Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE: FAITH's DATE

✧FAITH ZEICAN LEE✧

I was busy at my office, reviewing a spreadsheet when someone knocked on the door, followed by its opening. I didn’t need to ask who it was because it was my secretary, Colleen, who usually handles this kind of thing. Before anyone else can come in, they first go through her to inform me if someone is looking for me.

“Sir Faith.” I looked up at her. She’s two years older than me, so I feel a bit awkward when she addresses me as Sir. But that’s what she prefers. I’ve told her before that it’s fine to just call me Faith, but she insists on addressing me properly. “Someone’s here to see you.”

“Who is it?”

“Chloe Herald, Sir.”

My brow furrowed slightly. Chloe? Right, it’s been a week. Our meeting was set for this week, but I’ve been so busy that I forgot about it. We don’t have contact details for each other, so I didn’t have a way to reschedule.

“Okay. Let her in.” After she nodded, Colleen turned and left my office. I kept my gaze fixed on the door, waiting for the woman who would be my fiancée to enter. As I waited, my heart raced with an unusual intensity, and I could feel my palms growing cold.

Why am I feeling this way? During my two years at Lee Company, I’ve gone through a lot. I’ve faced influential figures in the business industry without feeling the kind of nervousness I’m experiencing now. What does this mean? Is it because of what Hope overheard from Uncle Ryan—that she’s bitchy, whiny, spoiled, and a materialistic airhead?

I immediately sat up straight when the door opened, revealing a woman with short hair. She had a sleek bob cut and was about the same height as my younger sister, Summer. She wore minimal makeup and was dressed in a designer outfit that made her look... absolutely... stunning. I couldn’t deny her striking appearance.

But just like me, she was stunned when she saw me. Her mouth was slightly open, and her eyes widened as she took in my appearance. She seemed momentarily frozen, her gaze fixed on me, clearly struck by my looks.

I stood up from my chair since she was still just staring. I walked around my desk to approach her, extending my hand for a handshake. “Hi. I’m Faith Zeican Lee.”

She blinked. “Oh. Hi. I, I’m Chloe.” She took my hand, her lips forming a small smile. “Chloe Herald.”

Wait. Why don’t I sense any of that b*tchy vibe? Did Uncle Ryan get the wrong information? Her smile seems genuine, and she appears to be a sweet girl.

As we let go of each other’s hands, I invited her to sit on the sofa in the middle of my office, but she declined. “No, thank you. I won’t stay long since I have other plans. I just wanted to meet you because I’m sure Mom and Dad will ask me later if we’ve met.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy lately, I—”

“No.” She interrupted me with a smile. “It’s okay. You don’t have to apologize. I understand. We can always meet up when you’re less busy. For now, I’ll handle my parents. You can contact me when you have time. Here’s my calling card.” She pulled out a card from her purse and handed it to me. “I’ll be going now. Bye. See you again soon.”

I held her business card as I watched her exit my office. Once she was out of sight, I immediately turned to Colleen at her desk, which was adjacent to my office but separated by a glass wall. When she looked up at me, I gestured for her to come over.

“Yes, Sir Faith?”

"Please make a dinner reservation for me at a nice restaurant tonight for two people. Also, arrange a bouquet of flowers."

“Copy, Sir.”

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

“It’s really over. Finished. You even sent flowers.” Hope laughed. He and Love were sitting at the foot of my bed while I faced the mirror, adjusting my necktie. They had been there for a while, watching me get ready, since I mentioned my dinner date with Chloe. Mom and Dad also knew because I told them about her visit to the office earlier, so they were aware I was heading out to meet her.

“Alright, I’ll hurry up. You’re next,” I joked with Hope.

“Ha! It’ll be a while for me. Bet you won’t get along with your fiancée. I predict she’s not the one for you.”

“Maybe that prediction is meant for you,” Love teased him.

Hope was once again outmatched by Love Andrei, scratching his head. “We’re talking about Faith, and here you are, Andreng. No doubt, you really do love me.”

After getting ready, I left them still bantering in the room. I wore a three-piece black suit and carried a bouquet of flowers that I had my secretary prepare earlier. Mom and Dad were waiting for me in the living room, so I stopped by there first. Summer was also there, holding the new phone Aunt Baby gave her.

