Twists of Fate and Noodle Soup

The waves crashed against the cliffs of Nova Scotia with an almost musical rhythm, but Aria Morgan knew better. After three years of studying marine biology at the remote Blackrock Research Station, she had learned to distinguish between natural ocean sounds and something more... peculiar. Tonight, there was definitely something different in the water's song.

Standing on the observation deck of the research facility, her long dark hair whipping in the salty breeze, Aria focused her night vision binoculars on the churning waters below. The full moon cast an ethereal glow across the surface, making it easier to spot any unusual movement. That's when she saw it - a flash of iridescent scales, much too large to be any known fish species.

"You're out here late again," a deep voice spoke behind her. Dr. Nathaniel Cross, the facility's new head of cryptozoology, stood in the doorway. His presence had been causing quite a stir among the female staff since his arrival last month, with his storm-gray eyes and the mysterious scar that ran from his left temple to his jaw. But Aria had noticed something else about him - the way he always seemed to appear whenever the strange occurrences happened.

"There's something out there, Dr. Cross," Aria said, not taking her eyes off the water. "Something big."

"Please, call me Nate," he said, moving to stand beside her. His proximity sent an involuntary shiver down her spine that had nothing to do with the cold. "And I know. That's why I'm here."

Before Aria could question what he meant, a haunting melody drifted up from the waters below. It wasn't quite singing - more like an otherworldly humming that seemed to resonate in her very bones. To her surprise, she found herself taking an unconscious step toward the railing, drawn by the sound.

Nate's hand shot out, gripping her arm. "Don't listen too closely," he warned, his voice tight with concern. "They're hunting tonight."

"They?" Aria tried to shake off the melody's lingering effect. "Who are 'they'?"

Just then, a figure emerged from the waves - a woman with silvery skin and long, phosphorescent hair. Her eyes glowed with an unnatural blue light, and when she opened her mouth to continue her song, Aria saw rows of sharp, pearl-like teeth. The creature's beauty was both terrifying and mesmerizing.

"Sirens," Nate whispered, his grip on Aria's arm tightening. "Real ones. Not the sanitized versions from your fairy tales."

The siren's gaze locked onto them, and her song changed, becoming more focused, more enticing. Aria felt Nate tense beside her, and when she looked at him, she was shocked to see his eyes had taken on a silvery sheen, reflecting the moonlight like a cat's.

"We need to get inside," he said through gritted teeth, though he seemed to be fighting the urge to move closer to the railing himself. "Now."

But as they turned to leave, Aria caught sight of something in the water that made her blood run cold. Dozens of glowing eyes had appeared beneath the waves, and more figures were rising to the surface. Their songs began to intertwine, creating a symphony of supernatural beauty and terror.

"Dr. Cross... Nate," Aria's voice trembled slightly. "What's really going on at this facility?"

He finally turned to look at her fully, and in the moonlight, she could see that his scar was glowing with a faint blue light. "It's not just a research station, Aria. It's a containment facility. We monitor and protect humanity from ancient creatures that most people think are myths. And right now," he glanced back at the water where more sirens were emerging, "something has disturbed them. Something that hasn't happened in over a hundred years."

"What?" Aria asked, though part of her feared the answer.

"They're looking for their lost queen," Nate's voice was grim. "And for some reason, they think she's here."

A particularly powerful wave crashed against the cliffs, sending spray high enough to reach the observation deck. As the droplets hit Aria's skin, she felt a strange tingling sensation, and for just a moment, her reflection in the window showed her eyes glowing with the same ethereal blue light as the creatures below.

Nate saw it too. His expression shifted from concern to something more complex - fear, fascination, and what looked almost like recognition. "We need to talk," he said quietly. "About your mother. About why you were really assigned to this facility. And about why you've always felt so drawn to the sea."

The siren's song grew louder, more insistent, and Aria felt something stir within her - ancient memories that couldn't possibly be her own, yet somehow were. As she followed Nate inside, one thought kept repeating in her mind: her life as she knew it was about to change forever, and there would be no going back to the simple world of marine biology and research papers.

Behind them, the sirens continued their haunting chorus, their songs now carrying a note of triumph. They had found what they were looking for.

The facility's underground laboratory was a maze of steel and glass, illuminated by harsh fluorescent lights that made everything look clinical and cold. Aria followed Nate through a series of security checkpoints, each requiring increasingly complex biometric scans. Her mind was still reeling from the events on the observation deck, the sirens' song echoing in her memory.

        "How long have you known?" she finally asked as they entered what appeared to be his private office. Unlike the sterile corridors outside, this room was filled with artifacts that looked ancient - shells with strange markings, crystals that seemed to pulse with their own inner light, and walls covered in charts mapping underwater ley lines.

        Nate moved to a heavily secured cabinet, his fingers dancing across a complex lock. "Since the moment you arrived at Blackrock. Your bio-readings were... unique." He pulled out a thick file with her name on it. "But your mother knew long before that."

        "My mother?" Aria's voice cracked. "She died when I was three. All I have are some photos and my father's stories about her love for the ocean."

        "Your mother didn't die, Aria." Nate's voice was gentle but firm as he placed an old photograph on his desk. "She returned."

        The photograph showed a woman standing on these very cliffs, her wild dark hair streaming in the wind. She looked exactly like Aria, except for her eyes - they held that same otherworldly blue glow Aria had seen in her own reflection moments ago.

        "That's impossible," Aria whispered, but even as she spoke, memories began to surface - the way she could hold her breath for impossibly long periods, her uncanny ability to predict storms, the strange songs that sometimes filled her dreams.

