Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 175

Perhaps her words that night had actually worked. Randal stopped restricting her movements and completely called off the secret bodyguards.

Ironically, she had lost all desire to go out, preferring to stay quietly at home all day.

Over the weekend, Randal forcibly dragged her off the couch. "Come on, let's go out. Didn't you say you wanted to buy a book the other day?"

Worn down by his persistence, she finally caved and agreed to go with him.

Once they were at the mall, they passed a menswear boutique. Willa paused and glanced inside.

"What is it?" he asked.

"Nothing." She pulled her gaze away. "I just realized I don't think I've ever bought you any clothes."

Randal blinked in surprise, then grinned. "Are you going to pick something out for me now?"

Willa tilted her head, giving it some serious thought. "You look good in black, or even dark gray. But you shouldn't wear suits all the time. It makes you look old."

Randal's smile faltered. "Old?"

Suppressing a laugh, Willa purposefully looked him up and down. "How old are you this year?"

"Thirty..."

"Oh. Yeah, you're definitely getting up there."

She laughed and dodged to the side. He reached for her wrist, but she gracefully sidestepped him.

The two of them playfully chased each other down the mall corridor for a few strides.

Finally, he caught her wrist and pulled her flush against his side.

"Why are you running?" He gazed down at her, his eyes brimming with amusement.

Willa shot him a glare. "We're in public. Behave yourself."

"Behave how?" He leaned in deliberately, his breath ghosting over her forehead. "I don't think I will."

Willa's heart hammered in her chest. For a fleeting second, it felt like they were back in those innocent, younger days.

How beautiful those times had been. They were young, fueled by passion and reckless abandon.

Life felt endless, offering them plenty of room to make mistakes and learn from them.

But now, she had to tread with excruciating caution. One wrong step could cost her everything.

She was just about to speak when she caught a figure standing nearby out of the corner of her eye.

A young woman in her early twenties, wearing a pale yellow sundress and clutching several shopping bags, was staring right at them.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify