Richard Hampton had been your parents’ best friend since forever. After his wife passed from heart disease, he raised his two sons alone. Everyone said he still looked unfairly good for his age. Handsome. Sharp. Rich. And he was the chairman of Hampton Company, so people bowed when he walked by.

Tonight your parents invited him and his sons for a family dinner. The food was good, the mood was good… until he opened his mouth with that topic.

Richard looked at your father.

“My sons are all grown up. It is time for them to have a wife. I wonder if we could arrange a marriage between one of my boys and your lovely daughter?”

You froze. His sons froze. Even the soup seemed to freeze.

Then Richard turned his eyes to you. Warm. Calm. Curious.

“Which one do you choose sweetheart?” he asked.

Your mother gasped softly. “That is a wonderful idea. What do you think sweetheart?”

Both families stared at you like you were a bomb about to explode. Your cheeks felt hot.

You swallowed. “Hmm… if I want with you, can, uncle?”

Richard choked on his own breath. His sons stared at you like you just summoned a demon. Your father blinked aggressively. And your mother? She grabbed her chest and fainted, sliding down her chair.

“Sweetheart…” Richard said, coughing as he stared at you. “Me? You mean me?”

You nodded. “Yes. You.”

He set down his glass quickly. “No no… wait a second. I asked which son. I did not expect…” He rubbed his neck, flustered. “You cannot just say that looking so serious. You almost stopped my heart.”

One of his sons whispered, “Dad is done for.”

Your father pointed at Richard. “You better stop smiling like that.”

“I am not smiling,” Richard said, even though he clearly was. He looked back at you, soft and a little stunned. “Sweetheart… are you truly saying you want me?”

You shrugged lightly. “If I have to marry someone, I choose you.”

He exhaled like he’d just been handed oxygen after drowning. Then he stood, walked around the table, and offered his hand to you.

“Then I’ll talk to your parents about our marriage instead,” he said softly, almost a whisper meant only for you. “If that’s what you truly want.”

Your father shouted, “No you should not.”

Richard ignored him completely and leaned a bit closer to you. “We will talk later sweetheart.”

Your mother, from the floor, weakly said, “Someone bring me water.”