A new hope

Smiling faintly, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, Ford reflected on his father's plans. There wasn't a single thing happening in their family that escaped his notice—he kept tabs on every one of them. Yet, he still couldn't understand why his father was so eager to step down. One thing was certain: he would never let anyone else claim his birthright.

He knew he had to act quickly, especially when it came to finding a wife. His thoughts wandered to the lady Kevin, his friend, had begged him to meet. Ford had neither followed up with Kevin nor heard anything from the woman. Suddenly, it struck him—he hadn't even taken her number. All he remembered was her name, Elena. Two weeks had already passed since their encounter.

Grabbing his phone, Ford dialed Kevin's number. Midway through the call, he remembered something—he hadn't informed Kevin about the proposal he'd made to Elena. Quickly, he ended the call. Within moments, Kevin called back.

Ford hesitated before answering. After some deliberation, he finally picked up.

"Any problem? You called and hung up. What's going on?" Kevin's curious tone came through the line.

Ford didn't waste time with pleasantries. "Are you still in touch with Elena?" he asked, rubbing his temple as he waited for Kevin's response.

"Elena? Who's Elena?" Kevin replied, sounding genuinely puzzled.

Ford froze. Was this a joke? "You can't be serious," he said, incredulous.

"I'm serious. Who's Elena?" Kevin repeated, his tone firm.

"The lady you asked me to meet two weeks ago as a favor," Ford clarified, struggling to keep his irritation in check.

"Oh, her! Is that her name? I totally forgot. So, how did the date go?" Kevin asked, his tone light.

"Date?" Ford echoed, confused. He didn't consider their meeting a date. Realization dawned—Kevin had been trying to set him up all along.

"Kevin," Ford said, his tone sharp, "how many times do I have to tell you? I don't need you playing matchmaker. I'll find my own wife. This is the seventh woman you've tried to pair me with this week. It has to stop."

Kevin chuckled. "But she's perfect for you. Sure, she's not looking for anything long-term, but I think you two could hit it off."

Ford sighed. "Well, I need a wife, and she seems like the best option for now."

"A wife? Marry her? Already? You barely know her!" Kevin exclaimed, shocked. "You're not falling in love, are you?"

"Send me her number," Ford said curtly, ignoring Kevin's protests.

Kevin paused. "Wait… are you serious about this? Marriage? Why are you rushing into it with someone you just met? You don't even know her well enough."

Ford's tone was resolute. "I don't have the luxury of time, Kevin. Just send me her number."

Kevin hesitated, unsure how to respond. The seriousness in Ford's voice left no room for argument, but concern lingered in his mind.

"I'll be expecting her number from you soon. Good night, Kevin," Ford said firmly before ending the call. A faint smile lingered on his lips as he placed the phone down on the vanity table beside his bed. His plans were finally falling into place.

Stretching his arms in exhaustion, he felt the weight of the day tugging at him. His eyelids grew heavy, signaling it was time to retire for the night. Just as he was about to drift off, his phone beeped, notifying him of a new message.

Ford frowned. His initial instinct was to ignore it, but curiosity got the better of him. Lazily, he walked back to the table and picked up his phone. A grin spread across his face—Kevin had sent Elena's number.

But before he could savor his small victory, another message popped up, this time from his father.

Ford's expression darkened as he read it. "Get to meet party?" he muttered, his voice laced with irritation. "What kind of ridiculous name is that?" His disgust was palpable.

The message continued: "Prepare for the party on Friday night."

"Just a day's notice?" Ford hissed. His suspicions grew. He was certain his father, along with Fred and his mother, was plotting something. But whatever it was, he wouldn't be caught off guard. He needed to stay one step ahead of them.

Slamming the phone back onto the vanity table, Ford resolved not to check it again that night. He had had enough. Closing his eyes, he tried to will himself to sleep, though his restless thoughts about his father's plans made it nearly impossible.

Meanwhile, Elena sat biting her nails, anxiety coursing through her. Her nerves frayed at the thought of her father. It had been over a year since she last saw him, and during that time, he hadn't made any effort to contact her. Even after sending her to the States, he never called or checked in. The only communication she received came through his assistant.

She often wondered if he truly cared for her or if he despised her entirely. The indifference he showed after her mother's death left a deep scar. He had always been distant, but his coldness had worsened since then.

Lost in her thoughts, Elena was startled by the sound of a car horn blaring outside. It jarred her back to reality. For a moment, she debated going to greet her father. But the thought of facing her stepmother and stepsister—who never missed a chance to belittle her—made her stay put.

Feeling disheartened, Elena retreated to her bed and scrolled aimlessly through her phone. Her phone had been offed all through the night. Checking her messages. A message from an unknown number caught her attention.

"Hello Elena, it's been a while. Are you still considering my proposal?"

She read the text aloud, her voice tinged with shock. Her heart raced as she stared at the screen, wondering who had sent it and what they meant.

Suddenly it clicked. "The guy from the other night" her mind raced. She had wondered why he stopped being in touch.

It made her loose hope and she was ready to accept her fate with her father. Taking deep breaths, even though she was so excited she wouldn't show it.

"Who is this?" She dropped the message. Hoping the sender replies.