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23: The Perfect Illusion
Last Updated:
2025-02-16 16:16:52
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The Vows We Never Wanted 24: The Illusion Of Us
Cole’s POV.I adjusted my cufflinks as I stepped out of the car, the black vehicle reflecting the towering glass structure of the Hart Enterprise building. Today was another meeting, another performance. Emily and I had perfected the act by now. The loving glances, the effortless laughter, the way my hand fit around hers like it belonged there. All for show. All because in eleven months, we’d be free.The lobby was filled with executives and assistants rushing around, murmuring about numbers and deals. I walked in, ignoring the way heads turned in my direction. Power demanded attention, and I had no problem owning it.James, my assistant, fell into step beside me. “Everything’s set. The board is waiting upstairs.”“Emily?” I asked, my voice level.“Already there.”Of course, she was. Punctual, controlled, ahead of the game. That was Emily Hart.I stepped into the elevator, the doors sliding shut as it carried me up to the top floor. My fingers twitched at my side, a habit I hadn’t bee
Last Updated : 2025-02-17The Vows We Never Wanted 25: The Unexpected Sight
Cole's POV.Vanessa and I stepped out of the restaurant, her voice trailing as she talked about something I wasn’t even paying attention to. My mind was still stuck on the conversation we had inside, the way she had looked at me like she knew something I didn’t.Then, I saw her.Emily.She was a few feet away near the valet pickup, dressed in a fitted black jumpsuit that hugged her frame perfectly. A pair of strappy heels added to her height, and her long hair fell over her shoulders effortlessly. She looked… different. Not like the Emily I was used to. There was no sharpness in her expression, no guarded stance.She was happy.And it wasn’t because of me.She let out a laugh…a real one, as she jumped into the arms of a man I didn’t recognize. He caught her easily, arms wrapping around her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground.Something hit me hard in my chest.Vanessa was still talking beside me, her voice laced with amusement. “Are you even listening to me, Cole?”I wasn’t.Be
Last Updated : 2025-02-17The Vows We Never Wanted 26: A Collision Of Fire, Fury And A Kiss
Cole's POV.I stood outside, hands braced against the edge of the car, breathing hard. The night air did nothing to cool my temper.Lucas. That smug bastard. He was enjoying this.I ran a hand over my face, willing myself to let it go. It wasn’t working.Footsteps approached. I didn’t have to turn to know who it was."Man, you really let things get to you, huh?" Lucas strolled up beside me, slipping his hands into his pockets like we were old friends.I exhaled sharply. "Go away.""Why?" He smirked. "Emily’s in there, not going anywhere. Not yet, anyway."I clenched my jaw.Lucas leaned against the car, shaking his head. "You don’t like me, do you?""You’re annoying as hell," I muttered.He laughed. "Fair. But you know what’s funny? If Emily wasn’t my cousin, I probably would’ve married her."My head snapped toward him."Think about it," he continued. "She’s smart. Beautiful. Strong. A hell of a lot better than most women. Including the one you came here with."My fists tightened.Luc
Last Updated : 2025-02-19The Vows We Never Wanted 27: Trapped Between Hate And Desire
Emily's POV.My brain short-circuited.Cole Grayson was kissing me.His lips were firm, demanding, pressing against mine like he had every right to take what he wanted. Like this wasn’t insane. Like I wasn’t Emily Hart…the same girl he had humiliated and torn apart seven years ago. The same girl he had looked at like trash beneath his feet.And yet, here he was. Kissing me.For a split second…just a damn second…my body betrayed me. My breath caught, my fingers curled into fists at my sides, and the warmth of his mouth sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. The night air was cool against my skin, but his touch was fire. My heart slammed against my ribs, confused, angry, dazed.Then, reality crashed over me like a sledgehammer.What the hell was I doing?I shoved him. Hard.Cole stumbled back a step, eyes flicking open in surprise. My palm stung from where it had pressed against his chest, but I didn’t care. My breath was uneven, my pulse out of control, and my entire body screamed w
Last Updated : 2025-02-19The Vows We Never Wanted 1
