CHAPTER 83: PLAN IN MOTION

MARIA Marie stared at her phone, which lay on her desk, the screen still lit up from the text she had just sent to Charles. The plan was simple, yet the anticipation that bubbled up inside her made it feel monumental. "Meet me for dinner on Friday? It's been too long. We should catch up. - M" The moment she hit send, a surge of excitement and nerves fluttered in her chest. Setting Charles up with Bailey was more than just a matchmaking whim. It would be her way of helping him find the happiness he deserved. Charles had always been there for her, through thick and thin, and now she wanted to do something for him. Bailey seemed perfect—a beautiful, accomplished woman who shared many of Charles's interests. The thought of them together made Marie smile. Her phone buzzed, and she lunged for it, the tension in her shoulders easing as she read Charles's response: "Sounds good. Let me know the time. Looking forward to it." Marie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, h