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Chapter 43: The Breaking Point

Penulis: Inpeaceplace
last update Terakhir Diperbarui: 2025-03-20 14:27:07

Isla sat in the grand library of the Blackwood estate, her fingers tracing the rim of the untouched cup of tea before her. The storm outside mirrored the turmoil within her, thunder rolling across the sky like an omen. She had thought she was past this pain—past the way her heart clenched every time Killian's name came up. But the last few days had proven her wrong.

She had been a fool to think that he would ever put her above his power, above his twisted loyalty to Celeste. Even after everything, even after the undeniable tension between them, he had still chosen to stay by Celeste’s side.

"You should eat something," Evelyn, the housekeeper, urged gently as she placed a fresh plate of food before Isla.

Isla gave a hollow smile. "I’m not hungry."

Evelyn sighed, concern lining her face. "You barely sleep, you barely eat. This is no way to live, dear."

"I appreciate your concern, but I’m fine." Isla’s voice was clipped, a sharp contrast to the dull ache in her chest.

Before Evelyn could
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  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 44: A Battle of Wills

    Isla stormed down the dimly lit hallway of the Blackwood estate, her heart pounding against her ribs like a war drum. Every step she took felt heavier, like the weight of her emotions was dragging her down. She needed to get away—from this house, from Killian, from the suffocating grip he had on her life. The air felt thick, suffocating, as if the walls themselves were closing in on her, warning her that no matter how far she ran, she could never truly escape him.But as she reached the grand staircase, a chilling voice stopped her in her tracks."Going somewhere?"Killian’s voice was smooth, controlled, but Isla could hear the tension beneath it. Slowly, she turned to face him. He stood at the top of the stairs, his broad frame illuminated by the dim chandelier light. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those stormy, conflicted blue eyes—were locked onto her with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine."I don’t owe you an explanation," Isla shot back, straightening her

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21
  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 45: The Breaking Point

    Isla sat in front of the vanity mirror in her room, her reflection staring back at her like a ghost of the woman she once was. The fire in her eyes hadn’t dimmed, but it flickered beneath layers of exhaustion and heartbreak. Killian had made it clear—he wasn’t letting her go.Not as his wife. Not as the mother of his child. Not as anything but a possession locked within the confines of this house.A soft knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts."Come in," she said, her voice devoid of emotion.The door creaked open, and to her dismay, Celeste stepped inside, her usual smirk plastered on her face. She was draped in an elegant, deep-red dress that clung to her body like a second skin, her dark hair cascading over her shoulder in perfect waves."Poor Isla," Celeste cooed, shutting the door behind her. "Trapped like a little bird in a gilded cage."Isla met her gaze through the mirror, refusing to react. "Did you come here to gloat?"Celeste chuckled, moving closer, her heels cli

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-21
  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 46: Trapped in His Web

    The Blackwood estate was suffocating. Each hallway, each grandly decorated room, each polished floorboard felt like another part of Isla’s prison. It didn’t matter how luxurious it was—golden cages were still cages. And she was trapped.After her last confrontation with Killian, sleep had eluded her. She had spent the entire night pacing her bedroom, restless, furious, desperate for some kind of escape. But every path led back to the same bitter truth—Killian wasn’t letting her go.And Celeste was doing everything in her power to ensure she stayed in her place.A knock at the door jolted Isla from her thoughts. Before she could respond, it creaked open, and to her surprise, it wasn’t Killian.It was Dante.Killian’s right-hand man. His enforcer. A man as ruthless as he was unreadable."Boss wants to see you," Dante said, his voice flat as he leaned against the doorframe.Isla’s stomach twisted, but she kept her expression neutral. "Tell him I’m not interested."Dante smirked. "Not exac

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22
  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 47: Cracks in the Ice

