Vengeful Vows

Aftermath

The fallout from their first strike hit like a storm.

By the next morning, Damien Blackthorn’s empire was in chaos. News outlets were running headlines about suspicious offshore accounts, investor withdrawals, and possible fraud investigations. His stock had dropped nearly eighteen percent overnight, and several major partners had already pulled out.

Eve watched the coverage from the living room, a cup of coffee growing cold in her hands. A quiet sense of satisfaction settled in her chest. This was what she had been working toward for so long — watching the man who destroyed her family finally feel pressure.

Kael entered the room, dressed in a dark gray suit, looking as composed as ever. He glanced at the television, then at her.

“It’s working,” he said, his voice strictly professional. “Damien lost two major investors this morning. He’s scrambling.”

Eve nodded without looking at him. “Good. We should prepare the next leak. His connection to the underground lenders.”

“Already on it.” Kael paused, as if he wanted to say something more, but then simply added, “We have a board meeting at Draven Tower in two hours. You should come. Appearances matter right now.”

The car ride to the tower was silent and tense. Eve stared out the window at the city passing by, while Kael worked on his laptop. The emotional wall between them felt higher than ever. She missed the man who had held her, kissed her, made her feel safe. But that man had made it very clear where she stood.

At Draven Tower, they played the perfect couple for the board members and press waiting outside. Kael’s hand rested lightly on her lower back as they walked through the lobby. The touch was professional, nothing more. Eve forced a smile and leaned into him slightly for the cameras, but inside, it hurt.

During the board meeting, Kael was in full control — commanding, sharp, and confident. He reassured the board that the marriage was stable and beneficial for the company. Eve sat beside him, playing the supportive wife, answering questions when asked.

But the moment the meeting ended and they were alone in his private elevator, the masks dropped.

“You did well,” Kael said quietly.

Eve kept her eyes on the elevator doors. “Strictly business. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

Kael’s jaw tightened. He looked like he wanted to say something, but the doors opened before he could. They walked to the car in silence.

Back at the mansion that evening, the tension finally boiled over.

Eve was reviewing documents in the living room when Kael entered. He stopped a few feet away, watching her.

“Damien called me directly an hour ago,” he said. “He’s threatening to expose our marriage as a sham if we don’t back off.”

Eve looked up, her hazel-green eyes cold. “Then we don’t back off.”

Kael stepped closer. For the first time in days, his professional mask cracked slightly. “Eve… this is getting dangerous. He’s getting desperate. If he digs deep enough, he might find out who you really are.”

She stood up, crossing her arms. “Then we hit him harder. That’s why I married you, remember? For your power. For your connections. Not for anything else.”

The words came out sharper than she intended. Kael flinched almost imperceptibly.

“I remember,” he said quietly. “I just… didn’t expect things to get this complicated.”

Eve laughed bitterly. “Complicated? You made it very simple, Kael. We’re business partners. The s*x was fun. Nothing more. You made that perfectly clear.”

He took another step toward her, his stormy eyes conflicted. “I said that to protect us. To keep focus when everything is at risk.”

Eve’s heart ached, but she held her ground. “Well, congratulations. It’s working. I’m focused.”

She turned to leave, but Kael caught her wrist gently. “Eve, wait—”

She pulled away, the touch burning. “Don’t. We have a plan. Let’s stick to it.”

Eve walked to her wing, closing the door firmly behind her. Once inside, she leaned against it and let out a shaky breath. The pain was still there, raw and deep. She had started falling for him, and now every interaction reminded her of what she couldn’t have.

Meanwhile, Kael stood alone in the living room, staring at the ocean through the windows. He poured himself a drink, the weight of his decision pressing on him. Pushing her away was supposed to protect them both. But seeing the hurt in her eyes every day was slowly destroying him.

He whispered to the empty room, “What have I done?”

The game against Damien was working, but the personal cost was becoming higher than either of them had expected.

And the real battle — between revenge, duty, and the love growing between them — was only just beginning.