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CHAPTER SEVEN
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2024-11-05 18:51:58Related chapters
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER EIGHT
"Did something happen between us?" I finally gained the courage to ask.Jake raised an eyebrow, amused. "No, nothing happened. I don't take advantage of drunk girls," he said, handing me a cup of coffee. “I prefer when a woman is fully aware, savoring the pleasure she deserves.”"I couldn't help but giggle, my cheeks instantly flushing. Jake’s confidence was disarming, but I appreciated his directness. Then, his tone softened, and he added, "Besides, I don’t think you’re in a good place right now... you know, with your husband leaving and all."My stomach dropped. "Oh my God, did I tell you about that?""Yeah," Jake nodded, his gaze sympathetic. "That's pretty much all you talked about. You were sobbing in your sleep."Humiliation washed over me like a tidal wave. "I’m so sorry," I muttered, shaking my head. I hated feeling weak and especially hated unloading my problems onto someone I barely knew.Jake shrugged casually, his tone light. "No need to apologize. I’m sorry it happened to
Last Updated : 2024-11-05SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER NINE
There stood Jack, delegating a group of movers like it was just another day at the office. His face was calm and focused as if this wasn’t the home we had built together, as if these weren’t our memories now scattered across the floor in pieces. He didn’t flinch when he saw me standing there.“Jack?” My voice barely a whisper, he glanced up, his expression cold and distant.“What’s going on here?” I demanded, though my voice wavered.Jack sighs as if I was inconveniencing him. “As you can see, Racheal, I’m cleaning up the mess you made.”I blink, stunned. “The mess I made? “Gesturing around the room, my hands trembling.“Jack, you walked out on me. You left without so much as a word! And now you're here... what? Packing up our life like it’s nothing?”He didn’t respond immediately; he just waved at one of the movers to continue taking the furniture. My furniture. Our furniture.“Your things are outside. I figured you’d want some of them back before things get finalized.”“Finalized?”
Last Updated : 2024-11-14SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER TEN
Outside the apartment, the guards let go of me, and I stumble, nearly collapsing to the ground.I couldn’t believe it. I had lost everything in the most humiliating way possible.“This can’t be it,” I say to myself out loud. “I will make those sick bastards pay.”The thought of revenge echoes in my mind, growing louder and angrier until it is all I can hear. The Crawfords had humiliated me for the last time. They thought they could cast me aside like I was nothing like I was disposable.I could feel the blood rushing to my head, my pulse thundering in my ears. Suddenly, everything started to spin again. Before I could catch my breath, my vision blurred, and a wave of dizziness crashed over me. I tried to steady myself, but it was too late. My legs gave out beneath me, and I felt myself falling. Everything went dark.I wake to the sterile smell of antiseptic and distant medical equipment beeping. My body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and confusion. Where was I?“Finally, you’
Last Updated : 2024-11-14SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER ELEVEN
JACK'S POV"Is she gone?" I ask one of the security guards as he steps back inside, looking a little uncertain, which only irritates me further. I’m in no mood for hesitation.“Yes, sir. We left her outside the gates and threw her things out, just as you asked.”"Good," I snap. "And listen carefully: no matter what, never let that woman come back here again. Do you understand?"He nods quickly, muttering a "Yes, sir" before retreating from my sight. I feel a wave of satisfaction watching him disappear. It’s about time she understood where she stands..Hannah moves closer, slipping her arms around me, her touch gentle yet triumphant. "Are you okay, babe?"I nod. She lets out a sigh of relief, a soft, satisfied smile curling at her lips. “I’m just glad that bitch is out of our lives for good,” she murmurs, her eyes gleaming with something dark and exhilarating.“Go lie down, Hannah. You must be tired from that drama,” I say, brushing her cheek. “You shouldn’t get worked up, not now.”As
