Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 146

Whatever.

She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow.

How much longer was she supposed to live like this? How had her life turned into such a disaster?

Without realizing it, she drifted back into a restless sleep, only to be jolted awake by her ringing phone.

She blindly grabbed it and pressed it to her ear. "Hello?"

"Willa." The familiar voice on the other end belonged to Naomi. "It's Mom."

Willa woke up completely.

"Willa, why haven't you been answering your phone?" Naomi complained. "I've called you multiple times, and you never call back."

Willa gave a dismissive excuse. "I didn't hear it. I forgot."

"You could have at least sent a text." Naomi sounded annoyed. "I was worried sick. You have no idea—"

"If you need something, say it. If not, I'm hanging up," she interrupted.

There was a brief silence on the other end before Naomi's tone shifted to a sweet, cloying affection. "Willa, Mom just misses you. I want to see you so we can have a nice chat."

The sudden warmth made Willa's skin crawl. She frowned, her patience thinning. "Are you going to tell me what you want or not? I'm hanging up."

"Wait, don't... Let me treat you to lunch. Just the two of us," Naomi tested carefully.

Willa agreed immediately. "Where?"

Naomi was clearly surprised, her voice spiking with excitement. "That restaurant you love. I've already booked a table. You have to come."

After hanging up, Willa stared blankly at her phone screen for a long time.

She knew this lunch was far from innocent, but she still wanted to go.

She desperately needed to get out of the house for a breather.

The moment Willa pushed the front door open, two bodyguards instantly blocked her path. "Ms. Vance, are you heading out?"

"My mother invited me to lunch," she replied flatly.

The bodyguards exchanged a troubled look. "Well... we have to ask Mr. Yates first."

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