That was when I discovered the truth: his kindness toward me stemmed from his obligation to Vincent.
He told me he could take care of me because of the debt his family owed, but he refused to sacrifice his own life or the right to choose who he loved because of it.
From that day on, the David I once saw as my guardian turned cold, never giving me a kind look again.
Even though I liked him, I never wanted to force him into anything, but Ryan was relentless, insisting it was their family's obligation to me.
I didn't know what Ryan had said to David, but eventually, he had agreed to marry me.
There was no romance, no wedding.
On the day we got our marriage license, he leaned in close and mocked, "Congratulations, Mrs. Federer! You finally got what you wanted! But remember, you'll never have my heart." And he meant it.
Then Freya came into the picture.
David brought her on board as his assistant, and I soon learned she suffered from severe menstrual cramps, sometimes even landing in the hospital. Whenever those days rolled around, David would vanish without a trace, even from Ryan.