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CHAPTER ONE~HUNDRED
Last Updated:
2025-01-20 23:04:24
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SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND~ONE
JAKE’S POV.Rachael rubs her eyes for what feels like the hundredth time."J..ake?" she slurs drunkenly.I start moving closer, and her legs give out again, and she collapses. I catch her before she hits the ground, and her body limps in my arms.“Rachael,” I call, though I know she can’t hear me.I carry her to the car I’d driven to the beach, her weight almost nothing in my arms. Her face is flushed and I can smell the whiskey on her breath.I drive her to the small apartment I’ve been laying low these past few days. I carry her out of the car, careful not to jostle her too much, and gently place her on the bed.I sit beside her and stare at her chest rise and fall steadily. She looks like she has been crying for days and I know I have something to do with that.Suddenly, she stirs, and her eyelids flutter open. She sits up abruptly, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar room.“Where am I?” she asks, her voice hoarse and disoriented.I reach out and gently tap her shoulder. Her wid
Last Updated : 2025-01-20SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER ONE
RACHAEL'S POVSitting across from Amy, sunlight filtering through the café windows casting soft rays on our table, I was lost in our conversation reminiscing about the good old days.“Remember that time we went to Ibiza for our birthdays?” Amy asks, a playful smirk tugging at her lips.“You almost missed the flight because you insisted on entering that store. “I laugh, shaking my head at the memory.“Hey, I had to get those boots! They were gorgeous.”Amy raises her glass, her eyes twinkling with mischief.“And now look at us. Thirty and still day drinking like we’re twenty-five.” I clink my glass against hers, feeling a pleasant warmth spread through me, not just from the daytime drinks but from the joy of spending this moment with my best friend.We had been through so much together, from wild nights in college and spontaneous trips to heartbreaks and new beginnings. Today felt like a nod to our youth, but with a touch of something deeper and more meaningful.“I can’t believe you’re
Last Updated : 2024-11-05SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER TWO
This must be a twisted joke. It didn’t make sense. We were together for almost a decade. We’d been through everything together. The ups, downs, and struggles that you could think of that should have torn us apart somehow made us stronger. At least, that’s what I thought. Jack and I had met during our first year of college, a whirlwind romance that turned into a love I thought would last forever.We fell for each other fast. Too fast, some might have said, but we didn’t give a fuck what other people thought. He was my person. We navigated every stage of life side by side from graduating, getting our first jobs, moving in together, and finally, getting married. We went from being carefree young adults to responsible, mature people, taking on the world together.I loved him more than anything. More than anyone. I thought he felt the same.So how? How could this happen? Where had it gone wrong?There were no signs, no arguments, no distance between us. If anything, I thought we were clos
Last Updated : 2024-11-05SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER THREE
“We need to find him,” I break the silence pacing the living room. “Call Ethan. Jack might have talked to him. They’re best friends. If anyone knows what’s going on, it’s Ethan.”Ethan was Amy’s husband; the four of us had been friends since college. Jack and Ethan had been inseparable since childhood, going to the same schools and eventually meeting Amy and me around the same time. If Jack was in trouble or had something on his mind, he would have confided in Ethan. He had to have.Amy hesitates; her face clouded with doubt."Rachael, if Ethan knew something, he would’ve told me by now. I don’t think we should involve him in this. It’ll just make things more complicated."I stopped pacing and glared at her, my frustration boiling over. "Right now, Amy, I don’t care about complications. I’d involve the entire planet if that’s what it takes to get answers."Amy sighs and reluctantly pulled out her phone. She dialed Ethan’s number and pressed it to her ear. After a few rings, she lowere
Last Updated : 2024-11-05SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FOUR
"I don’t think you should be alone tonight," Amy said softly, her voice filled with concern. "Please, stay here. Spend the night, and tomorrow we’ll figure out what to do next. It’s already late."I shook my head, trying to force a smile, but it felt hollow."Thanks, Amy, but I don’t want to be a burden. Let me just go home."Amy placed a hand on my arm, squeezing gently. "You could never be a burden, Rachael. Don’t be stubborn. I’ll prepare the guest room for you."I hesitated, glancing at Ethan, who nodded in agreement."Amy’s right, Rachael," he said, his voice steady. "You shouldn’t be alone right now. Let’s get you something to eat, okay?""I’m not hungry," I murmured, slumping back into the couch. "Just give me the rest of the whiskey. I need to drown my sorrows. I can’t sleep, even if I tried. Let me just knock myself out and forget everything, even if it’s just for tonight."Ethan exchanged a worried glance with Amy, but after a moment of hesitation, he handed me the bottle.
