Chapter 5
964 Words
They kept talking, but I couldn’t focus. My mind was spinning. I had already met the Lancaster heir — danced with him, laughed with him. At the same time, I felt a spark of excitement. Everything was falling into place… even if I hadn’t planned it that way.
The long speech ended, and the soft music returned. The party continued.
After some time, Cole came over to meet me — but it wasn’t the same as before. Now, he’d been introduced as the heir to Lancaster Holdings, and suddenly everyone had their eyes on him. Watchful, curious eyes followed his every step as he made his way toward me.
Among those eyes were Mary and Victoria.
The look on their faces made me smirk.
Cole got closer and leaned in, whispering, “Hi.”
“Cole Lancaster. The heir to Lancaster Holdings,” I said, trying to mimic his deep voice. “And you said ‘It’s just Cole’.He laughed. “To be fair, I did say you’d find out.”
“Why didn’t you tell me, though?” I asked, raising a brow.
“I didn’t want you to treat me differently. If you’d known I was the heir, you probably wouldn’t have let me off so easy after spilling coffee on me.”
I tilted my head. “I don’t know… it was an emergency involving my dad. And I don’t play about my dad. But I get where you’re coming from.” “I knew you’d get it,” he said, smiling.
I looked around. “But there are too many eyes on us now. I kinda feel self-conscious.”
“Should we go somewhere private?” he asked.
Before I could even respond, he grabbed my hand — firm and warm — and together we dashed off, running from the sea of prying eyes.As we weaved through the crowd, I heard whispers and gasps ripple behind us. It didn’t matter.
We went out to the balcony, and the view from up there was magnificent. It was already late in the night, and the stars shone brightly, making the night sky look like it was meant just for us.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” I asked.
“Very beautiful,” he replied — though I didn’t know at the time that he was staring at me.
We stood there for a while, the sounds of laughter and music fading into the background.
“Honestly,” I said, “tonight has been… surprising.”
“Surprising how?” he asked, leaning against the railing.
“I didn’t expect to feel this… at ease with a complete stranger. You don’t really get that every day.”
He nodded. “I feel the same. It’s kind of refreshing. Like, I don’t have to pretend around you.”
We talked about so many things — from silly childhood moments to long-lost friends. You wouldn’t believe we had just met that night. It felt so easy.“Why did you really decide to come back to New York?” I asked, my voice soft.
“I’ve been away for far too long,” he said. “And I miss home.”
He paused, then added with a small laugh, “Also… my grandmother threatened to disown me if I didn’t.”
I burst out laughing. “Wow. I guess threats work!”
He laughed with me, shaking his head. “Apparently.”
He leaned against the balcony railing, his expression thoughtful. “Honestly, I had no idea this whole ‘find a bride’ thing was part of the plan. That was all my grandmother’s doing. She’s convinced I’ll never get married and the Lancaster name will die with me.”
He chuckled again, but this time his eyes found mine.
“But now that I’m here… I don’t think the idea of a wife is half bad,” he said, his voice low and sincere.
And just like that, the air shifted.
I coughed lightly and decided to change the atmosphere.
“Since my father got sick,” I began slowly, “my stepmom and her daughter have been treating me like trash. At first, they were so nice and loving… but then they suddenly changed overnight.”
I glanced at his face — concern was written all over it.
“I’m sorry… was that too much?”
“No, no. You can continue,” he said softly. “I’m just worried.”
“I’ve basically been working like a slave in my own father’s house,” I admitted. “Part of the reason I came tonight was because I knew I had to change my story. And it just happened to coincide with your return.”
I looked at him again, trying to read his expression — but it was blank. unreadable.
“I understand if you’re upset,” I continued. “But I needed a way to make my stepmother pay. And you looking for a bride… well, that was just the icing on the cake.”
His silence stretched, and my heart sank. “Since you’re not saying anything, I’ll assume you don’t want to talk to me anymore… I’ll leave.”
I turned, ready to walk away. But just as I took my first step, he grabbed my hand, pulling me back gently but firmly.
I turned around, startled, and his eyes locked onto mine with a sincerity that almost took my breath away.
“Is that why you approached me before?” he asked.
“No,” I shook my head. “I didn’t even know who the heir was until they made the announcement.”
A pause.
Then, quietly but firmly, he said, “Let’s do it.”
"Let's do what?" I asked.
"Let's do it," he replied. "Get married."
- Writer
