My boss called me at 11 p.m. and said, « Come to the hotel with me tonight. If you don’t come, you’re fired—and don’t tell anyone. » I went… But when I opened the door, saw him waiting for me inside, and heard what he wanted, I couldn’t believe my ears.My boss called me at 11 p.m. and said, « Come to the hotel with me tonight. If you don’t come, you’re fired—and don’t tell anyone. » I went… But when I opened the door, saw him waiting for me inside, and heard what he wanted, I couldn’t believe my ears.

« She has been ill for almost two years, » he continued. « The doctors thought she still had time to live. Last week, they said she probably didn’t have any left. »

I looked at the dress again.

« I still don’t understand what this has to do with me. »

He lowered his eyes.

« For many years, my mother only wanted one thing: to see me finally take control of my life again. »

« That still doesn’t explain anything. »

« It’s going to get worse. »

He laughed bitterly.

« Three months ago, while she was undergoing treatment again, she asked me if there was someone in my life. »

I was waiting.

« I said yes. »

I raised my eyebrows.

« Did you lie to your dying mother? »

« Yes. »

« For what? »

« Because she was scared. She kept saying she was going to die without knowing if I had anyone by my side. I wanted to give her something to hold on to. »

I crossed my arms.

« So you invented woman? »

He hesitated.

Then he looked me straight in the eyes.

« I used your name. »

I stared at him.

“What did you do?”

« I never told him we were a couple. At first, I simply said I had a problem at work. »

I felt nauseous.

« Me? »

He nodded.

« Then she started asking questions. And every time I tried to change the subject, she would smile and say your name. »

« This is madness. »

« I know. »

« And now, do you want me to put on this dress? »

« Not because I expect you to marry me. »

He spoke quickly.

« She thinks we’re engaged. She’s not feeling well tonight. Her doctor came by an hour ago. She asked if she could see you beforehand… »

He fell silent.

Before death.

He didn’t need to say that.

I looked away.

A silence fell over the room for a moment.

Then I showed the ring on my finger.

« Oh Tai? »

« My grandmother’s ring. My mother gave it to me many years ago. She wants to see it on the finger of the woman I’m supposed to marry. »

I looked at the pastor.

« So there really won’t be a wedding? »

Mr. Harrison hesitated.

That silence told me everything.

I stepped back.

« No. »

“Emma—”

« No. Not really. »

« My mother asked Pastor Keller if he could say a short blessing. Nothing legal. No paperwork. No marriage certificate. Just words. »

« You brought me here without telling me anything, you threatened my job, and you expected me to attend some kind of sham wedding? »

His face darkened.

“You feel.”

« I know I’m right. »

« I panicked. »

« That’s not an excuse. »

« No. »

He did not protest.

That surprised me.

Instead, he walked over to the table, picked up the phone and placed it in front of me.

The screen displayed a picture of an elderly woman.

She was sitting on her hospital bed and managing a faint smile.

Mr. Harrison was standing next to her.

I barely recognized him.

He wasn’t wearing a suit.

He knelt beside her, resting his head on her shoulder.

« She raised me alone, » he said softly. « My father left when I was nine. She worked two jobs. Everything I have, I owe to her. »

I swallowed.

« You could have simply asked me. »

« I was afraid you would say no. »

« I might have said no. »

« I know. »

« And the threat was supposed to improve things? »

« No. »

He now seemed embarrassed.

« If you walk through this door, you’ll keep your job. I’ll put it in writing tonight. I made a mistake. »

That changed something.

Not that I would forgive him.

But just enough to listen.

« How long? »

He looked up.

“Ten minutes.”

« And I won’t sign anything. »

« Nothing. »

« No photos will be published anywhere. »

« I agree. »

« You will not touch me unless it is absolutely necessary. »

« I agree. »

« And tomorrow, we will have a very serious conversation about boundaries. »

For the first time that evening, the corner of her mouth lifted slightly.

« Absolutely. »

Twenty minutes later, I was standing in front of the top-floor apartment, wearing a white dress.

It suited me almost perfectly, and that annoyed me even more.

The ring felt heavy on her finger.

Mr. Harrison was standing next to me.

He suddenly seemed nervous.

« Emma. »

« What? »