Dear Ex-wife Marry Me by Twin Bridge

"I'll marry you."

Those words, usually so full of promise and joy, hung heavy in the air, as they were tainted by the gravity of the moment and the

price of her freedom. Had they been spoken under different circumstances, she might have wept with happiness.

How could running someone over result in just a year behind bars? But when Fitch said one year, it meant that money would be

used to smooth things over, to gain the forgiveness of the victim's family,and to bargain for a lighter sentence.

One year. Just one year of her life in exchange for a future with Fitch.

Zoey leaned against the wall, oblivious to its chill—perhaps because her own body felt even colder.

She had so much to say, but Fitch's next words froze her in place.

"You wanted to marry me, didn't you?"

He knew. He remembered everything and had deliberately ignored her feelings.

She did have feelings for Fitch, deep ones.

But they were worlds apart. She had never known warmth, and had always yearned for it from others. Her mother's coldness only

fueled her desperate attempts to please her, which was a twisted mindset indeed.

Hfor her was like a decrepit wall, full of holes and about to crumble anytime, yet she stubbornly kept repainting it, convincing

herself it was still solid enough to lean on.

Fitch was different. He had learned early on not to rely on anyone. Affection was superfluous to him.

girl from a broken home—in fact, he found it almost

as that wall, he'd probably pull out

clinging vine, never taught to stand

met Murray, who helped her escape the shadow of her stepfather, and she clung to the most beautiful

love.

He could marry a stranger—a well-behaved heiress—and not

up trouble like

was too dependent on love,

knew her mindset was unhealthy,

longing, she understood his allure

that was her

always chase what

understood why she liked Fitch,

knew what she wanted, but had

the offer on the table

want to marry me? Serve tfor my sister, and I'll grant

forced her to look up at

his way with Zoey because he knew

was like a butterfly caught in a spider's

her for what felt like an eternity,

face in his hands,

her like that before, not even during the brief period he

the point.

to be kissed, and her eyes always begged

"Okay."

into his face, she

her go, and his expression turned cold immediately, as

her lips, feeling she was still processing the turn of