LOGINShare
Chapter 23: Shattered Illusions
Last Updated:
2024-11-21 03:09:05
Related chapters
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 24: The Price of Redemption
The silence in the ballroom was deafening after the chaos of the previous moments. Penelope stood in the center, all eyes boring into her."I can explain," Penelope's voice quivered. "Everything I did... I thought I was protecting Christopher.""By stealing another woman's gifts?" Lady Morrison scoffed."By forging documents?" Mrs. Henderson added."I was afraid!" Penelope's eyes darted around the room. "Ashlyn was different... she had this way about her. I thought she'd take everything from me!""Take everything?" Jonathan laughed. "The orphan girl who barely spoke at events? Who worked twice as hard to prove herself worthy?""You don't understand—""We understand perfectly," Mrs. White's voice was steel. "You saw a threat where there was none, and you destroyed an innocent girl's life."Penelope's shoulders slumped. Her carefully constructed world was crumbling."I..." she turned to Ashlyn, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."Ashlyn's expression remained im
Last Updated : 2024-11-22A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 25: The Price of Legacy
"You want me to what?" Penelope's voice echoed through the now-silent ballroom."Renounce any claim to the Knight shares," Ashlyn repeated calmly. "Publicly. Right here, right now.""But those shares—""Belonged to my mother," Ashlyn's voice cut like glass. "Before someone forged her signature."The crowd's murmurs grew louder."You can't do this!" Ava stepped forward, her designer heels clicking against the marble. "Those shares are legally Penelope's now!""Legal?" Jonathan laughed darkly. "Is that what we're calling fraud these days?""The documentation—""Was forged," Mrs. Henderson interrupted. "We all saw the proof.""This is ridiculous!" Ava's face flushed. "Penelope has been a faithful steward of those shares for years!""Faithful?" Lady Morrison's voice dripped with contempt. "Is that what we're calling embezzlement now?""I never—" Penelope started."The quarterly reports tell a different story," Jonathan pulled out his tablet. "Shall we review the discrepancies?""Those rep
Last Updated : 2024-11-22A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 26: Oaths and Consequences
The crystal chandeliers cast dancing shadows across the White family's grand banquet hall as Ashlyn's voice rang out clear and sharp."Swear it, Penelope. Swear you'll never claim my mother's shares.""This isn't... I can't just..." Penelope wrung her hands. "These are complex company matters. There are board members, stakeholders—""I'm not asking you to decide company matters," Ashlyn's tone was razor-sharp. "I'm asking you to renounce what was never yours to begin with.""The board needs to—""The board?" Ashlyn laughed. "The same board that approved those forged documents?"Whispers rippled through the gathered crowd."Now wait just a minute!" Ava's shrill voice cut through the tension. "Who do you think you are? Some orphan girl who got lucky with a few investments?""Mother, please—" Penelope tried to intervene."No! I won't stand here and watch this nobody threaten my daughter!" Ava's face was red with fury. "Penelope has worked tirelessly for Knight Industries. She deserves th
Last Updated : 2024-11-22A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 27: The Binding of Souls
"Wait," Ashlyn's voice cut through Penelope's oath like a knife. "You're not finished."Penelope's hand trembled mid-air. "What more could you possibly want?""Everything." Ashlyn's smile didn't reach her eyes. "If you break this oath, you forfeit everything.""What do you mean by everything?""Your family name. Your possessions. Your home." Ashlyn stepped closer. "Every single person who calls you family or friend."Gasps echoed through the banquet hall."You can't be serious," Penelope's voice shook."Dead serious." Ashlyn's eyes glinted. "Like your friend was."The color drained from Penelope's face. "Don't...""Don't what? Mention how the real Ashlyn died?" "That was an accident—""Was it?" Ashlyn's laugh was hollow. "Like the forged documents were an accident?"Penelope's hands clenched at her sides. "You're punishing me.""No, I'm protecting what's mine." Ashlyn circled her slowly. "Now swear it. Properly.""This is insane!" Christopher stepped forward. "You can't demand—""I c
Last Updated : 2024-11-22A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 28: Shifting Tides
