Chapter Two

Calantha stood frozen, her mouth slightly ajar as she processed the boy’s words. “Look, I brought a beautiful auntie to play wife for you.” Echoed in her mind. Her wide eyes darted from the mischievous little boy to the tall, commanding man beside him.

The man’s presence was magnetic—his broad shoulders were encased in a perfectly tailored navy-blue suit that exuded power and confidence. His dark, neatly combed hair gleamed under the evening light, and his chiseled jawline looked as though it had been sculpted by an artist. His sharp cheekbones framed a face that could have graced magazine covers, and his piercing gray eyes seemed to see right through her, making her heartbeat quicken against her will.

For a moment, she forgot her ruined day, her debts, and even her rent problems. The world seemed to shrink to just her, the boy, and this impossibly handsome man whose deep voice pulled her out of her daze.

“Forgive my nephew. He can be overly playful sometimes. He didn’t mean to steal; he just wanted to play,” The man said, with his smooth baritone voice yet firm.

“Huh? Steal what?” Calantha stammered, still captivated by his presence.

“Your purse.” The man clarified, his lips twitching in what might have been a smile.

“Oh!” She exclaimed, her cheeks flushing. Clearing her throat, she extended her hand toward the little boy. “It’s fine. Can I have my purse back now?”

The man handed the purse to the nephew, “You took it, so hand it back to her,” he instructed.

The little boy, however, grinned and hid the purse behind his back, shaking his head.

“Aiden!” The man called out sternly. “Stop misbehaving this instant and give the young lady her purse.”

“But, Uncle…” Aiden protested, pouting. “She’s perfect!” He turned to Calantha, his wide brown eyes pleading. “Pretty lady, will you please become my uncle’s wife?”

Calantha’s jaw dropped again. She couldn’t believe the words coming out of this child’s mouth.

The man clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he glared at his nephew. “Aiden.” He said through gritted teeth, his patience clearly wearing thin. He turned back to Calantha, his expression softening. “Please forgive his insolence.” He said, snatching the purse from Aiden and handing it to her. “Apologize.” He ordered the boy.

“But Uncle!” Aiden whined, stomping his foot. “I heard you telling Dee that you needed someone perfect to play the role of your wife for some time. And since he hasn’t found anyone, you’ve been confused about what to do next. I only wanted to help!”

Aiden’s uncle ran a hand through his neatly combed hair, clearly trying to stay calm. “You don’t know when to stop, do you?” He muttered under his breath, casting a sidelong glance at the grinning boy.

Meanwhile, Calantha couldn’t help but wonder about the mysterious man’s life. Who was this "Dee" Aiden mentioned? And why is his uncle desperately in search of a wife?

“Enough of your nonsense, Aiden!” The man snapped. “Just apologize.”

“She’s really pretty, and she seems nice, too,” Aiden persisted, looking up at his uncle with determination. “Please, let her be your wife, Favuncle.”

The man’s jaw tightened, and Calantha could see he was about to lose his temper. Quickly, she intervened. “It’s okay,” She said softly, crouching down to Aiden’s height. She smiled, ruffling his hair gently. “Maybe he’s just really eager to have an auntie.”

She held his gaze, her voice growing tender. “You know, Aiden, I had a really bad day today. I thought nothing could make this day better, but I guess I was wrong. Hearing you call me pretty really made my day.”

Aiden’s eyes lit up at her words, and he grinned. “See? I knew she was perfect!”

Calantha laughed softly, pinching his cheek playfully before standing up. She turned to the man, who looked as though he didn’t know whether to be excited or amused. “Thank you for returning my purse,” She said.

The man nodded, his expression unreadable. “I apologize again for his behavior.”

“It’s fine,” She replied, waving it off. “Really, it’s been... an interesting distraction.” With that, she bid them goodbye and walked away.

Hours later, after spending time at a quiet coffee shop to collect her thoughts, Calantha began her walk home. The streets were dimly lit, and an unsettling quiet surrounded her. As she neared her apartment, a group of three burly men stepped out of the shadows.

“Calantha,” One of them sneered, cracking his knuckles. “We’ve been waiting for you.”

Her heart raced as she recognized them— one of the loan sharks her late father had owed money to.

“I-I don’t have the money yet.” She stammered, clutching her purse tightly.

“That’s not what we want to hear,” Another man growled, shoving her backward. She stumbled, falling to the ground.

“Please, just give me more time!” She pleaded, her voice trembling.

“We’ve given you enough time.” The first man snapped. “You either pay up now, or we’ll make sure you regret it.”

One of the men raised his hand, and Calantha squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for the impact. But the blow never came. Instead, a strong voice cut through the tension.

“Let her go.”

Her eyes flew open to see the man from earlier—Aiden’s uncle—standing tall and imposing, his eyes like steel as he gripped the man’s wrist mid-air.

“W-who the hell are you?” One of the other men barked, lunging forward.

 Swiftly, the man in the navy suit kicked the attacker squarely in the gut, sending him sprawling. “How much does she owe?” He asked, his voice calm but dangerous.

“$100,000.” The first man replied hesitantly.

The tall man scoffed. “Just $100,000?” He reached into his wallet, pulled out a thick stack of bills, and tossed it at their feet. “Take your money and leave.”

The men nodded vigorously, and scrambled to pick up the cash before retreating to their van.

Calantha stared in shock as the man turned back to her, extending a hand to help her up. She hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in his. His grip was firm yet gentle, and as he pulled her to her feet, he spoke two words that left her breathless.

“Marry me!”