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CHAPTER FIFTY~ONE
Last Updated:
2024-12-13 23:37:57Related chapters
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTY~TWO
JAKE'S POVWhen Rachael told me about her plan for the night out, I wasn’t sure it was a good idea, especially with everything going on, but I could tell she needed it. And maybe, deep down, I needed it, too.I kept wondering if there would come a time when I wouldn’t be stunned by how amazing she looked, and tonight was no different. She was stunning.The club was not my scene. The flashing lights, the loud music, the crowd, it all felt chaotic. At first, I felt awkward as hell. I kept my hands in my pockets, scanning the room for anything suspicious because old habits die hard. After a couple of drinks, I find myself more relaxed and nodding along to the beat. “Would you like to dance?” Rachael asks, swaying her hips to the beat. I shake my head, "No, you go. I’m fine here," I reply, taking a sip from my drink. She doesn’t push it; she just flashes me one of her dazzling smiles before heading to the dance floor.I watch her move, completely lost in the rhythm of the music. She look
Last Updated : 2024-12-13SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTY~THREE
RACHAEL’S POVI didn’t know what came over me when I saw Jake talking to that woman. It wasn’t jealousy—not exactly—but something deep inside me flared to life, sharp and hot. At first, I thought I’d simply ask her to leave, but the words came out harsher, more possessive than I intended. The look Jake gave me after, was equal parts surprise and amusement, like he’d caught me pretending to be something I wasn’t—a jealous, insecure fake wife.When he smirked and asked if I was jealous, my defenses shot up. I snapped back when he teased me about my 'dirty dancing,' firing the same question at him. I couldn’t stop myself from hoping that maybe he was.Draining the last of my drink, I regretted my dramatics almost immediately. I stormed back to the dance floor, determined to pretend it didn’t bother me that Jake was chatting up a stranger. I didn’t expect him to follow me.The grip on my waist startled me at first, and I thought it was the guy I’d been dancing with. But when I turned, i
Last Updated : 2024-12-14SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTY~FOUR
RACHAEL'S POVAs I stepped out of the bathroom, I almost stumble into Jake."Are you okay?" he asks, his voice full of concern as he looks me over, scanning for any signs of harm.Before I could answer, his gaze shifts behind me. His face darkens as he spots Jack emerging from the bathroom, disheveled and clearly in pain."I’m going to kill him," Jake growls, taking a step toward Jack, his fists clenched.I grab his arm, holding him back with all the strength I can muster. "I’ve taken care of it," I say firmly, my voice steady.Jake looks at me, his expression a mix of confusion and pride."Those martial arts classes came in handy," I add with a small smirk, trying to lighten the mood.Jake’s eyes dart to Jack, who is now rubbing the front of his pants, his face twisted in pain and humiliation. Jake lets out a soft chuckle, shaking his head in disbelief."Let’s leave," I declare, exhaustion washing over me.Jake gives me a proud look, nodding. "Let’s go."With that, we walk out of the
Last Updated : 2024-12-15SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTY~FIVE
JAKE’S POV“Well, that was unexpected,” the words slip out breaking the silence that had stretched just a little too long.Rachael turns her gaze to me with a blank expression, we both nod and let out a laugh—a nervous, awkward kind of laugh that didn’t quite cover the enormity of what had just happened.I stand, pull up my trousers, brush sand off my knees, and tighten the belt as Rachael adjusts her dress. She looks as composed as ever, like nothing had happened. If I hadn’t been there—if I didn’t still feel the heat of her touch—I might’ve believed it.“Are we still waiting for the sunrise?” I ask, not sure what else to say. My voice comes out lighter than I expected, like I wasn’t just trying to fill the silence.Racheal exhales and turns to me, her voice steady but devoid of emotion. “we don’t have to talk about it, Jake. It was just…. The heat of the moment. We both know that.”Her words land like a punch to my gut, though I can’t show it. I nod, agreeing too quickly. “Yeah. It
Last Updated : 2024-12-16SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTY~SIX
RACHAEL’S POVWatching the firefighters battle the flames, I couldn’t take my eyes off Jake, who was standing a few feet away. The heartbreak in his expression was devastating. Jake had other businesses, successful ones, but I knew this restaurant was different. He poured his soul into it, and spent hours here perfecting every detail. I’d always wondered why it mattered so much to him but never had the courage to ask.Instinctively, I reach out and rubbed small circles on his back, hoping to provide some comfort. I don’t say anything—I wasn’t sure there was anything I could say.The loss hit me too, deeper than I expected. This restaurant had given me something to hold on to after Jack shattered my world. It made me feel like I belonged somewhere again, like I had a purpose. I’d thrown myself into work here, brainstorming ideas, dreaming of what it could become. Watching it burn felt like losing a part of myself, as if all the progress I’d made since my divorce was going up in flames
Last Updated : 2024-12-16SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTY~SEVEN
