Stars Waited Above Empty Streets by Lorin Wren 4

Chapter 4 No Refunds on Matches 

The words landed like a slap she never saw coming. 

58 

Finished 

Ava hadn’t walked into the Match Bureau looking for a soulmate–she just needed a placeholder, a decoy husband to check the box and keep the government off her back. Now it felt like she had signed up for some kind of televised matchmaking stunt. 

Owen Hale, the middle–aged director, was grinning across the desk like he had just cashed in a winning lottery ticket. His slick gray hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights. 

Ava’s mouth twitched. “I’m sorry… how many matches did you just say?” 

Owen beamed as if she were slow to catch up. “Five, Ms. Morren. Five confirmed matches. Quite the rare jackpot.” 

Her lips parted, dry and incredulous. “Five? Are you sure? I checked the data before coming- most people only get one or two. I’m not even Awakened. There’s no way this is right.” 

Ava couldn’t wrap her head around it. 

One man had been the goal–someone to tick the box, not form a crowd. To be safe, she’d even cranked her compatibility filter up to ninety–five percent so the system wouldn’t overmatch her. Two was her worst–case scenario. Five was insanity. 

She leaned forward, trying to sound calm. “Can’t we narrow this down a bit? Two I can handle. Five? That’s a full–time job.” 

Owen watched her as though she were returning a defective blender instead of five living, breathing men. With a salesman’s smile, he poured her a glass of water and slid it across the desk. 

“Ms. Morren,” he began, syrupy smooth, “do you realize how many women would kill to be in your position? The Match Bureau’s been around for centuries. Our system is still the most reliable matchmaker in the galaxy–stronger than any fleeting emotion people call love.” 

His tone grew nostalgic. “Back in our golden days, women walked out of here with ten, twenty matches lined up and thanked us for it. You, Ms. Morren, just hit the genetic lottery.” 

Ava stared blankly. A dozen? What is this, an interplanetary breeding program? 

The young man standing nearby tried not to wince. Watching his boss turn on the charm made him realize how much Owen resembled one of those sleazy late–night dating show hosts from old reruns. 

Ava folded her hands, her tone earnest. “Then, can I cancel?” 

1/4 

15:34 Tue, Jan 6 

Chapter 4 No Refunds on Matches 

58 

Finished 

Owen’s grin faded into bureaucratic precision. “That isn’t possible. Once matches are confirmed, both sides are bound by law. These men haven’t violated any protocol, so you can’t withdraw without cause. I strongly suggest meeting them first. You might end up thanking the system for knowing you better than you know yourself.” 

Ava blinked slowly. So that’s it? No refunds, no returns? 

The thought turned her stomach. She might have walked in on her own, but five husbands? That wasn’t matchmaking–it was state–managed population control disguised as romance. 

Before she could argue, her Holoband chimed–a new message. 

Owen leaned back, positively glowing. “Ah, perfect timing. Your profiles have just been uploaded. Once you review the data, we’ll finalize your confirmation receipt. Oh, and happy early New Year.” 

Ava hesitated, then tapped the notification. Five names appeared–no photos, only stats, occupations, and heights. Every one of them stood between six–foot–two and six–foot–five. 

She stared at the numbers. Really? Every one of them’s a giant. 

I’m five–foot–eight–practically tall by usual standards–yet next to them I’ll look like their collective kid sister tagging along for picture day. 

Ava felt laughter and despair twist together in her chest. The whole thing sounded more like a juggling act than a marriage. She couldn’t imagine how women in this era managed to keep five husbands without turning their homes into a three–ring circus. Whatever it took—patience, charm, or sheer stamina–she didn’t have it. 

The young man noticed her go pale behind her mask. In his time working there, he’d never seen anyone look so horrified after receiving a “successful” match. Most women left glowing, but Ava looked like she’d been drafted for battle. 

He couldn’t fault her. 

Those names didn’t belong to average citizens. He had glimpsed the classified tags–men with sealed records and restricted genetic data. High–tiers like them paid obscene sums each year to keep their files private. Their names appeared in the system only when something extraordinary triggered it–like a forced match, possible only when compatibility reached over ninety–five percent. 

Apparently, Ava had broken the system. 

Before she could finish reading, her Holoband buzzed again–an incoming video call. Her stomach sank when the name flashed across the screen: Dr. Rowan Doyle, from the nursing home. 

