Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 68

Willa stood frozen in place, hardly believing her own ears.

"What did you just say?"

Her mind went completely blank. She heard every single word clearly, yet strung together, they formed a concept so absurd she couldn't even comprehend it.

Scarlett watched her, her smile deepening as her eyes practically overflowed with condescending pity.

"What? Did Randal not tell you? I told him I wouldn't mind if he kept someone on the side, as long as it didn't interfere with our families' alliance and didn't cause any ugly scenes. I can turn a blind eye. I'll let today's incident slide, but next time..."

Willa couldn't hear the rest of her words.

It felt as if something violently exploded in her brain, utterly annihilating the worldview she had built over her two decades of life.

She suddenly remembered what Randal had whispered into her ear outside the restaurant that day.

"Scarlett said she doesn't mind if I keep someone on the side."

At the time, she had thought it was just him spewing nonsense to intentionally disgust her.

She never expected it to be true.

It wasn't until this very moment that she truly understood the rawest form of humiliation dealt by high society.

She was nothing more than a toy for them to admire and play with, completely devoid of the right to be genuinely cherished.

Everything she possessed was merely a handout in Scarlett's eyes. Even the past she treasured had become nothing but a trivial spice in the grand scheme of this wealthy union.

The dignity she fought so desperately to protect was utterly worthless to them.

Willa's body began to tremble uncontrollably.

She clenched her fists tightly, trying to use the sheer force to ground herself and force a sense of calm.

But it was useless.

That icy chill still clawed its way up her spine, flooding her entire body until her teeth chattered from the cold.

The more she thought about it, the more her chest ached, and tears uncontrollably welled up in her eyes.

Unable to hold on any longer, Willa found a quiet corner, slowly slid down the wall, and buried her face in her knees.

She didn't dare cry out loud, but broken, muffled sobs still forced their way past her lips.

People walked past in the corridor, some casting curious glances her way, but she didn't care anymore. She just wanted to let it all out.

She curled herself into a tighter ball, yet her chest remained devastatingly hollow, numb with pain.

Only when her tears finally stopped and her emotions had somewhat settled did she force herself to stand. She stumbled down the hall, making her way to the restroom at the end of the corridor.

Just as she reached the entrance, the person from the adjacent restroom walked out.

Their eyes met, completely catching her off guard.

It was Randal.