Ethan's mind raced, his heart pounding with frustration as he drove into the night. How could this be happening? Rayna… Golden Sun? The thought spun relentlessly in his head. The more he considered their conversations and their uncanny connection, the angrier he became.

Something was wrong. It couldn't have been a coincidence. How else could he explain that, of all the applicants, she was the only one to refuse to provide her real name or pictures? She must have known who he was, even while pretending otherwise. She had deliberately lured him in and seduced him.

How dare she be the woman he'd fallen for, the woman he'd spent months talking to as "Rayna"? This had to be a setup, and he had a strong suspicion who was behind it. His fingers tightened on the steering wheel as he drove to his brother's house instead of his own.

He pulled into Melvin's driveway with a violent jerk, barely maintaining his composure. Slamming the car door, he stormed to the front door. Inside, he found his brother lounging on the couch, scrolling through his phone with apparent unconcern.

Melvin looked up, his eyebrows raised at Ethan's furious expression. "Whoa, what's with the look? Lose a million bucks or something?"

Ethan didn't hesitate. Glaring at his brother, he said coldly, "Were you behind it?"

Melvin blinked, sitting up straighter. "Behind what?"

"Don't play dumb, Mel. Did you tell Rayna about the marriage ad and encourage her to apply?" Ethan's voice rose, his frustration escalating with each word.

Melvin's eyes widened in genuine surprise. He stared at Ethan as if he'd lost his mind. "Wait… what? Rayna responded to the ad?"

Ethan clenched his fists, struggling to control his temper. Melvin's cluelessness wasn't helping. "Don't act like you didn't know. Did you and Sarah plan this? Did you tell her to apply and make her seem like the perfect match?" Before Melvin could respond, Sarah entered, her hand resting on her belly. She looked at Ethan with concern.

"What's going on? Why are you so furious, Tan?"

Ethan's glare shifted to her. "Were you in on this, too? Did you two set this up? Did you tell Rayna to apply and make her seem perfect for me?"

Melvin and Sarah exchanged a quick glance, a silent communication that only fueled Ethan's frustration. Sarah's lips twitched, and she tilted her head. "Wait… Rayna? Is she the 'Golden Sun' you were always talking about?"

Ethan's face flushed with embarrassment. He rubbed the back of his neck, avoiding their gazes. "Yes."

Melvin snorted with laughter, and Sarah's eyes lit up with amusement. They both burst into laughter.

Ethan's scowl deepened. "This isn't funny."

"Oh, but it is," Sarah giggled, wiping a tear. "We told you, Tan! We told you Rayna was perfect for you, but no, you were too stubborn to listen!"

Melvin, still chuckling, leaned back. "Yeah, man. You've been pining over her this whole time and didn't even realize it. How did you figure it out, anyway?"

"I'm not in the mood," Ethan snapped, pacing like a caged animal. "Just tell me if you two had anything to do with it."

Catching his breath, Melvin raised an eyebrow. "Do you really think I helped you choose 'Golden Sun'? Or that Sarah coached Rayna every time she spoke to you?"

Ethan stopped pacing, his hands still clenched. He didn't know what to believe. How was this possible if they weren't involved? How could someone like Rayna be his perfect match? Melvin's expression softened. "Listen, man, I don't know why you're so mad at Rayna, but you're going to have to let that go if you want to get married."

"Yes, Tan. Mel is right. You hoped for a wife and mother, but you found love and friendship. How many people are that lucky? Forgive and forget whatever upset you," Sarah said softly.

Ethan stared at them, his mind racing. Without a word, he turned and stormed out, slamming the door. He cursed as he walked back to his car, his frustration boiling over. How could the universe play such a cruel trick on him? No way!

He wouldn't marry Rayna. He'd start over. He'd choose from the remaining four women on his list. Anyone would be better than Rayna. Anyone. But as he lay in bed later, he couldn't deny the ache in his chest, the overwhelming disappointment. He'd looked forward to meeting his Golden Sun, to their first date. How would he find someone who connected with him like she had? How would he overcome this heartache? This was all his fault. He should have insisted on pictures. He should have met her before his emotions took over. He'd lost focus, and now he bore the consequences.