The Bound Between Us

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.

Anastasia composed herself and said, “Oh night, I almost 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. Only got my mom at home. I’ve been in a relationship before, now I’m single, healthy, no bad habits.”

added, “I’m ready to

today because her mom had pushed her into it, and the guy she was set up with was found by her mom on a dating website. She thought this would be another average–looking, older

were just too unreliable. Anastasia had seen

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

for a listed company, Elysian Technologies You’re a local, and your parents are gone. You’re

home, her mom had told her about the guy she was meeting, but she hadn’t

the man said with a warm smile. “I’m 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 single, have no bad habits, and I am

and won’t spend your money. We can go dutch. You don’t have to give me any gifts, or have a wedding. Just

her mom’s wishes. The rest, they would play it by ear. If

blind dates, and most of them

unconsciously tapped his hand with his forefinger, pondering her

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

was going to be 30 this year, and the pressure from home to get married was mounting.

asked, “You don’t mind that I don’t own a