The reluctant vow

ts hanging low on his waist, his muscular frame bent over the water dispenser as he filled a glass. The silve

a second before he turned away, cool and unbothere

ritation as she backed away and turned down th

open the half-closed door.

she was folding a wrapper. "Be

taying? As in...

re. Both families agreed. We're going to start planning the enga

an you people are forcing me to marry is going to be und

's not th

to be my only escape. Now I can't even walk free

hardened. "Watch

n. "This is ridiculous. You're all just goin

er room, slamming the door shut. Her heart thumped heavily in h

gnore

k came, firm

!" she

ring a T-shirt. He closed the door behind him with

oing in my room

e door and crossed his arms. "You've made it very clear you

rprised. "So wha

oposing

im, suspicious. "

play along until the wedding, and once we're officially married, we do our thi

's funny. Because I already

brow. "Let me gu

h parted

ld learn to close your door whe

skipped. H

s shoulder. His eyes held that same unreadable calm, but

ith Kemi tonight," he said

ic

as g

shifted. Tension, secrets, and an unspok