Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 13

Willa froze. So this was the root of Randal's hatred and torment over the past few weeks.

He couldn't accept that all those years ago, she had been the one to strike first and end their relationship.

An absurd wave of despair washed over her.

"Are you out of your mind, Randal? We broke up five years ago, and you're still obsessing over who dumped who?"

She slapped his wandering hand away and stood up, marching toward the door. "Since you have no intention of talking business, I won't waste my time."

"And another thing," she paused, looking back at him with a flash of disgust in her eyes. "If you're sick, go see a doctor. Stop biting everyone in sight like a rabid dog."

As soon as the words left her mouth, Willa surprised herself.

Before coming here, she had intended to swallow her pride and apologize, but somehow, the words that slipped out were pure venom.

She had been so spoiled by Randal's devotion in the past that she never learned how to be subservient. She had completely forgotten that the Randal standing before her was no longer the man who used to hold her so gently, terrified she might shatter at his touch.

Before Willa's hand could even graze the doorknob, someone gripped her shoulder hard and yanked her backward.

Wearing high heels, she lost her balance, stumbling sideways until her back hit the wall.

Randal closed the distance instantly, trapping her in the narrow space between his body and the wall.

"A rabid dog?" His voice was thick with heavy mockery. "Then let me show you exactly how a rabid dog bites."

The moment he spoke, a sharp, piercing pain erupted on her neck.

Willa was stunned for a few seconds before she finally registered what was happening.

Randal was biting her.

He was marking his territory like a wild animal, completely devoid of any lust—driven only by a painful release of pent-up anger and a sick sense of possession.

As the pain sharpened, she drew in a sharp breath, a muffled groan of agony escaping her lips as she dug her nails fiercely into the tense muscles of his arm.

Willa couldn't understand how the Randal of the past—who would rather endure pain himself than see her suffer even a little—could turn into the monster he was today.

Time seemed to drag on endlessly, and she began to lose track of which was more agonizing: the physical sting on her neck, or the suffocating ache in her chest.

She couldn't hold back her sobs, and the tears instantly flooded her face.

She had always believed that she was the one who suffered the most during that breakup all those years ago.

Yet ever since they crossed paths again, every single time Randal appeared, he brought with him an undisguised, raw hatred.

That hatred was wrapped in an apocalyptic, obsessive madness, dragging them both into a suffocating hell they couldn't escape.

The driver glanced at her through the rearview mirror and quietly passed a couple of tissues over his shoulder. "Here, miss. Dry your eyes. The night wind in Norvale is brutal—don't ruin your pretty face."

Choking back a sob, Willa thanked him, taking the tissues to wipe away her tears.

About half an hour later, the taxi slowly pulled into a quiet, upscale neighborhood, stopping in front of a house bathed in warm, golden porch lights.

"We're here, miss."

The driver put the car in park, glancing back at her one last time with a comforting smile. "Listen, there's no hurdle in life you can't get over. Look at how many people are out there struggling just to put food on the table. You at least get to live in a beautiful place like this. Try not to be too sad."