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The Outsider's Vows
img img The Outsider's Vows img Chapter 1 Promises At The Altar
1 Chapters
Chapter 6 Cocky prince img
Chapter 7 Not interested in his past img
Chapter 8 Not so cozy img
Chapter 9 Tiffany troubles img
Chapter 10 Envious Avery img
Chapter 11 Take me back img
Chapter 12 Pregnant girlfriend img
Chapter 13 What's done is done img
Chapter 14 Respect my wife! img
Chapter 15 Mel at the mall img
Chapter 16 Alex and... Mel img
Chapter 17 Pushing boundaries img
Chapter 18 Multiple personalities img
Chapter 19 Simon crossed a boundary img
Chapter 20 I am responsible for you img
Chapter 21 Alex might have done something shady img
Chapter 22 He doesn't care img
Chapter 23 Two-faced devil img
Chapter 24 The shock of his life img
Chapter 25 Help me, Avery img
Chapter 26 The contract img
Chapter 27 So stubborn img
Chapter 28 Meeting Stephanie img
Chapter 29 Gym buddies img
Chapter 30 A kiss for the pic img
Chapter 31 They shouldn't be getting along img
Chapter 32 Breakfast with James img
Chapter 33 Being thoughtful img
Chapter 34 Mr. Immature and Mrs. Petty img
Chapter 35 Unwelcome Visitor img
Chapter 36 House warming party img
Chapter 37 Dear Hubby, Just Touch Me img
Chapter 38 Avery's Drunken Act img
Chapter 39 The Morning After img
Chapter 40 Birthday Ultimatum img
Chapter 41 A Taste Of Manipulation img
Chapter 42 Birthday Surprises img
Chapter 43 Kisses On The Dance Floor img
Chapter 44 Brandon's Game img
Chapter 45 The Scent Of Deceit img
Chapter 46 Actions Speak Louder Than Words img
Chapter 47 Boundaries And Betrayal img
Chapter 48 Getting Divorced img
Chapter 49 Avery Is Pregnant img
Chapter 50 Who Is The Father img
Chapter 51 Note In The Box img
Chapter 52 Share A Bed img
Chapter 53 A Night To Remember img
Chapter 54 The Most Anticipated Day img
Chapter 55 Alex's Takeover img
Chapter 56 Sunken Ship img
Chapter 57 Down The Stairs img
Chapter 58 The Forgotten Wife img
Chapter 59 Not Your Maid img
Chapter 60 A Memory Almost Found img
Chapter 61 Who Is Right img
Chapter 62 The Coma's True Cause img
Chapter 63 A Mother's Wrath img
Chapter 64 She Knows img
Chapter 65 Hot And Heavy On The Couch img
Chapter 66 Pure Ecstasy img
Chapter 67 Emma's Choice img
Chapter 68 Who is the new CEO img
Chapter 69 Her Fear img
Chapter 70 Torn Loyalties img
Chapter 71 Jobless img
Chapter 72 Sex Starved img
Chapter 73 At The Restaurant img
Chapter 74 Sabotaged img
Chapter 75 Stephanie's Leftovers img
Chapter 76 Squirt img
Chapter 77 The Past Unveiled img
Chapter 78 Damning Photograph img
Chapter 79 Mess Up img
Chapter 80 Better Left Unsaid img
Chapter 81 The Heartbeat That Stopped img
Chapter 82 Grief And Rage img
Chapter 83 To Emma... img
Chapter 84 Not Emily img
Chapter 85 Hidden Ties, Buried Lies img
Chapter 86 Good News... Then Bad. img
Chapter 87 I Wasn't There... img
Chapter 88 I Wasn't There... 2 img
Chapter 89 Blackmail img
Chapter 90 A Sudden Revelation img
Chapter 91 Avery Knows What He Did... img
Chapter 92 Served img
Chapter 93 Tailing His Wife img
Chapter 94 Surprise Guest At The Meeting img
Chapter 95 The CEO's Wife img
Chapter 96 Demote The CEO img
Chapter 97 What Is Wrong With Avery img
Chapter 98 Stay With Me img
Chapter 99 Vanished img
Chapter 100 Bittersweet Embrace img
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The Outsider's Vows

Author: Sarah Raymond
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Chapter 1 Promises At The Altar

"Do you, David Park, take Avery Downs to be your wife, pledging to stand by her side through all the triumphs and trials of life? Will you cherish her, nurture her dreams, and walk beside her as an equal in every moment of this journey?"

The priest's voice echoed across the picturesque wedding venue, drawing all eyes to the groom. David's gaze locked on Avery, his expression unreadable. The silence that followed felt suffocating, a weight pressing down on everyone as they waited for his response.

David took a deep breath, his voice low but steady.

"I, David Park, wholeheartedly choose Avery Downs as my partner, my friend, and my equal. I vow to cherish her, support her, and-"

Avery's heart hammered in her chest, barely hearing the rest of his words.

"This is ridiculous," she thought. 'We met barely a week ago, and he's giving me a speech about love and commitment?"

Her mind raced, bitterness twisting inside her. She was here, at this altar, not because of love, but because her mother had orchestrated it. An arranged marriage.

David's vow went on, filled with promises she doubted he would even remember a week from now. Avery's eyes flicked briefly over the crowd. There were impressed smiles, nodding heads. She finally found her mother's face, smug and satisfied.

"This is your doing," she thought bitterly.

