In the name of vows

CHRISTINE'S POV

I'm sorry, but I can no longer do this anymore" And by

this, he meant our relationship.

"You've been too busy for me. You care more about your

work than you do me and I don't deserve that. So I think

it's best we end this now."

I just sat there, frozen, watching him tear my heart into

pieces with words that felt rehearsed. Every syllable

chipped away at the life we built the eight years of

memories, plans, dreams all discarded like they never

mattered.

All because I was busy.

Busy trying to be something more.

Busy chasing a dream.

I thought he understood. I thought he was different.

It's been one month since Brian walked away without a

backward glance. One month since I've had to carry thisweight on my own, pretending it doesn't crush me a little

more each day.

Work has been the only thing keeping me grounded.

DREAMSPACE has been both my burden and my anchor.

Everyone at the company has heard of the breakup by

now of course they have but no one dares mention it.

They walk on eggshells around me, whisper in corners,

but never to me.

And weirdly, I appreciate it. I'm not ready to talk about it.

Not yet.

Seven years.

Seven whole years.

We met in college, both fresh into business school, young

and idealistic. Brian was the golden boy-charming,

intelligent, confident. Every girl wanted him. And me? I

was the shy heiress, trying to hide behind my last name

and make something of myself without people saying it

was all handed to me.

I still remember the day he walked into class; styled hair,

confident stride, and that endearing smile. He lit up the

room. I knew right then I was in love.Of course, I kept my feelings to myself.

But fate had other plans. We got paired for a class project,

and one group chat message turned into a thousand.

Coffee breaks became study sessions. Study sessions

became late-night talks.

And just like that, it was the start of our relationship .

We were inseparable. Late-night diner runs, weekend road

trips and sharing our dreams and especially one of A

family together .

After graduation, I helped him secure a position at my

father's company. Everyone loved him. It felt perfect until

it wasn't.

I still don't fully understand where we began to fall apart.

I only know it happened gradually.

As I climbed the ladder in the company, my workload

grew heavier. I had to work twice as hard to be taken

seriously not just as a CFO, but as the CEO-in-waiting. I

couldn't afford to slip up. I couldn't afford to be soft. And

Brian... he started to resent that.He said I was too focused on the company. That I made

him feel like an afterthought.

But I wasn't neglecting him I was fighting for my future.

Our future.

Wasn't that worth something?

I've tried to tell myself it was for the best. That maybe we

grew apart. Maybe we just weren't aligned anymore. But

that doesn't take away the sting of being left. Of not being

enough.

I moved back into my parents' house after the breakup. I

couldn't bear the silence of our shared apartment. Every

corner reminded me of him and what we shared .

I thought we were endgame. Turns out, I was wrong.

These days, work is my only constant. I'm still chasing

that CEO title, still trying to prove I'm not just "daddy's

little princess." My dad, the current CEO of

DREAMSPACE, is nearing retirement and I know he's

just waiting for the right time.Or maybe for me to show I'm ready.

I want to earn that seat. I want the board to know I didn't

just inherit ambition I embodied it. They see the spoiled

heiress; I want them to see the strategist, the builder, the

future.

My father always told me, "Christine, titles come and go

but legacy stays." And that's what I'm working for. A

legacy. Something no man can hand me or take from me.

The only person I really talk to these days is Angela-my

assistant, but honestly, more like my work-bestie. She's

the only one who knows how fragile I've felt. She doesn't

say much about the breakup, but I see the concern in her

eyes. She checks in with her silence, and for now, that's

enough.

Until today.

This morning started like every other. I got to the office,

pulled out my planner, braced myself for another round of

emails and boring talks .But then, my phone rings. Katy.

My actual best friend. A lifestyle influencer who's been

traveling the world and posting enviable pictures from

different countries .

We haven't spoken in weeks not since I ghosted everyone

post-breakup. So I brace myself.

And then she says it.

"So, what the hell happened with you and Brian?"

And for the first time since it all fell apart, I say it out

loud.

"We broke up."

No tears. No stammering. Just... the truth. Clear and

steady.

That has to count for something.Of course, Katy launches into a rant, swearing vengeance

and saying she'll "crack his skull open with a tripod." I

laugh, for the first time in days. It feels good to be heard.

To be seen.

We shift the conversation to her travels-she's currently

crushing on some surfer guy in Costa Rica-and we end

the call with her promising to visit soon.

And for the first time in a while, I feel a tiny flicker of

warmth.

But it's short-lived.

Angela knocks gently and says there's a board meeting I

wasn't expecting. I grab my things, confused, and follow

her.

The moment I step into the boardroom, I freeze.

He's sitting right there.Adrian.

What the hell is he doing here?

ADRIAN'S POV

She walks in, looking as beautiful as ever.

I know she's surprised to see me she definitely didn't

expect me to be here. I can see the brewing fire of spite in

her eyes, but beyond that, beneath it all, I can still see the

sadness she's trying to hide by burying herself in work.

