Vengeful Vows

Fractured alliance

The days blurred into a cold routine.

Eve woke early each morning, worked out in the mansion’s private gym to burn off her frustration, then joined Kael for their strictly professional strategy meetings. She kept her answers short, her expression neutral, and her heart locked away. Every time she looked at him, the memory of his words echoed painfully in her mind.

Last night was fun. Strictly business.

Kael was equally distant. He spoke to her only about the plan — timelines, risks, and next steps. No personal questions. No lingering glances. The man who had held her so tenderly was gone, replaced by the ruthless CEO she had first bargained with.

One afternoon, while reviewing documents in his office, Eve’s phone vibrated with a message from Marcus:

Damien knows you’re alive. He’s offering a reward for information about your whereabouts. Be careful.

She read it twice, her stomach tightening. Without thinking, she slid the phone across the table to Kael.

He read the message, his jaw clenching. “He’s getting desperate. Good. It means we’re hurting him.”

Eve nodded. “We should accelerate the leak about his offshore accounts. Strike while he’s distracted.”

“Agreed.” Kael leaned back in his chair, studying her for a moment. “You’ve been… efficient lately.”

“Strictly business,” she replied coolly, echoing his own words. “That’s what you wanted, isn’t it?”

Something flickered in his stormy gray eyes — regret? Pain? — but he masked it quickly. “Yes. It’s what’s necessary.”

The silence that followed was heavy. Eve stood up. “I’ll prepare the documents tonight. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be in my wing.”

She left without waiting for a reply.

That night, alone in her room, Eve allowed herself to feel the full weight of her emotions. She sat on the balcony, staring at the dark ocean, tears silently streaming down her face. She had started falling in love with Kael — with his strength, his vulnerability, the way he made her feel alive. Now that hope felt foolish and painful.

Meanwhile, in his own wing, Kael stood by the window with a glass of whiskey. He hadn’t slept properly since he pushed her away. The memory of her in his arms haunted him. He had said those cold words to protect them both — to keep focus on the plan when Damien was closing in. But seeing the hurt in her eyes every day was slowly killing him.

The next morning, they had to attend a public luncheon together for appearances. In the car, the tension was thick.

“You look beautiful,” Kael said quietly, breaking the silence.

Eve kept her gaze on the window. “Thank you. Professional enough?”

He winced but said nothing.

At the event, they played their roles perfectly — smiling, touching lightly for the cameras, looking like the ideal power couple. But the moment they were back in the car, the masks dropped.

Eve finally spoke, her voice tight. “How long do we keep pretending, Kael? Until the contract ends? Until Damien is destroyed?”

He looked at her, his expression conflicted. “As long as it takes to keep us both safe.”

Eve turned away, hiding the fresh wave of pain. “Then I guess we’ll just stay business partners.”

Back at the mansion, she retreated to her room and threw herself into work. The revenge plan was coming together — they were ready to leak the first major piece of evidence against Damien in two days.

But as she worked, Eve made a silent vow to herself.

She would finish this contract.
She would destroy Damien.
And when it was over, she would walk away from Kael Draven with her heart guarded forever.

Even if it was already too late.