"Please," Penelope's voice cracked as she knelt before Ashlyn. "I know I've wronged you. Can you ever forgive me?"The gathered crowd watched in stunned silence as the once-proud Penelope Cole debased herself.Ashlyn's lips curved into a cold smile. "Forgiveness? Oh, I forgive. But forget?" She leaned down, her whisper carrying across the silent hall. "Never."Penelope's shoulders shook as she rose unsteadily, mascara streaking her cheeks. She turned to flee, her heels clicking against the marble floor."Penelope, wait!" Christopher caught her arm. He turned to Ashlyn, face flushed with anger. "You've gone too far. This public humiliation—""Too far?" Ashlyn's laugh was crystalline. "Tell me, Christopher, what exactly have I done wrong?""You're being aggressive, vindictive—""By not submitting?" Ashlyn's eyebrow arched. "By not playing the meek little girl anymore?""That's not—""Shall we discuss who really has the right to be aggressive?" She began ticking off points on her manicur
Last Updated : 2024-11-22A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 29: "The Richardson Connection"
The crystal glasses clinked as Charles Richardson raised his flute. "To Knight Industries' bright future," he announced to the gathered elite in the grand ballroom. His eyes fixed on Ashlyn, standing at the center of attention in her crimson evening gown. "And to its remarkable CEO," he added, a slight tremor in his voice as he reached into his pocket, fingers brushing against a small vial. Ashlyn's lips curved into a practiced smile. "Your support means everything, Mr. Richardson." She moved closer, lowering her voice. "Though I can't help but wonder why the sudden show of loyalty?" "Can't an old friend of the family show support?" Richardson's hand trembled as he took another sip. From across the room, Christopher Cole watched the exchange, his conversation with board members forgotten. "Excuse me, gentlemen." He made his way toward the pair, only to be intercepted by Penelope. "They seem rather cozy tonight," Penelope remarked, her champagne untouched. "Almost too cozy." "Si
Last Updated : 2024-12-08A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 30: "Paper Trail"
Penelope's heels clicked against the marble floor of Knight Industries' records department. At 2 AM, the vast room lay silent except for the hum of climate control systems."Ms. Cole, these records are restricted," the night archivist, Jenkins, wrung his hands nervously. "Even with your clearance—""My family owns twelve percent of this company," Penelope interrupted, sliding an envelope across his desk. "And this says you took a long coffee break."Jenkins pocketed the envelope. "Section A-7. Security cameras go dark for maintenance at 2:15 AM. You have twenty minutes."Among the towering shelves, Penelope pulled out files dated around Ashlyn's death. A familiar voice made her freeze."Looking for something specific?" Jonathan emerged from between the shelves."Jesus!" Penelope clutched the files. "What are you doing here?""Following the money." He held up a financial ledger. "You?""Following the dead." She hesitated, then added, "Want to compare notes?"They spread the documents a
Last Updated : 2024-12-10A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 31: "Hidden Chamber"
Diana Knight's old laboratory stood abandoned on the outskirts of the city. Christopher disabled the security system, leading Penelope and Jonathan through darkened corridors."This is where Diana did her private research," Christopher explained, shining his flashlight along the walls."Look at these marks," Jonathan traced scratches on the floor. "Someone moved heavy equipment recently.""Over here!" Penelope called from Diana's office. She stood before a massive painting of DNA helixes.Christopher examined the frame. "There's a seam..."The painting swung forward, revealing a keypad. Jonathan connected his tablet to it."Military-grade encryption," he muttered. "But every system has a—got it."The wall slid aside, exposing a sterile white corridor sloping downward."Ladies first?" Jonathan gestured."Coward," Penelope smirked, leading the way.They descended into a vast chamber filled with medical equipment and rows of empty containment pods."What is this place?" Penelope whispere
Last Updated : 2024-12-10
Latest chapter
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 118: Redemption and Legacy
