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

her into it, and the guy she was set up with was found by her mom on a

unreliable. Anastasia had seen it

the gist. He smiled warmly, his voice gentle. “How did the matchmaker introduce me to you?

sipped her drink and said, “This is my tenth blind date. They told me you work for a listed company, Elysian

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

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 my place, drive a Chevrolet, have a stable income, am currently single, have no bad habits, and

out a bunch of marital 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

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

friends got married through blind dates, and most of them were doing great. A simple life was real happiness.

unconsciously tapped his hand with his forefinger, pondering her

for marriage registration. Was she a bit

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

mind that I don’t own