Emily.7 years ago.The roar of the crowd sounded around the field, but I barely heard it. All I could focus on was him…Cole Grayson. He stood in the center of the field, the late afternoon sun had a golden halo over his dark hair. His movements were without effort, calculated, as he dodged past opposing players. The ball seemed like an extension of him, and every time he scored, the crowd erupted in cheerslike a storm.From my spot on the bleachers, tucked away in the furthest corner, I watched through the safety of my thick-rimmed glasses. My cheeks burned, though I told myself it was just the sun. Who was I kidding? I was completely smitten. Damn.The cheerleaders screamed his name, waving banners with Cole scrawled in bold letters. Even the guys who pretended not to care shot him envious glances. Cole wasn’t just the star player; he was the star of the entire school.I sighed, hugging my knees. It had been four months since I joined Crestwood High, and ever since that rainy day, h
Last Updated : 2024-12-04The Vows We Never Wanted 2
Emily's POV.My heart hammered in my chest as I watched Cole laugh. It wasn't a light chuckle or a half-hearted grin. No, this was the kind of laugh that made you feel like something deep inside you was being crushed into dust.His friends started laughing too, the sound of their mocking, high-pitched giggles echoing through the hallway. And then, even a few students nearby joined in. I could feel my face burn, my pulse pounding in my ears. I stood there, frozen, helpless, every ounce of courage I had drained in an instant.“Are you serious?” Cole asked, wiping tears from his eyes as he took a step toward me. He looked me up and down with the kind of scrutiny that made me want to crawl into a hole and hide forever. “You think you can just... tell me you like me? You think I’m going to be interested in some girl like you?” His voice was dripping with venom, each word cutting deeper than the last.I felt smaller and smaller, like the floor was swallowing me whole. He poked at my head wi
Last Updated : 2024-12-04The Vows We Never Wanted 3
Emily's POV7 years later. Present.The moment I stepped out of the sleek black Rolls-Royce, a wave of flashing lights blinded me. The cameras clicked furiously, each one trying to capture the perfect shot. The air buzzed with the sound of reporters shouting my name, their questions tumbling over one another in a chaotic mess.“Miss Hart! Over here!”“Emily, are you planning to expand the company this year?”“Can we get a comment on your rise to success at such a young age?”I adjusted the lapel of my tailored cream pantsuit, my favorite pair of Louboutin heels clicking against the pavement as I strode forward. My face remained poised, composed—a faint smile playing on my lips as my bodyguards flanked me, creating a barrier between me and the overzealous crowd.I didn’t answer their questions. Not yet. I let the confidence radiate from me, my chin held high as I walked toward the entrance of the grand event hall. The paparazzi were relentless, their lenses tracking my every move, but
Last Updated : 2024-12-04The Vows We Never Wanted 4
Cole's POVI leaned against the sleek black car parked outside the industrial event hall, watching the last of the guests trickle out. The evening had gone as expected, with handshakes and back-patting from the old guard, a few promising discussions about potential mergers, and, of course, the usual fawning admiration. Everyone wanted a piece of Cole Grayson. Everyone, that is, except Emily Hart.I shoved my hands into my pockets and let out a quiet chuckle, shaking my head. Emily Hart. She hadn’t just ignored my handshake…she’d downright dismissed me, as though I were some insignificant pest. No one had ever treated me like that, not in all my thirty years.“Too full of herself,” I muttered under my breath. “That’s what she is.”But there was something else about her, something that gnawed at the edges of my mind. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but she seemed familiar. The curve of her face, the fire in her eyes when she looked at me…it wasn’t just confidence. It was something perso
Last Updated : 2024-12-04
Latest chapter
The Vows We Never Wanted 27: Trapped Between Hate And Desire