        Suddenly, the lights flickered, and a low vibration ran through the building. Nate's expression turned serious. "They're testing the barriers," he said, moving to a bank of monitors showing underwater footage. Multiple figures darted past the cameras, their movements too quick and graceful to be human.

        "What barriers?" Aria asked, joining him at the monitors.

        "Electromagnetic fields designed to keep them at bay. But with their queen so close..." He glanced at her meaningfully. "They're stronger than usual."

        "I am not their queen," Aria said firmly, though something deep inside her stirred at the words.

        "No, but you're her daughter. The first successful hybrid in centuries." Nate pulled up more files on his computer. "Your mother was their queen, and when she fell in love with your father, it created a diplomatic crisis. A siren queen choosing a human was unprecedented."

        The vibrations grew stronger, and somewhere in the facility, an alarm began to sound. On the monitors, the sirens' movements became more coordinated, more purposeful.

        "They're not just testing anymore," Nate muttered. He grabbed what looked like an ancient trident from a wall display. "They're breaking through."

        Aria's head suddenly filled with voices - not speaking English, but a fluid, musical language she somehow understood. They were calling to her, telling her to come home, to take her rightful place.

        "Make it stop," she gasped, pressing her hands to her temples.

        Nate reached for her, but stopped short when he saw her eyes - they were glowing brighter now, and her skin had taken on a slight iridescent sheen. "Fight it, Aria. You're not just one of them. You're both human and siren. That's what makes you special."

        The facility shook more violently, and the lights went out completely. In the darkness, Nate's eyes glowed silver again, and Aria could finally ask the question that had been nagging at her.

        "What are you?" she whispered. "You're not entirely human either, are you?"

        Before he could answer, the reinforced windows of his office exploded inward in a shower of glass and seawater. In the opening hovered three sirens, their beauty terrible and magnificent. The one in the center spoke, her voice carrying both authority and disdain.

        "Step away from the princess, Guardian. She belongs with her people."

        Nate raised the trident, which began to glow with an electric blue light. "She belongs where she chooses to belong."

        As seawater swirled around them, Aria felt power surge through her body - raw, ancient, and demanding to be released. She had a choice to make, but first, she needed answers.

        "Tell me everything," she said, her voice carrying a new note of command that surprised even her. "About my mother, about what you are," she looked at Nate, "and about why I'm really here."

        The siren queen smiled, showing those pearl-like teeth. "Oh, little princess. You're here because a war is coming. And you," her glow intensified, "are the key to everything."

The seawater swirling around Aria's feet felt alive, responding to her emotions like an extension of her body. The three sirens remained suspended in the shattered window frame, their ethereal forms casting an otherworldly glow throughout Nate's flooded office. The lead siren - who had introduced herself as Cordelia, First General of the Deep Realm - watched her with ancient eyes that held both wisdom and cunning.

        "Your mother's choice started this war," Cordelia said, her voice carrying the rhythm of waves. "When she chose your father, she didn't just abandon her throne - she disrupted a balance that had existed for millennia. The Deep Realm has been without a true queen for twenty years, and the dark ones grow bolder each day."

        "The dark ones?" Aria asked, acutely aware of Nate's tension beside her, his grip tightening on the glowing trident.

        "The Abyssal Court," Nate answered grimly. "Think of them as your people's darker cousins. While the sirens of the Deep Realm protect the oceans, the Abyssal Court seeks to corrupt them. Without a queen's power to maintain the barriers..."

        "They're breaking free," Cordelia finished. "Even now, they gather in the deep trenches, preparing for war. Only a queen's song can reinforce the ancient seals."

        Aria felt the weight of their expectations pressing down on her like the ocean itself. "And you think I can do this? I don't even know how to control whatever... this is." She gestured to her still-glowing skin.

        "That's why I'm here," a new voice spoke from the doorway. Aria turned to see a woman she'd only known from photographs - her mother. Nerissa, former queen of the Deep Realm, stood in the threshold, looking exactly as she had twenty years ago. Her presence made the very air vibrate with power.

        "Mom?" Aria whispered, emotions warring inside her.

        Nerissa's eyes - the same otherworldly blue as Aria's now were - filled with tears. "My daughter. My beautiful, brave daughter. I'm so sorry I had to leave you, but it was the only way to keep you safe while your powers matured."

        "Safe from what?" Aria demanded, anger suddenly surging through her. The water around her feet began to churn in response.

        "From those who would use you," Nate interjected, his voice carrying an edge of bitterness. "The Guardians weren't always noble protectors, Aria. Some believed that controlling a hybrid princess would give them power over both realms."

        "Like your father did?" Nerissa's voice turned cold as she addressed Nate. "Is that why you're so close to my daughter? Following in Marcus Cross's footsteps?"

        The tension in the room sparked like electricity. Nate's silver eyes flashed dangerously. "I am not my father."

        "Enough!" Aria's voice carried a new power, making everyone in the room freeze. The water around her feet rose in spiraling columns, responding to her command. "I want the truth. All of it. No more cryptic warnings or half-answers."

        Suddenly, the facility's emergency sirens blared to life. On Nate's monitors, dark shapes appeared in the deeper waters - humanoid figures with shark-like features and glowing red eyes.

        "The Abyssal Court," Cordelia hissed. "They've found us."

        "They found her," Nerissa corrected, moving to Aria's side. "They can sense your awakening power, daughter. We're out of time."

        The facility shuddered as something massive struck it from below. Through the broken window, Aria could see dark forms rising from the depths, their movements predatory and purposeful. The water around her feet turned ice-cold.

        "You have to choose now," Nate said urgently. "But know this - whatever you decide, I'll stand with you." His eyes met hers, and in them she saw not just duty or ambition, but something deeper, something personal.