2/4 

15:34 Tue, Jan 6 

Chapter 4 No Refunds on Matches 

Finished 

“Excuse me,” she muttered, already stepping aside. “I need to take this.” 

She connected the call. “Dr. Doyle? Did something happen to my grandpa?” 

Rowan’s voice came through, steady but weighted. “Ms. Morren, there’s good news and bad. Your grandfather woke up yesterday morning. His memory’s intact, and he’s been asking for you. Yet, his vitals are failing fast. 

“We’ve exhausted every option. You should come soon. He doesn’t have much time.” 

Her chest tightened like a vise. “Understood. Please keep him comfortable. I’ll head there today.” 

She ended the call and immediately started searching for transport tickets. “Sir, I have a family emergency. Please handle whatever paperwork you need to–I’ll come back to finish later.” 

Owen noticed the red around her eyes but didn’t pry. “Sure. We’ll finalize your file. The confirmation will be forwarded to your matches.” 

Ava nodded faintly and walked out before he could say another word. Her footsteps echoed down the stairwell until they disappeared. 

The young man turned toward his boss. “Mr. Hale, I thought women could cancel if they weren’t satisfied with their results.” 

Owen chuckled softly, giving the young man a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Eli, you’re still new. Rules look black–and–white on paper, but this isn’t a standard match. This girl triggered a forced match. 

“Once that happens, she’s outside standard clauses.” He leaned back, eyes shining with interest. “I’ve read her genetic profile. That girl is no ordinary girl. Call it intuition, but she’s about to become an Awakened–and not a low–tier one, either.” 

The Match Bureau had processed Awakened cases before, but nothing like Ava’s data. Triggering a forced match was rare enough–but three at Rank Double–S and two at Rank Triple–S? That was unheard of. 

Every one of her matches was young, powerful, and loaded with potential. It was the kind of result that only existed in data simulations—until now. 

Across the galaxy, five Holobands flickered on at once. 

3/4 

15:35 Tue, Jan 6 

Chapter 4 No Refunds on Matches 

图 

Finished 

‘Dear Sir, you have been identified

Chapter 4 No Refunds on Matches 

The words landed like a slap she never saw coming. 

58 

Finished 

Ava hadn’t walked into the Match Bureau looking for a soulmate–she just needed a placeholder, a decoy husband to check the box and keep the government off her back. Now it felt like she had signed up for some kind of televised matchmaking stunt. 

Owen Hale, the middle–aged director, was grinning across the desk like he had just cashed in a winning lottery ticket. His slick gray hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights. 

Ava’s mouth twitched. “I’m sorry… how many matches did you just say?” 

Owen beamed as if she were slow to catch up. “Five, Ms. Morren. Five confirmed matches. Quite the rare jackpot.” 

Her lips parted, dry and incredulous. “Five? Are you sure? I checked the data before coming- most people only get one or two. I’m not even Awakened. There’s no way this is right.” 

Ava couldn’t wrap her head around it. 

One man had been the goal–someone to tick the box, not form a crowd. To be safe, she’d even cranked her compatibility filter up to ninety–five percent so the system wouldn’t overmatch her. Two was her worst–case scenario. Five was insanity. 

She leaned forward, trying to sound calm. “Can’t we narrow this down a bit? Two I can handle. Five? That’s a full–time job.” 

Owen watched her as though she were returning a defective blender instead of five living, breathing men. With a salesman’s smile, he poured her a glass of water and slid it across the desk. 

“Ms. Morren,” he began, syrupy smooth, “do you realize how many women would kill to be in your position? The Match Bureau’s been around for centuries. Our system is still the most reliable matchmaker in the galaxy–stronger than any fleeting emotion people call love.” 

His tone grew nostalgic. “Back in our golden days, women walked out of here with ten, twenty matches lined up and thanked us for it. You, Ms. Morren, just hit the genetic lottery.” 

Ava stared blankly. A dozen? What is this, an interplanetary breeding program? 

The young man standing nearby tried not to wince. Watching his boss turn on the charm made him realize how much Owen resembled one of those sleazy late–night dating show hosts from old reruns. 

Ava folded her hands, her tone earnest. “Then, can I cancel?” 

