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.”

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

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 guy

had seen it all, and

his voice gentle. “How did the matchmaker introduce me to you?

“This is my tenth blind date. They told me you work for a listed company,

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

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

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,

getting into this relationship just to fulfill her mom’s wishes. The rest, they would play it by ear. If they were really compatible,

dates, and most of them were

unconsciously tapped his hand with his forefinger, pondering her words.

paperwork ready for marriage registration. Was she a bit too eager to tie

to be 30 this year, and the pressure from home

that I don’t own a house? Being with