Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 23

Zack immediately walked over, leaning down to ask softly, "Are you cold?"

Without waiting for her to answer, he shrugged off his light jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Willa froze for a second, looking up at him.

A crushing wave of guilt washed over her, but desperate to escape the intense stare burning holes into her back, she instinctively shrank closer to Zack. "A little. Thanks."

That almost dependent gesture made Zack's heart skip a beat. The tips of his ears burned hot.

Suddenly clumsy, he mumbled, "Anytime."

Then, he shifted even closer to her side.

The entire exchange landed flawlessly in Randal's line of sight.

Randal's mouth twitched into a smirk. He suddenly raised his voice, speaking to Miles. "You know, I saw the funniest thing the other day. A pampered little bird decided its old nest wasn't good enough, so it tried to fly up to a higher branch. It only made it halfway before falling flat on its back."

His tone was casual, as if he were just making conversation, but his gaze sliced diagonally toward Willa, dripping with mockery.

Miles let out a dry, awkward laugh, not taking the bait.

Willa furrowed her brow, instantly catching the underlying venom.

Randal was mocking her, calling her a gold digger desperately trying to climb the social ladder.

But the most foolish, desperate thing she had ever done in her life was date Randal Yates for three years, naively believing they would end up together.

Zack noticed the color drain from Willa's face. Trying to cut the tension, he quickly suggested, "Why don't we play a game?"

Everyone eagerly agreed, deciding on a round of Truth or Dare using an empty beer bottle.

"Come on, Willa's new here. She has to spin first!" Louis cheered.

Unable to decline, Willa spun the bottle while the whole group watched.

The glass spun in a blur, slowly losing momentum...

And landed perfectly, pointing dead center at Randal.

Louis laughed. "Damn, Randal, you're lucky. Truth or Dare?"

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