    The east wing of the Blackwood estate was as eerie as Isla had expected. Dust coated the antique furniture, and cobwebs clung to the corners of the high ceilings. The air was cold, untouched by warmth or life. The windows were large, but thick velvet curtains blocked out most of the light, making the place feel like a forgotten ghost town within the mansion’s walls.Killian wanted her to feel isolated.But Isla refused to break.She spent the first night curled up on the massive bed, unable to sleep. The silence was suffocating, pressing down on her like a heavy weight. She wasn’t sure what scared her more—the stillness of the room or the fact that, despite everything, part of her still ached for the man who had put her here.She kept replaying his words in her head. The threat, the possessiveness. And yet, beneath all of that, she had seen the flicker of something else. Something deeper. Regret? Guilt? She didn’t know.By the time the sun peeked through the curtains, she had barely s

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22
  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 48: The Truth Unleashed

    The world felt like it was spinning out of control. Isla could hear the frantic whispers, the chimes of endless phone notifications, the growing tension in the air. The scandal had broken.Her pregnancy was no longer a secret.The news was everywhere—social media, tabloids, online forums. The headline was plastered across every major news outlet:"Killian Blackwood’s Secret Lover Pregnant—Who is the Mystery Woman?"A lump formed in Isla’s throat as she scrolled through the articles on her phone, her hands trembling. Photos of her had been leaked—some taken at public events where she had been by Killian’s side, others were more invasive, stolen from the shadows like a predator lurking just beyond her sight. Some shots even highlighted the slight curve of her stomach, dissecting every detail with ruthless scrutiny.She felt sick.This wasn’t how she wanted the world to know.Killian hadn’t even processed the news himself properly, and now the entire world had an opinion on it. And worse

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22
  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 49: Shattered Trust

    The city lights flickered in the distance, casting a cold glow through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows of Killian’s penthouse. Isla stood by the window, arms wrapped around herself, trying to steady the storm raging within her. The news of her pregnancy had exploded in the media like wildfire, and there was no doubt who was behind the leak—Celeste.Killian had been unusually silent since the story broke, and that silence was suffocating her.The sound of the door clicking shut sent a shiver down her spine. She turned to see Killian, his expression unreadable as he set his phone down on the glass table. He looked as if he had been battling demons of his own, his jaw tight, his shoulders tense.“Say something,” Isla finally whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart.He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his already-disheveled hair. “The damage is done.”Her fingers curled into fists. “That’s all you have to say?”“What do you want me to say, Isla?” he

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-22
  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 50: Shattered Illusions

    The world had erupted into chaos. Isla had barely caught her breath after Celeste's malicious revelation before the media frenzy descended upon her like vultures. Every news outlet, every social media platform was plastered with headlines that dissected and scrutinized every aspect of her life. Killian Blackwood's secret lover. A scandalous pregnancy. The heir to the Blackwood fortune.Isla paced inside the confines of Killian’s penthouse, her heart slamming against her ribs as she watched the news coverage. Paparazzi swarmed the entrance of the building, their cameras flashing like lightning, waiting to capture her downfall.Killian stood by the window, his posture stiff, his jaw locked. He had been silent since the press conference, his expression unreadable. The weight of his presence filled the room, suffocating her as much as the suffocating glare of the world outside."Say something," Isla finally demanded, breaking the thick silence. "Aren’t you going to do anything?"Killian t

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23
  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 51: The Breaking Point

    Killian sat in his office, the weight of his entire world pressing down on his shoulders. The sun had set hours ago, but he hadn’t moved from his chair. Documents lay scattered across his desk, but none of them held his attention. Not when his mind was consumed by a single, inescapable dilemma—choosing between his engagement with Celeste and Isla, the woman who had turned his world upside down.He ran a hand through his disheveled hair, exhaling sharply. The logical part of him told him that Celeste was the right choice. Their engagement had been meticulously planned, an alliance between two powerful families. But Isla… she was the chaos he never expected, the storm that had wrecked his carefully constructed walls. And the mother of his child.A sharp knock at the door shattered his thoughts. He knew who it was before even looking up.“Come in,” he said, his voice low, drained.Isla stepped inside, her expression unreadable. She had changed out of the soft loungewear she had been wear

