Ethan’s Point of view:I woke up to a new day, but my mind was still stuck on the events of the past few weeks.”The dates, the women, the endless pressure from Grandpa.It all felt so hollow.No love, no connection.Just orchestrated business transactions.I thought about Sophia Richardson, the woman I'd met yesterday.Her courage to defy tradition, to be herself.She wasn't afraid to tell her parents what she wanted.She liked girls, and she wouldn't conform.I admired her strength.But my situation was different.Grandpa's expectations weighed heavily on me."A CEO should be a married man."I wasn't even thinking about marriage. Marriage wasn’t even part of my plans as CEO.But if I were to get married, I wanted it to be with someone I loved.Someone I didn't mind sharing my life with.Just then, I heard Cameron's voice coming up the stairs."Hey, Ethan.""Hey, Cameron, how did you get in?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.Cameron grinned mischievously."Remember college days? When
Sarah’s Point of view:I smiled as my phone buzzed with an incoming text from Ethan."Hey, want to grab coffee and chat?"I felt a flutter in my chest.Ethan and I had been friends for a while now, and I always enjoyed our conversations."Sure, when were you thinking?" I replied."How about today? 2 pm at The Daily Grind?"I checked my schedule."Works for me."I sent a confirmation text and spent the rest of the morning wondering what Ethan wanted to discuss.Was everything okay?He sounded serious.At 2 pm, I walked into The Daily Grind, spotting Ethan in the corner.He stood up, flashing that warm smile I was accustomed to."Hey, Sarah."I hugged him."Hey, Ethan. What's going on?"Ethan's expression turned serious."I need to talk to you about something."My curiosity piqued."Everything okay?"Ethan nodded."Yeah, everything's fine. Just... complicated."I raised an eyebrow."Complicated?"Ethan took a deep breath."Let's order drinks first. Then I'll explain."I nodded, intrigu
Ethan’s Point of view: I pulled out my phone and dialed Cameron's number. "Hey, man," Cameron answered on the first ring. "Hey," I replied. "Need to clear my head. Want to hit the links?" "Black Ace?" Cameron suggested, referring to his family's exclusive country club. "Perfect." We made plans to meet at Black Ace in an hour. I arrived at the club, the familiar sight of the manicured greens and rolling hills calming my nerves. I pulled into the golf club's parking lot, spotting Cameron's sleek black SUV already parked. I grabbed my phone and slid out of the car, feeling a mix of frustration and hope. The discussion with Sarah hadn't gone as smoothly as I'd hoped. She'd raised valid concerns, and I couldn't blame her. But she hadn't outrightly rejected the idea. That was something. Cameron greeted me with a firm handshake as we walked to the first tee. "What's on your mind?" he asked, noticing my distraction. I took a deep breath. "Had a conversation w
Sarah’s Point of view: I woke up to Titan's frantic barking, the sound echoing through the house. At first, I thought it was just a reaction to a stray animal outside. But as the barks grew louder and more insistent, I knew something was wrong. I threw off the covers and rushed out of my bedroom, my heart racing. The barking was coming from the living room. I quickened my pace, my senses on high alert. As I entered the living room, I saw Titan standing at the window, his fur standing on end. His eyes were fixed on something outside. I followed his gaze, and my blood ran cold. Alex. He was standing outside, his face twisted in anger. In his hand, he clutched a bunch of papers. The divorce papers. "What the fuck is this, Sarah?" he shouted, his voice muffled by the glass. "You think you can divorce me?" "You think I'll let you go?" Titan's barks turned ferocious, as if sensing my fear. Emily emerged from her room, rubbing her eyes.
Sarah’s Point of view:After the drama with Alex earlier that morning, Emily and I decided to continue with our day."I've got to run, Sarah. Can't be late for the shoot," Emily said, hurrying around the room, gathering her belongings."I'll stay here, catch up on some reading," I replied, settling onto the couch with a book.Emily stopped in front of the mirror, checking her makeup."Sure you don't want to come with? Might take your mind off things."I shook my head."Nah, I'm good. Besides, Titan needs company."Emily smiled."Alright, darling. Take care. I'll see you tonight.""I'll be back early to get ready for our discussion with Ethan," she said, grabbing her bag."Sounds good," I replied, walking her to the door."Be careful today," I added, concern etched on my face.Emily rolled her eyes good-naturedly."I always am, mom," she teased.I chuckled."Love you.""Love you too," Emily replied, giving me a quick hug.With one last glance, Emily hurried out the door.I closed it b
Sarah’s Point of view: I sat beside Emily's bed, holding her hand and talking softly to her. "Emily, it's me, Sarah. I'm here for you. You're going to wake up, and everything will be okay." Ethan sat in the chair beside me, his eyes fixed on Emily's face. "We're here for you, Em," he said, his voice low. I glanced at Ethan, grateful for his support. "Thank you for being here," I whispered. Ethan smiled. "I'll always be here for you and Emily." As the hours passed, I continued to talk to Emily, sharing memories and stories. I told her about our childhood adventures, our laughter, and our tears. I reminded her of our promises to each other, of our unbreakable bond. Ethan listened quietly, his eyes never leaving Emily's face. Occasionally, a nurse would come in to check on Emily, but otherwise, we were alone. The hospital room was quiet, except for the beeping of machines and Emily's steady breathing. Ethan's voice broke the silence. "Sarah
Sarah’s Point of view:Ethan stood up, his eyes locked on mine."I'll call my lawyer now," he said, pulling out his phone.I nodded, watching as he dialed the number.As he spoke to his lawyer, I couldn't help but feel a sense of relief.This pretend engagement was exactly what I needed.Protection from Alex.Security.And a chance to start anew.Ethan hung up the phone and turned to me."It's all set," he said. "My lawyer will bring the contract tomorrow."I nodded, feeling a sense of finality.Tomorrow, our agreement would be official."Let's get back to the house," Ethan said, offering his arm.I took it, feeling a strange sense of comfort.As we walked out of the hospital café, I couldn't help but wonder:What would the next six months bring?Would our pretend engagement convince Alex to leave me alone?And what would happen when our contract ended?Would I be ready to face the world alone?Or would I find a new sense of purpose?Only time would tell.We drove back to Emily's and
Sarah’s Point of view:I woke up in an unfamiliar place, disoriented for a moment.But then memories flooded back.Moving in with Ethan.Our pretend engagement.Today was the day we'd sign the contract.Make it official.I sat up, taking in my new room.The morning light highlighted its elegant design.Soft cream walls.Rich hardwood floors.A stunning chandelier hung from the ceiling.A floor-to-ceiling window offered a breathtaking view of the garden.Titan scratched the door, whining softly."Okay, buddy," I said, laughing.I opened the door, letting him out.He bounded down the hallway, tail wagging.I smiled, shaking my head.Time to get ready.I freshened up, dressing in a simple yet elegant outfit.A pale blue blouse.Black trousers.My hair styled in loose waves.As I finished, my stomach rumbled.Something smelled amazing.Freshly baked croissants?Coffee?My mouth watered.I followed the scent downstairs.To the kitchen.Where Ethan waited, smiling.Maria, the housekeeper