Last Updated : 2024-11-05SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIVE
I hated going to Jack’s parents' house. They lived in one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in the city, an exclusive estate filled with sprawling mansions, manicured lawns, and gates that seemed more like barriers to the outside world. Every time I crossed those gates, I was reminded just how much of an outsider I was.Jack’s father, William Crawford, had built a fortune in the oil business, a legacy passed down from generation to generation. The Crawfords weren’t just wealthy; they were part of the one percent, dripping in old money and family prestige. And Karen, Jack’s mother, made it clear from the very beginning that I didn’t belong in their world.To her, I was a gold digger, someone who had latched onto her son for his wealth. It didn’t matter that Jack and I had met when we were both broke college students or that I had loved him long before I knew the extent of his family’s wealth. In Karen’s eyes, I was an opportunist, someone who had no business being part of their perfect,
Last Updated : 2024-11-05SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIX
I was humiliated, completely humiliated. I couldn’t believe my life had flipped upside down in the past 24 hours. Yesterday morning, everything was fine. Jack had kissed me on the cheek and told me to have a great time with Amy at lunch, even saying he’d see me when I got back. How in the world had everything gone so horribly wrong in such a short time? It was like the foundation of my life had crumbled right beneath my feet, and I had no idea how to stop the fall.My thoughts kept racing, replaying every interaction we’d had over the past few weeks, searching for signs I’d missed. But none of it made sense. Jack left me out of the blue, his parents’ smug satisfaction as they handed me divorce papers... It was like I had stepped into a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from.I was so lost in my head that I didn’t notice the light turning red until a loud beep jolted me back to reality. I glanced to my side, eyes wide, as a car came barreling toward me from the opposite direction. I sl
Last Updated : 2024-11-05SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVEN
The bass thumped in time with my pulse as I made my way back to the dance floor. The crowd was thick, bodies swaying in unison to the heavy beat. I let the music consume me, drowning out the chaos in my mind. It felt like it was the only way to escape the storm of emotions swirling inside me. The betrayal, the anger, the humiliation.For a moment, I wasn’t the woman whose husband had left her without a word. I wasn’t the woman clutching divorce papers with her name already signed by the man she thought she knew. I was just another body on the dance floor, losing herself in the rhythm, free of everything.I danced harder, faster, my body moving as if to exorcise every ounce of frustration. The heat from the crowd wrapped around me, and soon, sweat began to bead on my forehead, my skin damp from the effort. I could feel the alcohol making my movements loose and unrestrained. It was like I was on autopilot, aware of my surroundings but detached, floating somewhere between reality and obl
Last Updated : 2024-11-05
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SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND~ONE
JAKE’S POV.Rachael rubs her eyes for what feels like the hundredth time."J..ake?" she slurs drunkenly.I start moving closer, and her legs give out again, and she collapses. I catch her before she hits the ground, and her body limps in my arms.“Rachael,” I call, though I know she can’t hear me.I carry her to the car I’d driven to the beach, her weight almost nothing in my arms. Her face is flushed and I can smell the whiskey on her breath.I drive her to the small apartment I’ve been laying low these past few days. I carry her out of the car, careful not to jostle her too much, and gently place her on the bed.I sit beside her and stare at her chest rise and fall steadily. She looks like she has been crying for days and I know I have something to do with that.Suddenly, she stirs, and her eyelids flutter open. She sits up abruptly, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar room.“Where am I?” she asks, her voice hoarse and disoriented.I reach out and gently tap her shoulder. Her wid
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER ONE~HUNDRED
RACHAEL’S POVOn my way out of the hospital, I feel a light tap on my back. I turn around, and my breath catches. A face I hadn’t seen in years stares back at me.“Amy?” I call out, leaning in for a hug before she can say anything. She hugs me back, though stiffly. I feel the awkwardness and pull away. She looks at me like she’s seen a ghost.Her eyes roam from my head to my toes, and I stand there, waiting for her to say something.“What are you doing here?” she asks finally, her brows furrowed in confusion.“I... I had come to—” I falter, unable to bring myself to say the words out loud.Instead, I change the subject quickly. “You? How have you been? It’s been ages since we talked.”Her face tightens, and I can tell she doesn’t want small talk.“Rachael, you disappeared on me without a word. Let’s skip the pretense.” She replies, her tone cold and distant.Before I say anything else, I see Ethan approaching from behind her, and with him is a little girl, probably around Dean’s age.
