Shattered Vows

Chapter 4: The Unraveling

Suddenly, the door to her suite opened with a quiet creak, and Liara turned, startled. It was the maid again, carrying a tray with breakfast, though Liara couldn’t imagine eating. She hadn’t been able to stomach food since the wedding night, and the thought of sitting down to a meal felt absurd. How could she consume anything when her entire world felt like it was crumbling around her?

“Good morning, Mrs. Thorne,” the maid said softly, her eyes carefully avoiding Liara’s. She placed the tray on the table and turned to leave, but Liara stopped her.

“Wait,” she said, her voice quieter than she intended. “Could you… could you bring me a phone charger? I seem to have misplaced mine.”

The maid nodded, her eyes flickering with a hint of sympathy before she turned to retrieve the charger. As she stepped out of the room, Liara sat down heavily on the bed, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the wedding dress still clinging to her. The fabric was beautiful, a shimmering reminder of a day that should have been full of joy. Instead, it felt like a shackle, trapping her in a life she hadn’t chosen.

A few minutes later, the maid returned with the charger. Liara plugged her phone into the wall and watched as the screen lit up. The familiar notifications blinked on the screen, but there was one that caught her eye — a message from her father.

Liara, I trust you are settling in well. I know it’s a big adjustment, but remember why you agreed to this. Your future is secure now, my dear. I expect you to handle yourself with grace. We have a reputation to uphold. Do not forget that.

The words stung, each one more cutting than the last. Her father, the man who had pushed her into this marriage, who had arranged everything for the sake of business and status, was speaking to her like she was nothing more than an accessory to be used. The warm comfort of his voice, the one she had once relied on, now felt distant and cold.

Liara wanted to throw the phone across the room, but she didn’t. She just sat there, her heart sinking deeper with every word she read. This was her life now. A life that had been carefully crafted by others, with no room for her own desires, her own happiness.

She had married Evan because it was expected of her. She had given herself to him because it was the price of securing her future, her family’s reputation. But in doing so, she had sacrificed something far more precious — her own sense of self.

The sound of the phone vibrating in her hand broke her from her thoughts. She glanced down, surprised to see a message from someone else. It was from her best friend, Lila.

“I know you’re probably busy with everything, but I’m here for you. I hope you’re okay, Liara. If you need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

For the first time in days, Liara felt a flicker of warmth in her chest. Lila was the only person who had ever truly understood her, the only one who had stood by her side through everything. She had always been there, a constant presence in Liara’s life, offering her support when the world felt like it was falling apart.

Liara quickly typed a response, her fingers flying over the screen.

“Thank you, Lila. I’m not okay, but I will be. I just need to figure this out.”

She stared at the message for a moment before pressing send. It felt like a lifeline, a small thread of connection to the world she had left behind. But even as she clung to it, the reality of her situation settled back in.

Evan. Her husband. The man who had been both her love and her tormentor.

What had happened between them? How had they gone from being two people in love to strangers forced to coexist in a marriage built on lies? She had no answers, no explanations. Just the hollow ache of a love that had never truly been reciprocated.

The door to her suite opened again, and Liara glanced up, startled to see Evan standing there. His presence filled the room, as cold and commanding as ever. He didn’t look at her, didn’t acknowledge her existence in any way.

“Get dressed,” he said flatly. “We’re leaving for a business dinner tonight. Wear something appropriate.”

And just like that, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

Liara sat there for a long moment, the silence settling around her like a blanket. She didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. In the span of just a few minutes, everything had been stripped away again. The weight of the situation felt unbearable. She was nothing more than an accessory to him, a tool to be used in whatever game he was playing.

But as she stood up to change into something more appropriate for the dinner, something inside her stirred. She had been pushed to the edge, but she wasn’t broken yet. The battle for her own happiness was far from over.

Liara sat quietly in front of the full-length mirror, staring at her reflection as the stylist made the final adjustments to her dress. The deep red fabric hugged her figure, accentuating her silhouette. The gown was beautiful — sophisticated, elegant, and every bit the image of a perfect wife. It was the kind of dress that demanded attention, but she didn’t want it. She didn’t want any of it.

The dinner tonight wasn’t just any event. It was a crucial part of the deal that Evan had been working on for months. A business gathering, one where her presence would be the final touch to seal an agreement that would cement their power even further. It was a world of deals, handshakes, and silent games, all while wearing masks of perfection. Liara was simply a part of the game, an accessory in a world that did not care for her feelings.

Her gaze drifted to the closed door, her thoughts swirling. Evan had been distant, cold, but tonight would be another performance, another chance for him to show the world how well he had crafted his life. And she, she would stand beside him, as always, a silent partner, a perfect wife.

She hated it. The mask she wore, the role she had been forced into. But more than that, she hated herself for accepting it. For pretending that everything was fine when all she wanted was for someone to see her — to see the woman behind the mask.

The door opened, and Evan stepped in, his presence immediately filling the room. He looked as impeccable as always, dressed in a tailored suit that made him appear even more untouchable. He glanced at her once, his cold blue eyes taking in her appearance with the clinical precision of someone inspecting a piece of art.

“You look fine,” he said, his voice distant, flat. “Let’s go. We don’t want to be late.”

Liara nodded, her lips pressed into a tight line. There was no point in arguing, no point in trying to have a conversation with him. There never was. He was always this way — polite but distant, formal but never affectionate. She had grown used to it, or at least she had learned how to survive it.

They left the room in silence, the sound of their footsteps echoing down the long hallway. The elevator ride was just as quiet. Neither of them spoke, and yet, the air between them crackled with tension. Liara’s heart beat a little faster with each passing moment. She wasn’t sure why. Maybe it was the weight of what tonight represented, or maybe it was the suffocating realization that this marriage was never going to be anything more than a carefully constructed façade.

The car ride to the venue was no different. Evan sat beside her, his phone in hand, engrossed in whatever business matter had captured his attention. Liara stared out the window, watching the city blur by. The night was falling, and the lights of the city reflected in the glass, creating a sea of sparkling stars beneath her.

She used to dream of a life like this. The grand dinners, the power, the elegance. But those dreams had been shattered the moment she realized the price she had to pay for it. She had given up her freedom, her hopes, her very identity, and for what? To be a silent partner in a loveless marriage, a pawn in a game she never asked to play.

As the car pulled up to the venue, a luxurious hotel that oozed opulence, Liara felt a familiar sense of dread settle in her chest. The night ahead would be filled with forced smiles, handshakes, and polite conversations. She would smile, she would nod, and she would play her part. Just like always.