FATE - can a person in one lifetime fall in love with the same person twice?

Chapter 21

Yes, it was my first date, though a somewhat staged one, and I was sitting in a private area of a luxurious restaurant with my boyfriend.

After I left the CEO's office, my mind in turmoil. The weight of the signed marriage contract seemed to press down on my shoulders, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had just made a deal with the devil. My parents needed the help, and I knew deep down that this might be the only way to secure their future. But at what cost?

The next few days were a whirlwind of preparations. He had arranged for his staff to assist my parents with rebuilding their restaurant. They were grateful but curious about my mysterious ‘boyfriend.’ I had to fabricate a story about a whirlwind romance to cover up the truth, which weighed heavily on my conscience.

One evening, after a particularly long day of wedding preparations, Eden invited me to dinner at an upscale restaurant. I was apprehensive, but I knew it was part of our agreement.

As we sat across from each other, the atmosphere felt tense. Eden, however, appeared relaxed, sipping his drink and studying the menu. I fiddled with my napkin, unsure how to break the silence.

“So, how are your parents?” he finally asked, his tone casual.

“They’re doing better,” I replied, trying to mask my discomfort. “Thanks to your help, they’ll be able to reopen the restaurant soon.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he said, setting down his glass. “And how are you holding up?”

“I’m managing,” I said, though my voice betrayed the uncertainty I felt. “This whole situation has been overwhelming.”

“I understand,” he said, his eyes softening. “It’s a lot to take in. But I want you to know that I’m here to support you.”

His words caught me off guard. Despite the cold, transactional nature of our agreement, there was a hint of sincerity in his voice that made me wonder if there was more to Eden Miller than I had initially thought.

“I appreciate that,” I said, my tone softening. “It’s just... this isn’t how I imagined my life would turn out.”

He nodded, a contemplative look on his face. “Life rarely goes as planned. But sometimes, unexpected paths can lead to better opportunities.”

I pondered his words as we continued our meal in relative silence. Perhaps there was some truth to what he said. Maybe this unconventional arrangement could offer me a future I hadn’t considered.

We continued our discussion on the important matters to consider before and after marriage.

The news had already spread throughout the city that he had proposed to one of his employees. He had admitted it and even created various narratives about our relationship. He said he fell in love at first sight when I bumped into him and fell for me repeatedly during the interview and every day at work. He confessed that we had been secretly dating for the past two months and now wanted to get married.

Despite initial skepticism, people eventually believed it. At the office, everyone congratulated me, though I couldn't help but wonder what they said behind my back. Rose teased me, saying that was the reason he made me stay late every day under the guise of extra work. From the very first day, he had me working overtime, so it was a relief that things were working out now.

“You’ll resign at the end of this month,” he said, looking deeply into my eyes.

“Why?” I asked, though I also wanted to resign.

“Because I said so,” he replied, taking a sip of his drink.

I just sighed. I didn't want people to treat me differently at the workplace either.