Last Updated : 2024-11-14SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER TWELVE
After a week of crying myself to sleep every night, drowning in wine, and devouring my body in carbs, something inside me snapped. It was like a switch had flipped. I was tired of wallowing, tired of feeling like the world’s biggest loser. I still wanted revenge. Oh, I wanted it desperately. But first, I had to rebuild myself. Revenge requires a lot of strength, confidence, and clarity. None of which I had since I decided to spend my time sobbing into a tub of ice cream. It was time to get my life together.Ethan and Amy had been nothing short of angels through it all. They gave me space when I asked for it and were there to support me in the small, quiet ways that mattered. Amy would leave little notes on the kitchen counter, reminding me to eat something healthy or take a walk. Ethan, true to his no-nonsense style, sat me down and offered a lifeline.“One of my business partners just opened a high-end restaurant downtown. They’re looking for someone to handle marketing. With your ma
Last Updated : 2024-11-15SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“Jake Mathews?” My voice comes out sharper than I intended, disbelief lacing every word. “How is this even possible? Don’t tell me you’re the owner of this new restaurant.” Jake leans back in his chair, his sharp suit doing little to mask the raw energy he exudes. His dark eyes sparkle with a mix of amusement and something else, a look I was all too familiar with. He rises slowly, his movements deliberate and calculated, and walks around the desk toward me, his gaze never wavering.“I was wondering when I’d see you again,” he says smoothly, his lips curling into that trademark smirk that could disarm anyone.“You left quite an impression last time we met, Rachael. I’ll admit, I was hoping our paths would cross again.”I cross my arms, trying to steady myself, though my heart was racing. “Jake? Seriously? How is this even possible? You know Ethan? You’re one of his business partners? How… how have I never heard him mention you?”The questions tumble out of me one after another, givin
Last Updated : 2024-11-15SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“What did you just say?” My voice comes out trembling with disbelief.“You heard me, Rachael.” Jake says calmly,“I want you to help me take down the Crawfords.”I blink at him, utterly stunned. “You what?” I clutch the arm of the couch, needing something to steady myself. “You want revenge on them? And you think I’m the one to help you? I ask, almost letting out a sarcastic laugh.He didn’t flinch, didn’t so much as blink at my outburst. Instead, he leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his eyes locking on mine. “You’re the perfect person, Rachael. No one knows their weaknesses like you do. And don’t pretend you don’t want the same thing I do.” “ I can’t believe this,” I stammer. “You, how do you even know them? And Ethan? And me? Did you know who I was when we met at the club? Was that all just some elaborate setup?”The questions come tumbling out, my voice rising with every word. I felt like I was drowning, struggling to make sense of the situation. Jake raises his hand
Last Updated : 2024-11-16SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“This is a tempting offer, Jake,” I admit, swallowing hard. “But I just finalized my divorce with Jack. I can’t just jump into another marriage, even a fake one. What will people think of me?”Jake’s expression didn’t falter, his confidence unshaken. “Rachael, I couldn’t care less what people think, and neither should you. This isn’t about love or a relationship. It’s about strategy. Our marriage is strictly for revenge.I raise a brow, skepticism etching across my face. “Strictly for revenge? You expect me to believe you’re doing this for purely noble reasons?”“Believe what you want,” he responds with a shrug. “The Crawfords have wronged us both, and we both want justice. Together, we have the power to destroy them. Once it’s done, we’ll file for divorce, and you’ll go your way, and I’ll go mine.”My stomach churns at his words. It sounded so cold, calculated, and yet undeniably tempting.“I’m sorry, jake, but even if I agree to this insane plan how are we going to fake a marriage.”