1/4 

15:34 Tue, Jan 6 

Chapter 4 No Refunds on Matches 

58 

Finished 

Owen’s grin faded into bureaucratic precision. “That isn’t possible. Once matches are confirmed, both sides are bound by law. These men haven’t violated any protocol, so you can’t withdraw without cause. I strongly suggest meeting them first. You might end up thanking the system for knowing you better than you know yourself.” 

Ava blinked slowly. So that’s it? No refunds, no returns? 

The thought turned her stomach. She might have walked in on her own, but five husbands? That wasn’t matchmaking–it was state–managed population control disguised as romance. 

Before she could argue, her Holoband chimed–a new message. 

Owen leaned back, positively glowing. “Ah, perfect timing. Your profiles have just been uploaded. Once you review the data, we’ll finalize your confirmation receipt. Oh, and happy early New Year.” 

Ava hesitated, then tapped the notification. Five names appeared–no photos, only stats, occupations, and heights. Every one of them stood between six–foot–two and six–foot–five. 

She stared at the numbers. Really? Every one of them’s a giant. 

I’m five–foot–eight–practically tall by usual standards–yet next to them I’ll look like their collective kid sister tagging along for picture day. 

Ava felt laughter and despair twist together in her chest. The whole thing sounded more like a juggling act than a marriage. She couldn’t imagine how women in this era managed to keep five husbands without turning their homes into a three–ring circus. Whatever it took—patience, charm, or sheer stamina–she didn’t have it. 

The young man noticed her go pale behind her mask. In his time working there, he’d never seen anyone look so horrified after receiving a “successful” match. Most women left glowing, but Ava looked like she’d been drafted for battle. 

He couldn’t fault her. 

Those names didn’t belong to average citizens. He had glimpsed the classified tags–men with sealed records and restricted genetic data. High–tiers like them paid obscene sums each year to keep their files private. Their names appeared in the system only when something extraordinary triggered it–like a forced match, possible only when compatibility reached over ninety–five percent. 

Apparently, Ava had broken the system. 

Before she could finish reading, her Holoband buzzed again–an incoming video call. Her stomach sank when the name flashed across the screen: Dr. Rowan Doyle, from the nursing home. 

2/4 

15:34 Tue, Jan 6 

Chapter 4 No Refunds on Matches 

Finished 

“Excuse me,” she muttered, already stepping aside. “I need to take this.” 

She connected the call. “Dr. Doyle? Did something happen to my grandpa?” 

Rowan’s voice came through, steady but weighted. “Ms. Morren, there’s good news and bad. Your grandfather woke up yesterday morning. His memory’s intact, and he’s been asking for you. Yet, his vitals are failing fast. 

“We’ve exhausted every option. You should come soon. He doesn’t have much time.” 

Her chest tightened like a vise. “Understood. Please keep him comfortable. I’ll head there today.” 

She ended the call and immediately started searching for transport tickets. “Sir, I have a family emergency. Please handle whatever paperwork you need to–I’ll come back to finish later.” 

Owen noticed the red around her eyes but didn’t pry. “Sure. We’ll finalize your file. The confirmation will be forwarded to your matches.” 

Ava nodded faintly and walked out before he could say another word. Her footsteps echoed down the stairwell until they disappeared. 

The young man turned toward his boss. “Mr. Hale, I thought women could cancel if they weren’t satisfied with their results.” 

Owen chuckled softly, giving the young man a reassuring pat on the shoulder. “Eli, you’re still new. Rules look black–and–white on paper, but this isn’t a standard match. This girl triggered a forced match. 

“Once that happens, she’s outside standard clauses.” He leaned back, eyes shining with interest. “I’ve read her genetic profile. That girl is no ordinary girl. Call it intuition, but she’s about to become an Awakened–and not a low–tier one, either.” 

The Match Bureau had processed Awakened cases before, but nothing like Ava’s data. Triggering a forced match was rare enough–but three at Rank Double–S and two at Rank Triple–S? That was unheard of. 

Every one of her matches was young, powerful, and loaded with potential. It was the kind of result that only existed in data simulations—until now. 

Across the galaxy, five Holobands flickered on at once. 

3/4 

15:35 Tue, Jan 6 

Chapter 4 No Refunds on Matches 

图 

Finished 

‘Dear Sir, you have been identified in a forced match. Your designated partner’s file has been attached. Please contact Ms. Ava Morren at your earliest convenience. Wishing you a prosperous union–the Match Bureau. 

154 

B 

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