And I know it's because of that fucker who broke her

heart. But beneath all of that, she still looks effortlessly,

irritatingly, beautiful.

Oh, fuck no. If she could hear my thoughts about her, or if

anybody did, I would be mortified. She thinks I really

hate her. And she's not wrong not entirely. We've always

had this undercurrent of rivalry, like oil and water forced

to sit in the same glass. But even under all that tension,

I've always thought she was well, damn near perfect.

Annoying as hell, but perfect.We're supposed to be rivals in this space. It's crazy, but

sometimes, when she's arguing with me and her voice

goes up that one extra octave, I actually want to kiss her

just to shut her up. I wonder what her reaction would be.

A slap? Maybe. Or maybe she would kiss me back.

Probably not. But damn, I'd love to find out one day.

In another life, maybe.

I still can't help but feel the guilt of my betrayal. If she

ever finds out what I did, I know she'll hate me even

more ten times over. So this secret? I'm taking it with me

to the grave, straight to the underworld. I don't think I

could stand her hating me more than she already does.

And that's saying a lot.

I've been eyeing a partnership with DREAMSPACE for

over a year now. Their market leverage and strategic

alignment with my company, ADOVE, would be a dream

come true. This collaboration could open up international

markets in ways my current setup never could. I've

worked too damn hard building ADOVE from the ground

up after my father's death. After I turned 25 and inheritedthe controlling shares, I had to fight those power-hungry

board members tooth and nail just to claim what was

mine.

Those men never wanted a young CEO. They wanted

someone they could manipulate, someone like

themselves. Instead, they got me calculating, patient,

ruthless when I have to be. I had to kick out almost half of

them before I could breathe freely in my own company.

Christine's family and mine have always had history. Our

mothers? Practically sisters. I remember growing up with

the pressure of expectations hanging over us everyone

always saying how cute we'd be together, how we were

meant to be. It got annoying. We were kids, for God's

sake. But somewhere along the line, we just... didn't

work. We were too competitive, too different. Or maybe

too similar.

I remember when she got together with Brian. Everyone

sighed like it made sense. He was charming, polite, sweet

on the outside and utterly full of shit on the inside. I knew

from the beginning. I didn't like him, and not just because

he got close to her. The guy's fake. Strategic, calculated,

fake. People like Brian don't love they leech. And she

didn't see it until it was too late.Now that the relationship's over, I've seen my mother

trying to pitch me to Christine again. I didn't even flinch

when she said she'd "accidentally" set up this meeting at

DREAMSPACE. I knew exactly what she was doing. She

wants a merger. Of companies and hearts.

She means well, but she doesn't know the whole story.

She doesn't know that something stands in the way

something I did. Something unforgivable.

Still, I came. Because if there's one thing I want more

than forgiveness, it's to protect Christine from ever being

forced to run back to someone who treated her like an

option.

Her father walks in. Regal, calm, and already carrying the

air of retirement on his shoulders. Mr. Paige is one of the

few men I genuinely respect in this industry. A titan in

business, and a surprisingly loving father. That's rare. I

know how much Christine looks up to him how

desperately she wants to prove herself worthy of the CEO

seat without people assuming it was handed to her.

And then he speaks.He doesn't waste time. He jumps straight into the purpose

of the meeting. Talks about his plans to retire. Talks about

succession. Talks about Christine.

Then, like a bomb, he drops the clause.

For Christine to inherit the full control of DREAMSPACE

and assume the CEO role, she must be married before her

next birthday.

The room goes silent. It's like someone cut the oxygen. I

look at Christine she's frozen, lips parted in disbelief, her

fists clenched on the table. No one dares to speak. Not

even the board members. This is wild, even by corporate

standards.

Eight months. That's all the time she has.

I can already guess what the next move will be. Brian.

Her dad might not say it, but the way he's glancing at her

with regret in his eyes? He thought Brian was the one.

Maybe he still hopes he is.But I can't let that happen.

I won't.

She deserves more than going back to someone who left

her just because she dared to be ambitious.

And maybe just maybe this is my chance. A second

chance. A stupid, reckless, batshit idea starts forming in

my head. It's insane, but it might just work.

If I can pull this off maybe I can make it right.

Maybe I can protect her.

Maybe, somehow, she'll never have to find out what I did.

CHRISTINE'S POV

WHY IS HE HERE?

This is so strange seeing him in our meeting. What sort of

meeting involves him? Well, I guess I'll find out soon.

But it's so infuriating staring at my mortal enemy's face.Yes, he is my mortal enemy. I just wish I could burn holes

into his perfect, annoying, infuriatingly perfect face.

He's annoying, but he still has such a beautiful face. I

wish he were ugly. But no he has the kind of face that

suits a player. The arrogant jawline, perfectly styled hair,

that smug smirk that always looks like he's one word

away from teasing me. Did I mention he's annoying? Yes,

that's Adrian Kellerham once the annoying little boy, now

the annoyingly successful CEO.

