"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.

understand the insecurities of a girl from a broken home—in fact,

he'd probably pull out a

a clinging vine, never taught to stand alone in

escape the shadow of her stepfather, and she clung to the most beautiful illusions

love.

numb to such sentiments. He could marry a stranger—a well-behaved heiress—and not bat an eye, as long as she

up trouble

Zoey was too dependent on love, Fitch was

her mindset was unhealthy, and she longed

she understood his allure better

was

all, we always chase what

she liked Fitch,

was shrewd. He knew what she wanted, but had withheld

offer on the table was

Serve tfor my

on her chin forced her to look up at him, and his

got his way with Zoey because

lips met, and her hands were captured in his. Zoey was like a butterfly caught in

eternity,

his

that before, not even during the brief period he had lost his memory.

the point.

to be kissed, and her eyes always begged

"Okay."

face, she

turned cold immediately, as if he had conducted a business

she was still processing the turn of events, even when he spoke with the police and the smug

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255