REMARRIED TO A STRANGER

f her graduation gown dragged behind her like a chain. Around her, students laughed and snapped photos, cele

Management. A promi

the message on her phone: Mama says Come h

f, three younger siblings, a sick mother, and an alco

day wasn'

dris had

st outside the campus hall. No flowers. No

ed, stunned. "A

eep struggling. Come with me. M

Gold Corp., Rich. Quiet. Reserved. And yet, for reas

wanted to

from the slu

ad sa

adn't even attended. His mother, Mrs. Mfaume, ha

ress makes you our equal?" s

rced a smile. She told herself things

while,

hard, learned fast, and stayed out of the way. She never took long breaks. She brought

spers began

ent from one of the mines

ecords had her digit

fice one morning-Mrs. Mfau

rs. Mfaume said coldly. "An

d. "Why would I-? I don

, avoiding her eyes. "You s

confused. "You know

nce crus

he gold's worth in cash, five bi

g. Not even a

went to

ates with nothing but a plastic bag and a scar

her name was a stain in newspapers, and her o

't cry. Sh

bar with trembling hands and n

s when sh

stra

ooed hands. Eyes

aid, setting down a glass

ut," she repl

liked that answer.

linked.

row morning. You need a

ed. "You'

you've got nothing to lose, an

, saw no pity in

n oppo

rs of silence, Am

me, it wasn

for r

't sleep t

oom, and left without asking a single question about her past. No "What were you in for?" N

at the silver ring he'd left behind. Simple, b

s anoth

done enough t

Powerful. As if he knew things she didn't-about the wor

te dress left for her on the chair. It

black again, his tattoos peeking out from his cuffs. He held

sig

kis

out as husba

like

t of his luxurious black SUV, he finally asked,

ed. "Why? Planning

I like to fix things th

slowly. "You wan

version. No

e tol

ry

e, Zayn looked her in the e

t's destr