The Bound Between Us

Riverdale.

Chapter 1

Sitting in a cafe, Anastasia scrutinized the man she was set up with. She was quite taken aback.

His looks were a sight for sore eyes. His features were damn handsome, flawless, radiating an innate sense of nobility

This was her tenth blind date in less than three months. She was between a rock and a hard place if she didn’t come, her mom would threaten her with fasting or suicide

The guy in front of her was definitely a cut above the other dudes she’d been set up with before. After so many blind dates, Anastasia wasn’t shy anymore so she blurted out, “When are you planning to get hitched?”

Before coming. Anastasia had decided that as long as the guy wasn’t a total bum, she’d consider marrying him right away, maybe even skip the whole dating process.

Wasn’t the point of blind dates to find someone to marry? If she got married, her mom wouldn’t be threatening her with suicide anymore.

The man seemed surprised, then chuckled, “We just met. Don’t you think you’re jumping the gun?”

When the dude laughed, he was a real looker, like sunshine in spring. Anastasia had a thing for handsome guys and was almost mesmerized.

forgot to introduce myself. I’m Anastasia. The matchmaker should have filled you in about me. I’m 25, a freelancer, and I sell some jewelry, earning around 10 thousand dollars.

added, “I’m ready

guy she was set up with was found by her mom on a dating website. She thought this would be another average–looking, older guy with a beer belly and

had seen it all, and very few were

smiled warmly, his voice gentle. “How did the matchmaker introduce

“This is my tenth blind date. They told me you work for a listed company, Elysian Technologies You’re a local,

told her about the guy she was meeting, but she hadn’t really paid attention.

own a house, but I have a car. I rent my place, drive a Chevrolet, have a stable income, am currently single, have

would you marry me right here and now? I can support myself, and won’t spend your money. We can go dutch. You don’t have to

wishes. The rest, they would play it

and most of them were doing great. A

hand with his forefinger, pondering her

come to the blind date with all the paperwork ready for marriage registration. Was she a

year, and the pressure from home to get married was mounting.

I don’t own

house either, Anastasia said. “Without parental support, not many people can afford a house before 30. I understand, as long as you’re decent and