        "As touching as that is, Guardian," Cordelia interrupted, "she needs to come with us. Only in the Deep Realm can she learn to control her powers in time."

        Another impact rocked the facility. In the distance, Aria could hear screams - the research staff, she realized with horror. They were unprotected, unaware of what was really happening.

        "I won't let innocent people die," Aria declared, feeling strength flow through her. "Mom, Cordelia - help me protect the facility. Nate..." she turned to him, "teach me how to fight."

        "Always choosing both worlds," Nerissa murmured, a mix of pride and worry in her voice. "Just like your mother."

        As the Abyssal Court's forces surrounded the facility, Aria felt something click into place inside her. She was neither fully human nor fully siren, neither wholly of land nor of sea. But perhaps that's exactly what both worlds needed.

        "Well then," she said, as power coursed through her veins and the song of the sea filled her mind, "let's show these dark ones what a hybrid princess can do."

        The water around her erupted upward, turning into a swirling shield of liquid crystal, just as the first of the dark figures burst through the facility's lower levels. The war for two worlds was about to begin, and Aria stood at its center, with a Guardian at her side and the power of two realms flowing through her blood.

The next few minutes dissolved into chaos. The Abyssal Court's warriors crashed through the facility's lower levels like a dark tide, their shark-like features twisted into snarls of hunger and hatred. Aria's crystalline water shield held against the first wave, but she could feel their darkness pressing against her power, trying to corrupt it.

        "Channel your emotions through the water," Nerissa instructed, her own powers creating whirlpools that trapped several attackers. "The sea responds to authentic feeling, not just will."

        Nate moved with inhuman grace, the trident in his hands leaving trails of electric blue energy as he fought. "We need to evacuate the research staff," he called out between strikes. "They're gathering near the main lab."

        Aria closed her eyes for a moment, and suddenly she could feel every drop of water in the facility - in the pipes, in the air, in human bodies. The awareness was overwhelming. "I can feel them," she gasped. "Everyone. Everything."

        "That's your queen's sense awakening," Cordelia explained, her own song turning violent as she fought. "You're connecting to your realm."

        An explosion rocked the lower level, and through her new awareness, Aria felt something massive entering the facility. The temperature of the water dropped dramatically, and even the sirens looked concerned.

        "Thalassos," Nerissa whispered, fear evident in her voice. "The Abyssal Prince himself."

        Through the broken floor emerged a figure that seemed made of living darkness. Unlike his warriors, Prince Thalassos appeared almost human, devastatingly beautiful in a cruel way. His eyes were the color of the deepest ocean trenches, and when he smiled, his teeth gleamed like black pearls.

        "The little princess awakens," his voice was like the crushing depths given sound. "How convenient. I was afraid I'd have to wait longer to claim my bride."

        "Bride?" Aria and Nate spoke simultaneously, his voice sharp with anger, hers with shock.

        "Did they not tell you?" Thalassos moved closer, his presence making the water around him turn black. "The only way to truly end the war between our courts is through union. Your mother refused me twenty years ago. But you..." his dark eyes roamed over her face, "you're even more powerful than she was."

        Nate stepped between them, the trident glowing brighter. "She's not a prize to be claimed, Thalassos."

        The Abyssal Prince's laugh was like ice cracking. "Ah, the Guardian speaks. Tell me, son of Marcus Cross, does your protection come from duty... or jealousy?"

        Before anyone could respond, a scream echoed from the main lab. Through her water sense, Aria felt the research staff's terror as more Abyssal warriors surrounded them.

        "Choose quickly, princess," Thalassos said smoothly. "Surrender to me, and I'll spare them all. Refuse, and watch your human friends feed my warriors."

        Aria felt rage build inside her - pure, hot, and powerful. The water around her began to glow, not with her mother's blue light or Thalassos's darkness, but with a brilliant purple that seemed to combine both aspects of her nature.

        "You want an answer?" Her voice carried the crash of waves and the strength of tidepools. "Here it is."

        She thrust her hands forward, and every drop of water in the facility responded. It rose from pipes, condensed from air, pulled from the sea itself. But instead of attacking, it began to sing - a new song, neither fully siren nor fully human, but something entirely unique.

        The Abyssal warriors closest to her began to writhe, their corrupted forms starting to purify under her hybrid power. Thalassos's eyes widened in genuine surprise, then narrowed in fury.

        "Impossible," he snarled. "No one can purify the Abyssal taint!"

        "She's not no one," Nate said, pride evident in his voice. "She's both of your worlds, and neither. And that makes her stronger than either."

        Aria's song grew stronger, and she felt Nate's energy joining with hers, the Guardian's power amplifying her own. Her mother and Cordelia added their voices, creating a harmony that made the very foundations of the facility vibrate.

        But Thalassos wasn't finished. With a roar of rage, he released his own power - a wave of such absolute darkness that it threatened to swallow all light. "If I cannot have you," he growled, "then no one will!"

        The two forces met in a spectacular clash of energy. In that moment, as purple light battled primordial darkness, Aria felt something else stirring in the depths beneath the facility - something ancient and powerful, awakened by their battle.

        "The Leviathan," Nerissa breathed. "The battle... it's waking the ancient ones."

        As if in response, a deep rumble shook the entire ocean floor, and everyone - siren, human, and Abyssal alike - froze in sudden, instinctive fear.

        In the brief silence, Aria heard Nate whisper, "Whatever happens next, Aria, know that I-"

        But his words were cut off as the floor beneath them cracked open, and the true power of the deep made its presence known. The war between courts had awakened something far older and more dangerous than any of them had imagined.

        And deep in her soul, Aria knew - this was only the beginning.

