“I’ll never fall in love with anyone else. You’re my girlfriend. Those arranged marriages are just for business.”
His words shoot through my heart like arrows.
“I’m not agreeing to adultery.”
I need to stay away from Irvin, and this relationship is doomed. I really do.
He strokes his calloused fingers across my bottom lip, and his gaze locks with mine.
“I’ll burn down this city if anyone keeps you away from me.”
Lilac
I’m at the counter of the café on campus, the aroma of coffee beans permeating the air.
Today, I feel better than I did yesterday, and every time I try to remember what happened, the more I freak out and panic. So I stop worrying. Hopefully, my memory will come back soon.
I order a hot cocoa with a shot of espresso and whipped cream on top. The clerk, dressed in a blue apron, registers my order, and I slip my card to her. When she swipes it, the screen readsdeclined.
She gives me a cheery smile. “Let me try again. The machine has been down lately.”
She swipes again, and it declines. She hands me my card.
“I’m sorry, your card isn’t working.”
I search for my black card and hand it to her. “Here.”
She swipes that card, and it declines too.
I crinkle my nose and sidestep so she can help the next student. “Strange. Can you hold my order? I’m going to call my bank.”
She nods. “Sure.”
I grab my phone from my polka-dot purse, click the Northbridge app, and enter my information. A message pops up on the screen:Call the bank.I dial the number, and a receptionist answers. My chest clenches as adrenaline spikes my blood.
“Thank you for calling Northbridge Bank. I’m Izzy. How can I help you?” Her tone is light.
“Hi. My name is Lilac Lauren, and I can’t log into my bank account.”
“What’s your date of birth, social security number, and phone password?”
Anxiety grows in the pit of my stomach as I rattle off my information.
“It looks like your funds are frozen.”
I bite my nail. “Why would it be frozen?”
“Let me put you on a brief hold.”
I tap my foot frantically and chew on my bottom lip, every second eating at my nerves.
“Miss Lauren, there is fraud detection placed on your account. North Haven University was denied charges.”
“What the hell? When will my account be unfrozen?”
I hear her clicking away on the keyboard. “After the investigation.”
“When will that be?”
