Page 10 of Six Month Wife

The line goes dead, then I swipe open my email.

Subject:Personal Letter from Roger L. Matthews – Per Will Instructions

From:[email protected]

Dr. Matthews,

As discussed, attached is a scanned copy of the handwritten

letter your uncle, Roger E. Matthews, instructed be delivered to you upon his passing.

The original document will be sent via overnight mail and

should arrive tomorrow at midday.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions regarding the estate or next steps.

Respectfully,

Anders Blankenship

Blankenship & Gunner, LLP

Montpelier, VT

I click on the PDF.

It loads slowly, one page glowing into view on the screen.

Written in black ink in the neat block print I’d recognize anywhere as Roger’s distinct handwriting is the letter. A chill runs through me.

It's almost like he's talking to me from the dead.

At the top, in all-caps and underlined, is the TL: DR in typical Roger fashion.

DON’T SCREW THIS UP. –R

Parker,

If you’re reading this, it means I've officially retired my king. Sorry I didn’t warn you—I didn't see it coming either. Hopefully, it was at least memorable.

You’re probably wondering why I've set this crazy puzzle for you—finding a wife in short order and staying married for a minimum of six months. It probably sounds like a ridiculous plot twist out of one of those melodramatic novels I forced you to read. That's my intent.

Bear with me, though, because there's a method to my madness.

First things first: you were always my favorite. Don’t bother hiding it from your father—he already knows.

Second, you don't need this money. Your family has more than enough, and your career already promises plenty of zeroes. This isn't a

Parker,

bout wealth. It's about something far more elusive.

You see, Parker, I’ve built my life and my fortune on solving problems and spotting potential. You've got that same spark. You're sharp, driven,and frustratingly independent. But brilliance alone won't keep you warm at night. Trust me, I've tried it. Solitude felt like freedom until the quiet became deafening.

Eventually, the thrill of the chase fades, the victories are empty, and you realize what you're missing: someone to share it with.

That's where the puzzle comes in. I’m giving you one final challenge. Solve it, not because you can, but because maybe you’ll discover something even better in the process. I hope you find someone who challenges you, surprises you, makes you laugh at yourself, and calls you on your nonsense the way no one else can. If at the end of six months you’ve found love, I’ll consider it the smartest investment I've ever made.