Chapter 30 - Chapter 30

Ethan D'Angelo was not a man who easily admitted defeat, but after his brief and awkward encounter with Sophie at the mall, he found himself staring at his reflection in his bathroom mirror, letting out a heavy sigh.

"She's happy," he muttered to himself, splashing water on his face. "She's glowing. She's eating cinnamon rolls like it's a sport. She doesn't need me ruining things."

It was time to let go. And for Ethan, that meant facing the one thing he dreaded most: his family's relentless matchmaking.

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The Setup

"Finally!" Zoe exclaimed when Ethan called to agree to a blind date.

Martha D'Angelo's excitement was even louder. "I knew you'd come around! Don't worry, sweetheart. I've found the perfect girl. She's classy, elegant, and loves cats!"

"Great," Ethan muttered. "Can't wait."

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The Date Begins...

The blind date was set at a fancy rooftop restaurant, complete with string lights, soft jazz, and a menu so overpriced that even Ethan had to squint at the prices.

He arrived early, dressed in a crisp white shirt and navy blazer, determined to make this work. After all, Sophie was happy, so why shouldn't he be?

Then she arrived.

Her name was Tiffany. She was stunning—flowing blonde hair, a sparkling dress, and a smile that could light up a room. Ethan thought, Okay, this might not be so bad.

Until she opened her mouth.

"So, like, what's your zodiac sign?" Tiffany asked, sipping her cocktail.

"Uh… Capricorn," Ethan replied, unsure of where this was going.

She gasped. "Oh my God, that's so weird because I'm a Pisces! We're, like, cosmically incompatible, but that's okay because opposites attract!"

Ethan blinked. "Right…"

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The Cat Story

As dinner progressed, Ethan tried to focus on Tiffany's words, but it quickly became clear that she had a one-track mind.

"I have six cats," she announced proudly.

"Six?" Ethan repeated, his fork pausing mid-air.

"Yes! Mr. Whiskers, Fluffy, Sir Meowington, Cleopatra, Purrcy, and Snuggles. They're my babies," she gushed, scrolling through her phone to show him pictures of her feline army.

Ethan forced a smile. "They're… adorable."

"Oh, they are! And I think they'd just love you," she said, leaning forward. "You seem like a cat person."

Ethan coughed. "Actually, I'm more of a… dog person."

The smile on Tiffany's face faltered, and for a moment, Ethan thought she might flip the table.

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The Escape Attempt

Midway through dessert—a molten chocolate cake Ethan barely touched—Tiffany excused herself to the restroom.

Ethan took the opportunity to text Zoe. "I'm never doing this again."

Zoe's response was instant: "LOL, you're stuck. Good luck!"

Ethan groaned, running a hand through his hair. He glanced around the restaurant, considering a stealthy escape, but the sight of Tiffany returning, waving enthusiastically, crushed his hopes.

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The Closing Disaster

As the evening dragged on, Tiffany became more animated, laughing loudly and gesturing wildly. At one point, she knocked over her wine glass, spilling red wine all over Ethan's blazer.

"Oh my God, I'm so sorry!" she squealed, grabbing a napkin and dabbing at his chest—too aggressively.

"It's fine," Ethan said through gritted teeth, resisting the urge to bolt.

"I just get so clumsy when I'm nervous around handsome guys," Tiffany admitted, her cheeks pink.

Ethan gave her a tight-lipped smile, inwardly praying for the night to end.

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Back Home

When Ethan finally returned to his penthouse, he ripped off his wine-stained blazer and collapsed onto the couch.

His phone buzzed. It was Zoe again.

"So… how was it? Are we planning a wedding yet? 😂"

Ethan typed back: "If I see another cat photo, I'm moving to another planet."

Zoe replied with a string of laughing emojis.

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Ethan's Reflection

As Ethan poured himself a glass of scotch, he couldn't help but think about Sophie again. She'd never shown him pictures of cats or spilled wine on him, but she had a way of making him feel alive, even when they argued.

He sighed, leaning back and staring at the city lights.

"Maybe some people just can't be replaced," he murmured.

His phone buzzed again—this time with a notification from a dating app Martha had signed him up for without his consent.

Ethan groaned. "This is my life now."

And somewhere in the city, Sophie was laughing with Mia, blissfully unaware of Ethan's comedic descent into matchmaking hell.