Ethan D'Angelo had barely taken a sip of his morning coffee when his mother, Martha, burst into his office like a woman on a mission. Dressed in a vibrant floral dress that could blind anyone who dared look directly at it, she carried a stack of photographs like ammunition.
"Ethan," she began, her voice laced with determination, "it's time we got serious about your future. You're thirty-one and still single! Do you know how many eligible women there are in this city?"
Ethan sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Mom, I don't need a lecture—"
"You don't need a lecture," she interrupted, waving a finger at him, "you need a wife!"
And so, Operation Matchmaking resumed.
---
By the afternoon, Ethan found himself seated in the D'Angelo family living room, his younger sister Zoe and Grandma Vivian grinning like mischievous devils. The dining table was covered with a chaotic array of photos, portfolios, and even résumés of potential matches.
"I don't understand why we're doing this," Ethan muttered, crossing his arms.
"Because you're hopeless," Zoe quipped, popping a grape into her mouth. "And because watching you squirm is my favorite pastime."
Grandma Vivian leaned forward, her cane tapping the floor for emphasis. "Listen, Ethan, you've got good genes. You're handsome, successful, and a little less grumpy than a bear on a bad day. We can't let that go to waste!"
---
The first "candidate" arrived promptly at 3 PM.
She was a social media influencer named Tiffany who introduced herself with a live stream. "Say hi to my followers!" she chirped, aiming her phone at Ethan, who stared blankly at the camera.
"Tiffany, darling, let's put the phone away," Martha said, her smile strained.
"But I'm building my brand!" Tiffany protested.
Ethan cleared his throat. "This... isn't going to work."
---
The second date was no better.
Helena, a self-proclaimed psychic, insisted on reading Ethan's palm before he even sat down.
"Ah, I see turmoil," she declared dramatically, tracing the lines on his hand. "You're haunted by a great love, but fear not! Your aura tells me another will come soon—"
"Next," Ethan growled, standing up so fast he nearly knocked over his chair.
---
By the time the fifth candidate arrived, Ethan was ready to bolt.
"Meet Veronica," Martha announced proudly.
Veronica was stunning, elegant, and utterly disinterested. She spent the entire time scrolling on her phone, occasionally glancing up to say, "Huh?" whenever someone addressed her.
Grandma Vivian leaned over to Zoe. "I give this one five minutes before Ethan storms out."
It took four.
---
That evening, Ethan escaped to his room, flopping onto his bed with a groan. His family's matchmaking antics were exhausting. He glanced at his phone, tempted to call Sophie, but stopped himself. They weren't in the best place, and he didn't want to make things worse.
---
Meanwhile, Sophie was knee-deep in her own mystery.
At the archives, she'd found another cryptic note tucked into a forgotten book: "The stars will guide you home. Seek the constellation of your past."
She was starting to suspect someone was deliberately leaving these clues, but why? She spent hours pouring over star charts and ancient maps, trying to decipher the message, but nothing added up.
Her frustration peaked when she found a torn page with a familiar name: Margaret Winters. The same name from the unmarked grave.
"Who are you?" Sophie whispered, tracing the faded letters.
---
Back at the D'Angelo household, Martha was not giving up.
"We'll find the perfect girl for you, Ethan," she declared at dinner, earning groans from Zoe and Ethan.
"Maybe he's secretly pining for someone," Zoe teased, winking. "Like Sophie, for instance."
At the mention of her name, Ethan's fork froze mid-air.
"Don't be ridiculous," he snapped, his tone sharper than intended.
Martha raised an eyebrow. "Sophie is a lovely girl. What's wrong with her?"
"Nothing," Ethan said quickly, too quickly.
Grandma Vivian chuckled. "Oh, he's smitten, all right. I've seen that look before. That's the 'I messed up but I'm too proud to admit it' look."
Zoe burst out laughing, while Ethan buried his face in his hands.
---
Later that night, Ethan stared out his bedroom window, the city lights twinkling in the distance. He couldn't stop thinking about Sophie. About her laugh, her stubbornness, the way she always managed to drive him crazy and ground him at the same time. He just hoped she'd let him back into her life before it was too late.