Page 59 of Tarnished Vow

The doorbell rang for the third time.

I walked downstairs, still dressed in last night’s clothes.

Why did Vince suddenly decide to get the doorbell fixed this week? Knocking was easier to sleep through.

I opened the door to see Bastion.

“Did I wake you?” he frowned.

Taken back by Bastion’s injuries. When Vince said he hit him, I thought once. Not this. Geez. No wonder Vince was still punishing himself.

“Um yeah.” I opened the door fully for him. “But it's okay.”

Bastion walked in, still looking at me. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Maddy, but are you okay? You look?—”

“Awful?” I finished his sentence.

He followed me into the kitchen. I really needed a drink and painkillers.

“So, is everything okay?” he asked.

I opened the fridge. Looking for sugar free juice. Only there wasn’t any. So, I settled for a bottle of water. “Just family stuff. Do you want one?”

He shook his head, looking around the kitchen. Something was wrong with him.

“So, what can I help you with?” I asked, twisting the cap off the water bottle.

“Is Vince home?”

Odd question. “So you came to see Vince?” They hadn’t spoken in over a week since the fight.

He nodded.

He was lying to me. Interesting. “Vince is at the office and doing the site visits.” Which Bastion would know. Vince kept the same days every month that he checked in with the construction sites.

“Right. I forgot.” he leaned back against the kitchen island.

Fighting exhaustion and a headache, I walked to the cupboard, getting painkillers. “Is there something you want to ask me, Bastion?”

“Why do you stay?”

I frowned, opening the tablets. “Stay with Vince?” I glanced at him.

“You could have any guy. I’d say all of them would treat you better. So why him?”

I never asked what the fight was over. Why am I getting the feeling it has something to do with me?

“That’s not your question, though, is it?” I turned around, crossing my arms.

“Always straight to the point, aren’t you?” He sighed, “are you going to leave him Maddy?”

This felt like a fever dream. Why would Bastion suddenly be concerned about me leaving Vince? Did he forget our arranged marriage, or the fact their family crest is tattooed on my back.

“Why would I leave him?” Perhaps that was the better question.

“If you sleep with other men. What happens if you fall in love with one of them?”

“Did he tell you about the agreement?”

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