“Mom, Dad, I’m off to go.” I quickly captured their attention, causing them to glance in my direction. Mom swiftly rose from the couch beside Dad and got closer to me. Despite being in her forties, I couldn't help but think she was one of the most beautiful women I'd ever encountered. Her appearance defied her age completely.

“You look so handsome, my son.” Mom cupped my jaw, smiling as she admired my appearance.

Dad approached as well, looking as youthful as ever. At forty-eight, he seemed ageless, exuding a fresh and vibrant demeanor. “Remember what I told you, son?”

I nodded. “Yes, Dad.”

Dad wanted me to give Chloe a chance to get to know her, even if just for a week. If I felt we weren’t compatible, they’d handle talking to Mommyla to call off the engagement. And that’s what I plan to do. From our first encounter earlier, she seemed deserving of a chance. She didn’t give me any reason to reject her. Perhaps Uncle Ryan just had the wrong information. I still haven’t asked him who his source was for that.

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

When I arrived at the restaurant for my meeting with Chloe, I found her already at the table reserved for us. I felt a pang of embarrassment approaching her since she was there before me.

"My apologies for arriving late,” I said, handing her the bouquet of flowers. “Have you been waiting long?"

She examined the flowers with a genuine smile. “Not long. I just got here myself. Thanks for the flowers, though.”

I lost track of time as we talked. We barely touched our food. Chloe gave me an introduction to herself—where she studied, what she’s currently involved in, and about her parents. After that, our conversation meandered in various directions. It was a bit odd but entertaining, especially when she mentioned creepy places she’s discovered on G****e Earth and her favorite movies.

Throughout our conversation, my phone kept vibrating nonstop on the table in front of me. Hope was bombarding our family group chat, “DNA BUDDIES” (a name Love came up with). He kept asking for updates on my date, wondering if he should start preparing a wedding duet with Uncle Ryan.

“If it’s an emergency, you can go,” Chloe said, and I looked up at her. She had noticed my repeated glances at my phone screen and there was something in her expression.

I gave her a reassuring smile. “It’s one of my twin brothers, Hope Ryker. He’s just checking in,” I explained. Hearing that, her eyes softened, as if her concern had dissipated.

“I wanted to meet them. Your other two twins,” she said with a smile. “Mom mentioned before that you’re triplets. Now that I’ve finally met you, I’m eager to meet the other two as well.”

I chuckled. “Just look at me, and it’s like you’ve met them. We’re really identical. Because of that, our younger cousins still get confused. Meng, one of Uncle Ryan’s twins, often gets tricked by Hope because she can’t distinguish us. When they visit our house, we have to wear different colored clothes because that’s how Meng tells us apart. Once, Hope pranked Meng by switching clothes with Love. Hope wore Love’s distinctive outfit, and Meng ended up getting mad at Love instead. I still laugh every time I think about it. Another time, we decided to mess with Meng again. Hope pulled another prank, and the three of us wore matching outfits, down to the colors. When Meng saw us, she was so frustrated she started crying because she couldn’t figure out which one of us to get back at. In the end, she just complained about all three of us.”

-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈

I got home past ten in the evening. Chloe and I had lost track of time, laughing about the pranks we’d pulled on our cousin Meng whenever she visited.

As soon as I walked in, Hope and Love greeted me, while I spotted Mom and Dad in the living room, watching N*****x on the large flat screen TV. They turned their attention to me as I entered.

“How was your date?” Love asked, following me to where Mom and Dad were. I greeted my parents before sitting on the couch next to them, drawing their attention.

“Looks like the date went well. That big smile says it all,” Mom teased, giving me a playful grin. Dad also had a faint smile on his face.

“What? Should I start singing now? Tententenen! Tententenen! Tenenen, tenenen, tenenenen!”

Love nudged Hope again, since they were sitting side by side on the couch across from me. Hope’s idea of a wedding march sounded more like a graduation march. “What do you think of Faith? Is he graduating?”

“Yeah,” Hope laughed. “He’s graduating from bachelorhood.”