Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 109

An hour later, the deadbolt clicked.

Randal pushed the door open, a sleek takeout bag in hand.

His eyes instantly locked onto Willa, who was curled into a tight ball on the couch. He stopped in his tracks.

"Why are you sitting in the dark?"

Willa's head snapped up like she'd been electrocuted. The next second, she practically sprinted across the room, wrapped her arms tightly around his waist, and buried her face deep into his chest.

Randal's entire body went rigid. He dropped the takeout bag onto the console table and slowly wrapped his arms around her, holding her with agonizing care.

"Talk to me. Did something happen with the launch?"

Willa shook her head, her voice muffled against his shirt. "No."

Randal didn't push. He just tightened his grip, anchoring her to him.

After what felt like hours, Willa tilted her head up, her eyes pleading. "Randal, can you please call off the engagement?"

It was the first time she had ripped the bandage off and demanded an answer.

Randal looked down, the soft affection in his eyes instantly swallowed by a violent, brewing storm.

"She was here."

It wasn't a question. It was a lethal fact.

"She wasn't." Willa lied through her teeth, her gaze darting frantically away from his.

Long before he walked through the door, she had wiped every single second of the security footage from the cloud servers.

He had enough trauma chaining him down; he didn't need to know he was being used as a sick consolation prize.

Even if this was a strictly corporate transaction, he deserved to walk away clean.

"I am not marrying her," Randal swore, his voice rumbling through her.

He dragged a hand through her hair, his tone softening dramatically. "Are you starving? Let's eat."

She nodded, meekly following his lead.

Randal released her, reaching into the bag and pulling out a massive container of steaming, hearty soup.

He handed her a spoon. "Eat before it gets cold."

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