Bound Hearts: My Vows to My Disabled Spouse

Your Birthday's Coming Up

Elyse opted for a taxi over her car to head to the shopping mall.

She messaged several people, yet all were unavailable, even Tracy < couldn't make time.

She meandered down the street, engulfed in loneliness.

Suddenly, her phone rang. Startled, she answered and her smile faded as she recognized the voice on the other end.

"Ms. Lloyd, it's clear you're disappointed. I saw it! Were you expecting someone else?"

Richie's voice was thick with sarcasm.

Embarrassed, Elyse whispered, "Are you nearby? I didn't see you."

Richie snorted, signaling his annoyance, then instructed, "Look up."2

Obediently, Elyse looked up and spotted Richie on the second floor, waving through the glass.

Richie invited her up. "My work is wrapping up. I'll take you to dinner soon."

Relieved, Elyse hurried to the second floor where Richie awaited her at a doorway.

"Take a seat here; my interview is just about to finish." Richie ushered her into the room and

returned to his host, a camera recording their interaction.

Elyse sat awkwardly in a corner of the room, watching the proceedings and waiting for them to

finish.

Richie's session had concluded. Once the host finished recording some final questions, everyone started to pack up and leave.

Richie, preferring not to return to the company, donned his hat and mask, and departed with

Elyse.

"Why didn't you dine at home? If I hadn't seen you wandering the streets, where would you have been going?" Last time, when Richie encountered Jayden, Elyse, and Judy, he had deduced something was amiss and had spoken up for Elyse.

However, he hadn't expected Elyse to be so easily defeated.

Noticing the disappointment in his gaze, Elyse felt an inexplicable guilt. She touched her nose to conceal her embarrassment. "I just wanted to get out for dinner, that's all."

"And what would you like to eat?" Richie was skeptical of her response Her sadness was evident.

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He saw right through it.

Elyse was unsure. She responded dismissively, "Anything's fine. You choose."

Richie rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I'm treating you. Let's go."

They entered a restaurant and secured a private room. As they did, the glass door swung open

and Theo, accompanied by several men in suits, walked in.

Upon seeing each other, both Elyse and Theo looked away, taken aback.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

Elyse, gazing down at her shoes, suddenly wished to dine elsewhere, but Richie had already placed their order.

"Trust me, the food here is top-notch, Richie assured her, talking nonstop to distract her.

Then, without looking at Theo, Elyse walked away.

Once settled in an exclusive dining room, they briefly chatted about music. Then Jayden called,

and Elyse couldn't hide her smile as she excused herself to take the call.

However, Theo leaned against the door with a cigarette hanging from his lips, which was smoked

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Elyse, repulsed by his presence, stepped back and demanded, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm waiting for you."

Theo extinguished his cigarette and tossed it in the trash, his voice tinged with an unwitting hopefulness. "Your birthday's coming up. What do you want? I'll buy it for

you." Birthday?

It dawned on her that her birthday was the following week. Yet, why should she accept a gift from him?

She dismissed him firmly, "Don't worry about it, Mr. Ward. Just mind your own business."

Theo, anticipating rejection, wasn't upset but persisted, "I've never celebrated your birthday with

you. Let me make it up to you this time."

Theo's plea was earnest, as if he truly wanted to atone.

But it was already too late.