Fractured Promises

Chapter 13: The Men in Her Life

STANLEY

Stanley had always believed he could control the narrative of his life, keeping his secrets locked behind polished smiles and half-truths.

But Lily had been the unpredictable variable, the one force that challenged his carefully constructed world. And now, with her absence like a wound, he found himself haunted by memories and questions he couldn't silence.

The day Lily walked out, saying she needed space, Stanley felt something inside him crack. He had tried to reach her, tried to bridge the chasm that had formed between them, but her silence was absolute.

And in that silence, his old fears resurfaced fears of loss, of vulnerability, of exposure.

But he wasn’t just afraid of losing Lily. He was terrified of her discovering the truth.

---

Stanley's life had always been divided into two distinct realities. The one he showed the world—the dedicated medical student, the charming friend, the devoted lover.

And the one he kept hidden—a world of wealth, power, and responsibility that came with being Richard Caldwell’s son. The heir to a legacy he never wanted but could never escape.

When Lily pulled back from his gift, suspicion in her eyes, he knew she was getting too close. The chain from Tiffany's wasn't meant to be a bribe.

It was meant to be a gesture, a symbol of how much she meant to him. But guilt clung to him, tainting every word, every touch.

What if she found out why he had been sneaking off?

What if she discovered the corporate meetings, the looming expectations, the plans being set for a future he had no say in? She would hate him for the deception.

For the lies.

And maybe, most of all, for what he was trying to protect her from.

---

Stanley sat in his apartment, staring at his untouched drink. The silence was suffocating. His phone lay on the table, a black mirror reflecting his own helplessness.

He should call her. Should explain.

But words were dangerous.

And he didn’t know how to tell the truth without tearing them apart for good.

Instead, he poured another drink and left his apartment. The night air was sharp, biting against his skin. He didn’t care. He just needed to move, to escape the cage of his thoughts.

The city was a blur of lights and shadows as he drove, his mind reeling with regrets. He ended up outside the family estate, the looming house a constant reminder of everything he couldn’t run from.

His father’s illness, the silent demands of the board, the whispers of scandal.

He parked, leaning against the car, and stared up at the house. He should go in. Should face his responsibilities. But the thought of it made his skin crawl.

Then, from the corner of his eye, he caught movement. A figure stepping out of the shadows.

Ava.

His sister's face was pale in the moonlight, her eyes sharp, knowing. She approached with quiet steps; her arms crossed over her chest.

"You're avoiding him again," she said simply.

Stanley didn't answer. There was nothing to say.

He was avoiding more than just their father.

Ava sighed. "You can't protect her forever. Sooner or later, Lily's going to need to decide."

"And then what?" His voice was low, brittle. "What happens when she decides"

Ava hesitated, but there was no softness in her gaze. "She’ll have to decide if she wants to be part of this world. Or walk away."

Stanley swallowed hard, the words like ice in his throat. He knew what he wanted. He wanted her. Always her. But wanting wasn’t enough. Not when the truth had destroyed everything.

Later that night, he found himself driving without direction. His thoughts were a haze, his chest tight. Without thinking, his path took him near Lily’s place. The lights were off. Her silhouette was nowhere near the window he’d come to memorize.

But there was another figure. Zain. Leaning against the doorway, waiting.

Stanley watched from the shadows, something cold and bitter settling in his stomach. He told himself it was nothing—that Zain was just a friend.

But jealousy was a beast, and it fed on every silent moment, every unexplained absence.

And in that moment, Stanley realized the depth of his fear. Not just of losing Lily.

But of losing her to someone who could give her the honesty he couldn't.

He drove away before he could see more.

The next day, Stanley sat in his office at the hospital, pretending to work. But his mind was fractured, broken pieces of thought cutting into his focus.

A text buzzed on his phone. Ava again.

**We need to talk. Things are moving faster. The board is asking questions.**

Stanley closed his eyes. There was no escape.

Later, he sat across from his father, who lay pale and withering in the grand bed that had once seemed too big for any single man. The air smelled sterile, suffocating.

"You're going to have to take over soon," Richard said, his voice rough, edged with authority even now. "You can’t keep hiding behind your scrubs forever."

Stanley said nothing. There was nothing to say.

But inside, a storm raged. He could feel his time slipping away, feel the noose tightening. And he wondered—how long before Lily felt it too?

How long before she asked the questions he couldn't answer?

Back in his apartment, Stanley stared at the box from Tiffany’s. The chain inside shimmered in the light, beautiful and cold. Like the secrets he carried.

He wanted to give it to her again. To make her understand. But gifts wouldn't fix this. Only truth would.

And he wasn’t sure he was brave enough for that. Yet, he knew one thing for certain. If he lost Lily, it wouldn't be because he didn’t fight for her. Even if the battle tore him apart.