Melvin strolled into the dining room to join Ethan, who sat at the far end of the table. Ethan held his phone in one hand, his laptop open before him, and his furrowed brow indicated intense concentration. Sunlight streamed through the large windows, casting a warm glow over the table, but Ethan seemed oblivious to the picturesque morning.

Curious, Melvin walked over and sat across from him, leaning forward with a grin. "Morning, Ethan," he greeted, his voice laced with amusement. "What's got you so focused this early?"

Without looking up, Ethan replied, "I'm just checking my email and the responses to my ad."

Melvin raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips. "Ad? You mean that ridiculous ad you placed for a wife?" He leaned back, folding his arms. "And how's that going? How many applicants do you have?"

Ethan chuckled, still without looking up. "Over a hundred."

"What? Over a hundred women in this city are crazy enough to do this? Are you going to narrow the list to a top ten?" Melvin asked incredulously.

Ethan finally looked up, his expression half-serious, half-amused. "Yes. There are too many. Since I can't meet them all, I'm streamlining the process. I need to narrow it down to at least five before I even consider meeting anyone."

Melvin burst out laughing. "Streamline? You make it sound like a business deal! This is your future wife, not a new hire!"

Ethan chuckled and shrugged. "Same difference. Efficiency is key."

Shaking his head, Melvin leaned in, his expression now more serious. "Why are you even doing this, Ethan? We could easily set you up with someone. Rayna, for instance. I don't know what happened between you two, but she would have been a good fit."

Ethan's face darkened at the mention of Rayna; his lips pressed into a thin line. "Rayna?" he scoffed. "She's not my type; besides, I've read that children inherit intelligence from their mothers. I want my children to have the best chance in life, and I don't think Rayna has much to offer in that department."

Melvin laughed at the absurdity of Ethan's logic. "You're judging her too harshly, Ethan."

Ethan's frown deepened as he returned to his laptop. "Harsh? No, I'm stating a fact," he said defensively.

"What did she do to you? Why won't you say?" Melvin asked incredulously. Ethan shook his head.

"Because I don't want to think about it. The more I think about it, the angrier I get. Let's leave it in the past. Her first impression overrides anything you'll tell me."

"So, you met her once or twice, and your opinion overrides mine, after knowing her much longer?" Melvin snorted. "First impressions matter," Ethan said.

"Not always," Melvin scoffed. "Someone's sadness upon first meeting doesn't mean they're perpetually sad. First impressions don't define people. Many things can influence behavior during a first meeting, and you should know that. I don't know what she did to you, and I no longer care, but you shouldn't judge Rayna so harshly. She's a very smart woman."

"Not from my experience," Ethan replied, his eyes glued to the screen. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to focus."

Melvin sighed, realizing Ethan wouldn't be swayed. "Alright," he said, pushing back his chair. "I'll leave you to it; I have to go to work. But don't say I didn't warn you if you end up with some robotic woman who only meets your criteria on paper."

Ethan grunted in response, already focused on his task. As Melvin left, Ethan continued scrolling through emails. Many applicants eagerly provided social media handles and personal details; some even sent photos. He was about to dismiss another application when a name caught his eye—Golden Sun.

Intrigued by the unusual name, he clicked on her email. He was surprised to find no social media details (something he'd specifically requested). Instead, she'd written a note: "[I can't reveal personal information to a stranger. If you want my details, it's only fair you share something personal about yourself, too, beyond your requirements. I have every right to check if you're my ideal man as well.]"

Ethan smiled; her boldness was refreshing. He wanted to know more about this mysterious Golden Sun. He dialed her number.

After a few rings, a soft, confident voice answered. "Hello?"

"Hi," Ethan began, trying to sound casual. "This is the guy from the couple ad."

"Oh! Hi! I wasn't expecting a response," Rayna replied, laughing awkwardly.

"Then why did you apply?" Ethan asked, confused.

"I meant, I wasn't expecting a call. Maybe an email, yes. But not a call. And I expected a rejection email," she confessed.

"You did? Why?" Ethan asked, amused.

"Well, I'm sure you received many responses, and I didn't respond as requested. So, I wasn't hopeful," she admitted with a chuckle.

Ethan laughed. "I liked your response, and it made me want to know more. Would you mind telling me your name?"

Rayna chuckled softly. "I'm sticking with Golden Sun for now," she said playfully. "I'll tell you my real name when I'm sure you're not a psychopath."

Ethan laughed, genuinely amused. "Fair enough."

"So, what's your name?" Rayna asked, liking the sound of his voice.

"Since you're not telling me yours, you can call me ET," Ethan said, mirroring her mystery.

"ET? Like the alien?" she teased.

"Exactly," Ethan replied, grinning.

She laughed again. He hadn't expected anyone on the list to be this entertaining. "Alright, ET. So, why did you reach out? Did everyone else suck, and you decided to try the craziest one?" she joked.

"I'm still going through the list," Ethan admitted, leaning back. "But I liked your response. You stood out."

"Glad to hear it," she replied, teasingly. "I couldn't imagine a stranger staring at my photos without knowing anything about him first."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Don't strangers stare at them online?"

"That's different," she explained. "Responding to your ad already makes me vulnerable. I didn't want to compound that by giving away too much."

"I see your point," Ethan said thoughtfully. "But didn't placing the ad make me vulnerable, too?"

There was a brief pause. "Maybe," she conceded, "but not as much as you think. That's why I think it's fair you share something personal besides your age, location, and requirements."

Ethan smiled, appreciating her logic. "I don't want everyone to have my details. Imagine putting more information out there. Everyone would see me as the crazy guy who couldn't find a wife naturally and had to order one online."

Rayna giggled. "That's understandable." "So, does calling me mean I'm in your top ten or five? Or your runner-up?"

Ethan chuckled, amused by her similar reasoning. "I'm still going through the list, but you'll know soon."

"Good to know," she said with a smile. "So, what now?"

As they talked, Ethan felt this mysterious woman might be the spark he'd been looking for. He was content to explore this unexpected connection.

"You're fun. Let's get to know each other and see if we're compatible enough to meet," Ethan suggested.

"You mean like a talking stage?" Rayna asked.

"Yes, if you don't mind," Ethan said, and Rayna smiled.

"That sounds fair," she agreed. "But I'm curious—why did you place an ad instead of dating normally?"

"I don't have time to date normally," Ethan admitted. "My job keeps me away for months, so I thought this would be more efficient. I want to settle down soon."

"I can relate," she replied. "What about you? Why did you respond?"

"Well, it seemed intriguing," Rayna said, and Ethan laughed softly. "Intriguing, huh? I like that. I'm looking forward to getting to know you better, Golden Sun."

"Likewise, ET," she said, her voice softening. "Let's see where this goes."