Vows of vengeance

Chapter One

Signed and Sealed

Sienna’s POV

“I can’t believe I’m doing this.”

My voice came out low, like I was ashamed of it.

My lawyer, Mrs. Hanley, didn’t react. She just slid the papers closer. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

That was the only thing I was sure of.

Outside her office, I could already hear the noise of reporters, cameras, and people waiting to turn my divorce into entertainment. Like I was a celebrity instead of a woman trying to breathe again.

Mrs. Hanley pointed at the last page. “Sign there.”

I stared at the line for half a second, then signed.

Done.

Just like that.

Mrs. Hanley nodded like she was trying not to smile. “It’s official. You’re divorced.”

I stood up immediately. “I’m leaving.”

“Sienna…just be careful. Dominic Vale doesn’t…”

“Lose,” I finished for her.

She didn’t deny it.

I grabbed my bag and walked out before she could say anything else.

The second I stepped into the lobby, the building felt too open. Too exposed. Too many eyes. Like everyone could tell I’d just ended a marriage to the most powerful man in the city.

I kept walking.

I didn’t stop at the mirror near the elevator. I didn’t fix my hair. I didn’t check my makeup. I didn’t need to look perfect for anyone anymore.

When the elevator opened, I stepped in and hit the button hard.

As the doors closed, my phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

I ignored it, it buzzed again. I still ignored it.

Then the message preview flashed across the screen.

COME BACK.

My chest tightened so fast it almost hurt.

I blocked the number immediately.

I stared at the screen, waiting for my heartbeat to slow down.

It didn’t.

The elevator dinged.

I walked out and the moment I pushed through the front doors, the cameras attacked.

“SIENNA!”

“IS IT TRUE YOU LEFT HIM?”

“DID HE CHEAT?”

“WAS HE ABUSIVE?”

“ARE YOU PREGNANT?”

I didn’t answer.

I didn’t even look at them, instead i just walked faster.

Someone grabbed my arm and I yanked it away so hard my bag slipped off my shoulder. Another mic shoved close to my face. Flashbulbs went off in my eyes.

“SIENNA, WHY DID YOU LEAVE DOMINIC VALE?”

I kept my mouth shut.

If I opened it, I might scream, or cry…or say something I couldn’t take back.

The car Lena arranged was waiting. I got in and shut the door like my life depended on it.

The driver pulled off.

I didn’t look back…I didn’t want to see the building. I didn’t want to see the cameras and i didn’t want to see anything that reminded me of him.

My hands were shaking, but I forced them still.

I took out my phone again.

Another message appeared with a different number.

Same words.

COME BACK.

I blocked it.

Another message.

COME BACK.

Blocked.

Again.

Again.

Again.

My throat burned like I’d swallowed fire.

I turned my phone off and dropped it in my bag like it was poison.

The rest of the ride, I stayed quiet.

The driver didn’t try to talk. He probably knew better. Everyone who worked around Dominic knew better.

My mind kept replaying the message. The command. The way it felt like Dominic was standing right behind me even when he wasn’t there.

I pressed my forehead to the window for one second, just to ground myself.

I didn’t want to think and i didn’t want to remember.

I just wanted to breathe like a normal person.

When I got to my apartment building, I paid the driver, got out fast, and walked inside like someone was following me.

Because someone probably was.

I rushed up the stairs, keys already in my hand, and unlocked my door.

Then I locked it.

Then I slid the chain across.

I leaned my back against the door.

Pheww…okay.

I was fine.

I was finally fine.

This was my place. My life. My rules.

I walked into my room, threw my bag on the bed, and forced myself to relax.

Just one minute.

One minute of peace.

Then my stomach twisted.

I paused.

No.

Not now.

I swallowed it down and walked to the kitchen for water.

I drank too fast and almost choked. The water went down wrong and I coughed hard, gripping the counter until it passed.

My phone was still off.

Good.

I didn’t want to see anything else.

I turned on the TV just to have noise.