Last Updated : 2024-11-16
Latest chapter
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIXTY~FIVE
RACHAEL'S POVI couldn’t believe Jake had just come and gone without saying a word to me. He rushed out like he was late for something important, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I sat there on the couch, staring at the ceiling, trying to process the whirlwind of the past few days. The sun was already up, and boredom crept in like an unwelcome guest.I grab my phone and begin mindlessly scrolling through Instagram. As I flip through the posts, a photo of Amy and Ethan catches my eye. They look radiant, clearly on vacation somewhere beautiful. My chest tightens. The last time I’d spoken to Amy was at the Crawford luncheon. Since then, I have avoided her. She’d tried to reach out, but I hadn’t responded. I’d been a terrible friend.Taking a deep breath, I shot her a text: "Hey, how are you?"I bury my phone under a couch cushion, resisting the urge to stare at the screen, waiting for her reply. I needed a distraction, so I grab my laptop. To my surprise, an inquiry about my marketing
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIXTY~FOUR
JAKE'S POVWilliam’s silence surprises me as well. I expected him to fight back, deny everything or storm out. Instead, he sits there in silence, his face completely unreadable. Karen, on the other hand, is far less composed. She shoves the letter in his face, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and rage.“Did you know about this?”William exhales slowly and leans forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Elizabeth and I agreed she was going to… take care of it. I’m not surprised she didn’t that’s all.”His words hang in the air, each one more infuriating than the last. The calm demeanor I’d been holding onto begins to crumble. My temper is rising, threatening to spill over.“Wait,” my voice low and dangerous. “You knew she was pregnant?”William doesn’t flinch, his tone is detached. “Of course, I knew but like I said, I thought she got rid of it.”That confession hits me harder than I expect, a knot tightens in my chest. For a moment, I can’t speak.“I think she kept you bec
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIXTY~THREE
JAKE'S POVSleep eluded me. No matter how much I tossed and turned, my thoughts kept circling back to Rachael, all alone in that big house. No matter how angry I was at her, I couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling gnawing at my chest.I had also grown accustomed to not being entirely alone. Even though we slept in separate rooms, I always knew she was there. Her presence had become an unspoken comfort.I glanced at the clock on the nightstand. 2:00 a.m. There was no way I could go back to the house at this time without startling her. I sigh, staring at the ceiling, waiting for morning, waiting for a reasonable hour to check on her.Two restless hours later, I was up again, standing under the cold spray of the shower, hoping to wash away my tangled emotions. It didn’t help. The image of her face when I walked out on her lingered, tugging at something deep inside me.Sipping my coffee, I stared at the whiteboard from yesterday and I review my notes, fine tuning my plan to keep my mind occup
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIXTY~TWO
RACHAEL’S POVI spend the entire day trying to reach Jake. Call after call, voicemail after voicemail, but it is no use. He wasn’t picking up. He was sulking somewhere, letting his anger simmer, and left me to drown in the silence he left behind.I paced the living room, my nerves fraying with each passing minute. Where could he be? What is he doing? My mind began to spin with the possibilities.Had he gone to the police? Was he confronting the Crawfords?The unknown gnawed at me, clawing at my insides. If Jake had gone to the police, it would be over for me. I would be arrested for tampering with evidence, and no explanation I gave would matter. I was terrified of what he might do in his anger. Jake was impulsive, and I had learned the hard way that his anger was blinding.But it was already night, and he’d been gone for hours. If the police were going to come for me, they would have done so by now. That thought offers me a sliver of comfort, but it doesn’t ease my anxiety entirely.
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIXTY~ONE
JAKE’S POVAs I speed past the estate gates, my hands grip the steering wheel so tightly that my knuckles turn white. My blood is boiling, and no amount of deep breaths can calm me down. Rachael had betrayed me. The one person I thought I could trust. The one person I let in.I thought we were partners. I thought she had my back. “Damn it!” I slam my palm against the wheel in frustration. How could she keep something like that from me? There is only one explanation: she still loves Jack.My chest burns with a mixture of anger and pain, my head pounding not just from the betrayal but from the lingering hangover of last night. Why today, of all days, did she decide to drop this bomb on me? She couldn't have picked a worse moment.I had to leave the house before I did or said something I couldn’t take back. The anger was too raw, too consuming. The walls of that place felt suffocating. At least I still had my penthouse in the city—a sanctuary I could retreat to at a time like this.As I
SHATTERED VOWS CHAPTER SIXTY
RACHAEL'S POVJack’s deflection had said it all. He’d danced around the question with that smug indifference that only made him look guiltier than ever. It was time to involve Jake, even though I knew how this would go. He will be furious that I hadn’t shared this with him earlier. But what choice do I have now? Better late than never, I tell myself as I pull into the driveway, already bracing for the fallout.When I step inside, the house is quiet, except for the low hum of the fridge in the kitchen. Jake is sitting on one of the bar stools, pressing an icepack against his head. He looks like hell—disheveled, pale, and haunted, like the aftermath of whatever had driven him to drink is still clinging to him.“You good?” I ask, setting my purse down on the counter, trying to ease into the conversation.Jake nods silently, not even glancing my way. He looks like the angel of death had brushed past him and left him worse for wear.“Want to talk about what made you drink like that?” I ask
SHATTERED 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
SHATTERED 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
SHATTERED 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
