Bound by vows torn by secrets

ther calling her inside for dinner from the kitchen. The coziness of those memories simply sharpens the cold of reality. She could not sell this house. She found it im

of going to him, of crawling back to the guy she had offended. She was unable to do

rom your bank. I wanted to let you know that seven days from now is the auction date for your property currently. She came to a stop. The blood poured from her face as the words set in. Seventh day. One week. She just had that. She lowered the phone a

once more either. She nevertheless knew what she had to do. She couldn't let this go, not without offering everything

ly drove her farther into the future. This involved more than just money. This was about confronting the man she

hing was good? The betrayal they had suffered? She was trembling. She never would have expected this. She buried her emotions, her history, thinking she had gone on. But all ran back to her as she got closer to the soaring glass e

etic look, almost like a judgmental buzz. The elevator trip was worse than she could have anticipated. She tried to slow her breathing, but Tucker's memories dominated her thinking. F

g. Tall, wide-shouldered, with a presence demanding attention and a strong jawline. Now, though, he possessed something unique. something that over years had hardened. He was no more the man holding her hand as they imagined a future together. Now, he was a stranger. He turned to her, his eyes narrowing just slightly and

oat. "I... I need you." Tucker's eyes dropped to the floor, then back up

ecause of something about her, something about her suffering. She was different. You wish for my assistance? She could detect the smallest tremble in his voic

ltering, she replied, "I'm not asking for anything more than help." Simply said, I need money. My house; they are taking it from me. He fixed her with a protracted stare, h

counted. She forced the words through the constriction in her throat, "I'

ready to pay. Her throat closed, his words choking her with bitterness. This was his preferred method of punishment for her? Using her desperation against her, he was turning her frailty into a tool for control. "How dare you," Scarlet said through tight teeth. "How

s. The years of common past. How could he completely wipe it? "I don't want your charity," she continued, her voice trembling now and tinged with anger and incredu

s choking her with their sting. She had a choice. Everything her parents had labored for, everything they had left her, sh

and his deliberate cruelty in presenting her a marriage contr