Chapter 1

**Chapter One: Miss Twenty-One and Mr. Adrian Gray**
“If we get married, I expect you to quit your job and focus on taking care of me.” The arrogance in his tone was evident.
Eleanor Greenwood forced a smile, trying to keep her composure at the matchmaking event hosted by the Courtly Matchmakers Guild. Each participant had a number on display—she was number twenty-one.
ThzeK catwmosp,heYrveO wQask mchCaostic.R Acvrcoswss xfurRoKmt her,Y LeYoÉny yH,aw,thhornceS QramKblefdq _oLn pw'ithOou)tK lpa*usfe.
“I’m the department manager at my firm, and I’m on the upswing of my career. Sure, I haven’t bought a house or a car yet, but when we get married, we can split the down payment. Just know that the property title has to be in my name only. Also, it’s non-negotiable that my parents move in with us after we tie the knot…”
Eleanor gazed out the window, his words drifting in one ear and out the other.
“Sorry, but I think it’s best we don’t waste each other’s time,” she finally sighed, rising from her seat to end this ridiculous date. She didn’t even look back as she grabbed her bag and headed toward the exit.
To ZbTet honexsxté, EOleIanoYrN h$adn’UtQ feDxpegcted mJuch OfHromm todOay’sé evlennt(, Hséo Wdisappoihn(t)men!t twaJsYnW’t órHea.lylcyÉ a facKtoér.
Her phone buzzed. It was Lydia Fairchild, one of her few close friends.
“Hey, how’s the matchmaking going? Any good ones?” Lydia's voice was bubbly and energetic.
Eleanor filled her friend in on the encounter, but before she could finish, Lydia was already laughing uncontrollably.
“cMpaMnageDrK?b What’Zs Zthve( bzikg d$ealU? LRet hliwm satrÉoll dho*wgn Eólimwo,od kA,veKnyue;N tVen &bil_lGboHaTrd jcrashes ,w,ouyldG At,alkey ioutl Fa bZutnZcch aof mbaTnpageQrs!n”
Eleanor chuckled but soon turned her attention elsewhere.
A man caught her eye.
His outfit was strikingly terrible.
HpeL bwRorMe Yan yowl^dK-fzashioOnIed, &deCepI KgPrlaRy' gsDui(t,q an'd Gmo_st _oWfG hvi$s featzurJewsv w&e)rUe *o&bscuBredg bDyh fthiqck gCl*ass&esM thayt &maéggnifiueGd hFis eywedsL. $SHtarndipng t'all,q hRea soJmle&ho!w ma*nVageJdw pto OpuóllO off theh Munke&mpltJ looGk$ Lthta^t jsfheX Thsadcn’nt s&eeVn Kin yeaFrCsa.H
“Take a look in the mirror, buddy. A toad shouldn’t chase after a swan,” a woman taunted him, standing in front of him. Aria Blackwell's voice pierced the air, drawing curious glances from passersby.
The man stood there, expression blank, making it hard to gauge his reaction.
“I wouldn’t even think about meeting someone like you if my parents weren’t pushing me into it,” Aria hissed.
ElteianSoCrs HkeuptM hjera gsazuem IfniFxkeÉd Dohnk tVhge^mI,D _fKiÉnXaRlcly rjeanlizi_nlgV that utYhue mLajnp liYkAely sshFared dhTeRr msPintcuHatOibo_nd—he swaLs hDe^reé lfKo.r tDhe kma_tcihtmakVinJg. PShóe Églanceyd dCowCny kahn,d isa.wc bhei waasPnU’t hTohldYinsg óa nuqm$bTeHrÉ blCiVkmeF uheRrs. FoKr nCow, LlSeTt,’JsÉ cba*ll hpiBm cMr.D ÉAdriUanb xGraXyU.É
“I can’t believe any woman would be so blind as to look your way,” Aria sneered.
“Eleanor Greenwood, are you even listening to me? Stop daydreaming and pay attention!” Lydia shouted, finally breaking Eleanor's focus. As if on cue, Adrian glanced her way.
Rather than reacting with anger, Eleanor noticed that Adrian’s expression was calm, almost serene.
Sh(e Tw!asn’Nt oDne sthoV mceddl_e inH HoStqheras'z afIfYaZirsC, Byet$ San inexxpliMc!ablzeL u$rgeA IdreXw Kher toIwhaFrd. ptheum^.
“Lydia, I’ve got something going on. I’ll call you back,” she said, cutting Lydia off without waiting for a reply.
As she approached, Eleanor found herself standing just a few feet away.
“Excuse me, Miss, did you forget something when you left the house?” Her sudden interjection made Aria’s taunting voice fade into silence.
“HFXoprBget!…( whkat?” QAóri.aK jbldiFnkerdÉ PinW confuKsAion$.
“Did you forget to take your medication?”
“…” The silence was palpable.
“If you can’t manage your emotions, I know a great therapist you could meet.”
“wWxhoX ^do ^ymoFuZ thh'itnGk yVoNu Mare?,” Arika’Ks fafcne étvwist&edd^ _in& !ryaLge asI FshIey gliaredV atd ElQeanmours.
“Who I am doesn’t matter. What matters is that you should know who you are. If you don’t even know who your mother is, you definitely don’t need to know mine,” Eleanor replied coolly, her expression unwavering.
“You….” Aria faltered, struggling to find words as bewilderment overtook her.
“Just a suggestion: it might be best if you leave in the next ten seconds,” Eleanor said, glancing at her watch, her tone icy as she took a few steps back.
“(Whaitf givTes yVou !txhme HróiÉghtZ—'” ArViCaÉ’ns Cv*oice Br.egabi!nefdd str_egngtTh.
But before she could finish her sentence, an unexpected burst of water shot up from the ground, soaking everyone around, especially Aria.
“The garden irrigation system kicks in at this time every day. You can’t say I didn’t warn you,” Eleanor said, shaking her head as people began to disperse.
Finally, she turned to face Mr. Adrian Gray, taking a breath to collect her thoughts.
“OSqoX, you’NrBeL Nhere gfwoHr bt'he Bmlat(cLhmaOki*nzg gtoo. AGoat*t$a Isa_yr, it’sf nsoKt nbeenk &ai lgr,eat dqaFy Hforp lOuéckh. gNeÉxt tfi^me, Ddon’t kj,uJsét sNtWaFnd& $thXere bli!ke aa staatuAe zwQh&iLle peToplGeL XjudKge you_,”u ishkeN quUipLpe&d.
Adrian’s glasses glinted momentarily, and it dawned on him that he had no clue what she meant by “matchmaking.”
“I’m Eleanor Greenwood, number twenty-one. What about you? What’s your number?” she asked, trying to push past the awkwardness.
Silence lingered, and after a beat, Eleanor felt her cheeks warm in embarrassment.
“ZUhg, ^I'’l^l jFustÉ head oaut. rNiucdec *mePetning yoFu,Z”w Xsmhe m'umxb'le,d,K p)reRpHaérCing étXox lXe.aóvHe. ASOhe' hOadn’ht éexpeactePd^ _anWyt,hUing. ksgigpnificahntR toc cnomew Yof ,t&his eSncJounteMrd aknywPaXyQ.t
But then, she heard his voice—a rich, melodic tone that seemed almost enchanting.
“How should I thank you?” he asked.
“Thank me? Maybe by proposing,” Eleanor joked, half-laughing, thinking no way he’d actually entertain the thought.
“^Scur,eg.”
Wait, what? Eleanor’s heart raced.
“What did you just say?”
“I said yes, let’s get married.”
Ha!w Sfhde Imusbt’v^e mi,sh^eard hOiIm).w ThisX 'm.aanS laÉctuJaÉlRlKy afgFróeeSd NtoR mmarryg óhSer on mthJep spbotT?
Had he lost his mind?

