Chapter 6: The search begin
1591 Words
Their next stop was a quiet library.
The atmosphere was peaceful, almost too peaceful compared to the chaos they had experienced earlier. The soft turning of pages filled the air, mixed with the occasional sound of footsteps moving between the tall shelves. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, falling in warm patches across the polished wooden floor.
Rose and Sophia walked slowly between the shelves, their eyes moving from one person to another as they searched for their perfect candidate.
Sophia adjusted her handbag on her shoulder.
“Keep your eyes open,” she whispered.
Rose sighed.
“I am.”
Then they saw him.
A man sat alone beside the window, completely absorbed in the book in his hands. He wore a neatly pressed shirt with a tie, and a pair of glasses rested comfortably on the bridge of his nose. Beside him sat a cup of coffee, its faint aroma blending with the familiar scent of old books.
He looked calm.
Intelligent.
Sophisticated.
Sophia stopped walking.
She slowly turned toward Rose.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
Rose followed her gaze.
She nodded.
“I think so.”
They approached the man.
“Hi.”
The man lifted his eyes from the book.
“Hi.”
His voice was calm, and he gave them a polite smile.
“Can you spare us some time?”
He glanced between them, slightly puzzled.
“Okay.”
Sophia pulled out the chair opposite him, and she and Rose sat down.
“My friend and I have a problem,” Sophia began. “We don’t know if you can help us.”
The man raised an eyebrow.
“What kind of problem?”
He calmly picked up his coffee and took a sip.
Rose looked at Sophia.
Sophia looked back at her.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Rose finally took a small breath.
“We need a fake boyfriend.”
The man immediately coughed.
He nearly choked on his coffee.
His eyes widened behind his glasses as he placed the cup hurriedly back on the table.
For a second, he looked like he wasn’t sure whether they were serious or playing some strange joke.
Then he burst into laughter.
“Sorry.”
He covered his mouth, trying to regain his composure.
“Sorry.”
Rose quickly reached into her bag and brought out her handkerchief.
“Here.”
The man looked at her, clearly surprised by her kindness, before accepting it.
“Thank you.”
He wiped his mouth and gave her an amused smile.
“Is this for a story you’re working on?”
He looked between them curiously.
“I’m an author myself.”
Rose shook her head.
“No. We’re serious.”
The man’s smile faded slightly.
He studied them for a moment.
“Why do you need a fake boyfriend?”
He paused.
“To get back at your ex?”
Rose and Sophia froze.
They exchanged a quick glance.
“How did you know?”
The man shrugged.
“I’ve read plenty of stories about fake marriages.”
A faint smile returned to his face.
“Fake boyfriends are less common, but this story is interesting.”
Rose frowned.
“We’re serious.”
“So am I.”
Rose sighed and stood up.
“Never mind. Let’s go.”
Sophia followed her reluctantly.
As they walked away, Sophia glanced back at the man.
“Why did we leave? He was interested.”
Rose glanced over her shoulder before turning back.
“I don’t like guys with glasses.”
She shrugged.
“They’re too timid.”
Sophia let out a laugh.
“Just like you.”
Rose shot her a look.
“You’re funny.”
Behind them, the man watched them disappear between the shelves.
He shook his head, an amused smile tugging at his lips.
“What is wrong with them?”
He looked down at the handkerchief in his hand.
“I was actually trying to give them an idea.”
He pulled out his phone and made a call.
⸻
They visited several other places.
One after another, their attempts failed.
Some people thought they were joking. Some assumed they were filming some kind of prank or social media video. Others simply ignored them, refusing to entertain the strange request.
By the time they arrived at LaBelle Restaurant, Rose was beginning to lose hope.
The restaurant was elegant and peaceful. Warm lights hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow over the beautifully decorated interior. The tables were neatly arranged, and the gentle clinking of cutlery mixed with quiet conversations around them.
Rose and Sophia sat across from a man wearing a plain suit.
He looked at them with a curious expression.
“So you want me to be a fake husband?”
Rose quickly shook her head.
