Chapter Two: Twist of fate

Victor's pov.

A meticulous and well-planned event was unfolding behind the scenes of the community soup kitchen. The primary aim of this intricately organized affair was to bring Mary and me together once again after years of separation. Since my father's death, which led to us losing touch while she stayed in New York City, I had been intently seeking her for seven months without any breaks or pauses.

Upon requesting Mary's aid, her face displayed evident confusion. It seemed as though her troubled history weighed heavily on her; a medley of emotions erupted in the form of astonishment at being asked for help, seeing a familiar visage once more and unspoken inquiries left hanging like dangling threads.

Asking Mary for help wasn't my usual inquiry. The proposal of marriage was surrounded by secrecy and uncertain circumstances. A family agreement, which my twin brother Noah and I had committed to, would be decided according to the ongoing events' dramatization - whoever married Mary first would inherit our deceased father's assets; a straightforward stipulation.

Our mother Juliana stumbled upon a high school snapshot of me, Noah, and Mary which took us down an unforeseen path. The reminiscences evoked were so intense that both I and my brother signed a contract altering our destiny in unusual ways.

In a secluded nook of the restaurant, Mary confided in me about her challenging situation: a sick husband who needed saving. As she contemplated an offer before her, I acknowledged how difficult it must be to make decisions with such complexity weighing on her shoulders. In my attempt at help, I proposed giving five times the amount of money requested if only she signed off on our contract proposal.

As we bargained, my thoughts persisted with Mary's bodily manifestation. Her stunning appearance captivated me; her glasses exquisitely framing her features accentuated this effect. The shades of blue within her enchanting eyes appeared to mirror the intricacies that lay ahead as we made our choices - their profoundness was unmistakable.

As both Noah and I had been known for our playboy ways, we were accustomed to pursuing romantic flings. Mary was the common denominator in our respective love stories that brought us together to experience moments of closeness and joy. Despite my longer dating history with her, her influence remained prevalent in each of our lives.

Mary will be caught in a dilemma between two womanizers as the proposal defies beyond love and passion. No one foresaw how destiny, longing, and an unforeseen proposition would merge into this narrative that was depicted through our intertwined past experiences, familial bondages, and intricate emotional tussles.

As I sat in the quiet of the restaurant, I waited for Mary to make her selection. It was evident that destiny was working its magic and presenting her with numerous possibilities. "Give me a moment," she replied.

"I require a precise date," I interjected.

"Tomorrow morning will work," she declared decisively.

**Mary's Perspective:**

As Victor gazed ahead at the road, his response was layered with complexity. "Mary," he began solemnly, "my father departed seven months ago, and following his will, four sections of his estate must be divided up. However, I can only claim my share if I enter into matrimony."

The weight of a familial legacy weighed heavy in the air as we both pondered its revelation. I looked up to meet his gaze and queried apprehensively, "Why choose me?" However, before Victor could respond with an answer my phone emitted a beep that abruptly halted our conversation. It was Judith urgently calling telling me there was someone at home needing immediate attention. The coincidental timing added yet another layer to an already complex narrative in the making.

My apartment building came into view as the car slowed down, prompting Victor and I to postpone our conversation until the following day. As we bid each other farewell, he placed his contact number in my hand - a physical link between us amidst all of the intangible ones.

As I entered my dwelling, an unforeseen spectacle unfolded before me - Noah was standing right in front. His gaze appealed for assistance with a word unspoken that weighed heavily on any decision to follow.

Noah's sudden proposal left me feeling weighted down, and as time went on, I found myself confronting a string of choices that seemed increasingly important. With both doubt and nervousness in my tone regarding the road ahead, I asked him: "What is it about me that makes you want to spend the rest of your life with me?"

As I pondered over the intertwined destinies of the brothers in my apartment, Noah's ambiguous response kept me feeling uneasy. While it appeared that he was willing to share more information, his tone changed suddenly and he abruptly departed with a promise to disclose everything later. However, this left several unanswered questions lingering between us and tension hanging thickly in the air.

After he left, I was alone with my thoughts that fluttered like leaves in a capricious wind and were filled with questions. Why did Noah and Victor ask me to do what they did? This question lingered in my mind, making it harder for me to come up with definite answers.

I became enmeshed in a complex puzzle that revolved around the twins' aspirations. Their familial heritage and unexpected links added to this intrigue, making me contemplate critical choices for their future endeavors; nevertheless, due to unexposed motives underlying their goals, my mind was flooded with meditative musings about what lay ahead for both siblings.

As I sat alone in my apartment, the melodic hum of the city at night synchronized perfectly with my thoughts. Tomorrow promised to unravel the enigmatic web connecting me to Victor and Noah. Contemplating their motives for proposing marriage kept gnawing away at me as these unresolved mysteries conti

nued looming over me.