Chapter 145 Who told you I don't have someone I like?
<Chapter>Chapter 145 Who told you I don't have someone I like? </Chapter>
Willow's grip on her cup faltered. She remembered Luca mentioning he'd seen her with Declan at noon. Jonah must have seen them, too. She couldn't lie; Jonah was stricter with her than even Matthew, treating her like a real younger sister, Madison. At Mitchell's, she was treated the same way Daniel was.
"Just some first-year student I met at the front of the college with Willow. We had soup together," she placed her glass down, sitting upright like a student awaiting a lecture.
"Some people, you don't know their background. It's best to keep your distance. I'll check them out for you."
"There's no need, Jonah. He's just a junior from the same department at A University. My former advisor is his mentor now; there's no issue."
"If you say so."
"If nothing else, I should get back to work." The last thing Willow wanted was to delve into discussions about Declan, the same way she couldn't bring herself to ask if he and his blind date were considering marriage.
"Sure, go ahead."
Leaving Mitchell's office, Willow exhaled deeply and shook her head, making her way to the staircase.
Once Willow had left, Mitchell reclined on the sofa, removed his glasses, and closed his eyes. The persistent chime of Facebook notifications rang from his phone. He picked it up and checked Facebook to find a message from Mrs. Jonah.
"You last asked Marigold out a while ago. Didn't you say you had a good impression last time? You've got to be more proactive, Jonah. Ask girls out; don't just bury yourself in work. It's about starting a family—you've got to get married first."
Mrs. Jonah rambled on endlessly about marriage and children. Mitchell, with the speakerphone on, glanced over documents while nodding in agreement with his mother. After about twenty minutes of lecture, Mrs. Jonah issued an ultimatum—she wanted Mitchell to bring Marigold home for dinner over the weekend. Weary of his mom's constant chatter, Mitchell reluctantly agreed. "Got it, Mom."
With that, Mrs. Jonah hung up.
No sooner had she ended the call than Mitchell's cell phone rang again. He picked it up and frowned at the screen—it was Marigold, the very woman Mrs. Jonah had just been talking about.
Mitchell stared at the phone for a bit before picking up.
"Mitchell, my mom called me. You haven't been in touch for so long; people are going to start suspecting," Marigold said.
"My mom just called, too. She wants you to come over for dinner this weekend," Mitchell replied, massaging his temples with a furrowed brow.
How about you come with me to a company gathering tonight, and I'll go with you this weekend to deal with Auntie? Marigold offered a trade.
After a pause, Mitchell agreed, "Alright, send me your address. I'll pick you up after work."
Ending the call, Mitchell received Marigold's address through Facebook and replied with a brief "Okay."
Marigold, the daughter of Mrs. Jonah's friend, had recently returned from abroad. Having worked overseas for a while, she found herself matched with Mitchell by their parents shortly after her return.
When they first met, Mitchell didn't want to waste her time, declaring outright that he was compelled to come and had no plans to marry anytime soon. To his surprise, Marigold felt the same way—she was also coerced into meeting him and, likewise, had no immediate marriage plans, focusing instead on her career. Mitchell thought of having a meal to settle the matter and then reporting back.
Unexpectedly, Marigold suggested they pretend to be in a relationship to stave off the marriage pressure from their families, with an understanding that if either of them found someone they truly wished to marry, they'd come clean to their parents.
Initially, Mitchell was reluctant. As a man, such pretenses didn't affect him much, but he was concerned it would unfairly tarnish her reputation. Nevertheless, Marigold was insistent, and thinking of his mother's nagging, he gave in. After their first meal together, when Mrs. Jonah inquired how it went, Mitchell carefully responded, "It was fine."
Mrs. Jonah was overjoyed, assuming the two hit it off. She would call daily, chatting not only about wedding plans but even about future granddaughters.
At 6 p.m., Mitchell clocked out of work on time and drove to pick someone up.
Marigold had just returned to the country and didn't join her family's business. Instead, she set out to submit resumes, eventually landing a role as a project manager at a modest firm. Her arrival was akin to that of a parachuted officer, but with her striking looks, impressive international experience, and strong work capabilities, she quickly earned the respect of her colleagues. Initially, some had expected the boss to hire her just for her looks, only to be taken aback by her formidable skills. Today, having just secured a new collaboration, the boss treated everyone to a feast, even reminding them to bring along their families.
When Mitchell arrived at Marigold's workplace, the others had already begun sipping on their soups. So, the pair were the last to come when they walked in and immediately became the center of attention. The crowd buzzed around them, bombarding Mitchell with questions out of curiosity, noting how well-matched the couple seemed—a stunning beauty like Marigold with an equally remarkable boyfriend wasn't surprising to them.
After dinner, Marigold mentioned she was too full and suggested taking a walk before heading back. The two strolled along the lakeside pathway. Mitchell was typically a man of few words, and having only met Marigold a handful of times, he was even quieter. But Marigold was the opposite; she was very outgoing. Her company always had conversations, as she always found some topics to discuss.
As it was getting late, Mitchell suggested it was time to return.
Marigold paused by the lakeshore, half-jokingly yet sincerely, looked at Mitchell and asked, "Mitchell, how about we give it a try?"
Puzzled, Mitchell gazed at her under the streetlights, where her radiant face hinted at a shy blush combined with youthful boldness.
"Try what?"
"Date, of course. Look, you don't have someone you're into, and I haven't met my Mr. Right. My best friend Mrs. Jonah and your best friend Mrs. Jonah get along so well. Why don't we date and see? Maybe we're really compatible!"
Mitchell stood opposite Marigold, backlit by the glow behind him. He observed the girl in front of him, his mind flashing an image of another face—a face that always looked slightly nervous, a bit naughty, and somewhat adorable when eyeing him—a carefree spirit who loved helping others. Unlike Marigold's dazzling self-assurance and mature charm... She was... always so uniquely beautiful and pure that it almost felt wrong to marry.
Mitchell offered a gentle smile. "Who told you I'm not fond of someone?"
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