Bound by the Past, Locked by the Heart novel Chapter 72

Willa didn't respond, practically sprinting the rest of the way home.

The second her front door clicked shut, she sagged against the wood and slid down to the floor.

In the pitch-black entryway, she pulled her knees to her chest, curling into a tight ball, seeking a fleeting sense of security in the cramped posture.

She sat there for what felt like hours. It wasn't until her legs were completely numb that she finally braced herself against the doorframe to stand. She stumbled blindly into her bedroom, shucked off her clothes, and collapsed face-first onto the mattress.

Her phone buzzed faintly beside her.

She picked it up. It was a barrage of concerned messages from Zack.

He had been texting her ever since she bolted from the lounge.

Willa typed back: [Don't worry, I'm home.]

She hesitated for a second before sending another text.

[I think it's best if we don't see each other for a while.]

She didn't want Zack tearing his family apart over her.

She was no saint, but she refused to be the catalyst for their destruction.

After hitting send, she powered off her phone and squeezed her eyes shut.

Her sleep that night was anything but restful.

Memories and reality blurred into a chaotic montage, flashing endlessly through her dreams.

She tried desperately to grab onto something to anchor herself, but there was nothing but thin air.

The next morning, she dragged herself into the office, sporting massive dark circles under her eyes.

As soon as she walked in, the atmosphere felt incredibly stifling.

The glances her coworkers threw her way were far more loaded than usual.

She ignored them and headed straight for her desk.

The moment she sat down, her extension rang.

It was Iris. "Come to my office."

Willa had known this was coming.

She took a deep, steadying breath and walked over.

"Have a seat."

Even though she had braced herself for the fallout, her heart still sank like a stone.

Iris sighed heavily. "I called you in to give you a heads-up. Upper management just made the call. You're being pulled from all commercial interviews moving forward."

"Understood," Willa replied softly.

"Just focus on wrapping up the 'Legacy Brands' project for now. I'll try to smooth things over with the executives," Iris said, shifting strictly to business.

Willa nodded.

Iris waved a hand, signaling that she was dismissed.

Willa stood up and walked to the door, pausing with her hand on the knob. She looked back.

"Iris," she said, genuine gratitude in her voice. "Regardless of everything, thank you."

Iris smiled slightly. "Alright, save the waterworks. Get back to work."

Willa pushed the door open and left.

Meanwhile, Zack received a frantic call from his mother, demanding he return home immediately.

Assuming there was a family emergency, he made the drive back to Jansen that very afternoon.