“No, sir.”
The man tilted his head.
“A fake boyfriend?”
Before Rose could answer, his eyes suddenly shifted toward someone across the restaurant.
His expression changed.
The color seemed to drain from his face.
Sophia noticed immediately.
“What’s wrong?”
The man quickly grabbed his bag.
But it was too late.
A woman stormed toward their table, her heels striking sharply against the tiled floor.
Before anyone could react, she picked up a glass of water and splashed it directly over Rose and Sophia.
“Hey!”
Sophia shot to her feet.
Rose gasped, water dripping from her hair and clothes.
The woman crossed her arms, glaring at them.
“Which one of you is my husband’s mistress?”
Rose stared at her in disbelief.
“Your husband?”
She turned slowly toward the man.
“He was married?”
Sophia looked at him with disgust.
“That loser.”
The woman pointed accusingly at them.
“Which one of you is his mistress?”
Sophia folded her arms.
“You are.”
The woman’s eyes widened.
“What did you say?”
“It’s not my fault you can’t control your dog.”
The woman’s face reddened with anger.
She stepped forward, but Rose quickly grabbed Sophia’s arm.
“Enough.”
The argument grew louder, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.
A few customers turned in their seats to watch. Someone whispered to another person. The waitress hurried over, followed closely by security.
After several tense moments, the woman was finally escorted away.
Rose and Sophia slowly sat back down.
They were both soaked, embarrassed, and completely exhausted.
Rose wiped the water from her face.
“This cannot be happening.”
Sophia stared at the man who had caused the entire disaster.
“I can’t believe this.”
The man had already disappeared.
That was the final attempt for the day.
They returned home exhausted, their search having turned into one disaster after another.
Sophia dropped onto the couch.
“That woman was crazy.”
She complained as she looked at Rose.
“I would have handled her.”
She threw a few punches into the air.
“I’ve taken boxing classes.”
Rose couldn’t help laughing.
“Not like you lasted long.”
Sophia lowered her fists.
“At least I attended.”
She reached for a bottle of water and took a long drink before noticing Rose’s phone.
Her eyes narrowed.
“Wait.”
Rose looked at her.
“What?”
Sophia picked up the phone.
“He sent another picture.”
Rose’s expression immediately changed.
Sophia opened the picture.
Ethan stood beside a swimming pool, a champagne glass in his hand. A woman in a silver dress leaned against him, smiling as though they were enjoying a perfect evening together.
Sophia’s expression hardened.
“That crazy man.”
She zoomed in on the picture.
“You should block him.”
Rose stared at the screen silently.
“Not yet.”
Sophia looked at her.
“Why?”
Rose looked away.
“I don’t feel like it.”
Sophia studied her face for a moment.
She could see that Rose was trying to pretend the picture didn’t affect her, even though the sadness in her eyes said otherwise.
Sophia finally sighed.
She thought for a moment.
Then an idea came to her.
“I think we should go to a club.”
Rose’s expression immediately changed.
“A club?”
“I can’t go back there.”
Her voice was quieter now.
The thought of returning to a crowded nightclub made her stomach tighten. The loud music, flashing lights, and sea of strangers were exactly the kind of environment she preferred to avoid.
Sophia softened.
“I know crowded places make you uncomfortable.”
She moved closer and gave Rose a reassuring smile.
“But maybe it’s time.”
Rose didn’t answer.
Sophia leaned forward and kissed her cheek.
“Good night.”
She picked up her bag and headed toward the door.
Rose watched her leave.
The door closed behind Sophia.
Silence settled over the apartment.
Rose slowly picked up her phone and stared at Ethan’s picture one last time.
The image remained on the screen, reminding her of everything she was trying so hard to forget.
She locked the phone and placed it beside her.
For a moment, she sat quietly, lost in thought.
Maybe Sophia was right.
Maybe she had been avoiding too many things because of what Ethan had done.
Maybe it was time to step outside her comfort zone.
She took a slow breath.
Maybe the only place left to search…
was the one place she feared the most.
The nightclub.
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