Bound by the Boy I Ruined

The Proposal And The Pendulum

The morning sun filtered through the worn lace curtains of the Vance apartment, but it brought no warmth to Kate’s racing thoughts. She paced the living room floor, her fingers anxiously twisting a stray thread on her sleeve as she looked at her mother.

"Next week, Mom," Kate whispered, her voice tight with panic. "Xavier wants me to move into his place next week. And... and I have my date with Gregg today. Oh, Mom, it's an absolute mess. I don’t think I’m ready to tell him about this contract. It will completely break him."

Eleanor sat on the worn sofa, her hands resting in her lap. She looked remarkably healthier, the color returned to her cheeks, but her eyes were heavy with motherly concern. "Kate... I won’t force you to tell him," she said softly. "But I will advise you: the earlier you do it, the better."

"Oh, no, Mom, you don't understand!" Kate stopped pacing, her eyes wide as she looked at Eleanor. "Telling Gregg about the contract means breaking up with him. There's no middle ground. I can't afford to lose him because of this stupid arrangement. I love him."

Eleanor watched her daughter’s desperate face. She understood the gravity of the situation, realizing that this tangled web of billionaires, contracts, and young love was far beyond her ability to fix. She let out a soft, defeated sigh. "Okay, Kate. Do what you must."

Before Kate could reply, the door to her bedroom swung open. Abigail stepped out, twirling dramatically. She was wearing the exact same elegant dress Kate had worn to the Sterling family dinner, the fabric pooling slightly around her smaller frame.

"So, do you think this is good enough, sis?" Abigail beamed, striking a ridiculous model pose.

Kate’s anxiety instantly spiked into irritation. "Hey! Don't go through my things without my permission!" she snarled, stepping forward.

Eleanor shook her head, gesturing toward the bedroom. "Abigail, put that back. Return the dress to your sister's closet."

"Waaah, you guys have absolutely no sense of fashion," Abigail groaned, letting out a dramatic puff of air as she slowly began to unzip the back. "I’m honestly helping your life at this point. You're going on a date looking like a librarian if I don't step in." She hopped out of the dress, leaving it on a chair, and began to tease Kate relentlessly. "Anyway, what time did you agree to meet lover boy?"

"By twelve," Kate muttered, checking her wrist. "We’re going to the cinema first. Then a walk in the park."

Abigail rolled her eyes, scoffing sarcastically. "That is all so incredibly boring. Can't you guys go to a five-star restaurant or something?"

Kate retorted dryly, "Since when did we become billionaires, Abigail?"

"Uh, hello? Earth to sis," Abigail said, walking over to the dining table with a mock-regal posture and sitting down with exaggerated elegance. "You’re practically married to a billionaire final boss, which basically makes you and me billionaires by association. Act like it!"

Despite the crushing tension, Eleanor and Kate couldn't help but laugh at Abigail's theatrical antics. But inside, Kate's stomach twisted into a deeper knot.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of motor oil, rust, and old resentments.

Gregg stood in his father’s dark, cluttered automotive workshop, wiping greasy sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. Even though he had secured a high-paying, prestigious system engineering job at one of the biggest conglomerates in the city, his father, a bitter and weathered mechanic, refused to show a shred of pride. To him, sitting behind a computer desk wasn't "real" work.

Gregg’s grip tightened around a metal wrench, his jaw clenching as his father threw another condescending remark about his "fancy office job." The aggravation that had been building up for years finally boiled over.

"I’m moving out, okay?" Gregg said, his voice trembling with a mixture of anger and deep-seated hurt. "I'm finally moving out. I can't endure living with a father who doesn't recognize his own son as his own flesh and blood!"

His father stopped what he was doing. He slowly peeled off his heavy, grease-stained work gloves, threw them onto the metal workbench, and spat right onto the concrete floor in front of Gregg. He didn't even look him in the eye. "Do whatever you want. I don't care."

Gregg stared at him, a cold, painful realization settling in. "So that’s how it is, huh, Father?"

Without waiting for an answer, Gregg threw his tools aside, grabbed his helmet, and walked out of the shop. He kicked his motorcycle to life, the engine roaring as he sped away from the garage and the man who had never given him the validation he deserved.