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER NINETY~NINE
RACHAEL'S POV“Rachael, there’s a call for you.” My mom’s voice breaks through the silence as she knocks on the door of my old room. “He says he’s a police officer.”I jump out of bed, my heart racing, and swing the door open. “Give it to me.” I snatch the phone from her hand and retreat to the bathroom, locking the door behind me.“Hello, this is Rachael,” I answer, pressing the phone tightly to my ear.“We just got the autopsy results,” the officer begins, his voice steady but grave. “I’m afraid the body we found was not Jake Matthews,” he mutters.I clutch my mouth, gasping. “Are you sure, officer?”“Yes, ma’am, I’m certain. There are still people searching for him at the industrial plant. I’ll call again when I have more information.”“Okay,” I manage to mumble. “Thank you for calling.”I hang up, slide down the bathroom wall, and sit on the cold tile floor. My stomach twists and turns with anxiety, wondering how hard it is to locate a body.“Rachael, are you okay?” my mom’s voic
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER NINETY~EIGHT
RACHAEL’S POV“Rachael, your lawyer is here to see you,” an officer calls, her voice breaking through the heavy silence of the cell. I push myself off the thin mattress, my body heavy with exhaustion. I follow her down the dim corridor, and she leads me to a secluded room.Peter stands as I enter, his face a mix of concern and determination.“Rachael, it’s good to see you,” he says warmly, extending his hand. I shake it weakly.“You have ten minutes,” the officer mutters before stepping out and closing the door behind her.Peter sits across from me and leans forward. His hand brushes mine gently. “Are you okay?”I shake my head, my throat tight, and my eyes swollen from hours of crying. “I’m not okay, Peter. Jake might be dead.” My voice cracks.“They haven’t confirmed it’s him, Rachael,” he reassures me, his tone soft but firm. “I’ve asked. They still need to identify the body.”I nod, though his words bring little comfort.“Let’s talk about your case,” he shifts gears. “I’ve present
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER NINETY~SEVEN
RACHAEL’S POVI watch helplessly as the fire consumes the plant, the flames roaring higher into the night sky. Jake is still inside. My chest heaves with ragged breaths, and I cry out for him, praying for some miracle that he’s made it out alive. But there’s no sign of him.I scream, my fists pounding the ground as hot tears stream down my face. The world blurs, and I struggle to comprehend what’s happening. From a distance, the wail of sirens pierces through the chaos. The sound grows louder until I see police vehicles screech to a halt near the blazing inferno.I force myself to stand, raising my hands in the air. They are for me. They had tracked the location I left on my laptop.“Rachael Matthews, stand still!” one officer commands, drawing his weapon.I obey and drop to my knees, placing my hands behind my head. Two officers rush forward and lift me roughly to my feet.“What happened here?” one of them commands, his voice firm.I open my mouth to explain, but words fail me. My th
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER NINETY~SIX
RACHAEL’S POV"I love him. I'm in love with him."The words hang heavy in the air, silencing the room. I see Jake struggle to lift his head, summoning all his strength, but he can’t. Jack’s expression freezes, his smug demeanor faltering as if he hadn’t anticipated my confession. My heart pounds erratically. Truthfully, even I hadn’t expected those words to leave my mouth. I knew I cared for Jake, of course, but seeing him beaten, on the brink of death, stirred something deeper in me—something I couldn’t deny anymore.Jack, ever the sadist, recovers quickly and a wicked smirk spreads across his face. “Wait, Rachael, is this the first time you’ve said those words out loud?” He laughs mockingly, like it’s all some cruel joke.I refuse to engage with his games so i look away ignoring him completely.From the corner of my eye, I see him lift Jake’s head with the barrel of his gun, forcing him to face me. “What about you, Jake? Has she never told you she loves you before?”Jake groans in
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER NINETY~FIVE
JAKE’S POVWhen Jack hung up the call, my blood boiled in my veins. Rage coursed through me, and I forgot myself.“You’re nothing but a spoiled, good-for-nothing coward!” I spat, my voice hoarse but dripping with venom. “You’ve never worked a day in your miserable life, Jack. The best thing you ever did for Rachael was to leave her.”Jack stood there, arms crossed, his face betraying no emotion, which only fueled my anger further.“And let’s not forget,” I added, my voice rising, “William did you a favor by leaving you nothing. You didn’t deserve a single penny, you ungrateful bastard.”I should have stopped, but I didn’t. “And Karen deserved to die.”The air in the room shifted. Jack’s calm demeanor cracked. His fists clenched, and before I could brace myself, he stepped forward and punched me hard across the face. The room spun, and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth.Michael wasted no time. He joined in, his punches landing like sledgehammers on my upper body. At first, I
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER NINETY~FOUR
RACHAEL’S POVI start pacing back and forth in my room, my mind racing. Jack had just called and made his demands. “Come alone, to this address. Make sure you’re not followed; otherwise, you’ll never see your son again.” I had called Michael—no answer. Same with Jake. Hours had passed since any of them had updated me, which only meant they hadn’t found him. Or worse, they had, and something had gone terribly wrong.It was my turn now to step up, to save Dean.Unfortunately, walking out the front door isn’t an option. I have an ankle monitor on my leg and there are some officers downstairs. It is impossible for me to get out.Either way, I have no choice but to figure something out.I grab my laptop and search the address Jack had given me. The location is an abandoned industrial gas plant miles away from the city. I scour the internet for blueprints of the site and study every hallway, entry point, and every possible escape route.Next, I switch my laptop to incognito mode and search
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER NINETY~THREE
JAKE’S POVWe had driven for hours, chasing leads that led to nothing. The frustration was unbearable, especially when Rachael called and started sobbing, desperate for reassurance. I didn’t know what to do except promise her that I would do everything in my power to bring our son back alive and unharmed.We finally arrived at the last location where Jack was supposedly seen, only to find it empty. No sign of him, no sign of Dean.As the hours drag on, I start to lose hope. Then, just as darkness begins to settle, Michael’s phone buzzes, and he answers quickly. His demeanor changes. He hangs up, turns the car around, and speeds off in a new direction.“Was that a lead?” I ask, a flicker of hope igniting in my chest.Michael smirks, barely glancing at me. “Yes, we’ve got him.”He drives so fast that the police vehicles trailing us are left far behind. The city lights start to fade, and soon, we are surrounded by nothing but open fields and empty roads.“Slow down, Michael,” I grip the
