Imperfect Match (Elixir Bachelor Billionaires #1)

“He could be a handyman, Doodles, and if he looked at you the same way, I’d still say you found the perfect husband.” Dad’s eyebrows wiggle.

I feel a surge of electricity coursing through my veins while watching Dad, who’s alert and happy. He’s acting like his usual self from before the diagnosis.

“Now, come on. I need to show you something before I forget.” He holds my hand and leads me inside, not stopping until we reach his bedroom.

A fresh wave of nostalgia hits me at the sight of the daisies by Mom’s dresser.

“You bought Mom’s favorite flowers,” I whisper.

Dad looks up from his nightstand and slowly smiles as he glances between me and the white ceramic vase. “Kai asked me to do one thing I used to do regularly in the past.”

“I’m so happy that we found Kai.”

“Me too, kiddo. Now, come here.” He pats the edge of the bed before perching on it himself.

“What is it, Dad?”

Instead of replying with words, he removes his wedding band from his finger and places it in my palm.

“Um, you want me to keep it safe for you?” My gaze slants between my dad’s soft face and his bare finger with a clear discoloration from his missing wedding band.

He slowly shakes his head. “Your nana gave this ring to your mom after I proposed. This was your grandfather’s. He made it himself in his metal shop, along with a matching band for Nana. I always thought Penny and I had such a happy married life because we had your grandparents’ blessing. I’d like the same for you, Doodles.”

My throat tightens uncomfortably, and I look away to avoid his gaze. The ring sears my skin as if it’s on fire.

“I…I don’t know, Daddy. Charles might prefer…something else.” Like not wearing a wedding band at all.

In the last four years, Charles has never once changed his dressing style or accessories. I’m sure he isn’t suddenly going to become a jewelry fan.

Dad’s smile drops for a flash before he nods. “I understand. But why don’t you ask once, for my sake?” He closes my fist around the ring, wrapping my fingers under his own.

“That, I’ll do. I promise.”

The next morning, I enter the office to find my desk transformed into a ring showcase from a jewelry store. I grab the pearly white notecard with a Hawthorne monogram at the bottom and read the words written in Charles’ flowing cursive handwriting.

“Pick the one you like the best and we’ll be engaged.”

A feeling of remorse hits me like a heavy gust of wind, shaking me to my core. No girl would probably admit it out loud, but we all imagine that moment when, with hearts in our eyes, we’ll find the right guy who will endure sleepless nights trying to come up with the perfect proposal and make all our dreams come true. And these monstrous rings are a far cry from my dreams, which never changed whether I was thirteen or twenty-three.

I dreamed of the day when someone would give me a ring because he couldn’t wait to marry me and start our family. Like my dad, he would probably go to a thrift shop to find something within his budget that was meaningful to us. To me.

But here I am, standing before diamonds the size of my eyes, probably costing more than Cherrywood’s worth, and still—

“You don’t like them.”

“Make a noise, will you?” I grip my chest. My gaze shifts to Charles, who simply shrugs, leaning against the door of his office.

“So…the rings. You hate them,” he repeats, awaiting my confirmation.

Daisy, he’s the same man who told your dad yesterday that he loved your sincerity and honesty.

But does he really?

So you’re going to ask him that?

Of course not!

Instead, I grab the closest ring without a second glance and shove it in front of him.