hand and stormed toward the car. 

At that hour, Din hadn’t dared to ask where they were going. He simply obeyed.

His father drove angrily, eyes barely on the road. Suddenly, a truck barreled toward them at high speed and slammed into the side of the car. He’d struggled to regain control of the car, but it was useless. If he took his eyes off the narrow, icy road for even a second, they could veer into the darkness he was desperately trying to avoid.

Din shook violently as he clutched his seatbelt. His mother kept repeating that everything would be fine, but in his heart, he knew she was lying.

A deafening thud shattered the night. Din couldn’t help but glance back. The truck had slammed into a massive rock, flames already licking its mangled frame.

“Din!” his father yelled.

Din whipped his head forward again, fingers white-knuckled around the seatbelt.

“I need you to do something for me,” his father said, voice strained but urgent.

“Okay?” Din’s reply came out shaky, barely above a whisper.

“Don’t be scared. Close your eyes.” His father gripped his mother’s hand tightly. Tears rolled down Din’s cheeks. He understood. They weren’t all going to survive. “Unbuckle your seatbelt slowly, open the door, and jump out.”

“What? I—I can’t do that,” Din stuttered, heart pounding.

“You have to. You have to survive. Now do as I say!” his father shouted.

His mother pleaded with him too. When the door on her side wouldn’t open, she pushed Din out with all her strength. He tumbled onto the snowy ground, bruised and bleeding from his head. His left leg caught between two trees. He struggled to free it, but it was too late.

He watched helplessly as their car hit a bump, rolled, and slammed into a huge tree. Flames erupted instantly.

For a moment, Din couldn’t hear anything. Just a high-pitched ringing. The world blurred around him. His eyes stayed open, wide with shock.

Then—darkness.

When he opened his eyes, the first thing he noticed was a small plastic tube taped into his vein. He was in a hospital. 

But the only question on his mind was—Who brought him here?

Since that day, Din had never asked his grandfather what the argument between him and his father had been about.

“Sir! Your coffee.”

The voice snapped him back to the present. The lady who always brought his morning coffee stood in front of him, head lowered, hand extended.

“It’s cold,” Din said flatly, rejecting it with a frown. The memories always left him angry.

“Should I get you another one, sir?” she asked, still looking down.

Din didn’t answer. He pressed the elevator button, stepped inside when the doors opened, and glanced back at her. “Throw it away. You are excused.”

In the mirrored walls, Din sighed and gripped his briefcase tighter.

When he reached his office, a raspy voice greeted him. “You are late!”

Din turned to see his grandfather sitting in his chair, legs crossed on the desk, adjusting his glasses. He set his briefcase down, removed his suit jacket, and hung it up. He forced a smile. “I didn’t know you would be here today. What brings you to the office?”

His grandfather ignored the question. “How old are you again?” He asked. Din went still. “…Twenty-nine?” The old man frowned, uncertain, as if the number had slipped through his fingers.

Din sniffed, and his grandfather took it as confirmation.

“Why does my age matter?” 

His grandfather sighed. “I’m getting old. At least let me see my grandchildren before I die.”

Din let out a dry scoff. “We’ve had this conversation before. The woman I want to marry is Beth. You don’t want her, but you’ve never told me why.” His voice tightened. “As far as I know, she’s responsible, beautiful, and she would be a good wife to—”

A sharp thud cut him off. His grandfather dropped a photograph onto the table.

Din’s words died in his throat. He glanced down at it. “What is that?”

His grandfather exhaled slowly, pushing himself to his feet. He stepped closer and patted Din’s shoulder firmly.

“Her name is Jessie Walker,” he said. 

Din looked at him. His brows furrowed. 

His grandfather continued, “Make sure you are married before the end of this month. To Jessie.”