Blood Wars : Will You Be My Groom?

The morning sun filtered through Harmony's curtains as she stared at the mysterious text message for the hundredth time. "Everyone has secrets. Even the people closest to you." Her finger hovered over the block button, but something stopped her.

Harmony!" Her father's voice carried up the stairs. "Your coffee's getting cold!"

In the kitchen, Robert Carson was already dressed for work, his tie perfectly knotted despite the early hour. He pushed a steaming mug toward Harmony as she sat down.

"You look tired, sweetheart. Have you been getting enough rest?"

" I am fine dad! Harmony wrapped her hands around the warm mug."Just been thinking about Jeremy's visit."

Her father's expression turned serious. "About that..." he said, his voice softening. " You know you've still got time to tell him everything, right?" His eyes narrowed slightly, concern etched on his face

"Dad, please", Harmony said, rolling her eyes "Not you too."

"I'm just saying—"

"Morning, family!" Mara breezed in before he could complete his statement, already dressed for her morning run, her long dark hair pulled into a perfect ponytail. She grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl, then paused, studying Harmony's face. "You look awful."

"Thanks, sis. Just what every girl wants to hear." Harmony replied dryly.

"Did you check what I sent you?" Taking a huge bite of her apple

Harmony frowned. "What?"

"The background check on lover boy. she said, mouth full. My friend in cyber security ran it last night."

"You did what?" Harmony's voice rose. "Mara, that's completely—"

"Legal? Actually, it is. Public records, social media— nothing shady." Mara shrugged. "Don't you want to know who you're really talking to?"

Robert cleared his throat. "Mara, we talked about this. Your sister's love life is her own business."

"Even when she's planning to marry someone she's never met?" Mara countered, perfectly poised for a fight.

"I have met him!" Harmony protested. "Everyday for a year."

"Through a screen." Mara's voice softened. "Look, I'm not trying to ruin this for you. I just... after Mom..." She trailed off, the usual confidence in her voice wavering.

The kitchen fell silent. Their mother's absence was still a fresh wound, an empty chair at their table that no one had the heart to move.

Harmony's phone buzzed. Another message from the unknown number: "Ask him about Sarah. See what he says."

"Who's Sarah?" She blurted out before she could stop herself.

Mara's head snapped up. "What?"

"Nothing. Just... spam." Harmony quickly pocketed her phone. "I should get ready for class. Professor Martinez wants to discuss my thesis proposal."

As she stood, her prosthetic leg caught slightly on the chair leg. She recovered quickly, but not before seeing the flash of concern in both her father and Mara's eyes.

"I'm fine," she said, a little too quickly.

"We know you are," her father replied, too hastily.

Upstairs, Harmony's phone buzzed with a message from Jeremy: "Morning, beautiful. Can't stop thinking about seeing you. Video call tonight?"

She smiled, typing back a quick "Yes!" before opening her laptop. Her finger hesitated over the search bar. Sarah....Such a common name. It probably meant nothing.

A knock at her door made her jump. Mara stood there, her running forgotten.

"The background check was clean," she said, blunt as ever. "Almost too clean."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Everything and nothing" she said, as she ran a hand through her hair, a nervous gesture so unlike her usual composed self. "Just... his company. Crawford Technologies? I can't find any record of it before two years ago."

"He told me it was a startup."

"With investors already? And offices in three countries?" Mara leaned against the doorframe. "Look, maybe I'm being paranoid. But after what happened with Mom—"

"Mom's accident had nothing to do with trust or relationships or background checks!" Harmony snapped, her voice cracking. "It was just... random... Horrible... Pure bad luck."

"And you really think Jeremy will be okay with everything? The leg, the nightmares, the panic attacks when you're in a car?"

"He loves me."

"He loves who he thinks you are." Mara's words hung in the air between them. "Just... check your email. Please?"

After Mara left, Harmony sat at her desk, staring at her inbox. One unread message from her sister, subject line: "Jeremy Crawford - What I Found."

Her phone buzzed again. The unknown number: "The truth always comes out. Better sooner than later."

As her fingers tremble, she opened Mara's email. The first attachment was a photo – Jeremy at some corporate event, laughing with a group of people. His arm was around a stunning blonde woman who seemed completely at ease in his embrace.

The photo was dated three months ago.The caption read: "Crawford Tech's power couple crushing it at the London Tech Summit."

Harmony's phone lit up with a message from Jeremy: "Can't wait to hold you for real. No more screens between us. Just pure truth."

She closed her laptop, her heart pounding. Outside, she heard Mara finally leaving for her run, her footsteps fading away. Three weeks! Three weeks until Jeremy arrived. Three weeks until all secrets would have to come out.

But whose secrets would destroy them first?