Her lips curved in a practised smile as David finished his speech. He looked proud, sincere even. But all Avery could think was, "A simple 'I do' would have sufficed." She inhaled sharply, forcing the bitterness down.

'How did I even get here?'

***Two Weeks Earlier***

Avery lay tangled in warm sheets, her fingers brushing through Tiffany's soft hair. The quiet of the room wrapped around them like a cocoon, the aftermath of their lazy morning together. The world outside didn't exist for them here.

"I missed you," Avery whispered, leaning in to kiss Tiffany's bare shoulder. "A whole month without you felt like forever."

Tiffany sighed, rolling over to face her.

"I missed you too. But... there's something we need to talk about." Her voice had a strange edge to it, one that instantly put Avery on alert.

"Go on," Avery said, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Tiffany bit her lip, hesitating.

"I've been struggling, Avie. Business is slow, and the bills are piling up. My siblings' tuition, my mom's medical expenses... It's all too much."

Avery blinked, surprised. Tiffany had never asked her for anything like this before.

"You need money?" she asked, her tone soft but cautious.

Tiffany nodded, eyes filling with unshed tears.

"I hate asking you for this, I really do. But I don't know where else to turn. I'll pay you back, I swear-"

Avery silenced her with a kiss, pulling her close.

"Stop. You don't have to explain yourself. You're my partner, Tiffs. What's mine is yours. Don't ever feel like you need to ask for my help."

Tiffany's breath hitched, her eyes searching Avery's for reassurance. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden..."

"You could never be a burden to me." Avery smiled, stroking her cheek. "Transfer what you need. We'll figure it out together."

Relief washed over Tiffany, her eyes glistening with gratitude. She wrapped her arms around Avery, holding her tight. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Avery smiled, feeling the familiar warmth of love bloom inside her chest. But that warmth would soon be replaced with a chill she hadn't seen coming.

Later that day, her phone buzzed in her pocket while she was grocery shopping. Glancing at the screen, it was her dad calling.

It was unusual for her father to call during the day, but what really caught her attention was the second name flashing beside his-Mom. She frowned.

"What does she want now?"

She didn't answer both calls and a few minutes later, her phone buzzed again, this time with a text from her father:

"I just wanted to check on you. Call me when you can."

Before she could even process that, her mom's message followed: "Be home by 6 PM. We have important matters to discuss."

Avery groaned inwardly, already dreading whatever confrontation her mother had in store for her. Her mother only called for "important matters" when she was plotting something.

"It hasn't been up to three months, has it?"

*

"Why are you late?" Mrs. Downs asked sharply as Avery walked into the dining room.

Avery shrugged. "I'm here now. Isn't that what matters?"

"Good evening, Daddy," she greeted her father, ignoring the rest of her family.

Her father's face lit up. "How are you, my girl?"

"I was fine... until now," Avery sighed, her gaze briefly resting on her mother before turning back to her father.

His smile faltered. "My poor baby. Come, have a seat, eat, and you can leave soon."

Mrs. Downs scoffed. "Of course, she can leave after gracing us with her presence."

"Really?" Robert sneered, unable to resist. "Late and dressed like you rolled out of bed. What are you even wearing?"

Avery glanced down at her black cargo pants, white t-shirt, and black flats.

"Something comfortable. Maybe try it sometime, Robert. Or go knock your head on a wall, whichever works for you."

"More like hiding who you really are," Robert shot back. "You're still a loser who's into girls?"

Avery's heart tensed, but she didn't let it show.

"My daughter's sexuality is none of your business," Mr. Downs snapped. "One more word and you're leaving this table."

"Don't shout at my son!" Mrs. Downs interjected. "Why shouldn't he speak his mind? A girl with another girl... it's unnatural."

Avery cut in before her father could react.

"Dad, let them talk." She turned to her mother. "Now, what do you want? You said there was something important."

Dinner arrived, and Avery noticed her plate-broccoli and cauliflower salad, while the rest of the family had pasta.

"Seriously?" Avery muttered, glancing at her mother. "You know I hate this stuff. What's the game now? Mocking me?"

"Grass for the goat," Robert quipped.

"Robert!" Mr. Downs warned.

"Leave him," Avery said, staring at her mother. "You wanted to talk, so talk."

Mrs. Downs smirked, savoring her control. "One word-Tiffany."

Avery stiffened. "And what about Tiffany?"

"We had a deal. I told you if she proved unworthy, I'd intervene. It hasn't even been three months, but it's clear now."

Avery narrowed her eyes. "What did you do?"

Mrs. Downs signaled to her assistant-and Avery's ex-Simon. Avery's stomach twisted as Simon handed her his phone. On the screen were photos-Tiffany kissing another man.

Avery's heart sank, but she kept her expression cool. "So?"

"So?" Robert mimicked. "Looks like she found what she was missing."

"These mean nothing," Avery said, her voice steely. "That could be her ex for all you know."

Robert barked a laugh. "Please. You're delusional."

Avery stood, her patience gone. "I don't care what you think. I trust Tiffany and your games won't change that."

Mrs. Downs' voice turned cold.

"As per our agreement, Tiffany has failed. Your match has been arranged. Expect my call soon."

***

Back at her house, Avery immediately called Tiffany and asked that they meet at a coffee shop, saying she missed her.

Avery arrived at the coffee shop first, her nerves frayed. She was sipping a drink when Tiffany walked in-wearing the exact same outfit from the photos.

Her heart clenched.

            
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