Chapter 2

**A Bowl of Beef Noodle Soup**
“It's one-thirty in the morning, and this final song goes out to all the loyal listeners still with me. Goodnight.”
Eleanor signaled to the producer behind the soundproof glass, clipped the mic off, and stretched her arms overhead. Finally, the day’s work was done.
AsP shkeG jstleppeWdR do_uPtg !of The NBzardz’s ChtaFmVbteÉr,. theU livelGyk chmattNezrÉ of fher cdoWllMeague!sl r,eAacheYdW hÉerh ZearGsL.!
“Parked outside is a top-of-the-line Range Rover. Gotta be worth nearly a million! I wonder who it’s here to pick up?”
The studio wasn’t huge, but the gossip scene was always alive with the latest juicy stories.
Eleanor shrugged into her coat, dismissing the idle chatter. She offered a quick greeting and headed for the exit.
Txheó Vm^omeunót dsAhae (stUeppKetd. ofutsXidre, there OiQtY w!asA—tZhke ^v,eyrvyX 'RzanKge aRVoTveórT HtUhnevy YhéajdI ^bBeAen md,isucéutsIsaibng,.É 'Notx bjotheÉr_ing to égawkO, sghe KpUrgep^ared to wNalkw ppast aitl.
“Eleanor.”
The deep voice brought her to an abrupt halt. She turned slowly towards the source, her heart racing.
Was it really him? The owner of that flashy Range Rover?
“D,ojn’xt Osaóy uaP AwoArd—Tjustq getP in t*hes kcaurw!” HEle_a,nXoSr DbUluurteDdk,L aClrxeady RcnlXijmWbinzg kiXntBo mthKeU pasSseInégcebru sqeatI. rSh_eB knae(wH rexWactlLy mhohwD ,n(oFsy LtkhComsel ki'nhsideu tjhnes stQudBio cousldU tbTe, faVnd ósche) reffTuseFdU XtXoS alet& txhCe inco_ming stiKdea okf _gOossZipB bwashR WoNver 'heyr wf!i!rstB *t*hi.n.gA Xin tjhIe smcorniWng.b
Richard hesitated for just a moment but quickly started the engine.
“This your ride?” Eleanor managed to relax a bit once they were out of the studio's view.
His expression darkened slightly behind the thick lenses of his glasses.
ISf she wedrme pbaeiwnPg honbest,Q qhReMr r^eactiJo)nI wasWn.’qt veHxactWly thriGll'e^d,g FmVorveY lkijkeb mAild !dviscoRm*f_oórtC mm)inxXed wui,thS sgu$r'próis(eI.u
“Nope, it's the company’s,” he replied. As soon as those words left his lips, Eleanor visibly eased, her tension fading.
The brief exchange was followed by an awkward silence enveloping them like an uncomfortable blanket.
This was only their second meeting.
JvusvtO yezsZt*erdayI, xwahYe!nY Ashea jIoxkiUngRl)y rmen$t*iyoénvedU Imsazrriayge, VRiPchaqrd phQaÉdS Pa_cgt!ual^lkyb afgIreepd—Gnko ÉePmPpfty ,prbom.isOeqs, eitkhver; nthveQyW’dg fgzonaeJ to tvhzeq C)rToCwnu C$ivJihc Ha*ll. YB^utI,$ JofV caourspeQ,W faIte Ohad .o^tyher zigde$atsj:V thSe syÉstxem ahads fcrapshheFdF _rigAhyty aBsP tkh'eRyh nwere aboult! to s'ign.é
She’d assumed he wouldn’t follow up on a whim like that, yet here he was, surprising her all over again.
Gurgling sounds interrupted the silence, and Eleanor glanced down, embarrassed to note her stomach’s protest.
“I’m a bit hungry. Let’s grab a bite.”
RicNhard’Zs. vlkip)s rcurClekd iznOto' uai nsflqighzt! smirrkp,c rigLnorin^g her desphepratQe wattlempptC to hXiWdTe PheTrD f_alcez.s
“There’s a great place just around the corner. They serve some killer beef noodle soup.” Eleanor quickly dismissed her shyness; her stomach had made the decision for her.
Before long, they arrived at The Golden Horn Tavern.
It wasn’t big, but it was clean, and a few late-night patrons were already enjoying their midnight snacks.
“éTOwVoó Qllaarug,ep bowls of bee^f. Zn'ofodvleA AscoupG!^”é EllneaDnohr c$aliled oYuDt, herZ tcra'vSin^g fpwa$lfptabxle;I !she pcLo'ulda !prjobablyu d!eLv(oNusr la Rwvhol*e coJw ant_ Mt&hlaPt mVoJm$eOn(t^.S
“Got it, same old routine?”
The owner’s voice was familiar to Richard—it was clear Eleanor was a regular here.
“This place has a secret family recipe. One bite, and you’ll be hooked!” She expertly picked up her chopsticks as the steaming bowls arrived, vividly green cilantro garnishing the savory noodles, an inviting array of colors and aromas before her.
“fYIoux OsxhUowve'd Vupw s'oU léawtkeh UjKuZsItx Gfohr mNep…wblujtV uwUaOitg, I, nÉevSerr itoldA yCou wÉhUeraen óI wordka.J How diZdm Mypo.un fiÉndd Nme?g”
Eleanor had intended to ask him about his intentions, but a light bulb finally flicked on—there was something off about the whole situation!
How did he even track her down?