Final Act: Present Day The gala gleamed with luxury. Chandeliers emit a warm golden glow throughout the room, reflecting off the crystal goblets and shiny marble floors. It was a festivity of victory, not only for Ashlyn Bennett but for a legacy revived. The tables were filled with the elite of the business world. Conversations hummed with curiosity, admiration, and whispers of awe over the events of the International Business Summit. The Ashlyn Bennett Foundation’s launch was the talk of the night, and at the center of it all stood Ashlyn herself, poised but undeniably powerful.Richard Knight rested against the bar's edge, swirling his drink. His gaze remained fixed on Ashlyn, who was engaged in a conversation with a distinguished man dressed in a pinstriped suit. “She’s something, isn’t she?” Steven White remarked, sidling up beside him. His voice carried a mix of pride and regret. Richard smirked. “Something? She’s everything. Hard to believe she pulled all of this off in one l
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 117: Shared Worries
Veronica sat opposite Isabella, a serious expression on her face. "So," she began, her voice low. "Tell me everything."Isabella hesitated, her fingers nervously tracing the outline of the Gemini Heart pendant resting against her chest. "It's... complicated," she began, her voice hesitant."I've dealt with complicated things before," Veronica replied, her eyes steady. "Try me."Isabella took a deep breath. "My name isn't Isabella," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "It's Jennifer. Jennifer Clarke."Veronica raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing her face. "Jennifer?" she echoed. "But... you look exactly like Isabella.""That's because... we switched bodies," Jennifer explained, her voice trembling slightly. "Our souls... they swapped."Veronica stared at her, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity in her eyes. "Switched bodies?" she repeated. "How is that even possible?""It's the necklace," Jennifer said, touching the Gemini Heart. "It happened wh
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 116: The Ally
"I missed you, Alexander," Sophia cried. "Ever since Isabella came into your life, you've been... different. Distant. I felt like I was losing you.""So you decided to sabotage my relationship?" Alexander asked, his voice filled with hurt and anger. "To lie and manipulate me into turning against the woman I love?""Sophia cried as she expressed, "I didn't mean to cause you any pain, Alexander." I simply... I desired for everything to return to normal. Prior to her arrival and I was scared of losing another family member like we lost dad.""Nothing will ever return to how it used to be, Sophia," Alexander said firmly, his voice unwavering. "You've completely changed everything. You have shattered my trust and my belief in you." Sophia's cries grew stronger, her body trembling with sadness. She had nothing left - her brother's faith, connections with her family, and the man she had fought hard to win back were all gone. Alexander observed her, feeling a weight of sorrow and disill
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 115: Unmasking
Sophia's confident expression wavered, shifting to a glimmer of astonishment. "I have no idea what you're referring to," she replied, pretending to be innocent. Isabella snapped at Sophia, "Don't act shy with me. I listened to it all. The picture, the falsehoods, the scheme to tear us apart. It all originated from you."Sophia's calm facade finally shattered. "Who cares if it did?" she snapped, her eyes filled with rage. "He is too good for you. You are just an opportunistic Bennet."Isabella stated angrily that it was untrue, her voice filled with emotion. "You are only jealous. Jealous of our joy, jealous of the love we have for each other.""Feeling jealous?" Sophia laughed with contempt. "Don't be dumb. I am simply trying to defend my brother from a deceptive witch such as yourself.""Protect him?" Isabella echoed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "By framing my father? By feeding Alexander lies?""Your father was a criminal," Sophia insisted, her voice rising. "He deserves ev
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 114: Whispers of Deception
As night descended, they snuggled on the couch, watching a movie, their bodies wrapped around each other. A feeling of routine came back, a pleasant break from the disorder in their daily lives. Isabella whispered softly, leaning her head on Alexander's chest, "This is nice.It just the two of us." "Yeah," Alexander agreed, tightening his arms around her. "Just us."While they enjoyed their renewed bond, they couldn't shake a persistent feeling of unease. The sensation of being observed, of something feeling off. While carrying Isabella to bed, Alexander noticed a sudden movement outside the window. He looked quickly, but noticed no one. He brushed it off as just his imagination, yet the sense of unease lingered. Later that evening, while Isabella was fast asleep in his embrace, Alexander couldn't rid himself of the sense that something was wrong. He rose from the bed and approached the window, gazing out at the darkness. The road underneath was empty, with only the soft buzz of t