    Terakhir Diperbarui : 2025-03-23

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  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 89

    City lights twinkled in the weight of twilight, as though the horizon itself held bated breath. Killian Blackwood stood against the roof garden of the Carter Foundation, the wind tugging at his open coat, his expression impassive. The city raged beneath him, unaware of the storm brewing in one man's soul.Tonight was not one of pomp and circumstance. There were no fireworks, no red carpet, no over-the-top displays of riches. Tonight was raw, bare, and totally human. It was about truth. About redemption.Killian had sent the invitation to Isla Carter days before, a scribbled note in the bouquet of lilies she still refused to accept. But he knew she'd be there. He had caught it in the quiet between them, in how her eyes clung a beat longer on their last encounter, as if she heard words that he hadn't spoken yet.As she stepped onto the roof, her heels ticking quietly on the wooden deck, Killian turned lazily. The sight of her, in the gentle light of string lights swaying above them, too

  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 88: Whispers of a New Beginning

    The city hummed with its own rhythm, but for Isla Carter, it was all just a bit. softer. Quieter. It had been three days since she'd stood beside Killian Blackwood in the brightly lit community center and said the words she'd never been brave enough to say until that moment. "Maybe I'm still in love with you."Those words had changed everything. And nothing had been rushed. There were no grand statements or fireworks. No immediate talk of labels or planning. Just a slow rebuilding. And for once, Isla didn't feel like she needed to rush to get ahead of her emotions.She was in her bookstore again today. The scent of old paper and cinnamon coffee greeted her, and sunlight streamed through the windows, casting golden squares on the wooden floor. Customers browsed idly through the shelves, and her helper, Margo, waved as Isla entered."Morning, boss. You look. glowy," Margo teased.Isla smiled, her cheeks going pink. "It's the weather.""Okay, let's pretend it's not the sexy billionaire

  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 87: A Love Worth Fighting For

    Rain drenched the sidewalk as **Killian Blackwood** stood at the entrance of the charity gala, his stylish suit soaked, but he didn't move. Umbrellas hovered, cameras snapped, but none of it mattered. Not the murmurs of shock on passersby, not the reporters shouting questions. Not even the blistering disappointment in his father's eyes when the older man stepped from a black limousine, lips pursed into a tempestuous line."Mr. Blackwood—" a journalist shouted, shoving a mic in his face. "Is it true you've ended your engagement with Celeste Van Alder?""Yes," Killian said firmly, his voice crisp. "Because I was engaged to the wrong woman."A collective gasp of shock filled the crowd. The cameras clicked more wildly now, catching the unadorned truth in his eyes."What about Isla Carter?" another journalist shouted. "Are you doing this for her?Killian didn't hesitate. "I'm doing this because I finally realized what real love feels like. And I lost it once. I'm not losing it again."Insi

  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 86: Fractures and Foundations

    The following days were filled with subdued skepticism for Isla. She was returned to her life—her job, her schedule—but everything was different. It was as though a small shift had occurred, something she couldn't define, but it gave her an irrevocable feeling that something was coming. She wasn't sure what it was, or how to prepare herself for it, but she knew it would change everything.She sat at her desk in the office, staring into her computer screen, the documents before her blurring to a haze. Her mind kept drifting back to Killian's words. His voice lingered in her head, with the sincerity that both comforted her and disturbed her. She wasn't going to decide yet—she knew that. But whenever she thought she had shaken him off, a part of her wanted the connection they had shared.The phone suddenly rang, snapping her out of her reverie. She glanced down at the screen, her racing heart as it read Killian's name.Her fingers lingered over the phone for a moment, a flash of emotions