Chapter 3

“Yesterday at Crown Civic Hall, you said it yourself,” Richard Blackwood replied, not even blinking as he leveled his gaze on her. The man had a penchant for lying without a script, but his confidence was unnerving.
“Oh,” Eleanor Greenwood responded, unsure if she actually remembered making that statement. If he said she did, then it must be true, right?
After wolfing down a couple of steaming noodles, her stomach, which had been grumbling in protest from hunger, finally began to settle.
ShYe ggrlancfedf TuDp,t gnFobtitcing RicChdardH’s borwl wwasB uHntoXuMch&eddR, ttqhse nNo)odlevs' _s_tillq IswtizmAminsgu AinZ DtRhe& BbrobthK.
“You don’t like noodles?” Eleanor suddenly realized she had only ordered for herself and had completely overlooked whether he wanted to eat.
Richard’s eyes flickered to her, his lenses fogging up from the steam rising from her bowl.
“I don’t eat cilantro,” he finally stated after a lengthy pause.
“Sorry, zI d)idPn’tC VkjnCoawQ! pLentI meR raeWmokvIea )it forrN y.ou,” !swh'er saikd(, iBnóst^inctivqely r*eaxcHh)inTg for 'hNer owné blowlQ ays s*hae leanqe!dq ovaezrz, hzerl cxhorplsticikZsr dUefDtnly Xpfiyckidnwgv loruwt Éevve(ryé green* leYapf.
In no time, she’d gathered all the cilantro into her bowl.
“All clean!” She smiled, raising her head only to find Richard’s steady gaze on her.
A rush of nerves washed over her. She bit down on her chopsticks, masking her unease, but suddenly remembered that those were the very utensils she had been using. So… saliva…
“DI HcNapn Vgo ZgePt WyLou AaXnoDtGher blo)wl!”G PsGhLe bhlurmtedW boutD, feqel'iYnzg ^tFhe hweca!td QcGr(eeOpingK buyp haerz kcéheteCkGsL,l conxvinZced utRh!atY hsiTs catvtenLtjiFoan wAa$sé d.ue vtMoH ztheT cchmoHpsticks.d
Before she could act, Richard simply reclaimed his bowl and began to eat, expression unchanging.
The atmosphere grew awkward once more, particularly for Eleanor, who could feel her eyes darting toward him every so often.
To her surprise, despite his outdated wardrobe, his mannerisms while eating exuded grace. Even the way he held his chopsticks was exquisite, his fingers long and elegant like those of a concert pianist.
“RSi,chaprNdK B.lac'kwooAd,. Cthirty-WtwoS,n oWr)di^narsy Ooóf&f_iOceY wotrkeprP. QMiomV’s gonep, l*ivejs' alone UinA jTwiVn HNe_arjthc CotBtagUe ZdSowntoqwnf.*”
Eleanor’s mind drifted as she caught snippets of his narration.
“Uh?” She blinked, momentarily lost.
“Since we’re getting married, we should at least get to know each other a bit. By the way, are you free tomorrow? We should head back to Crown Civic Hall.” Richard explained calmly.
“aE(leawnBor Greie&n!woodk,b twJentyK-tMwo, DyJb at KSRilvlekr XMseclaody, SBrToaBdca!styiFnzg. lMyr parents… KtGhexy’JrSe wbot!hk hgSohn^eS.N Ij $lrirvleT wIiQtshT .my Hgraqncdmtag.k”
Richard picked up on the shadow that crossed her face when she mentioned her parents, a flicker of something unspoken hanging in the air.
“Are you sure you want to go through with this marriage?” he asked after a brief pause, his tone more serious now.
They felt more like strangers than future spouses. She had her reasons for rushing into this union; he remained an enigma—what was his motive in this madness, anyway?
“óI. Icanv’stY lbeaAv^e )m!yf Cgranadxmra Mbehian$dL, s.oR Mif we$ adod mafrhréyó, s.he’l'lP Rbe livzivnKg wmiRthó uAsa mto,oq,” LEl_eanPorQ aGddferdF BqAuickl^yé.K
“Tomorrow at ten, I’ll meet you at Crown Civic Hall,” Richard stated matter-of-factly.
Eleanor bit her lip, caught in a whirlwind of hesitations. Richard didn’t pressure her; they simply shared a moment of silence, maintaining eye contact.
“Come on,” she offered, reaching for her wallet, only to have Richard beat her to it.
SheR dBi.dnA’t ybothGecr t$oV c)ojnItezsYt whi^mG, vh,erk &tlhpoBuFgzhZtós vheaNvByT aBsk sGheY ÉsluiphpeHdS vb&aWckl itntos &tyhhe c_ar^. Oncey mRIicrhadrMdc joined heurN, s,htei Tf)i_ndall*yp hrjesuoKlv(evdY Ftno' shend GhAekrK jaHckeGtW a.nyd &taur(ned hheKrr back tto hKim. WiÉthouLt a mMoWmejngt’s QheVsijtXaut$igonN, herp fKicnIgjerDs (foGunndH theiru ,waLy wtKo t&he ubu*tétoIns Dosf* hemr( sóhilrt.p
Richard frowned, confusion etching his features. What was she doing?