JAKE’S POVThe past few days had been a blur of chaos. Between insurance meetings, ongoing investigations, and trying to salvage what I could from the restaurant fire, I barely had time to breathe, let alone see Rachael. I would leave the house before she woke up and return long after she was asleep. It wasn’t ideal, but it had to be done.At least I was making progress.I’d managed to acquire a significant number of shares in Crawford Oil Industries (COI), and now, I was one signature away from becoming the majority shareholder. It was a risky game, but one I couldn’t afford to lose. I just hoped the Crawfords wouldn’t catch wind of what I was doing before it was too late.Tonight is crucial. I had arranged a dinner with the last shareholder, Mrs. Raymond, a shrewd businesswoman with a reputation for playing hardball. I picked one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city—an attempt to “butter her up” before dropping the offer. If I could convince her, my plan would finally fall
Last Updated : 2024-12-17SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTY~EIGHT
JAKE’S POVInside, the lobby gleams with marble floors and crystal chandeliers, its elegance only adding to the sour taste in my mouth. At the reception desk, a woman with a practiced smile informs me Mrs. Raymond had already left instructions. I was to be sent directly to her suite.As I ride the elevator up, my stomach churns. I feel like a cheap escort being summoned to perform a duty. The thought makes me sick, but I bury the emotion deep, locking it away where it can’t touch me. I remind myself why I am here. This is business. Nothing more.The elevator chimes softly, and the doors slide open. I walk down the plush-carpeted hallway, my footsteps muffling as if the hotel itself is trying to silence my guilt. Room 912. My hand hesitates on the door handle for a brief second before I swipe the keycard and step inside.The room is dimly lit; Mrs. Raymond is already waiting for me. She is sprawled across the bed in a silk robe and red lingerie that leaves little to the imagination. He
Last Updated : 2024-12-17SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTY ~NINE
RACHAEL'S POVI hadn’t spoken to Jake in days. Not because there wasn’t anything to say, but because I was avoiding him. Avoiding the guilt that gnawed at me every time I thought about the evidence I’d hidden. That jerrycan with the old Crawford Oil Industries logo felt like a bomb in my purse, waiting to explode. I’d been going in circles, debating what to do with it.The logical part of me knew I had to confront Jack. But the idea of calling him, of hearing his voice, twisted my stomach into knots. How would he react? Would he deny it outright? Laugh in my face? I wasn’t sure I was ready for the confrontation.When Jake’s name lit up on my phone, my heart skipped a beat. He never called me, ever. If he needed something, it was always a text or a face-to-face conversation. I hesitated for a while, but I finally answered.“Hello?”His voice was slurred, almost incomprehensible. “Rachael... I’m... I’m at the bar. Pick me up. I’m at...” he trailed off, mumbling the name of the bar befor
Last Updated : 2024-12-18
Latest chapter
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY~FIVE
JAKE'S POVThe gunshot is still ringing in my ears. I quickly pick up the gun Karen has dropped, and I aim it at Micheal. My eyes dart to where Jack had been lying just seconds ago—he’s gone. The spot is empty.Damn it.I focus back on Micheal, my grip tightening on the gun. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Rachael drop to her knees beside Karen. She presses her hands against Karen’s stomach, trying to slow the bleeding.This woman.She’s trying to save the same woman who was ready to pull the trigger on her.Micheal freezes, slowly lowering his gun to the ground and raising his hands in surrender. His face is pale, but his eyes meet mine without flinching."Jake, listen to me," he says, his voice calm despite the situation. "I can explain. It’s not what you think."From the distance, I hear sirens—police, maybe an ambulance. Micheal’s eyes flick toward the sound, then back to me."Jake," he says firmly, "put the gun down before they bust in here.""Not a chance," I growl, my aim st
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY FOUR
RACHAEL’S POV"Good to see you again, Rachael.” Karen declares, her voice dripping with condescension.Every fiber in me wants to leap from this chair and wipe the smug look off her face, but the ropes binding my hands and feet leave me powerless. Instead, I follow Jake’s lead and act confident. I force a tight-lipped smile, locking eyes with her.Karen tilts her head, studying me like I am an insect under a magnifying glass. She turns her attention to Jake, ignoring my unspoken challenge entirely."What do you want, Karen?" I demand, cutting to the point.She doesn’t even glance in my direction. Instead, she focuses on Jake, who is staring at me, willing me to keep my composure."Jake," Karen begins, her voice smooth as silk, "Jack made his demands. But now, the stakes are higher. COI and two hundred million dollars for both your freedoms."Jack comes and stands near me like some grotesque guard dog and nods in agreement. He looms closer, his presence meant to intimidate Jake, but Ja
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY~THREE
Jake's POV"That son of a bitch," I mutter under my breath, pacing the living room as if the movement will somehow give me a solution. My mind races with Jack’s demands—one hundred million dollars and the return of COI. And if I don’t deliver? He’ll kill Rachael.I can still hear the fear in her voice from that call, the helplessness that cut through me like a blade. I clench my fists and swallow down the rising guilt. If I had stayed in the hospital with her, if I hadn’t been so selfish—none of this would’ve happened. She’d been blindsided by the pregnancy just like I had, yet I left her alone to face everything.Jack can’t know about the baby. At least, I prayed he didn’t. If he finds out, she is as good as dead. That child has Crawford blood, and Jack will see it as a threat to his plans for COI. I shake my head and block out the worst-case scenario. She wouldn’t tell him. Rachael is smart.I sink onto the couch and force my mind to focus. There must be a way. Giving in to Jack’s d