  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 85: The Unspoken Truth

    It was then, that as evening had descended into a peaceful warmth of air across Westbridge Garden's borders, with rustling of leaves only making their staid quiet sound and all their deep and hidden discussion having so accumulated as now it weighed immeasurably between Isla and Killian. Heart-ravished as much for rage as dread and hope; this war on inner conflicting waves: though in heart-sway she wouldn't, or wasn't quite prepared yet, name and look towards one she found.Killian's gaze was on her, his face unreadable, but Isla could feel the storm behind it. He was waiting. Waiting for her to decide, for her to reach some conclusion that would either set them free or bind them together in a way neither of them had ever imagined. But how could she make such a choice when everything she had once believed about love and trust had been shattered so thoroughly?The quiet between them stretched out, the unspoken words hurled through the air, just beyond his grasp."I'm not asking you to

  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 84: The Test of Time

    Isla spent the following days wrapped in a haze of contemplation, the silence of her apartment an ever-present reminder of the choice she had to make. She could still hear Killian’s words echoing in her mind: *“I’ll wait for you, for however long it takes.”* The sincerity in his voice, the rawness of his vulnerability, was something she hadn’t anticipated. It made her question everything—everything about the life she had believed she had built without him, everything about the way she had started to see herself.She had always prided herself on her independence, on her ability to stand on her own two feet without needing anyone. But now, alone in the quiet of her vacant apartment, she couldn't help but wonder if she was deceiving herself. Was she strong enough to let go, to eliminate Killian from her heart, or was she still that woman who had given all of herself to him, only to be broken again?The answer, though, was one that was not to be discovered over the course of a few days. H

  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 83: The Weight of Choices

    The following days were a blur to Killian. He could not shake Isla from his mind standing in the doorway, the city's dim light casting shadows on her face. He had left with nothing but the unspoken promise of time, and for the first time in his life, he truly knew the weight of what he had to prove.He had spent years in the game of power moves, manipulation, and planned actions. But this — this was different. This was real. This was unbridled. And this was the first time in his life when he did not have control.The hours passed into days, each longer than the last, as he gave Isla the space she had demanded. But with every passing hour, he grew more agitated, his head consumed by her. He longed to hear her voice, to watch the flicker of flame in her eyes, to experience the way she made him feel he could be something greater than the man he was.It was no longer love. It was redemption. It was about showing her, and proving to himself, that he could be the man that she could see hers

  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 82: Unspoken Truths

    The city streets were quieter than usual as Killian made his way to Isla's apartment. The choice he had made a few hours earlier sat heavy with him, a reminder of what he had chosen to do. His heart pounded in his chest, a rhythm of excitement and fear, as he stood before her door.His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, seeing another text from Isla. His fingers stalled on the screen before he opened it, holding his breath as he read the message.*I'm home. If you want to talk, I'm here. But only if you mean it. Only if you're ready to be real with me.*Killian felt a pang of guilt. He had been hiding for so long behind walls, behind expectations, behind anything other than his own truth. But tonight was different. He had made the decision to leave Celeste, to walk away from a life that had been carefully created for him in favor of the one that he had always wanted. And finally, the hardest thing was left: to demonstrate that he was ready to be the man Isla needed. He

  • Shattered Vows   Chapter 81: Broken Promises

    The night dragged on, a suffocating silence closing in around Killian as he watched Isla disappear into the sea of people. Each step she took was a fist to his chest, each movement a testament to how far he had pushed her away. Her words echoed in his mind, a stinging reality: *It's too late*.Killian was not one to lose control. But here, in the middle of the grand ballroom, he knew how much he had lost. Control had been ripped from his hands like sand, and all that was left were the consequences of his actions.The lights around him blurred, the glittering chandelier above elongating into long shadows across the room. He barely noticed the guests returning to their celebrations, their conversations and laughter a muffled hum in his ears. All he could hear was the silence of Isla's absence, her rejection, the weight of all he had left unsaid.He needed to fix this. Needed to make her see that he was changed now, that he wasn't the same man who'd walked away from her. But with every p

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