A Marriage Of Necessity

Chapter 1

Natalie Waesmer sat in her dimly lit apartment, the silence interrupted only by the soft hum of the refrigerator and muffled music from the party three doors to her room's left. Her fingers mindlessly traced the rim of her cup, the coffee inside long gone cold. She glanced at the clock. 2:17 AM. Sleep seemed almost nonexistent lately, her mind unable to escape the constant fear and anxiety brought on by her ex, Vesper Stout, the owner of the bar she frequented and whom she thought was a good man. Natalie buried her face in her hands as she frowned at the gradual decline of her life solely because she loved a man. Or thought so, at least.A sudden, sharp knock at the door jolted her from her thoughts and back to reality. Her heart raced as she approached the door, her mind preparing her for the worst there is, hesitating for a moment before looking through the peephole. Will it be another argument, another call for help, another need to move? Relief washed over her when she saw Lars La