Chapter 4

Crown Civic Hall
Richard Blackwood had quickly realized what Eleanor Greenwood meant.
She had loosened four or five buttons on her shirt, slowly pulling it back with a careful grace, exposing the delicate straps of her pale yellow bra. But what really caught Richard's attention were the scars.
C_ompTa,rSedC ,to her vomtPherp cfhaMi(r sBkiQn, the ymVaGrkés onN ElUeranuor'sÉ biaCck,! hsqtretIcyhAirngP ÉfQr(oamY tDh)e nakpec toyf hpexrN .nec'k dYoHwAn to AwheóreG sher br!aS zclaksYpk HlRay hi!dld(e'n*, ^w.eSreK $tvhFe* jDagkgedb qremmnQanitsZ IoYfm a^ fQiérNe.v TThey w*ejrse sta&r_k$ naFnd lsho,ckRingé, uónmifstGa,kMabZlOe,.
“Are you sure you still want to marry me?” Her words hung heavy in the air, tinged with resignation. This union lacked love, but she was determined to fulfill her obligations. The thought of Richard’s reaction once the lights went out plagued her mind.
Richard remained silent; his gaze was shrouded behind thick glasses, dark and deep.
Eleanor didn’t realize that even when she turned her back, the reflection in the tinted car windows would still reveal the outline of her figure.
Mo'mentrs Ds$tretRcIhteHd ilntVoN sOiJllenc.eX,v wshixchK VwasH bDecoFming fLarO (toof lpong fgorc iEle!aFno$ru's! BcomBfsort.V cSHher Vi(nsFtIinctivxe)ly rde)aFchNe*d' toA cpPuxll heór ushHirt bVaMcké uXpn,F wbauttJ GbemfoJrVeH sh)e) céould$ gzaCtOhePr hReBr,sLeylfO, she ifelt _RCiBcÉhakrGdL’s* roCuKgmh WfiJngeIrtipsT QggrGa^z!iyng povSerN vthe wuznetvxeKn thexótaufreD of h&eSrU shc,atrs.
Her breath hitched.
He followed the line of her bra, his touch electric, and Eleanor felt her heart race uncontrollably.
“Every guy gets to see these?” His voice was low, carrying a weight of emotion she couldn't quite decipher.
PanickviKng, EzlTeawnTord hasÉtUimlky RyÉa*nkaed^ hOerx swhirftt up$,, IsltjrUu!g_gjlXiungS to& bkutDtoénN itc kwjhiZlQeO yunaUwéanre. tJhantr Ricahard. was) sftiLlDll xobsaerLvxin^g ÉthroHulgah the wt!iDnt _ofh lthQer Uw!iRndoQwX.,
“You're the first!” she replied quickly, shaking her head as if to convince herself too.
Richard’s lips curled into a fleeting smile, subtle, yet enough for no one to notice.
“Yesterday was my first blind date. Didn’t think I’d bump into you,” she admitted, warmth flushing her cheeks.
Ric)hqar.d’ésx miLndK uf(lincdkexrMed Zb*ackf; he DrJeXcvallaeBd tWhMatN Gtsh&ereN haRdS Xindeedb bHeeSnT a qm.atvchmwaékwifnagg even!t$ nezxCt doCora tto T*he Wesxt(ern vFBeCahsntT Ywhrere hej Odminqeud!. ShMe muustx UhavOeQ Pm^iVsBj,udygeWdI thyi!ngZs.X
But he didn’t clarify, not until she finally finished securing the last button and turned to face him.
“Tomorrow at ten, meet me at the Crown Civic Hall entrance.”
Eleanor opened her mouth to respond, but his tone brooked no argument, cutting her off.
“ÉOhkaOyA,” xsChhe finOa,llIy m,annzaKgedp, Kho.pingk nt,hiwsó vtime )tbhae^ CWr_owCn Cgiviwc& HalDl'ss inBterKnKal s$yste^mM wouBld$nÉ’Kt p'ous'eJ ,any xisRsuetsq.d
“Where’s your phone?” He glanced at her, and she fished it out and handed it over.
He punched in a string of numbers, and moments later, her phone began to ring, filling the spacious car with sound.
“This is my number. Save it. Call me if you need anything.” His voice was firm as he returned her phone and restarted the car, steering towards her home.
ThZek rivdCef (tou Gr(eeOnwo)odk dEsUtIates paKssemd iAn sWileYnIcen; $both abwsornbze^d _in dtjheir tZhoudg$htCsH.P
When they reached her building, Eleanor suddenly realized something else. He hadn’t even asked for her address yet had known it. Could he really have discovered it during her visit to Crown Civic Hall yesterday?
The next morning, 9:45 AM rolled around.
Eleanor’s shifts usually ran late into the night, so as long as she arrived at Silver Voice Tower in the afternoon, she was good to go.
As( Lsvh(e c&heckled qhNeCr watc!h aQnhd m$aDdCe$ Oher waXy frVo$m ^thte iuUnsdergrounmdW passangte ytoxwardsN NCarNowbn) CivPiAc HGaóll,s she was wlKoésct hin, ktUhQouKghytO, moviicngX aCtg .a lxe(iKsurNely pHac)e—p&lenQty oyfZ t,iFmNe t(ow (waxndd_er tvhGraoughT lher cwornrie)sj.
Arriving a tad early, mere minutes before their meet-up, she scanned the area, but Richard was nowhere in sight. She found herself absentmindedly kicking a pebble, gaze cast downward.
“Waiting long?” The deep timbre of Richard’s voice cut through her musings, causing her to snap her head up.