But I have to admit, he's also a very admirable one. I

can't deny how well he took over his father's company.

ADOVE has only risen in value and reputation ever since.

I actually look up to him. I want to be a good CEO like

him...

But he will never hear those words come out of my

mouth.

He's been my mother's best friend's son and a pest in my

life since birth. I can't believe I once had a crush on him

but let me believe that was just a little girl's fantasy. Katyand Angela still think I do. Those girls can be so annoying

sometimes. They're lucky I love them to death.

I know my mom has always wished Adrian and I would

end up together, but I don't see that ever happening. Any

of our conversations always end in a spat or a quarrel.

That's a recipe for disaster. Everyone's tired of getting

caught in the middle of our fights. I know they've given

up trying to make us grow up.

Honestly, I've tried to be cordial with him, but he's just

so... uptight and annoying!

Even just looking at him pisses me off.

Okay, now I'm making it sound like a personal problem

but really, it's not.

And whatever childhood crush I had died the moment he

picked on me in kindergarten just because he was older

and claimed he was "protecting me." Ugh. I hated that.

Always acting superior.

And then there's his stupid best friend, Mark, who's much

kinder. I've always liked Mark. He's funny and easy to

talk to. I wonder how they're even friends. Adrian's likewinter cold, sharp, dramatic. Mark's like the very

opposite .

I was expecting Adrian to make some snide remark the

moment I walked in, as he always does. But I'm surprised

when he just gives me a smirk and stays quiet. Maybe

he's also walking on eggshells around me. Or maybe his

mom threatened him to behave while he's here. I know he

definitely knows about the breakup I expected him to

gloat. He never particularly liked Brian, although I never

understood why.

But who really knows what goes on in that brain of his?

Either way, he's silent now oddly silent. It's strange. I

appreciate it, but a part of me wants him to say

something, just so I'll have a reason to react.

God, his being here is making me worked up. That's what

he always does. Anytime he's nearby, I have this urge to

argue. He just riles me up so much. I wonder what Dad

was thinking inviting him to this meeting. Maybe it's

finally about the partnership I overheard. Honestly,

partnering with his company would be good for us;ADOVE is currently number one. But that just gives him

more access to my life and more ways to ruin it.

I don't want that. Especially not at such a crucial time.

I need to stay focused. I don't want those old men on the

board judging me again saying I'm too emotional, too

impulsive, too childish to handle an investor. Another

group of people that infuriate me in this damn office.

Dad walks in, looking all dapper in his suit. I just know

Mom picked it out for him. They're so in love. It's kind of

disgusting and sweet at the same time. Dad, already in his

early sixties, still looks young and sharp. Still handsome. I

see why Mom can't take her eyes off him.

I've always aspired to be like my dad in work, in love, in

everything. He's my number one role model.

He starts the meeting, and to my surprise, he's talking

about retirement. Already?

My heart races a bit. He's finally going to hand it over.

The company. DREAMSPACE.Everything I've worked toward, fought for, bled for.

I glance around the room, trying to gauge the reactions of

the board members. They're always watching me, always

weighing whether I'm "worthy." But I don't care about

them right now. I care about Dad's words.

But then my mind drifts to Brian.

I remember when he used to work with us, and how we'd

have fun doing late nights at the office. But after the

breakup, he quit. Said it was too hard. And honestly, I get

it. I would've done the same. Imagine having to stare at

your ex's face every day. That's a new level of torture.

Still, part of me wishes he hadn't left. Not for love God,

no but just because everything is changing so fast. One

minute we were planning a wedding, and now... he's

gone, and I'm sitting across from Adrian.

My thoughts are pulled back when Dad beckons to me

and speaks directly to me.

But the next words out of his mouth?They leave me in complete and utter shock.

Dad just said-for me to inherit the company and become

CEO-I have to be married before my next birthday.

Which is in eight months.

Eight. Months.

What?

Where does he expect me to find a husband?

Does he not know I just broke up with Brian?

Or is he expecting me to get back with him?

The room is silent, but I can feel the tension pressing

against my skin. Like everyone's holding their breath,

waiting to see if I'll explode or fall apart.This bombshell he dropped I can't even begin to process

it.

Does he think I'm a magician? I haven't even healed yet

from that breakup.

And he had to say this in front of those stinky old board

members.

And worse... with Adrian in the room? This really sucks.

I'm sure Dad didn't mean to hurt me. He wouldn't do that

especially not after seeing how hard I've worked for this.

I know this clause had to have come from those old men.

I've never heard of it before.

I can't even muster a response. My only instinct is to walk

out of the meeting without looking at anyone's face

because if I do, I might just burst into tears.

So that's what I do.I stand up, straighten my jacket, and walk out heels

clicking sharply against the floor trying to keep the only

shred of dignity I have left.

I can feel Adrian's eyes on me the whole way out.

And somehow, that pisses me off even more.