Marriage Deal with Entangled Promises

s Point

as a mere

nstakingly established with Matthew. I'd been attempting, in my own understated fashion, to acclimate to my life here. The contract, th

I sa

be

tterly in command, and everything about her radiated authority. Her long, blonde hair fell in a smooth cascade, and the red dr

s too

m across the room, and ev

be

oblivious to. As if she was daring me to discover it. And in that instant, something twisted insid

t just

ne. I could feel her-her very essence. She was Matthew's history, and yet, ther

and dragged him away from this. Anything to sidestep the inev

gy I couldn't quite identify. I inhaled sharply, attempting to c

it isn't Matthew

crawl. She wasn't here for pleasantries. She wasn't here to be civil.

ain my composure,

ght between feeling threate

, invading my personal space with deliberate intent. "I said, you'r

of her words sank in. She wasn't just speaking to me; she was speak

g, "Matthew doesn't keep people around for long

oing to let you in? He

sist she was mistaken, that Matthew was different. Bu

rigid. "I think you're wrong," I said,

ng this, the control she had. "Am I? You honestly beli

little di

he inevitable, yet I remained where I was.

nest. You're just a piece in his game

n I spotte

s darted between us, a barely noticeable flicker of something I couldn't identi

bec

ropped, a c

e said her name-like he was trying to

ling," she cooed, her voice thick with insincerity. "I was jus

r between us felt heavy. I could sense Matthew

went," Matthew said, hi

ly unfazed. "Leaving already? Bu

ard me, the smirk s

ed unmoved. "I

g only to cast a final look back at me. "You've been warned," she murmured, her voice barely

eing screamed at Matthew, demanding to know why he let her talk to m

quite tell if I felt comforted or even more lost. His gaze was l

st, his voice low, though s

ing with all the words he'd spoken, the word

at Rebecca might be onto someth