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.

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

found by her mom on a dating website. She thought this would be another average–looking, older guy with a

dating websites were just too unreliable. Anastasia had seen it all, and very few were decent looking.

the gist. He smiled warmly, his voice gentle. “How did the matchmaker introduce me to you? Aren’t

date. They told me you work for a listed company, Elysian Technologies You’re a local, and your parents are gone. You’re a solid

forgot the guy’s name. When she left home, her mom had told her about the guy she was meeting, but she hadn’t really paid attention.

name’s Herman Salstrom,” the man said with a warm smile. “I’m a local, don’t own a house, but I have a car. I rent

registration papers and looked at Herman. “Mr. Salstrom, 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 give me any gifts, or have a wedding. Just a simple affair, we just need to be legally married.”

wishes. The rest, they would play it by ear. If they were really compatible, they’d

dates, and most of them were doing great. A simple life

with his forefinger,

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

to be 30 this year, and the pressure from home to get married

don’t own a house? Being with me might be tough.”

many people can afford a house before 30. I understand, as long as you’re decent and ambitious, we’ll be