Emily's POV.My brain short-circuited.Cole Grayson was kissing me.His lips were firm, demanding, pressing against mine like he had every right to take what he wanted. Like this wasn’t insane. Like I wasn’t Emily Hart…the same girl he had humiliated and torn apart seven years ago. The same girl he had looked at like trash beneath his feet.And yet, here he was. Kissing me.For a split second…just a damn second…my body betrayed me. My breath caught, my fingers curled into fists at my sides, and the warmth of his mouth sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. The night air was cool against my skin, but his touch was fire. My heart slammed against my ribs, confused, angry, dazed.Then, reality crashed over me like a sledgehammer.What the hell was I doing?I shoved him. Hard.Cole stumbled back a step, eyes flicking open in surprise. My palm stung from where it had pressed against his chest, but I didn’t care. My breath was uneven, my pulse out of control, and my entire body screamed w
The Vows We Never Wanted 26: A Collision Of Fire, Fury And A Kiss
Cole's POV.I stood outside, hands braced against the edge of the car, breathing hard. The night air did nothing to cool my temper.Lucas. That smug bastard. He was enjoying this.I ran a hand over my face, willing myself to let it go. It wasn’t working.Footsteps approached. I didn’t have to turn to know who it was."Man, you really let things get to you, huh?" Lucas strolled up beside me, slipping his hands into his pockets like we were old friends.I exhaled sharply. "Go away.""Why?" He smirked. "Emily’s in there, not going anywhere. Not yet, anyway."I clenched my jaw.Lucas leaned against the car, shaking his head. "You don’t like me, do you?""You’re annoying as hell," I muttered.He laughed. "Fair. But you know what’s funny? If Emily wasn’t my cousin, I probably would’ve married her."My head snapped toward him."Think about it," he continued. "She’s smart. Beautiful. Strong. A hell of a lot better than most women. Including the one you came here with."My fists tightened.Luc
The Vows We Never Wanted 25: The Unexpected Sight
Cole's POV.Vanessa and I stepped out of the restaurant, her voice trailing as she talked about something I wasn’t even paying attention to. My mind was still stuck on the conversation we had inside, the way she had looked at me like she knew something I didn’t.Then, I saw her.Emily.She was a few feet away near the valet pickup, dressed in a fitted black jumpsuit that hugged her frame perfectly. A pair of strappy heels added to her height, and her long hair fell over her shoulders effortlessly. She looked… different. Not like the Emily I was used to. There was no sharpness in her expression, no guarded stance.She was happy.And it wasn’t because of me.She let out a laugh…a real one, as she jumped into the arms of a man I didn’t recognize. He caught her easily, arms wrapping around her waist, lifting her slightly off the ground.Something hit me hard in my chest.Vanessa was still talking beside me, her voice laced with amusement. “Are you even listening to me, Cole?”I wasn’t.Be
The Vows We Never Wanted 24: The Illusion Of Us
Cole’s POV.I adjusted my cufflinks as I stepped out of the car, the black vehicle reflecting the towering glass structure of the Hart Enterprise building. Today was another meeting, another performance. Emily and I had perfected the act by now. The loving glances, the effortless laughter, the way my hand fit around hers like it belonged there. All for show. All because in eleven months, we’d be free.The lobby was filled with executives and assistants rushing around, murmuring about numbers and deals. I walked in, ignoring the way heads turned in my direction. Power demanded attention, and I had no problem owning it.James, my assistant, fell into step beside me. “Everything’s set. The board is waiting upstairs.”“Emily?” I asked, my voice level.“Already there.”Of course, she was. Punctual, controlled, ahead of the game. That was Emily Hart.I stepped into the elevator, the doors sliding shut as it carried me up to the top floor. My fingers twitched at my side, a habit I hadn’t bee
The Vows We Never Wanted 23: The Perfect Illusion
Emily’s POVI sat on the edge of the bed, staring at my phone, fingers tapping against my knee. The city lights spilled through the window, reflecting off the screen. The message I was about to send felt like a betrayal…to myself, to everything I’d fought for. But it was also a move, a necessary one.I exhaled sharply, then typed:‘Dad, I’m back with Cole. We’re fixing things.’A beat passed. Then another.My phone vibrated.‘Good. I knew you’d come to your senses.’I scoffed, rolling my eyes. My father had never hidden his opinions…he believed in power, in keeping our companies aligned, in making sure the Greyson and Hart names remained untouchable. Love? That was never part of the deal.‘Whatever. Just stay out of my life.’ I sent back.For the first time in years, he didn’t argue.Cole was standing near the window, hands in his pockets, watching me. “What did he say?”“That he knew I’d come to my senses.” I tossed the phone on the nightstand, my jaw tight. “He’s backing off now.”C
