Shattered vows: Revenge of an ex bride

"Find her!" a gruff voice yelled, voice echoing in the empty alley as Elara Beckett ran as fast as she could.

She didn't dare look back, she couldn't, as terror shot down her spine. Her heels clattered against the pavement as she sprinted in and out of alleyways.

She cursed her choice of shoes but she didn't have time to stop and take them off. Her c'est burned as she took ragged breaths.

She clutched the envelope tighter in her trembling hands, it was her lifeline- the key to everything. All of Ivy and Aiden's crimes, their lies, financial records, email, everything was in it. She thought she had been sneaky but somehow they found out and they were now coming after her.

"Don't let her get away!" another voice roared, closer this time.

She let out a squeak as she willed her legs to go faster, her heart pounding and threatening to burst out of her chest. The dark walls around her seemed to be closing in as the footsteps behind her drew nearer.

A sharp turn at the next corner brought her face to face with a chain link fence blocking her path. She skidded to a halt as her stomach sank, the fence was very high so she couldn't even try climbing.

She was trapped.

"Elara!"

A voice yelled sending a shiver down her spine, it was one of Ivy's men. She froze in her spot not sure what to do next. Slowly, she turned to face the voice willing herself not to tremble.

She took a step back and pressed her back against the cool metal of the fence to put some distance between them as three men emerged from the shadows, their faces hidden beneath black masks.

They stalked towards her, intentions clear. She wasn't making it out of this.

"You should've just stayed in your lane, little girl." one of them spat, his voice low and taunting as he continued to walk towards her.

Her pulse quickened and her eyes darted around the alley frantically looking for an escape. She saw none and tightened her grip on the envelope, strengthening her resolve.

"You won't get away with this." She spat. "I have everything I need to destroy you. All of you."

One of them chuckled darkly. "Too bad you won't live to do that."

Suddenly, he lunged at her. She ducked, adrenaline pumping through her veins as she sprinted past him but she didn't make it fast before a hand climbed down in her arm and yanked bee back with brutal force.

She let out a little scream in pain as the envelope fell out of her hand, its contents spilling out and scattering on the floor.

"Let me go!" she screamed, thrashing against his hold but he was too strong.

She hadn't come this far just to give up so she kept trying to escape.

The screeching sound of tires suddenly filled the air followed by the slamming of a cat door, making everyone freeze as their heads snapped in the direction of the sound.

The men exchanged wary glances as the sound of slow, precise footsteps drew nearer.

"Let her go."

A voice- cold, clam and commanding but through the silence. Elara's breath hitched as Killian Hayes stepped out of the shadows in his usual perfectly tailored suit. He looked calm but his eyes burned with fury holding a deadly promise as he approached, presence commanding.

"Leave, this has nothing to do with you." One of the men- the one who had lunged at her, growled, taking a step forward. Although his voice didn't hold the same confidence like earlier.

A dangerous smirk slowly spread across Killian's face. "Trust me, it has everything to do with me."

In the blink of an eye Killian delivered a swift, force packed punch to the man's jaw then gave the second a kick to the side of his head.

Elara blinked, stunned. She watched as Killian effortlessly took down the men with precise hits. The third man holding her, let her go to attack Killian but in a swift second he joined his comrades groaning on the floor.

Killian stood over the last man. "Tell Ivy she's next." He said in a low, menacing voice.

The man scrambled to his feet and ran away, leaving his comrades on the floor.

Killian turned to Elara, his gaze softening as he approached her. He extended a hand and helped her stand up from the spot she had been pushed to. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." she whispered as she took his hand and stood on her shaky legs.

His eyes darkened as he took in her shaky form. He lifted his other hand and brushed a stray piece of her hair away from her face.

"You're not fine." He said in a soft voice. "But you will be."

Her breath caught in her throat as he closed the distance between them. The chaos of the night faded to a distant memory as the air around them crackled with tension- an undeniable attraction. Suddenly, his lips were on hers, firm, soft and demanding. She let out a sigh as she melted into him, relief and passion coursing through her veins.

The kiss ignited a burn for more within her.

Finally, they pulled apart and this time her heart was racing for a different reason.

She felt heat rise to her cheeks and was thankful for the cover of the darkness. "You didn't have to do that, I had it under control." she muttered.

He chuckled as his smirk returned and his eyes lit up with excitement. "I told you Elara, I don't like losing. Certainly not to the likes of Ivy and Aiden."

He bent down and began picking up the scattered papers, and she joined him.

"Come on, let's go." He said once they were done, lacing his fingers through hers.

As he led her out of the alley, one thing became clear: Ivy and Aiden had started a war and Elara vowed to finish it.

