Chapter 1

Ever since my friends started tying the knot one after another, I, a 26-year-old single woman, had become the thorn in the side of my mom and relatives.

Even just running to the supermarket during the New Year holidays was enough to get people gossiping behind my back.

"At your age, you can still afford to be picky."

"Wait any longer, and it'll be the guys picking you. Maybe nobody will want you."

I'd had enough. If they wanted to play games, I was ready to play along.

*****

Before I even stepped inside, I could hear my mom and Freda chatting away.

Freda said, "Don't take it to heart. Diane's just being a little clueless. I know you've got plenty of connections, so please, keep an eye out for your niece."

"She's already this old and still single. It's worrying me sick." Mom sighed, her voice heavy with worry.

Freda said, "Don't blame me, though. Last year, I tried setting Diane up with a few guys, but she wouldn't even bother meeting any of them.

"Instead, she just kept nitpicking on Instagram, finding fault with every little thing. Makes it look like I'm the villain in all this.

"If she's not interested, I'm not about to keep chasing after her. Let her end up an old maid, then she'll realize I was just trying to help."

Freda just kept rattling off a whole list of complaints about me.

Hearing that, I was fuming. I shoved the door open and stormed inside. "Well, look who's here. Aunt Sullivan. I just heard you and Mom gossiping about me.

"So, how's my cousin doing lately? Heard she's still flying solo after her divorce."

"Hey, why not set her up with that guy you tried to pawn off on me last year, the one who walked away from his marriage with nothing but two kids? They're both divorced, sounds like a match made in heaven."

I flashed Freda a sweet smile as she lounged on the couch, sipping her coffee.

Freda dropped her coffee, her face flushing bright red as she pointed at me, words flying out of her mouth. "How can you talk like that?

"That guy's got nothing going for him. If your cousin ended up with him, she'd be miserable. Like I'd ever let that happen.

"But you grew up without a dad around. Divorced guys know how to treat a woman, right? Sounds like just your type."

I couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh at that. 'Turns out she knew he was a bad deal all along.'

Freda was always mooching off us, dropping by for free food and drinks whenever she felt like it.

And every time I came home, Freda would always throw shade at me, whether it was to my face or behind my back. Now she was trying to set me up with the guy her own daughter wouldn't touch with a ten-foot pole.

'Does she really think I'm a pushover just because I've been keeping quiet?'

I shot Freda a cold glance and gave a sarcastic snort. "So you actually know I'd be in for a rough time if I married him, huh?

"And you still went out of your way to save this 'gem' for me? Wow, that's just so considerate of you, right, Mom? Guess that's what I get for growing up without a dad."

My mom's expression darkened at my words. But she still sided with her sister. "Come on, your aunt was just messing with you. We're family. She wouldn't actually try to screw you over."

Freda looked like she'd just scored a big win, her face full of smug satisfaction. She snared, "That's right. You really don't appreciate when someone's looking out for you.

"If your mom hadn't begged me to play matchmaker, I wouldn't have wasted my time.

"Men don't like girls who are too headstrong, you know. And just look at what you're wearing. There's not a trace of that good wife and loving mother vibe. No wonder that guy said you don't seem like someone who's cut out for married life."

With that, Freda scanned me up and down like she had X-ray vision, making my skin crawl.

I shot back, "I make my own money and spend it however I want. What's so wrong with that? Since when does that mean I'm not living like a responsible adult?

"So, let me get this straight, like my cousin quits his job and spends all day gaming at the internet café, and that's your idea of 'living properly'?

"Looks like he's got plenty of time on his hands lately. Need me to hook him up? There's a security guard spot open downstairs at my office. With our family connection, I could easily get him in, three grand a month, not bad, right?"