Bound by vows torn by secrets

re procedures are set to start in seven days." She reread the letter in the ho

days. No matter how many more hours she committed to her best friend's small company or how many shifts

parents had gone dead. Apart from their accumulated debt before their early deaths, their life insurance barely paid for

the empty rooms back into the house. Now, the house seemed like an empty shell; only a few years ago

e Bank Manager. She had tried to phone him earlier that morning, but every time she got back the same answer: ther

onal that it almost seemed separated from the fear racing through her thoughts. The current plan is

but it had no effect. The words were

front door. She couldn't wake up from it, like a terrible dream. She wanted to shout, shatter something,

playing games with her. Gazing is time; the bank mana

he seemed casual, bu

troubled voice. "I recently learn

t ready to share her feelings just yet. She wanted not to feel his pi

ave to labor on this alone. But have you truly given it m

her, the pain of guilt tore th

ars and had not heard from him since that terrible night. She had walked off that eveni

ing him. She could not. She w

hardly audible whisper. "P

could do. And the whole thought of it made her queasy. Tucker was well-off.

fear. Still, she understood deep down that confronting him wa

ht of the choice already down on her. "I'll go

he weight of her thoughts slowed every inch of movement. Bernard turned from the counter and wide

his voice full of anx

weight, she walked near him and sank onto it. "I am unable t

s face. I apologize. I'm at a loss for word

reatened to pour forth. "I've tested everything." Everything,

wrinkled across his brow. You cann

." She drew in a long breath

d...? Bernard pause

up to his. You

h, is not only a wealthy manager. For loud shouting out, he is Tucker Beaumont. He

all that has transpired... " She

voice strong. But you really have to a

rnard had it exactly. One person could assist he

w he was correct.

as though the answers were buri

el hard, her knuckles whitening against the leather, her heart a continual drum of fear in her chest.

drag her beneath. This has nothing to do with histo

where the surface reflected the sky and surrounding city glittering. Sh

gering a minute longer than required as though he had already hea

ves were fraying; she replied,

tried to concentrate on anything other than the unplanned

hen the elevat

r Bea

ed, but his appearance had suddenly become even more frightening. His precisely made outf

rs. The years that had elapsed between them appeared to vanish fr

w and edged to cause her heart to quicken

were like ice, but the flutter of something she couldn't quite place flashed in them: wa

t, trying to steady her hands. "I didn't expect to be here

his lips curved into a tiny, cynical smirk. "Funny. You disa

her heart sped. She had no

r groaned to stop on his floor. Come inside. We can tal

couldn't afford to turn down his offer, no matter how nasty it felt. Her feet mo

eft hers as he walked to his chair, beckoning her to sit across from his command

ned by power and resentment, had replaced her once-loving boyfriend. She could still sense the traces of the man she had wal

u show up on my front door seeking assistance."For what cause, Scarlet? After w

r chest. Correct was what he said. She had

but he cut her off

going to marry me. Annually. There were no inquiries asked. I will handle your debts in

th incredulity. It was a contract of m

oubt coloring her wor

ession stayed the sa

idiculousness of it, she wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. She had just one c

s office opened unexpectedly, and a tall, shar

r. Beaumont, the papers ar

already polished the contract. It

laid the papers between them on the

aying from hers. "Sign the contract, Scarlet.

nt of her, the weight of the cho

whirled, but ultimately

as she was about to sign the contract, she heard her pulse loud, urgent, as