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 113: Reclaiming Intimacy
Veronica's eyes grew wider. "Monica?" Do you really think that's a wise decision? Isabella was adamant about needing to hear it directly from her. "I need to find out the truth." Veronica nodded. "Okay. I'll go with you."They found Monica at the same luxury hotel, lounging by the pool, a smug smile playing on her lips."Ah, I see," Monica sarcastically uttered. "If it's not the betrayed wife. What reason do you have for this visit that caught me by surprise?"Isabella advanced, her fiery gaze fixed ahead. She expressed a desire to discover the truth, her voice vibrating with rage. "Tell me the truth about you and Alex's alleged child." Monica arched one eyebrow. "And why do you believe I will share any information with you?" "I know for sure that you are not telling the truth," Isabella stated, her voice getting louder. "I am sure that this is all planned. I am going to find out one way or the other."Monica chuckled, emitting a rough, scraping noise. "You are out of touch wit
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 112: Vanity
Alexander paused, his face briefly showing a hint of uncertainty. He said with a strained voice, "I... I can't bring myself to believe it. The way he behaved... the gleam in his eyes while revealing the safe code... it seemed like he was aware of something we weren't."Isabella suggested that, "perhaps he was simply concerned," although a hint of doubt had been instilled in her thoughts."Perhaps," answered Alexander, though uncertainty still lingered in his tone. The upcoming days were a flurry of inquiries, questioning, and allegations. The intense media hype about Monica and Daniel kept going strong, further escalating the situation. Every discussion, every exchange was tainted with a sense of doubt. "David, have you found anything else about James and Uncle's whereabouts?" Alexander asked over the phone, his voice sharp with impatience."Nothing concrete yet," David replied. "Sterling has vanished. Cleaned out his accounts, disappeared without a trace. And James is in Europe.
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 111: Uncovering Motives
Three days laterThe opulent office, once a symbol of Romano power and success, now felt like a prison. The silence hung heavy, broken only by the occasional muffled sob from Mr. Romano."I... I can't believe this," Alexander said, his voice hoarse. "How could Sterling do this? We are family."Isabella sat beside him, her hand resting on his. "I know," she whispered. "It doesn't make sense."Alexander looked up, his eyes red-rimmed. "He was always... different. Ambitious, yes, but this..." He trailed off, shaking his head."We need to figure out why," Alexander said, his voice firm. "There has to be a reason beyond simple greed.""What about Monica?" Isabella asked. "And the child? How does that fit into all of this?"Alexander ran a hand through his hair, his face etched with frustration. "I don't know. But I intend to find out."He stood up and began pacing the room, his mind racing. "James said he manipulated the marriage agreement. We need to see the original document.
A Wedding Vow of Vengeance Chapter 110: Corporate Takeover
Monica ended the call before Alexander could answer. His thoughts were racing as he gazed at his phone. He had never encountered a woman named Monica, much less had a child with her. This must have been some sort of error. The following day, the news spread like wildfire through the press. Headlines blared, "Secret Love Child of Romano Heir!" Photos of Monica and a young boy, prominently displayed in newspapers and websites, sparked the controversy. The media frenzy escalated dramatically, with reporters constantly following and harassing Alexander and Isabella. "Mr. Romano, is that accurate? "Do you possess a hidden son?" "Isabella, what are your thoughts on your husband being unfaithful?" "Are things turbulent in your marriage?" They were overwhelmed by the incessant barrage of questions, leading to a tornado of disorder and bewilderment. "This is absurd!" Alexander shouted as he made his way through the crowd of journalists. "I have no idea who this woman is