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY~TWO
RACHAEL’S POVAs I lie there in the hospital bed, replaying my conversation with Dr. Stevens, my heart feels like it has shattered into a million pieces. Why did the Crawford's family doctor do this to me? Was he forced to do it, and was Jack in it, too? I sigh, “Those psychopaths.” I mutter under my breath.A million questions swirl in my mind, each more unsettling than the last. But I know I won’t find the answers lying here in this sterile room. I need to get out of there, but my body still feels weak, and my head spins every time I try to move.I think about calling Jake, but I quickly dismiss the idea. We’ll talk once I get home. For now, the task is to convince the doctor I am fine enough to leave.When Dr. Stevens returns to check on me, I force myself to sit up, ignoring the dizziness threatening to pull me back down.“You seem okay, Rachael,” he notes while checking my vitals. His tone is neutral, but there is something in his eyes—guilt, maybe? “I’m sorry I had to be the one
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY~ONE
CHAPTER SEVENTY~ONEI couldn’t believe the news the nurse had dropped on us—Rachael, pregnant? It didn’t make sense. She had once told me that her inability to have children was one of the reasons Jack had left her. And now, out of nowhere, she’s ….?When she asked me that question—whether I thought she knew she could get pregnant—I froze. My reaction felt justifiable. Anyone in my position would have been caught off guard, too. I wanted to stay with her while they ran the second test, but she practically chased me out of the room.I spent some time pacing in the waiting room, but the sterile smell of the hospital started getting to me. Hospitals always did, ever since my mom's ordeal. The memories of sitting helplessly beside her bed were still fresh in my mind. I needed air and space to think. Before I knew it, I was in my car, driving aimlessly through the city.If I am honest with myself, the timing couldn’t have been worse. If the results came back positive, and I was the father,
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY
RACHAEL’S POV“Congratulations, you’re pregnant!” the nurse announces with a bright smile, her voice almost too cheerful for the moment.My heart skips a beat, and I turn to Jake. Our eyes meet, and the tension in the room becomes almost suffocating. I can feel the weight of his stare, as if he’s trying to process the words just as I am.I clear my throat, looking up at the nurse. “You must be wrong. I can’t be pregnant,” I tell her, my voice wavering but firm.The nurse glances at her clipboard, her smile faltering slightly. “No, Rachael. You are definitely pregnant. We’ve done the tests,” she insists, her tone gentle but resolute.She’s not hearing me.“That’s impossible,” I reply, my voice cracking slightly. “a few years ago, my ex-husband’s family doctor told me I could never have a baby. Something about my uterus….”The nurse’s brow furrows, confusion flickering across her face. She glances between me and Jake, clearly unsure how to respond. “Let me get the doctor,” she finally s
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIXTY~NINE
JAKE’S POVRunning COI might have looked easy from the outside, but the truth was far from it. I was always juggling something—if it wasn’t COI, it was one of my other companies demanding my attention. And in the back of my mind, there was the Crawfords. They hadn’t made a move in a month, and I would be an idiot to think they had simply given up. They were biding their time, plotting something, and I wasn’t going to let my guard down.I’d increased security both at the office and at home. I didn’t tell Rachael about it; there was no need to make her more anxious than she already was. She had just started her own company, and I was proud of how hard she was working. I wanted to involve her in managing some of my other businesses, but the timing wasn’t right. She deserved the chance to focus on her dream without my baggage weighing her down.When she found me earlier, going through a stack of papers, they weren’t just any papers—they were COI’s financials and legal documentation. I’d b
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIXTY~EIGHT
RACHAEL’S POVIt had been a month since Jake took over COI, and although we hadn’t heard from the Crawfords since, their silence made us nervous. They were definitely plotting something. Jake had been running the company smoothly, making a few changes here and there, but he still didn’t have a long-term plan. He wanted to take his time before making any big decisions.As for me, I was immersed in preparing for the launch of Amber Wave, the perfume that had already created a buzz with pre-orders flooding in. Tonight is the launch party, and I am running up and down the venue to ensure every detail matches the rose gold theme. Everything had to be perfect.By the time I finish overseeing the setup, it was already late, so I rush home to get ready. Jake is already there, dressed sharply in a rose gold suit with a white shirt, sitting in the living room, going through a stack of papers.“Hey, give me a few minutes. I’ll be ready,” I inform him as I dash upstairs.He nods without looking u
SHATTERED VOWS Appreciation note.
Hello my fabulous readers. I hope you are all having an amazing holiday. I want to thank you for sticking with me and my book. I will be breaking for Christmas and I will resume with new chapters on the 27th. May you all have an amazing Christmas and an even better New year's 🎄🎄🎄🥳🥳🥳❣️❣️.
