Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 71

Randal Yates looked up at Zack York, a predatory smirk playing on his lips.

"What happens between her and me is none of your damn business."

He scoffed, violently wrenching Zack's hand away before twisting his wrist back with a vicious, bone-jarring grip. His gaze was terrifyingly dark.

Zack's face drained of color from the pain, his raised fist freezing in midair.

"When it comes to fighting, you never stood a chance against me, even when we were kids," Randal said, his voice laced with ice. "Nothing has changed."

With a hard shove, Zack crashed backward onto the floor.

Randal looked down at him with detached disdain, slowly straightening his collar before turning on his heel and heading for the door.

The door slammed shut, plunging the lounge into a suffocating silence.

Willa Vance huddled in the corner of the sofa, her arms wrapped tightly around her knees, trembling uncontrollably.

She kept her head down, refusing to meet Zack's eyes.

Zack leaned heavily against the floor, panting as he looked up at her. "Willa..."

Willa flinched. She abruptly stood up and stumbled toward the door.

"Willa!" Zack called out desperately, but she acted as if she hadn't heard him. She didn't even wait for the elevator, bolting blindly down the fire escape.

She didn't stop until she burst through the hotel's front doors. The biting night wind hit her instantly, making her shiver.

She raised a hand to flag down a cab.

"Willa?"

A familiar voice echoed from behind her.

Willa turned and saw Iris Underwood standing near the hotel entrance, a look of genuine surprise on her face.

"You haven't left yet?" Iris stepped closer, her eyes lingering on Willa's face before narrowing slightly.

Willa instinctively lowered her head, dodging her gaze.

"I... I was just about to."

Iris paused for a long moment before dropping her next sentence.

"He treats you differently."

Willa opened her eyes in shock, staring at her. "Why are you telling me this? I thought you liked him."

Iris let out a dry laugh. "I liked him, sure, but that doesn't mean I have to force something that isn't there. Don't I deserve someone who's completely devoted to me? I only made a move on him because I knew his arrangement with Scarlett Sterling was purely business."

"Since his heart is clearly taken, there's no reason for me to make a fool of myself."

Willa stared at the woman beside her, suddenly realizing Iris was far more pragmatic than she had ever given her credit for.

"But if you still have feelings for him, I suggest you take a hard look at reality and don't get too invested," Iris advised gently. "Their families are going to formally announce the wedding very soon, and you... you don't exactly have the kind of leverage it takes to negotiate with the Yates family."

The car rolled to a stop at the entrance of Willa's alleyway.

Willa murmured a quiet thank you and pushed the door open.

"Get some rest. Clean up tonight's draft and send it to me tomorrow," Iris called out from the driver's seat.