Page 5 of Bound By You

I love his smile.

We stay at the café for a couple of hours while he tries to help me with my class, but we laugh most of the time instead. It's like this every time.

He drives me home in his Mercedes-Benz like he does every time we meet, drops me off at the front door, kisses my cheek, then pecks my lips after giving me a tight hug. Then he waits until I'm inside before driving away.

I sigh.He's the highlight of my days.

I walk into the kitchen, where my father and sister are sitting at the kitchen island laughing quietly, and as soon as I enter, they stop. I ignore them both and head to the fridge for a water bottle. My father doesn't even acknowledge me, while my sister, the only person other than Sergi I thought I could count on for years before I was sent away, sneers at me. It's been this way since it was decided I would marry Alex instead, but she was hiding her disdain for me long before that. I'm just not sure why.

To her, I'm no longer her sister, but a man-stealing whore—her words, not mine, even though she's the one who decided to play games to get her own way. I ignore her and walk outagain, heading to my room to continue my schoolwork. Despite having to marry, Alex is very encouraging about my studies and my dream to become a vet. He's even looked up some veterinary schools in the area. I smile, feeling lucky to have him and his family's support.

Walking up the stairs, I hear my sister snark, "I don't understand why she's still living here,Bampás. I asked you to move her into her own apartment; why can't you? You know I made a mistake with Alexandr, and now I have to watch my sister steal my man, my future."

I pause on the staircase, tears forming in my eyes while I hold my breath, waiting for his reply, hoping he doesn't disappoint me.

"I already told you,pepõn, she's already tried to run twice, and now that I amNonos, I need to keep her close before the wedding in five months. Once she's married off, we don't need to see her again, okay? Then, after five years, Alex should divorce her, and if you still want him, go for him. I doubt she'll care."

I don't wait for her reply and run to my room. Once inside, I lock the door, then turn and slide down until I’m sitting on the floor. My eyes tear up, but I hold them in.

Since being with Alex, my “other side” has slipped away. I used to be immune to their cruel words, but now it's starting to get to me. The tears fall, and I curse myself, willing my training to kick in. I take a deep breath, wipe away the traitorous tears, and stop feeling sorry for myself for the lack of family I have inside this house.

I grab my school stuff, place them on the bed, and go to my bathroom, quickly scrubbing my face to hide the evidence the tears left behind, before putting my mask of indifference back on, and go to finish my homework like the last twenty minutes did not happen.

About three hours later, my phone pings with an incoming message. I look at the time, and it's just gone lunchtime. I furrow my brows and put my schoolwork away, then grab my phone. I know it can't be Alex; he said he had a business meeting before Mila's party, and Sofia will be busy with Maria getting ready. Sergi is on “Mila duty”, while Damian will probably be hovering around Sofia. She's heavily pregnant with their second child, and he's apparently turned into a helicopter—her words, not mine…unless she's messaged me to tell me she killed him and needs help hiding the body. I chuckle and pick up my phone. My smile disappears, and my brows furrow in confusion.

Unknown: link attached.

I place my thumb over it. I know you shouldn't click on links that someone you don't know has sent you, but I'm a curious person. I click on it, and I turn up my volume when I hear someone talking. Suddenly, I’m regretting clicking on the link.

"It's about time you got your sexy ass here, Selene,"an unknown voice states.

I don't know who the woman is, but she's tall and blond, wearing only lacy, black lingerie. I scowl, confused as to why someone sent me this. I already know Selene dabbles with the opposite sex; it's not news to me. She'd go to anyone willing to spend money on her.

"Sorry, Daddy took me shopping because he wouldn't send my sister to her own apartment. Still, she stole my fiancé, the least she could have done was fuck off."

I sigh, realizing exactly how much of a spoiled bitch she's become over the years.

"Don't worry, darling, it's only for five years, but speaking of Alexandr,"the unknown woman smirks, walks over to my sister, and kisses her. I gag and go to end the stream but theunknown woman speaks again, making my heart drop to my stomach.

"He's finally knocked me up, so we can all be a happy family once we get rid of your sister. We just have to let the marriage paperwork go through so he can get the inheritance you mentioned, and then you contact your guy for the Romanians to pick her up. Alexandr has agreed."She laughs, and I can't believe it—Alex wouldn't sleep with these women, especially not with my sister! This must be a setup, and he certainly wouldn't give me to the same men who killed my mother.

I wait for Selene to laugh like it's a joke, but she doesn't, she just smiles wide, and I shake my head. How can she hate me so much? She blames me for something I had no control over. My father gave me the arranged marriage because she's the one who spitefully let everyone know she was seeing a woman.

It takes a moment, but something hits me…what she just said…. How the fuck does she know about my inheritance?

I wait to see if they say anything else, but they don't. They start to make out, making me want to throw up, but then I hear a click of a door, and they both pull apart at the sound of a male voice, a voice that I have come to love. The man who bound me to him speaks and comes into view, unbuttoning his black shirt, the same one he was wearing this morning, his six-pack coming into view, with his ink showing over his left chest and shoulder, and I shake my head in disbelief.

"You both started without me?"Alex smirks as I start to sob heavily. I turn my phone off just as he grabs hold of Selene and shoves his tongue down her throat, and bile rises in mine. I run to the bathroom just in time to spew up everything I have eaten. I feel like someone is pulling my insides out. I guessthiswas his important meeting.

Now I know how Sofia felt. How the fuck did she take her husband back?

I wash my face and quickly brush my teeth, and I look up at myself in the mirror, my hair a mess and my eyes are still shining with unshed tears. I take a deep breath. My body wants to fall apart, but my mind is taking over; my training finally kicking in. My father doesn't want me, my sister is a selfish bitch, and now my arranged fiancé is not only sleeping with said sister but has also gotten another woman pregnant. My blood runs cold, the mask I've perfected around my so-called family cracks and falls away, and I push my heartbreak aside as my stone-cold bitch persona resurfaces.

Time to complete my plan. The contract is now void!

I go to my closet and find the duffel bag I've had packed for a few years, and open it. All my essentials are still in there, as are my weapons and a debit card with over a hundred million dollars that myyia-yialeft me in her estate and savings. Thankfully, it's under a ghost account, that can't be traced. My father and sister were pissed when they realized they got nothing in her will; I just didn't know they were aware of what she left me—my inheritance.

I take my phone out, open my emails, and send the feed from the link that I saved on my phone to Damian so he can see why I have left. I type CONTRACT VOID in the subject bar. I know he won't see this for at least three weeks; Sofia is close to her due date. I debate sending her and Sergi a message, but I shake my head because they'll contact Alex.

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