Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 159

Willa felt utterly exhausted. "Forget it. Just take me to see him another day."

"See him?" Randal's voice dropped to a freezing temperature. "Why do you want to see him? Are you still hung up on him?"

Willa stared at his unreasonable stubbornness, the simmering anger in her chest flaring up again.

"He is my friend. He's in the hospital because he tried to help me, and you put him there. What exactly is the problem with me going to check on him?"

"The problem is he has motives for you."

"Randal." She tried to reason with him. "Zack likes me, but he never crossed the line, and he never used those feelings to hurt anyone, including you."

Randal's eyes dimmed entirely, replaced by a pitch-black, obsessive darkness.

"I don't like anyone coveting what's mine."

Willa hadn't expected to get so furious just trying to have a rational conversation. "So you just beat them up?"

"Yes," he answered without a hint of shame. "Whoever dares to look at you, I'll destroy them."

Willa laughed, a sharp, bitter sound. "Randal, you can't be this greedy. You're preparing to marry someone else, yet you want to eliminate every possible option I might have? Don't you think that's sickening?"

Randal's expression shifted, and he tried to speak. "Wills..."

"Enough. There's no point in arguing about this here. We're disrupting everyone else."

Willa turned to walk deeper into the hall. She hadn't taken more than a few steps when a heavy thud echoed behind her.

Startled, she whipped around, only to see Randal's fist smashed into the adjacent wall.

His face was completely ashen. His entire body was shaking uncontrollably, his eyes rapidly losing focus.

Willa immediately realized something was terribly wrong. Forgetting her anger entirely, she rushed to his side, grabbed his injured hand, and spoke in a soft, soothing tone. "Randal, let's go home."

Iris and Martin ran over upon hearing the commotion. "What happened? What's going on?"

"Iris, Mr. Jenson, I am so sorry." Willa supported Randal by the arm, half-guiding, half-dragging him toward the exit.

Willa turned a deaf ear to it all, entirely focused on walking Randal forward.

The driver jumped in shock when he saw their state and rushed out to help. "Mr. Yates..."

"Drive us home," Willa ordered.

Once in the car, Randal leaned back against the seat and closed his eyes, taking several ragged breaths before his color slightly returned.

Willa frowned at him accusingly. "You didn't take your meds today, did you?"

"I didn't do it on purpose. I was too busy this morning and forgot," Randal explained carefully, terrified she would get angry again.

A complicated, indescribable feeling swelled in Willa's chest. Just moments ago, she had been so furious she never wanted to speak to him again, but seeing him like this, she couldn't bring herself to just leave him to rot.

She silently cursed her own weakness. She was so pathetic, caving in every single time.

"Randal, from now on, I won't leave the house unless it's to take you to the doctor."