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.

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. Only got my

added, “I’m ready to get hitched anytime.”

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 messed up

were just too unreliable. Anastasia had seen

guy got the gist. He smiled warmly, his voice gentle. “How

you work for a listed company, Elysian Technologies You’re

the guy’s name. When she left home, her mom had told her about the guy she was meeting, but she

a local, don’t own a house, but I have a car. I rent my place, drive a Chevrolet, have a stable income, am currently

here and now? I can support myself, and won’t spend your money. We can go dutch. You don’t have to give me any gifts,

fulfill her mom’s wishes. The rest, they would play

of Anastasia’s friends got married through blind dates, and most of them were doing great. A simple life

his hand with his forefinger,

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

the pressure from home to get married was mounting.

I don’t own a house? Being

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