Chapter 8: Unwanted Proposition

The air in the upscale restaurant felt charged with tension as Emily and Ethan exchanged uneasy glances, their worlds colliding in the most unexpected of ways. What had begun as a simple blind date had morphed into a situation neither of them had prepared for.

Ethan, sensing the need to address the elephant in the room, cleared his throat. "I have a job for you," he said, his voice measured and calm, though there was a hint of desperation behind his eyes.p

Emily's brow furrowed in confusion. "A job? What kind of job?"

Ethan took a deep breath, preparing to utter words that he hadn't anticipated saying on this unusual evening. "I want you to pretend to be my wife," he admitted, his gaze locked onto Emily's.

Emily's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait, what? I should do what?" She shook her head, her voice resolute. "No way, I am not doing it."

Ethan's hopes plummeted as Emily's response hit him like a tidal wave of disappointment. He had expected resistance, but her immediate rejection stung more than he had anticipated. He rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. This was going to be much harder than he had thought.

Emily's rejection, however, only piqued Ethan's curiosity. He couldn't help but wonder why she was so averse to his proposition. "Why is she rejecting me?" he thought, his mind whirling with questions.

"Okay, let me explain better," Ethan began, his tone earnest. "I promised my daughter that I'll get her a mommy, and you know I cannot just come out and get married."

Emily regarded him steadily, her eyes meeting his without fear. "And how does it concern me?" she asked, her voice unwavering.

Ethan hesitated for a moment, grappling with his words. He hadn't anticipated having to reveal his personal struggles so soon, but it seemed there was no other choice. "Mia, my daughter, she... she took it upon herself to find me a wife."

Understanding dawned in Emily's eyes as she processed his words. She realized that this strange request was driven by a father's love for his daughter, a promise made in earnest to fulfill a child's innocent wish.

Despite the unexpected turn of events and the absurdity of the proposition, Emily couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for Ethan's predicament. She knew firsthand the lengths to which a person would go for the sake of family.

Their evening had taken yet another unexpected twist.