Chapter 2:
The room erupted into chaos.
Reporters surged forward, their voices climbing over one another like waves in a storm.
"Do you know him?"
"Are you going to accept?"
"Was that an official proposal?"
"Are you in a relationship with him already?!"
Cameras flashed in every direction, all of them now pointed at Lena—the girl still half-hidden behind a tray of roses and daisies. Her breath caught. She quickly tugged her hoodie over her head, shielding her face from the swarm of attention.
Jin moved quickly. "This way," he whispered, gripping her arm gently but firmly and guiding her toward the back exit.
Security swarmed in, ushering reporters out of the building. The press conference was abruptly over.
Outside, the noise dulled. Lena stood beside her flower van, her hands shaking as she took in a long breath of air.
"Are you okay?" Jin asked her.
"I'm fine. Thank you," she mumbled. "Now let me go, please."
"With everything that just happened," Jin said calmly, "we can't just let you walk out like this."
"What do you mean?" she asked, heart pounding.
Before he could respond, Will Shade stepped into the parking, irritation still flickering in his eyes like sparks.
"I need to attend the next meeting," Will said flatly.
Jin straightened. "Sir, we need to deal with this first—"
"Then deal with it later," Will interrupted. "Let's go."
Jin gave Lena an apologetic look. "I'm so sorry, flower girl. I'll reach out to you soon."
"Can I at least leave?"
Jin turned to a pair of security guards. "Make sure she gets out unseen."
Still stunned, Lena climbed into her flower delivery van, the warm metal beneath her hands grounding her to the present. Her thoughts spun like leaves in the wind. What had just happened?
Will Shade had pointed at her—her—and declared they would marry.
The arrogance. The audacity. The absolute nonsense of it all.
She returned home in a daze, handed her mom the day's earnings, then closed the shop. As evening crept in, she changed into her night uniform and headed to her part-time job at the convenience store.
"Hey there," her friend Aline called as she clocked in.
Lena gave a weak smile.
"You okay? You look like someone ran over your flower cart."
"I guess… you won't believe what happened to me today."
"Let's get through this shift first. After, we're going to Uncle Sam's. You need a drink and I need the tea."
Lena nodded. "Fair."
Later that night, seated across from each other with cheap beers and greasy fries, Aline's eyes went wide as Lena explained the incident.
"Wait… Will Shade?" Aline gasped. "The Will Shade? From Lumina Corp?!"
"Is he a big deal?" Lena asked dryly, sipping her drink.
"He is the deal. The ultimate one. He's the bachelor who's already married—in a million girls' minds. Look at this—see those streetlights? He probably owns the street, the lights, the air around it, and half the moon!
"It wasn't a real proposal," Lena said. "He pointed at me and said he'd marry me—just to prove a point. I was just… there."
Aline stared. "Girl. He used you as a public statement."
"Exactly," Lena muttered. "Just some poor girl he could throw in the spotlight to prove he doesn't need a glamorous actress on his arm."
"I'd still say yes," Aline whispered, awestruck.
Lena rolled her eyes. "You're hopeless."
Aline opened her phone. "Weird… there's nothing online. No news updates."
"His assistant said he'd handle it."
Aline leaned forward, grinning. "Okay but like… real talk. Is he as charismatic in person?"
"I don't know. I barely looked at the guy. His assistant seemed nicer."
"Girl, no one cares about the assistant! You always fall for the side character! This is real-life drama! You could be Lena Shade. Do you even know what that means?!"
"It means I get used and then tossed aside," Lena said, pushing her beer away.
"Or it means you get your family out of debt. Help Kyle finish school. Give your mom the rest she deserves. Lena, this is the kind of plot where the poor girl ends up in a contract marriage and then falls in love—"
"Okay, okay!" Lena stood up. "Enough fantasy. Back to reality."
Except she was far too tipsy to walk straight.
A tall shadow appeared.
"What is this?" came the voice. Deep, stern, and familiar.
Lena blinked. "Kyle…?"
Her younger brother stared her down, arms crossed.
Aline stiffened. "Heyyy Kyle…"
"Don't even think about sneaking away. You drank too, didn't you?"
"I—uh…"
He groaned. "I'll call you a cab. And you," he pointed at Lena, "come on. You're embarrassing."
Lena giggled as he helped her down the sidewalk. "You got tall, little bro. I should start calling you big brother."
He rolled his eyes but softened.
Back at home, he tucked her in, removed her shoes, and stared at the luxury hoodie she didn't remember grabbing.
"At this rate, sis, you'll never get married," he muttered. "Nice hoodie though. I might steal it."
She murmured something about buying him everything one day.
Kyle shook his head and turned out the lights. "Sleep tight, crazy flower girl."
The next morning…
"LENA!" her mother's voice rang through the house.
"Ugh, my head," Lena groaned, dragging herself into the living room.
And froze.
Jin was seated at the kitchen table, sipping tea beside her very eager-looking parents.
"Good morning, Miss Morisawa," he said politely. "May I have a word?"
Lena's heart nearly stopped. "You're real?"
Her mother smacked her back lightly. "Don't be rude! He's a guest!"
Then whispered fiercely, "You better not ruin this. Do you see how rich he looks?!"
Jin smiled gently. "Madame Morisawa, if you don't mind, this is a private matter."
"Of course, of course! Take your time!"
She left, leaving Lena alone with Jin and a thousand questions.
"Well?" she said. "You came to take back your check or what?"
He gestured to the chair. "Please sit. I'm here to explain."
She did, warily.
Then he handed her a folder.
Inside it: a marriage contract.
"For one year," he said. "You may list your terms and name your price. You have two days to consider."
Lena shot to her feet, eyes blazing.
"WHAT?! A marriage contract?! With ME?!"This is a joke, right?