Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 7

At the breakfast table, Mrs. York noticed Randal's pale complexion and asked with concern, "Randal, your dark circles are terrible. Is the bed in the guest room uncomfortable?"

Randal stirred his oatmeal, his tone detached. "Just had a nightmare. Didn't sleep well."

Mrs. York chuckled. "What kind of dream could scare you like that?"

"I dreamt about a cat I used to have. It ran off with someone else."

Mrs. York laughed harder. "Didn't you hate cats when you were little? Since when did you start keeping one?"

"Just caught my eye one day, I guess." Randal put down his spoon and wiped his mouth. "Kept it for three years, spoiled it absolutely rotten. Then one day, it got lured away by someone else's canned tuna."

He looked up, locking eyes with Willa. "Tell me, do you think I should drag an ungrateful cat like that back home?"

Willa forced a stiff smile. "If the cat is living happily somewhere else, there's no reason to obsess over a little pet. Just get a new one."

"That's what I thought, too." Randal let out a soft, chilling laugh, his eyes growing darker. "But it just had a death wish and decided to wander back right under my nose."

After breakfast, Willa brought her packed luggage downstairs and politely said her goodbyes to Mrs. York.

Suddenly, Randal spoke up. "Marianne, I'm sorry, but Scarlett has an emergency. I have to head back early, too."

Hearing Scarlett Sterling's name, Willa's heart violently contracted as an old, agonizing wound was abruptly ripped open.

Five years ago, on that fateful afternoon, Eleanor Yates had brought her to a highly exclusive private auction.

Scarlett Sterling had been standing right next to Randal. They were speaking in hushed tones, their body language intimate—a match made in heaven.

Eleanor had said, "You see? They belong to the same world. Rather than leaving in disgrace, it's better to make a dignified exit."

In that instant, every ounce of Willa's courage had shattered.

She finally realized that the barrier between her and Randal wasn't just his fiancée, Scarlett.

Randal announced he would ride back to Norvale in Zack's car.

Willa assumed it was just another excuse to torment her, but surprisingly, he stayed completely silent the entire ride, leaning his head against the backseat with his eyes closed.

Having barely slept the night before, exhaustion finally overtook her.

Half-asleep, she heard a phone ring.

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