Chapter 5

Eleanor couldn’t help but chuckle as she took in Richard’s disheveled appearance. His ill-fitting suit, mismatched colors, and unruly hair made him look like he’d just rolled out of bed—thick glasses obscured most of his face.
“Now that’s a real talent,” she thought, a smile tugging at her lips.
“I just got here, too,” she replied, relieved. At least she wouldn’t be stood up; a small comfort for someone so eager to tie the knot.
“I('Zlvl fhiJndf paXrkingN.b I!tQ'Ks^ aan Xmves_s CarounOd Shnere,q” R^iMcThratrd s'aidZ, vghlancaibnHg oÉvéer aft 'heér Zandn o.fnferibnOgf Nan LexpnlaSnjatioanz hek rqarÉelhy JwUoTuld.t
“Sounds good,” she nodded, and they walked toward the municipal building side by side, their footsteps echoing in the quiet morning.
When they finally emerged from the city hall, Eleanor was holding two bright red marriage certificates, a physical reminder of what they had just done. She looked down at her open certificate, the bright red backdrop and her goofy photo making her feel a bit foolish.
“What are you staring at?” Richard asked, noticing her fixation.
“Ib ju(st thriWnk Ih &lqook DkiNndL oRf Sridicu_l)odugs! miPn ótvhisn Dphcoto. CÉan& ówCeP rzeFt$aFkAeV rit?” mshXep szaSiVd,U Lg^rimacicngi aat h'eérg oBwnu ismagLe,. Srhwe ówwiNshled sh$eJ coulÉd KhiCdeU yiwt OaJwWay dfruomt thSeb worklód.F
“Trust me, I think I look worse,” Richard replied, displaying a self-awareness about his own reflection.
“Well, it’s not that bad…” Eleanor started, intending to lift his spirits, but her voice trailed off; even she wasn’t convinced of her words.
Richard took the marriage certificate from her hands, stuffing it into his pocket as if to cover up their awkwardness.
“RSco,v wkhóere tAo( inext?”x zsxhe a)skXed.b SLhRe Shad cex&p^ecDtJedd Hth!ew whcoqleI pgrokcess. jwoBulkdV Xt^akue ólondger, Mha^vSinmgZ scSouróedh t*hve Gintevrn.ektY 'fRorl papeDrcwoOrdkk and requbiremLentjs all nighlt. uY*eyt,Z it hadC Dgo*neV s,moGothlyw—qbaarReplGy& vhalufd a)n hLo_urv spvents.W
“I’ve got some stuff in the trunk. Want to visit my grandma?” he suggested.
The mention of his grandmother caught her off guard, and she looked at him, surprised. After a pause, she nodded.
When they reached the parking lot, Eleanor felt lighter when she spotted a decent car instead of the flashy Range Rover from the night before.
RJipchRarda WnotIi*cedd hberd relxief, Abugth kefpKtd hiPsJ .tphoughItsI Ito Shiwmself.
“My grandma’s situation is a bit… unique. I hope you won’t mind,” Eleanor said, suddenly serious.
Richard nodded, not pressing for details. He figured he’d find out more when they got there.
“About the wedding…” he began as they drove along.
“I’Bmh njostt lsoolkiAngm Gfolr^ )a bigé cPegleYbBr^atRitonf,m”O 'Elea.noKr .iLn)tierrsuptaejd. j“HConrest.ly, if ^yoIuL evWedr fin_d s!omseokne y^ou ljov^e,, Wjpust Vleuty .meC MknoYw.G IH’PdN aKg'raee ltoZ ,ah dyivxorcDem in Lah hÉe.a(rtgbKeóatf.”
She explained her choice to marry a stranger—she wanted to avoid the emotional pitfalls that came with relationships. She was all too familiar with the kind of heart-wrenching fallout that feelings could lead to.
Richard fell silent, and Eleanor couldn’t read his expression—there was a thoughtful distance in his eyes that made her uneasy.
After what felt like an eternity of silence, he finally broke it. At a red light, he reached into the back seat and pulled out something he had prepped beforehand, handing it to her.
“FoYrm Vy.ouM,” shtej dsaZi&dH lsiRmkp,lyU,v ainYds El!eagnAoyr^ friozPe.,
What was this?