1. A Spinster

Manhattan, New York

“You don't earn much and you're already 32. You'd better get married before you become a spinster.”

The long, curly-haired woman named Barbara sighed in exasperation as she glanced at her daughter, Charlotte, who was about to leave for work.

“I'm tired of people calling you a ‘spinster’. Besides, if you get married, your husband can help give me some extra money,” she continued lightly

Charlotte was silent, with no intention of replying to her mother. Instead, she wanted to leave, but then her father's voice reached her.

“If you can't find a husband, I'll find one for you. You just have to accept it,” Charles said, enjoying his hot coffee without bothering to turn to his daughter when he spoke.

The good girl with a thin body immediately froze where she stood, unable to move for a few seconds.

What is this?

Does this mean she's being forced into marriage?

She was going to be set up as a match?

Is that so?

Charlotte wanted to turn around and immediately refute her parents' idea, but she was in such a hurry that she chose to ignore the matter first.

She had to walk about 300 meters from her modest-sized house to reach the bus stop.

And twenty minutes later, Charlotte had arrived at a fairly large bakery.

The bakery had twenty-four employees and Charlotte was a regular employee who had worked there for eight years but had yet to get a promotion.

The owner of the bakery argued that he hadn't given Charlotte a better position because she was only a high school graduate. However, Charlotte didn't actually believe him.

She remembered that one of the people who had served as the head of the convenience store was a high school graduate, just like her.

Unfortunately, the owner didn't seem to want to be argued with, so Charlotte was forced to accept the unfair decision.

This was because her mother and father couldn't afford for her to go to college because of her younger siblings.

She was the only one in her family who only graduated from high school as a result of giving in.

Sometimes Charlotte always felt it was unfair but she couldn't do anything else for now and chose to move on without complaining.

No sooner had Charlotte started doing her job than the other employees started arriving. Some of them looked sarcastically at Charlotte who was picking up all the bread that was no longer fit for sale.

“Charlotte, don't be diligent. There's no way you'll be promoted to head of the shop either,” Faye said, a doe-eyed girl with her hair tied back.

Another person responded, “That's right, even if you want to be a sycophant, you won't be made a manager by the boss. It's just normal to be an employee.”

Charlotte didn't respond to the two coworkers' remarks and just continued her work.

“Uh, I forgot. I want to give you my wedding invitation,” one of the employees chimed in.

“Wow, you're already doing well, beb. When is the event?” Faye asked with a bright smile.

The employee who was getting married handed the invitations to one of her coworkers while answering, “It's still 12 days away, but I'm giving out the invitations now. I'm going to leave soon, I already told the boss.”

“Wow, cool! Are you still 22 years old, Abby?” Faye asked as she opened the light blue-bound invitation.

Abby nodded with a smile, “Yes. Too young to get married?”

Faye shook her head quickly, “No, it's not. Instead of being over 30 years old but still not married, dih. Become a spinster later.”

They giggled while occasionally glancing at Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Charlotte realized she was the one being satirized. Because, in that bakery, she was the only one who was over thirty years old but not married yet.

Abby, who laughed at that, suddenly turned to Charlotte, “Charlotte. Don't forget to come to my event!”

Charlotte forced herself to smile and replied, “Yes, Abby. I will definitely come.”

“Don't forget to bring your boyfriend! It won't be funny if you're alone there while we come with our husbands,” Faye said while holding back a smile.

Charlotte just gave a small nod in reply.

A boyfriend?

Of course she didn't have one. Since breaking up with Jonathan about a year ago, she had not been in a relationship with any man.

As her working hours came to an end, Charlotte walked towards the bus stop while staring listlessly at Abby's wedding invitation.

She would definitely feel awkward alone there later. But, finding a boyfriend within twelve days wasn't going to be easy either. Moreover, she realized that she was not beautiful and had a mediocre appearance.

“What should I do now?” the young girl muttered, confused.

The next morning, everything was still the same as usual. Charlotte went through her morning routine. After she put on her convenience store uniform, a navy blue polo T-shirt, she walked out of her room.

However, that morning felt a little different. She saw not only her parents sitting in the dining room, but also Cecilia and Beatrice, her two younger siblings. Meanwhile, her sister's two husbands were nowhere to be seen.

Charlotte suddenly had a bad feeling, but she remained seated in her usual chair and looked at them with a surprised look.

“Ih, take it easy, Sister. I'm not here to ask for money,” Cecilia said, feeling annoyed at her sister's stare.

Cecilia used to ask Charlotte for money when the young lady came over.

Beatrice rolled her eyes, “I didn't come here for breakfast either, I was called by mom and dad.”

But, in fact, in front of Beatrice there was already a plate of fried rice complete with side dishes ready to eat.

However, Charlotte was not in the mood to argue with her two younger siblings so she chose to turn her head, looking at her mother and father.

Charlotte observed Barbara and Charles sitting across from her with flat faces while spooning their fried rice.

“What's wrong, Dad? Mom?” Charlotte asked with an alarmed look.

Charles glanced at his wife and it was Barbara who spoke, “There's a widower from the next village who likes you. He wants to marry you. He wants to propose to you next week. Get ready!”

Charlotte widened her eyes.

Her mouth opened too.

“Just accept it. He's a rich widower, with a two-story shop. He has two children, but rest assured, you won't be short of money,” Charles said, seemingly trying to reassure his daughter.

“Yes, Sister. I've also found out about your future husband. He's 55 years old, still relatively young too. Not bad at all. It's a loss if you refuse, Sist,” Beatrice said with an encouraging half-smile but there was a mocking look that Kirana could catch in her sister's clear eyes.

Huh?

Is 55 years old still young?

Charlotte was increasingly incredulous at her sister's words.