Stolen Vows: The Thief Of Happiness
ney's sleep, jolting her awake. She groaned, stre
mind tangled with thoughts of Kayla and Alex's engagement. The sudd
om, splashing cold water on her face in an attempt to wake her
thought sar
and skirt. As she hastily buttoned up her blou
You need to eat someth
to put her shoes on. She really
back as she hurried down the stairs, gr
the bottom of the stairs, holding a
're not. You can't just rus
shook he
ee on the way, okay? I real
th the plate. "No way, Delaney. You've been running y
plate reluctantly. "Fine, f
at the food. Her mother hovered nearby, wat
od mood today," Delane
gged, her sm
I'm just happy. Thing
Kayla came back." Del
ed brighter. "Kayla brings such a
d a smile. "Y
ll this year's untill this last two days, an
ites of toast into her mouth, t
eally need
ing out to fix a stra
rker, Delaney. Take ca
rced anoth
She mumbles as she h
-
SOFT TEC
and printer ink filling the air. The familiar rhythm of phones ringing and ke
desk, several coworkers wav
! Glad to see
, D! Everyt
ing friendly hellos with each person. Th
ood at her job but because she was genuinely k
eing approachable and dependable, and it show
her ever-energetic intern, app
the fort while you were gone," Bella sa
softly, pulling
I knew I could
nt though," Bella said, bouncing on
of software development, and project manager at PULSE CODE
company looking for a job, Delaney was assigned to mentor her and teach her t
nched into an update
rt attack, but we handled it. Oh, and you wouldn't believe the mess we had with th
time to be out," Delaney replied
s elsewhere. She couldn't help but think back to her mother t
last two days, ever since Kayla arrived. It wasn't that she'd been unhappy before, but there was a ce
over the new designs! Can you believe tha
, snapping back
ames," she said, of
Delaney's internal s
anything, just holl
y said as her intern sc
d still. Instead of opening them, her thoughts drifted further b
dad had been the one who balanced it out, the one who showed her the ext
their mother doted on, and it stung, even more
orrible fight with Kayla, and to her mother's insistence that she let
cut through her thoughts, followed by th
Paisley, her best friend, standing
urs. What's going on in that
her forehead. "Sorry, I was j
o the chair next to her,
ays in college, Paisley and Delaney had been inseparable since bi
seSoft. Their bond was legendary, earning them a r
t? You've been in a
off with a wave of her han
rrowing her eyes. "Is thi
t but quickly forced a sm
rd since she got here," Pais
right after she arrived. Co
tension rise in her chest.
t, clearly not convinced, but s
I do have some news that'l
though she wasn't particula
ey gr
drunk, and he ended up taking me home. But here's the kicker-I have
ion softened into
er likes you. W
r arms. "That's not true. H
iar voice interrupted from behind. "A
e voice instantly. Tyler walked up to them, hold
ney's desk with a playful smil
shook he
o stop bringing me c
wo days you missed. I'm still catching up. Expect two mor
gh they remained close, Tyler's bond with Delaney was particularly strong due to their shared major in computer
n inseparable group, their friendship a testamen
gave him a soft smile. "Thank you. Bu
I want to. Plus, you know I can't start my mor
hange quietly, now crossed her arms,
adorable, y
to her with a
ou don't want to know what happene
er hands in front of her. "Nope! Nope, no need
took a step toward her, teasing, "I've got al
m and darted out of the offi
to kill y
make her laugh, even on the days she wanted to forget everything. But as their voices f
ff the feeling as she t
-
R MANSION
en as Kayla stirred a pot of homemade marinara sauce. S
wind, especially when she wa
er waist from behind, and Alex's f
ut you know what s
urning her head
e gues
lied, pressing a
u making? I didn't know we
e for dinner tonight," Kayla sai
little taste of what mar
ace him. "If this is what married life
or a moment before Alex pulled
ng... I've been meanin
and glanced up at him, her brow
for a second,
... do you think she's happy about the wedding
ely said a word when she and Alex announced their engageme
said, her tone more co
lot to take in, you know? We hav
you sure? I just... I don't want her to feel
a replied, reaching
around. She's always been a little reser
mall smile and ki
I tru
doubt twisted in her stomach. She hoped s