Pulling over a few blocks away, Gregg took off his helmet and dialed Kate's number, his chest still heaving with anger. The moment she answered, his voice softened instantly, his family troubles melting into the background. "Hey, Kate. I'm coming to pick you up. I'll be there in thirty minutes."

Thirty minutes later, Gregg’s motorcycle idle-rumbled outside her apartment building.

When the front door opened, Gregg's breath caught in his throat. Kate walked out, looking utterly radiant. She wore a simple yet breathtaking pastel sundress that caught the midday breeze, her hair falling in soft, natural waves around her shoulders. She had bypassed the heavy digital makeup look, opting for a fresh, natural aesthetic that highlighted her genuine beauty.

Gregg was momentarily paralyzed. He stepped off his bike, his eyes wide. "Kate... you look incredible."

A soft blush crept onto her cheeks as she walked over to him. Gently, Gregg took her hand and leaned down, kissing the back of her palm with old-school chivalry.

Suddenly, a loud, exaggerated *"Awwwww!"* echoed from above.

Kate snapped her head up. Abigail was leaning halfway out the balcony window, clutching her heart dramatically.

"Hey! Stop that!" Kate hissed, her face burning red.

Abigail grinned mischievously and instantly ducked out of sight.

"Let's go," Kate suggested quickly, eager to escape her sister's teasing. She climbed onto the back of the motorcycle, wrapping her arms tightly around Gregg's waist.

The three hours that followed were a blur of cinematic escape. They sat in the dim, cool theater, sharing a bucket of popcorn as *The Echo of Shadows* played out on the massive screen. For a little while, as the flashing lights of the movie reflected in Gregg’s happy eyes, Kate was able to forget about Xavier, the contract, and the looming move. She held Gregg's hand, letting herself pretend that things were simple.

After the movie, they walked hand-in-hand to the city park. The afternoon was beautiful, the sun dipping low enough to paint the sky in warm shades of gold. They eventually found a quiet bench near the edge of a serene lake, watching a small family of ducks glide peacefully across the water.

"So, Kate," Gregg began softly, breaking the comfortable silence. He turned on the bench to face her, his eyes incredibly earnest. "I know we’ve been really far apart lately. I’m so sorry for that."

"Gregg, no, you don't have to—"

"No, let me speak," he interrupted gently, taking both of her hands in his. "Now that I've gotten this new engineering job, everything is about to change for the better. The pay is amazing, Kate. In fact, I’m getting a really nice, comfortable apartment in a great area very soon." He smiled, his eyes shining with hope. "And when I do... I want you to move in with me."

Kate froze. The words felt like a physical shock wave. Her mind scrambled, a terrifying conflict tearing through her chest. This was everything she had wanted for four years—a stable life, a home with the man she loved. But the timing was a cruel, twisted joke. Next week, she was supposed to move into Xavier Sterling's penthouse.

"Gregg..." she breathed, her voice trembling. "What... what are you asking?"

Gregg didn't answer with words. Instead, he slowly slid off the bench, sinking down onto one knee on the paved path. From his pocket, he pulled out a small, velvet box. He flipped it open to reveal a modest, beautiful silver ring that caught the golden afternoon light.

"I've saved for this ring for over two years, Kate," Gregg said, his voice thick with emotion. "I had it before your mom got sick. I was just waiting for the right time—waiting until I could actually support us. And now, I have the job. I have the means. I believe this is the right time."

Kate’s heart hammered violently against her ribs. A cold sweat broke out on her neck, and a wave of pure, suffocating guilt threatened to choke her.

"Kate Vance," Gregg whispered, looking up at her with absolute devotion. "The moon of my heart... will you marry me?"

There was a long, agonizing silence.

The wind rustled through the trees, and the distant laughter of children in the park seemed to fade into a dull hum. Kate stared at the ring, then at Gregg's hopeful, expectant face. The weight of her secret contract with Xavier Sterling pressed down on her chest like a collapsing building. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't speak.

And the silence stretched on, heavy and terrifying.