SHACKLED

ped furiously on his phone, the screen illumin

he didn't reply, panic gripped him. He tried deleting it, fingers fum

cracked an eye open glancing at the

sound professional, "you don't cal

p" she snapped,

lmly. Marian is a restaurant locat

y are questioning our relationship, my mum think

to do with me," he sa

," she was about saying

ith you but it depends on

ything" she s

," he said calmly

y days are we

ered, holding hi

" he jolted

s too much, I hav

ing pressured or threatened because Mrs. Alison do

a platter of gold but had to marry for he

s in a confused state, trying to fix his schedule w

ted to rea

for all the expenses, your client will understand, be

is favourite client Mrs Casser is, he understood how import

ut feeling absurd unlike others, she would do the cooking

oves it. He has been doing this for five years and couldn't stand a chance of missin

would only pretend to be married to them so as to be free from being bullied,

ves his job, because of how helpful it is, despite the danger in it. He

riage but because he was trained to believe that marriage is a business and i

others and pursue his dream, which is leaving the country to a pla

nts, convinced that her childlessness stemmed from her hec

s of awkward tests and evaluations, all

emotionally. He had fulfilled his role, and now all

of his schedule wa

y had time to rest before the next arrangement

s last day at work, and he was preparing for what was

e was approached

of the hostesses said, h

smile, still adjusting his cufflinks.

just wanted to confirm something. I told her you go

faltering. "No... it's not me," he repl

out her phone. "It is you. I took a picture

lor. "You did what?" he sn

er. "Yes. It's me. I got married on Saturday... and divorced

. "If this gets out, I will sue both of you,"

ht and almost exposed by the hostesses and al

oing this for too long

as his roommate. Born as the only daughter among several bro

friend, she planned to marry her. But her mother, overwhelmed by tradition and

les for help. They entered into a contract marriage a te

cted happened. Despite the marriage being f

inue to live together, bonded by friendship, shared secrets, a

was watching a movie w

?" she asked but n

dding?" she ask

s", immediately she mentioned her

t with her today, I don't kn

how she will feel." He said

you concerned?"Charlie

missed your appointment with her, never went late or gave

smiling. "Hope you are joki

s he raced to his car to av