Something loud. Something stupid. Something that didn’t involve billionaires and contracts and men who thought love meant control.

A woman on-screen was screaming at another woman about cheating. The audience clapped like it was fun.

I watched for a few seconds, then realized I wasn’t actually watching. My eyes were on the door.

Waiting.

Like my body didn’t believe I was safe.

Then…

A knock came on my door.

I froze.

My heart stopped, then started again too fast.

Nobody knocked on my door.

Lena texted first. Always.

And Lena wasn’t stupid enough to show up without warning. Not after everything.

The knock came again.

Slower this time.

I walked to the door quietly and didn’t say a word.

I stared at the peephole.

I saw nothing and no one.

I didn’t open it.

I didn’t even breathe.

Then I heard something else.

A sharp sound.

Like someone dragging something against the door.

My heart jumped into my throat.

I backed away fast.

The sound stopped.

Silence followed.

I stood there for a full minute, waiting for footsteps.

Nothing.

I moved closer again and looked through the peephole.

Still nothing.

My hands were shaking but I unlocked the chain and opened the door a little.

The hallway was empty.

No one.

No movement and no shadows.

But my eyes dropped to the door.

A long scratch ran down the wood.

Fresh and deep.

My mouth went dry.

I shut the door immediately and locked it.

Then I backed up until my shoulders hit the wall.

My chest felt tight. My hands felt numb…this wasn’t random…this wasn’t a drunk neighbor and this wasn’t a mistake.

Someone wanted me to know they were here.

My brain tried to do that thing it always did, it tried to blame me.

Maybe you’re overreacting.

Maybe it’s nothing.

Maybe you’re imagining it.

But I wasn’t imagining anything.

I saw the scratch and i heard the sound.

And I knew exactly what it meant.

I grabbed my phone, turned it on, and my screen exploded with notifications.

Missed messages and missed calls.

All unknown numbers.

All the same.

COME BACK.

COME BACK.

COME BACK.

I scrolled, my fingers stiff.

There were too many.

Like someone had been sending them nonstop, waiting for the moment I’d turn my phone back on just to drown me in it.

Then one new message appeared.

A video file.

No sender, just a video.

My stomach dropped, I didn’t want to open it.

I shouldn’t have opened it.

But my thumb did it anyway.

The screen loaded and I saw myself.

Walking out of my lawyer’s office.

I watched myself get into the car and i watched myself leave.

Someone recorded me.

My knees went weak.

The video zoomed in like whoever filmed it wanted me to understand something.

I see you.

And then a voice spoke, calm and cold.

“So you signed.”

My whole body locked up.

I couldn’t move. Couldn’t blink.

Because I knew that voice.

Even after everything, even after weeks of silence.

Dominic.

The video ended.

Another message came instantly.

"Pack a bag, Sienna. I’m coming tonight."

My phone rang, it was an unknown number.

I stared at it like it could bite me.

It rang again and again.

My hands were shaking so hard I almost dropped it.

I answered without thinking.

“Dominic?” My voice cracked.

His voice was quiet.

Too quiet.

“Did you really think you could divorce me and disappear?”

“I’m not your wife anymore,” I snapped, forcing strength into my tone. “I signed the papers. It’s over.”

He didn’t even pause.

“You never were.”

My blood ran cold.

“What….”

“You were mine.”

The call cut off.

I stood there shaking, and staring at my phone like it had just insulted me.

Like it had just threatened me and like it had just reminded me that a signature didn’t mean anything to a man like Dominic Vale.

My chest rose and fell too fast. I tried to calm down, tried to think logically.

Call Lena…call the police…grab a weapon or leave.

But my body didn’t move.

Because something else happened.

A sound, coming from outside.

A car door slamming.

Right downstairs.

And this time… it wasn’t my imagination, because right after that, I heard footsteps.

Slow and heavy.

Coming up the stairs.

Straight to my floor and sraight to my door.

And then….

A knock..not soft, not polite.

It was not a question.

A knock that said one thing:

Open up….