All Chapters of SHATTERED VOWS : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

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

“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

After a successful first day at work and hours spent plotting revenge with Jake, my drive back to Amy and Ethan’s house felt like the calm before the storm. I hadn’t even considered how this plan would affect Amy and Ethan or how I’d keep it a secret from them. Amy was like a human lie detector, especially when it came to me. If I slipped up even once, she’d see right through it and blab it to Ethan on one of their late-night pillow talks. For now, though, I could only take it one step at a time. Jake and I had barely scratched the surface of our plans, and I didn’t even know where this strange arrangement would take me. One thing was certain, I couldn’t risk Amy knowing. `The smell of roasted chicken and herbs filled the house when I walked through the door. Amy and Ethan were sitting at the dining table, laughing over something that looked like an inside joke. The scene was warm and familiar, in contrast to the whirlwind my life had become.“Welcome home, Rachael! How was your f

Racheal's POVThe phone call I had been dreading finally came. My mother. "Rachael, I just called Karen to wish her a happy birthday. Do you know what she said?" Her tone sharp, already accusatory. "She asked me why I was calling her, considering we weren’t family anymore! Do you know how humiliating that was for me?" I roll my eyes, letting out a long sigh. Of course, she was going to make this about her."I’m sorry, Mother," I said flatly, trying to get this over with. "What do you want to know?""What happened with Jack?" she snaps, her voice rising. "What did you do this time?"“Wow, so we’re just assuming this was my fault?” I shake my head, bitterness creeping into my tone.“I’m not assuming anything,” her words laced with that familiar venom. “This is so typical of you. You got bored, didn’t you? Drove him away, just like you do with everything good in your life.” I lean back in my chair and yawn loudly, more out of frustration than fatigue. Her accusations were so predicta

JAKE’S POVI was officially out of control. First, propose marriage, and now a trip to Paris? What the hell was happening to me?When Racheal walked into the conference room earlier, I noticed the sadness on her face. She carried it well, but I knew it was there—the same look I’d seen the night we met at the club. For a moment, I doubted whether she could pull off the presentation.But then she started.From the moment she began speaking, she was unstoppable. The confidence in her voice, the way she commanded attention with every word, and how she engaged with everyone in the room was like she’d been doing this for decades.I was mesmerized.I found myself following her every move. The way she swayed her hair when she turned her head, the subtle movement of her hands as she emphasized her points, the way her eyes lit up when she nailed a tough question. I wasn’t just impressed; I was drawn to her in a way I couldn’t explain. By the time the meeting ended, I was ready to cut through t