Vows and Vengeance

Julian Davies

The warm look in Darren’s eyes faded as soon as Susan walked out the door.

His doting fiancé act was replaced by a familiar smirk that made my skin crawl.

“Look at you, Linds,” he purred softly. “Running your own business, I knew this business suited you.”

“That’s all you have to say to me after disappearing for seven f*****g years?” My voice got instinctively louder, as emotion overwhelmed me.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Darren?” I continued. “I called you, I texted you for months. I thought you were dead!” The last sentence came out louder than I had hoped.

His calculated smirk was quickly replaced with repentant eyes. He could switch emotions so easily, it was scary.

“Lindsay, you know I would never want to leave you,” he started. “I wanted to give you everything, I had to take out a loan. They were going to come after me and everything I cared about.”

What a sob story.

“Lindsay, I left because I needed to keep you safe. I still love you, not a day passed that didn’t remind me of you—your smile, your laugh, I missed you so much, Lindsay.”

He looked like a sad puppy; he really knew how to pull on my heartstrings.

A heavy silence took up the room, it was just a moment but it felt like an eternity.

“You thought about me every day? Why didn’t you come back for me?” I broke the silence, holding back tears.

“Why was the day I finally get to reunite with you the day you came to plan your f*****g wedding? You’re full of s**t, Darren.” My voice trembled on his name. I wanted to hate him. I needed to hate him. But deep down in the dark corners of my chest, a desperate, foolish part of me was hoping he wasn’t lying. I missed him so much it hurt.

“The Davies were the people coming after me,” he muttered, dropping his head as if the weight of the confession was crushing him.

“They knew I didn’t have any money to pay them back, so they took me in as a trophy son-in-law for their precious heiress.”

He stood up and took slow steps closer to my oak desk.

“I had to do it, Linds,” he whispered, his voice cracked with desperation, as he gently placed his hands on my oak table.

“It was the only way they would clear my debt, the only way they wouldn’t come after the woman I loved the most. This is all a facade. My love will and has always lied with you, Lindsay.” He slowly reached out to grab my hand.

He spoke with so much passion, I couldn’t believe this was the Davies’ heiress’ fiancé who played the perfect husband role just a few moments ago.

“Darren, I-“

Before I could even get another word out, a calm, razor-sharp voice interrupted me.

“Darren.”

The office door stood wide open. Standing on the threshold wasn’t Susan— a tall, broad-figured man wearing an immaculate grey suit even sharper than Darren’s, holding a leather document folder.

He shared Susan’s immaculate blue eyes, even though his blond hair was slightly darker. He looked like a high-fashion model.

Julian Davies finally left the BMW.

Darren snatched his hand back so fast it almost knocked over my paper calendar. He pretended to straighten his suit.

Julian’s piercing gaze scanned the room until his eyes met mine. Julian didn’t look confused; he looked like a man who had just confirmed a suspicion.

“Julian, I-“ Darren quickly started, his polished composure dropping as he started to sound a bit disheveled.

“Susan sent me up. You were taking too long.” Julian said, his voice smooth and laced with a quiet authority. “She said you were ‘finalising details’ with the wedding planner, but it looks to me like you’re just wasting her time.”

The confident Darren I just saw turned into something so sickeningly meek in just a moment.

“Sorry,” Darren muttered, while looking at the floor.

Julian finally acknowledged my presence.

“Apologies for his behaviour,” he said calmly, his gaze holding mine.

“I think it’s best to just talk to the bride-to-be instead.”

“No, no—it’s fine,” I quickly added.

Julian reached into his breast pocket, pulled out a sleek, heavy silver business card, and laid it gently on my oak desk.

“Take my card,” he said softly, his blue eyes locking onto mine with an unreadable intensity. “My sister and I can handle the logistics well enough. Call me directly if anything... unusual happens.”

Julian turned and made his way down to the lobby, and Darren didn't waste a single second following right behind him.

I was left completely alone in my office, trying to process the whirlwind of what had just happened. My chest felt tight, my hands still slightly trembling.

I looked down at the sleek silver business card sitting on the corner of my oak desk.

Julian Davies.

What the hell just happened?

My head was spinning. I couldn't just sit here in the quiet with my own chaotic thoughts—I had to call someone. I had to call Lisa.

Lisa and I had stayed close ever since Summer Sips closed down. She was the one who held me together when Darren vanished seven years ago; she was practically my sister. Over the years, she had bounced between jobs trying to make ends meet. At one point, she was even my personal assistant here at White Lily, but when revenue dried up, I couldn't even afford to pay her a proper wage, so she had to move on.

Now, she was working as a bartender at a high-end nightclub downtown.

I picked up my desk phone and dialed her number.

She picked up on the second ring. “Hello?” her voice echoed through the receiver, background noise muffled behind her.

“Lisa, you are not going to believe what just happened to me.”

“Lindsay, I have an all-night shift starting in a few hours, so I really don’t have time for an hour-long breakdown on the phone,” Lisa groaned, though there was affection under her blunt tone. “If you want to talk, just come by the bar tonight. You can fill me in while I set up.”

“Alright, fine. Just text me the address,” I said, a sudden spark of relief cutting through my anxiety.

“Will do. See you soon, Linds.”

The line clicked dead.

I glanced up at the wall clock—6:30 PM. If I left now and freshened up, I’d probably reach the club by 8:00 PM.

I wasn't a club person. In fact, I barely did anything social anymore. For seven long years, my entire world had been reduced to back taxes, unpaid utility bills, and trying to keep White Lily afloat. I hadn't let myself have a life outside of this building.

Standing up from my desk, I grabbed my bag and Julian's silver business card, slipping it carefully into my pocket.

It was time to get some answers.