Chapter 26: The Love Guru’s Past

The Matchmaking Event Begins

Ava stood at the edge of the grand ballroom, biting the inside of her cheek so hard she was pretty sure she'd have a permanent indent by the end of the night. Across the room, Ethan Chase was doing what he did best: basking in the glow of his own ego.

The ballroom was a vision of luxury—twinkling chandeliers, polished marble floors, and floral arrangements so perfect they looked like they'd been plucked straight from a fairytale. The audience, however, was less polished. It was an eclectic mix of nervous singles, nosy spectators, and Ava's personal favorite group: the people who had no intention of finding love but had shown up strictly for the free wine and potential gossip.

Ethan had positioned himself squarely in the spotlight, pacing the stage in a tailored suit that screamed I'm richer than you. Behind him, a massive screen flashed glowing testimonials from so-called happy couples matched by Cupid's Algorithm.