A Promise in the Stars

Ethan Carter sat at his desk, surrounded by the hum of the bustling office. The soft clatter of keyboards, the occasional murmur of conversation, and the distant ring of telephones were all part of his daily routine. As Senior Project Manager at a prestigious firm, Ethan was used to being in control—of his time, his work, his future. Everything had its place, and he made sure to keep it that way. Relationships, love, marriage—those things were distractions he had no time for.

He had enough on his plate, with deadlines, meetings, and client expectations, to keep him busy. The idea of being with someone, of having someone rely on him emotionally, was a distant thought—something he didn’t have the luxury of considering. And frankly, he wasn’t sure he ever would.

But today, everything changed. It started with a single letter, dropped casually onto his desk by his assistant. It wasn’t the usual memo or reminder. No, this one had a different kind of weight to it, as if the envelope itself was carrying a heavy burden. It was sealed with an old-fashioned wax emblem, something from another time. Ethan squinted at the unfamiliar seal, a strange feeling creeping over him.

His grandmother’s handwriting.

The familiar elegance of her script sent a pang through his chest. He hadn’t heard from her in months—she had been sick, slipping into her twilight years. Ethan’s parents had often mentioned her deteriorating health, but he hadn’t made time to visit. He was always too busy. Too busy to care, too busy to show up. Now, her letter sat in front of him, the weight of it more than just the paper it was made of. It was a final message, one that would change everything.

His fingers lingered on the edges of the envelope before tearing it open, almost afraid of what was inside. The letter inside was short, but every word seemed to carry an unspoken weight.

_"Dear Ethan,"_ it began, and he could already hear her voice in his mind. _"I know you’ve always prided yourself on living life your way, but I ask one final favor from you. A promise, one that I hope you will honor."_

His heart skipped. He hadn’t heard from her in so long, and now, these words were about to shatter his carefully constructed world.

_"You see, your grandfather and I made a plan years ago. We knew our time on this earth was limited, and we wanted to leave behind something meaningful for our family. It’s a plan that will bring you happiness, though I know you may not see it that way now. We have chosen someone for you, Ethan. Someone who will help you grow in ways you cannot yet understand."_

The words blurred as he read them again, unable to comprehend the full meaning. The letter continued, the words etching themselves into his brain:

_"You are to marry Sophia Blake, the granddaughter of my dear friend Margaret. We’ve spoken of this for years, and we knew that the two of you would be perfect for each other. It’s my final wish. Please, Ethan, honor it."_

Sophia Blake.

The name was foreign, unfamiliar. He had no idea who she was or why his grandparents would have chosen her for him. He had never even met her. The thought of marrying a stranger was ridiculous. Marriage had always seemed like an unnecessary commitment, an emotional trap, one that only served to complicate life. And yet, here he was, staring at the letter, knowing he had no choice but to fulfill their wish.

His mind was a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. How could they do this to him? He was a whirlwind of confusion and frustration. How could they do this to him? He wasn’t ready for marriage. He wasn’t even sure he believed in it the way they did. His grandparents had been the embodiment of love—he had witnessed their bond growing up, seen them grow old together with a deep connection that Ethan had never understood. It wasn’t his life, though. He had his own plans, and marriage didn’t fit into them.

He ran a hand through his hair, the familiar motion a small attempt to calm his racing thoughts. The letter was still in his hands, and no matter how many times he read it, the reality didn’t change. He was going to marry someone he didn’t know. Someone he didn’t want to know.

He glanced at the clock—another meeting to get to. But the weight of the letter was still pressing down on him, keeping him tethered to his desk. For a moment, he thought of throwing it away, pretending it never existed. But deep down, he knew that would only be betraying the promise his grandparents had asked for. They had done so much for him, for his family. How could he turn his back on their final request?

With a sigh, Ethan stood up, the letter still clenched in his hand. There was no escaping it. He was bound to this fate, and somehow, he had to find a way to accept it. His future had just taken a turn he wasn’t prepared for, and the road ahead seemed uncertain.

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