The Vows We Never Wanted 22: An Agreement
Emily’s POV.I stood there, arms crossed, watching him like he was some kind of pest that refused to leave. Cole, sitting on my couch like he belonged here. Like he had any right to breathe the same air as me after everything he did.He was crazy if he thought I’d just let this slide.I took a step forward, ready to grab his arm and drag him out myself, but a knock on the door stopped me. My head snapped toward it.Room service? I hadn’t ordered anything.Cole, the smug bastard, didn’t even react. He just sat there, rubbing his temple like I was giving him a headache.I marched to the door, yanked it open, and found a hotel staff member standing there with a tray. A covered dish, a drink on the side."Miss Hart, your assistant sent this up for you."My brows pulled together. "My assistant?""Yes, ma’am. He said you haven’t eaten all day and that you needed something light."I sighed. Sam. Of course, he did. The man was loyal, but he was also annoying as hell when it came to hovering o
The Vows We Never Wanted 21: Not Leaving
Emily's POV.I stood by the window, arms crossed, my back to Cole. The city stretched out in front of me, lights blinking, cars moving, the world going on like nothing was wrong. Inside this room, though, the air was thick, suffocating. Cole stood behind me, his presence pressing against my back like a weight I refused to acknowledge. He had forced his way in, tracked me down like a desperate man clinging to something already gone.I didn’t turn around. I didn’t give him the satisfaction."Say whatever you want, Cole. It won’t change a damn thing," I said, reaching for the whiskey bottle on the counter. I poured myself a drink, the liquid steadying me.But Cole wasn’t leaving. His father’s threats must have been ringing in his ears. The humiliation, the headlines, the fear of losing everything…it was crashing down on him. His silence stretched long enough that I knew he was struggling to keep it together."Do you really hate me that much?" His voice was low, rough, like he was barely
The Vows We Never Wanted 20: The Confrontation
Cole's POV.I had always been a man who got what he wanted. Connections, wealth, influence…I had them all. But none of that mattered now if I couldn’t find Emily.The moment she walked out on me, my entire world had gone to hell. The media had gotten wind of the story. My father had called, yelling through the phone, making it clear that if Emily wasn’t back as my wife within 24 hours, Greyson Corps would be handed over to my cousin.I wasn’t about to let that happen.I had spent the entire day making calls, pulling every string I could. The best private investigators, cybersecurity experts, and even a few underground contacts…I spared no expense. I needed to find her before it was too late.By evening, I got a lead.She had checked into one of the most expensive hotels in the city. The irony wasn’t lost on me. She wasn’t hiding. She wasn’t running. She was waiting.For what?To watch me crumble? To see how far I would go?Whatever it was, I didn’t care.By 9 PM, I was standing outsid
The Vows We Never Wanted 19: Twenty-four Hours To Fix The Mess
Cole's POV.The world was burning, and I was standing in the middle of it, phone in hand, watching my life collapse in real-time.Every major news outlet, every gossip blog, every social media platform was eating up the scandal like it was the juiciest story of the year."Emily Hart Walks Out on Cole Greyson Just 2 Days After Their Wedding!" "Hart Heiress Flees Honeymoon Suite – Trouble in Billionaire Paradise?" "Cole Greyson Left Behind as His Bride Vanishes!"The photos were everywhere—Emily walking out of the hotel, her posture elegant despite her ruined dress, make-up and birdnest of a hair. Even her expression was unreadable. The press had caught her getting into a black car. And her wedding ring nowhere in sight.Meanwhile, I was stuck here, trapped in this disaster of my own making.I exhaled sharply, gripping my phone so tightly my knuckles turned white.This was bad.The internet was a wildfire, and I was at the center of it. People were talking…laughing, judging, feasting
