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CHAPTER SEVENTY~THREE
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2024-12-30 21:44:10Related chapters
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
Last Updated : 2024-12-30SHATTERED 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
Last Updated : 2024-12-31SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY~SIX
JAKE'S POV“We should get a divorce.”Her words echo in my mind like a broken record as I drive to the hospital. Rachael had gone on and on about how our marriage had caused her more harm than good and how she needed to think about someone else now. I barely listened. I was too stunned to process what she was saying.I had come to make sure Karen couldn’t escape. The thought of her slipping away sent a chill down my spine. She’d proven herself to be more dangerous than Jack, and leaving room for her to escape wasn’t an option. Jack had managed to get away, but the police were on his trail. Eventually, they’d catch him. I had trust in that.Karen was fresh out of surgery, recovering in her ward. A uniformed officer stands guard outside her door. That eases my nerves slightly, but not enough. I approach the officer and explain how dangerous she is and what might happen if she escapes. He assures me they’ll double down on the security and ensure someone will always be on duty.Satisfied,
Last Updated : 2025-01-02SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY~SEVEN
RACHAEL'S POVWhen Jake stormed out of my room, slamming the door behind him, he didn’t know I had already made up my mind.I couldn’t stay. Not anymore.This wasn’t just about me—it was about the baby I was carrying. Staying with Jake felt like waiting for danger to find us. With Jack on the loose, it wasn’t a matter of if something would happen but when.I understood where Jake was coming from. He wanted to protect us. But I couldn’t leave it to chance. He wouldn’t give me a divorce, so I had to take matters into my own hands.I had to leave.The guilt was already starting to creep in as I threw my clothes into the suitcase without folding them. My hands trembled as I zipped it shut. I paused for a moment, debating whether I should leave a note. But I knew it wouldn’t do any good.I grabbed my passport and my small stash of emergency cash. My heart ached at the thought of walking out on him, but I told myself it was for the best.I tiptoed to his room, and I pressed my ear against t
Last Updated : 2025-01-02SHATTERED 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 : 2024-11-05
Latest chapter
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY~SEVEN
RACHAEL'S POVWhen Jake stormed out of my room, slamming the door behind him, he didn’t know I had already made up my mind.I couldn’t stay. Not anymore.This wasn’t just about me—it was about the baby I was carrying. Staying with Jake felt like waiting for danger to find us. With Jack on the loose, it wasn’t a matter of if something would happen but when.I understood where Jake was coming from. He wanted to protect us. But I couldn’t leave it to chance. He wouldn’t give me a divorce, so I had to take matters into my own hands.I had to leave.The guilt was already starting to creep in as I threw my clothes into the suitcase without folding them. My hands trembled as I zipped it shut. I paused for a moment, debating whether I should leave a note. But I knew it wouldn’t do any good.I grabbed my passport and my small stash of emergency cash. My heart ached at the thought of walking out on him, but I told myself it was for the best.I tiptoed to his room, and I pressed my ear against t
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SEVENTY~SIX
JAKE'S POV“We should get a divorce.”Her words echo in my mind like a broken record as I drive to the hospital. Rachael had gone on and on about how our marriage had caused her more harm than good and how she needed to think about someone else now. I barely listened. I was too stunned to process what she was saying.I had come to make sure Karen couldn’t escape. The thought of her slipping away sent a chill down my spine. She’d proven herself to be more dangerous than Jack, and leaving room for her to escape wasn’t an option. Jack had managed to get away, but the police were on his trail. Eventually, they’d catch him. I had trust in that.Karen was fresh out of surgery, recovering in her ward. A uniformed officer stands guard outside her door. That eases my nerves slightly, but not enough. I approach the officer and explain how dangerous she is and what might happen if she escapes. He assures me they’ll double down on the security and ensure someone will always be on duty.Satisfied,
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
