chapter 36

Kara sat alone at the café section of the grand Lucent Hotel, sipping a mocha with her tablet in one hand and a small printed picture of Alden in the other. It was Saturday—the "big day"—and her perfectly scheduled dates were about to roll in. One after another, each woman would believe she was having a blind date with a charming, successful man looking for something serious.

But in reality?They were meeting Kara—the bossy, no-nonsense gatekeeper.

Her plan was simple: test them without warning, observe their attitude, modesty, and sincerity. If they passed her test, then and only then would she consider introducing them to Alden.

1st Appointment – 10:00 AMA tall woman in a tight red dress and sunglasses strutted into the café. Kara watched her curiously. She introduced herself as Veronica.

Kara stood up politely and said,"Hi, I'm Kara, Alden's niece. He couldn't make it, so I'm here to keep you company."

Veronica's lips tightened."I thought this was a date… Why am I being interviewed by a child?"

Kara raised an eyebrow and sipped her mocha."It's called 'screening.' You'll be surprised how many women want his money more than his heart."

Veronica scoffed."Look, I came here for a man, not to impress a kid. Call me when he's serious."And with that, she stormed off in her designer heels.

Kara scratched her off the list with a smug smile."Next."

2nd Appointment – 11:30 AMA soft-spoken woman in a beige skirt and flats entered shyly, clutching her purse like it was her anchor. She introduced herself as Linda.

Kara repeated her introduction and watched closely.Linda smiled warmly."That's very sweet of him to send his niece. Family means a lot, doesn't it?"

Kara nodded, pleased.They talked for half an hour. Linda was gentle, grounded, and a nurse by profession. She wasn't flashy, didn't ask how rich Alden was, and mostly wanted to know if he was happy and kind.

Kara starred her name."Strong maybe."

3rd Appointment – 1:00 PMJolene arrived in a bright yellow suit, bubbly and loud. She pulled her chair with flair and immediately began chatting.

"Where is he? The famous Alden! I was told he's deliciously charming. Does he own jets or yachts?"

Kara stared blankly."...Why does that matter?"

Jolene giggled."Oh darling, a man's assets say a lot about his ambition, no?"

"And what does your obsession with them say about you?" Kara deadpanned.

Jolene's smile froze."You're a brat."

"And you're not getting a second call," Kara said, tearing up the evaluation sheet in front of her.

4th Appointment – 3:00 PMNaomi came in last. She wore minimal makeup, her hair tied in a neat bun, and she smelled of jasmine. When Kara explained the situation, Naomi looked a little surprised but didn't complain.

Instead, she laughed and said,"You're quite the protective niece. He's lucky to have you."

They had an hour-long conversation, and Kara found herself oddly liking her. Naomi was a literature teacher, had a love for poetry, and was a firm believer in growing together with a partner. She said nothing about money, status, or titles.

Kara highlighted her name in bold.

Back at Home That Evening…

Ethan lay sprawled on the couch with a drink."So? Did they survive your military-style screening?"

Kara grinned."Three made it. And they're not gold diggers or drama queens. They're warm, humble, and honest. I'm calling it the final round. Now it's his turn to meet them."

Alden, who had been quietly listening, chuckled."Are you sure you're not trying to marry me off like I'm a prince in an auction?"

Kara raised an eyebrow."You are a prince. A rare one. I'm just finding the right queen for your kingdom."

Alden laughed heartily. For once, the idea of love didn't seem like a burden—but a door gently swinging open.

Alden sat at a private corner of the same hotel Kara had used for her screenings. It was his final date of the day, and while the previous two had been graceful and respectable women, he didn't feel that spark. He sipped his tea and glanced at his watch. The last candidate was running late.

Just as he was about to signal the waiter to cancel, the door opened—gently but with presence—and in walked Anna.

She wasn't overly dressed. She wore a soft blue dress that complimented her calm demeanor and had her hair pulled back loosely. There was a lightness to her, a quiet elegance that made time pause for a moment. She walked in, slightly flustered from rushing, but with an apologetic smile that melted any irritation Alden might have had.

Then their eyes met.

It was subtle—barely a second—but something flickered. A warmth. A pull. Something neither of them could quite explain.

Alden stood up automatically, his heart skipping a beat."Anna…?" he said, unsure why the name slipped out so naturally.

Anna blinked, surprised."Yes. Have we met before?"

He smiled slowly, a nostalgic shadow crossing his face."A long time ago. Primary school. You used to sit under the old fig tree during lunch and read storybooks."

Anna gasped softly."Oh my... Alden? Alden Walters?"He nodded.

She laughed softly, genuinely stunned."You were the quiet boy who always got perfect scores in science. I remember you. You never talked to anyone… but you always looked like you wanted to."

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck like that same shy schoolboy."I wanted to talk to you. Every day. But I didn't have the courage."

There was a pause—a sweet, slow silence.

"I thought I'd never see you again," she whispered.

"And now here you are… Kara's top choice," he smiled.

They sat and began to talk, but the conversation flowed like a stream that never dried. They didn't touch on status, money, or expectations. Instead, they laughed about their school memories, their shared love for old books, how much had changed—and how much hadn't.

For the first time in years, Alden felt something lift off his chest. A warmth filled his heart—a sense that maybe happiness wasn't something he'd have to search for anymore.

As they parted at the hotel entrance, Anna turned and said,"You know, I used to wonder what happened to you."

Alden smiled."I guess I was waiting for the right time to reappear in your story."

She smiled back."Well, welcome back."