This had already cost me an hour, and waiting for someone to bring my car over meant my blind date was almost certainly going to be a bust.

Since it would go sideways, determined to pin it on the handsome cop, I wasted no time chasing after him.

As he got into his car, I flung open the passenger door and slid in beside him.

"You've wasted so much of my time, so as compensation, you're taking me to the Queenston Restaurant on Bellen Road right now, and then you'll drive me to get my car."

The cop was initially taken aback, but my bluntness soon had him laughing. "Ms. Ashcroft, if you don't mind me asking, where exactly are you from? A village of upstarts?"

His laughter caught me off guard, and I didn't quite catch his words, so I cleared my throat and asked, "What did you just say?"

The cop buckled his seatbelt, his expression returning to its neutral state as he started the car. "I strongly suggest you pick up 'The Story of My Life,' 'Who Moved My Cheese,' and 'The Red and the Black' when you get back. They might do you some good."

I was speechless.

I suspected he was hinting at something, but I hadn't read those books, so I couldn't offer any evidence.

Eventually, for reasons I couldn't fathom, he drove me to the Queenston Restaurant.

To make sure he didn't slip away, I grabbed a set of keys from the center console before getting out of the car. I flashed him a smile and said, "Don't even think about sneaking off before you take me to get my car. Also, I've noted your badge number, 360922, and if you leave, I'll file a complaint."

The badge number was easy to remember; the last four digits were my birthday.

Was this fate or what?

With this little joy in mind, I turned and darted into the restaurant like a little rabbit.

It was already past one in the afternoon, and only a few tables were occupied.

Following my mom's description, I searched around and finally zeroed in on a guy in a T-shirt sitting by the window.

He was tall and burly—he matched the description perfectly.

Though, I had to admit, his appearance left something to be desired.

My resolve to move on grew stronger.

Still, I had to go through the formalities. Otherwise, it'd be hard to explain.

So I put on my sunglasses, walked up to him with as much grace as I could muster, and tilted my chin with an air of superiority. "Mr. Quentin, sorry I'm late.

"To save us all time, let me be clear: you're not my type, so there's no chance here."

The guy looked up at me, utterly dumbfounded.

Just as I wondered if I hadn't been clear enough, a woman suddenly stormed over, shoved me aside, and began laying into him with a barrage of questions.

I was taken aback. I didn't expect him to be a scumbag who was trying to juggle two relationships.

Just as I was about to make a dramatic scene by throwing juice at him, I caught the woman shouting his name, "Barry Allen."

I thought, "Barry Allen?

Why is his last name Allen and not Quentin?"

The next moment, the classic scene of drama unfolded perfectly.

The cold, damp feeling on my face and chest interrupted my racing thoughts.

As the woman raised her hand to slap me, a strong arm suddenly wrapped around my shoulder from behind.

I was pulled back and found myself nestled against a solid chest.

Looking up, I saw the cop's striking face once again invade my senses.

I couldn't help but think, "This must be fate!"

Just then, the "jerk" finally stood up and grabbed the woman, saying something surprisingly sensible, "Honey, calm down. This woman probably mistook me for someone else. I'm definitely not Mr. Quentin, okay?"

My mind cleared instantly. I took another good look at the guy, and my embarrassment forced me to smile slightly awkwardly.

I said, piecing it together, "Wait a minute. Aren't you the guy Amanda set me up with for this blind date?"

"Of course not! I don't know anyone named Amanda, and my last name isn't Quentin. Next time, make sure you've got the right person before you start causing a scene. Otherwise, you might end up with acid thrown in your face. Got it, miss?"

I was stunned by his reprimand. Before I could react, the man had already wrapped his arm around the fuming woman and walked off.

That was when I remembered that woman had ruined my thousand-dollar white dress, and I hadn't even gotten a word in about it.

"Hey, you two, wait up!"

I spun around to chase after them, but just as I took a step, my purse strap tightened, and I was yanked back in front of the police officer.

"What's this? Not happy with the way things went and thinking of chasing after them for more trouble?"

I twitched my mouth, asking, "More trouble? Are you kidding? That guy was a total reject, not even close to the 'prize' I was expecting."

"Then why try to chase them down?"

"Because that woman ruined my dress! It's worth a thousand bucks, just bought it yesterday, and she didn't even apologize. What do you expect me to do?"

I pointed angrily at my dress, and the officer followed my gesture.

The next second, his face turned red, and he quickly looked away, clearing his throat awkwardly.

"I think the most important thing right now is not to chase them but to go back and change into something else."

I frowned, suspicious, and glanced down.

The wet fabric clung to my chest, and the pink lace bra was visible through the thin material. My face flushed with embarrassment.

I thought, "Damn that woman, she was so calculating, throwing the drink not just on my face but on my chest!"

