Chapter 1: An Unwanted Arrangement

Helen Le fidgeted with her short, wavy bob as she stood before the large wooden door of the Ohtani estate. The imposing structure loomed over her, its grandeur a testament to the influential Ohtani family's business empire. She had been summoned here today for a reason she dreaded – to discuss her potential marriage to Shohei Ohtani, the family's eldest son. As a member of the Vietnamese community in Little Saigon, Helen was no stranger to traditional values, but the thought of an arranged marriage still made her stomach twist with anxiety. The door creaked open, and a stern-faced butler ushered her into a lavish living room. Shohei sat on a plush couch, his piercing gaze fixed on a newspaper in his hands. His raven-black hair was messy, and his broad shoulders seemed tense, as if he was bracing himself for a battle. Helen's heart skipped a beat as their eyes met, but Shohei quickly looked away, his expression unyielding. "Ah, Helen, please, come in," a warm voice called from the adjacent room. Shohei's mother, Yumi Ohtani, entered the room with a gentle smile. "I'm so glad you could make it. Can I offer you some tea?" Helen nodded, trying to hide her nervousness as she took a seat across from Shohei. The butler served her a delicate cup of steaming green tea, and Yumi sat beside Shohei, her hand resting on his arm. "Helen, I know this may seem sudden, but our families have discussed this arrangement for some time now," Yumi began, her voice diplomatic. "Shohei and you would make a wonderful couple. You're smart, kind, and beautiful – everything our family values." Shohei grunted, not looking up from his newspaper, his tone dismissive. "Can we just get this over with, Mother?" Helen's cheeks flushed, but she tried to maintain her composure. She had heard stories about Shohei's gruff demeanor, but it still stung. She took a sip of her tea, attempting to appear calm. As Yumi continued to extol the virtues of their potential union, Helen couldn't help but steal glances at Shohei. There was a sadness in his eyes, a depth that seemed to hint at a pain he refused to share. She sensed that there was more to Shohei Ohtani than met the eye. Just as Helen was starting to feel a spark of curiosity about this enigmatic man, Shohei suddenly stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. "I'm done with this conversation," he announced, his voice low and rough. "I'll leave the details to Mother." With that, he stalked out of the room, leaving Helen feeling both relieved and perplexed. As the door closed behind him, Yumi's smile faltered, and she exchanged a worried glance with the butler. "Please, Helen, don't mind Shohei's behavior," Yumi said, her voice tinged with concern. "He's going through a difficult time. His relationship with his ex-wife, Mamiko, didn't end well, and he's still adjusting to the changes in our family business." Helen's ears perked up at the mention of Mamiko, a flutter in her chest. Was Shohei still in love with his ex? The thought made her heart ache, but she pushed it aside, focusing on Yumi's words. As they continued to discuss the arrangement, Helen found herself torn between her growing fascination with Shohei and her apprehension about the future. Little did she know that her life was about to take a dramatic turn, one that would test her kindness, her heart, and her resolve. The butler entered the room, announcing that Shohei had left for a meeting. Yumi stood up, her expression warm. "I'll walk you out, Helen. We'll talk more about the details soon." As Helen stood up to leave, she caught a glimpse of a photo on the coffee table – a picture of Shohei and a beautiful woman with long, dark hair. Mamiko, she assumed. Helen's heart sank, but she forced a smile, determined to be kind, even if it meant navigating a complicated web of emotions.