"Ah!" I gasped, clutching my chest and turning my back to the officer. "Did you... did you see all that?"

The whole scene mortified me.

I thought, "Can I just disappear right now?

Hmm, why is he so quiet?"

I turned around, only to find he was gone.

Just like that, he had vanished.

Suddenly, my phone rang in my bag.

I fumbled to get it out while still covering my chest.

It was my mom calling. The embarrassment of earlier came rushing back. I answered the call, seething, "Mom, where's the guy Amanda set me up with?

"I didn't even see the guy at the restaurant. That Amanda's introduction was completely unreliable.

"Can we just learn from this and stop setting me up with blind dates? Can we?"

There was a long silence on the other end, and then came my mom's counterattack.

"Don't tell me you're just now arriving!"

I was speechless.

Amidst my mother's scolding, I defiantly protested, "Mom, can you ease up? It's like you think I can't find a man on my own. Do you believe I will bring a husband home next month?"

My mom's response was dismissive. "Yeah, right."

She then hung up the phone with a finality that left me fuming.

I thought, "So, that's the game she's playing, huh? Prodding?

Fine, she won this round."

At that moment, the officer reappeared.

He was holding a white shirt and handed it to me. "Here, put this on."

A huge smile spread across my face.

He was truly the kind of guy who could win anyone over—cold on the outside but warm-hearted with a hero complex. I was falling for him hard.

I'd be doing a disservice to the 200 bucks and those 3 points if I didn't take this gem home.

I made an effort to suppress my swooning and took a deep breath, only to burst into tears the next second.

I said, pulling the shirt over my head and sobbing, "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have missed my perfect blind date, gotten humiliated, or had a drink thrown at me. And my mom's furious.

"She said if I don't bring a husband home next month, she'll cut me off. I'm really in a terrible spot."

The officer furrowed his brow and rubbed his forehead, clearly exasperated. "I didn't tell you to speed, and I didn't tell you to eat lychees before driving!"

I stood there, speechless.

That comment was so cold.

I thought, "Can I take back my earlier compliment about him being cold on the outside but warm on the inside?"

Since trying to elicit sympathy wasn't working, I decided to go all out.

"I don't care! You ruined my blind date. You owe me an explanation," I said, buttoning up my coat, puffing out my chest, and lifting my chin defiantly, blocking his way.

The officer asked, "What kind of explanation do you want?"

I shuffled closer to him, my tiny frame pressing up against his, and leaned in close to his handsome face, trying to stifle my sobs with a sly smile.

"It's simple. You owe me a boyfriend."

The officer was genuinely speechless.

Before he could respond, I wrapped my arms around his, tilted my head, and said, "You know, you're not half bad as a cop. Why not just be my boyfriend?"

I could feel his muscles stiffening under my touch.

He looked down at me, incredulous.

Two seconds later, he forcibly pried my hand away, his face reverting to its usual impassive state.

"Sorry, that's not part of my job description.

"Then, as compensation, you can just have the clothes. I have to get back to work this afternoon, so you'll need to find your own way to pick up your car.

"Please return the keys, Ms. Ashcroft. I need to leave now."

The officer maintained a calm facade as he reached for the keys, but I could tell he was internally flustered.

Good. I seized the chance to play the victim. "No, you can't leave. As a public servant, it's your duty to solve citizens' problems.

"My mom said if I don't bring a boyfriend home next month, she'll cut ties with me.

"Now my blind date's gone, and my future boyfriend's vanished. Where am I supposed to find another one?

"This is a huge problem for me, and I'm deeply distressed. If I don't have my mom, how will I go on living?

"I might even get depressed, and who knows what could happen then.

"Think about the consequences. Is a piece of clothing worth that much?

"You have to fix this. Otherwise, it's a matter of life and death."

I rattled on, but the officer remained silent, his expression unchanging.

It was like he was silently mocking me, saying, "Keep going with your act."

I wasn't ready to give up. I pouted and complained, "Besides, you've seen my chest. I'm still an innocent girl, and you need to take responsibility."

The officer's face darkened visibly, though his ears seemed to redden.

I quickly changed tactics, propping my chin on my hands and giving him my best cute look.

"Besides, you see? I'm lively, adorable, and kind. You'd actually be gaining by being with me, wouldn't you?"

The officer put his hands on his hips, frowning as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Wendy Ashcroft, please have some self-respect!"

I blinked innocently and spread my hands. "What's disrespectful about that?"

The officer shook his head, clearly exasperated, and turned to leave.

I stared after him.

I had to admit that my future husband had really long legs.

Trying to keep up with his stride was exhausting.

Seeing him finally reach the parking spot and get into his car, I dashed over, barely managing to catch up and grab the door, gasping for breath. "Are you not going to take your keys?"

The officer's face was stormy. "If you like them, keep them. I can have another set made."