They got to his sleek black car and Elara sparred one last glance at the alley, today had been a close call. She needed to be more careful.

Killian opened the car door for her and she slid in, he rounded the car and got into the driver's seat then started the ignition.

"They'll come for me again," she murmured, more to herself than to Killian.

He turned to look at her, gaze hard and determined. "Let them try."

He began to pull out of where he had parked and she opened her mouth to respond but was cut off by the sound of a gunshot.

The bullet hit where the car had been seconds ago. On her side of the car.

Blood drained from her face.

"Stay down!" Killian yelled as the tires screeched and he sped away.

Her heart pounded as she looked back then at Killian whose jaw was set and grip so tight on the steering wheel that his knuckles turned white.

She had thought the worst was over but now she realized it was only the beginning and she wasn't sure she would make it out alive.

"Ivy," Aiden muttered against her lips, his voice low and dripping with affection. "You're the one I've always wanted."

Her chest stung at his words, his betrayal cutting deep into her but she couldn't look away. Her heart shattered and the room spun.

"What?!" She shrieked the glass in her hand slipping and scattering on the ground.

She froze in her tracks as she looked at the sight before her. The faint sound of music and laughter from the engagement party faded into nothing as she tried to make sense of what she was seeing.

Right before her in a hidden corner of the hallway her fiancé, Aiden Crawford, has his hand tangled in her step sister Ivy's hair, their lips were locked in a deep intimate kiss, one filled with so much passion it made her stomach churn.

They jerked apart, their heads snapping in her direction. Aiden's face drained of color and panic took over but Ivy on the other hand smirked- she smirked like she had just won a game that Elara didn't know that she had been playing.

"I-" Her voice came out hoarse, trembling with disbelief. "What the hell is this?"

"Elara," Aiden started, taking a hesitant step forward. "It's not what it looks like-"

"Don't," she cut him off, her voice sharply slicing through the air. "Don't you dare insult me, I saw everything with my own eyes."

Ivy casually leaned against the wall, arms crossed without a single ounce of regret on her face. "Oh, come on, Elara. Don't act so surprised. You couldn't have possibly thought he actually loved you, come on, the signs were always there."

Elara clenched her fists at her sides, nails digging into her palm. "You," she spat, glaring at Ivy. "You're my sister. How could you?"

"Step sister." Ivy corrected with a shrug. "We have no blood ties. Let's be honest here for a second, you were never going to be good enough for him. Aiden is an ambitious man and he needs a woman who can match his ambition. Someone like me, not a worthless person like you."

Her words stung, Elara didn't pay Aiden any attention as hers was now fixed on her sister. Never had she imagined that she would hear such from her. "How long has this been going on?"

"Take a guess." Ivy said, the smirk still playing on her lips.

Elara turned to Aiden who had the audacity to look ashamed as he ran a finger though his hair. "It-it's not that simple. I-"

"Answer me!" Elara screamed.

"Six months," Ivy answered with a smug look on her face. "He obviously saw that I was a better fit for him than you."

Tears welled up in Elara's eyes, blurring her vision but she refused to let them fall. She couldn't give them the satisfaction of seeing her crumble, instead, she straightened her spine, blinked back her tears and met Aiden's gaze.

"You're a coward." She said to him, voice cold. "And you-" she turned to Ivy and looked at her in disgust. "You're nothing more than a filthy worthless snake."

"Oh please, you can call me whatever you want," Ivy said as she pushed herself off the wall and walked up to Elara. "But you're the one who got cheated on, even on her engagement day. It's time you woke up from your little fantasy, Elara. You never have and never will be good enough for anyone."

Elara stared at her as her hands shook. She wanted to hit her but instead, she took a deep breath and took a step back. "Enjoy your little victory for as long as it lasts." she said, her voice laced with venom. "Because when I'm done, neither of you will have anything left to celebrate."

With that, she turned on her heels and walked away, the weight of their betrayal pressing down on her chest but she refused to succumb to it. As tears blurred her vision once more a new fire lit up inside her.

Her heart pounded in her chest as she walked back to the ballroom. The glittering chandelier, the sound of laughter, music, chatter and clinking wine glasses all felt like a mockery of her situation.

This was supposed to be her engagement party, the happiest day of her life.

She barely noticed the concerned glances thrown her way, too caught up in her internal battle. A throat cleared on stage and the room fell silent, she turned to the stage and saw Aiden standing there.

What is he doing? What's his plan?

"Aiden." She called out in warning, voice travelling across the room.

All eyes turned to her but she ignored them. Something flickered in. Aiden's expression but she quickly masked it and put on a charming smile. "Elara, darling, what's wrong?"

The audacity!

She marched towards the stage and didn't stop until she was directly in front of him. "What's wrong? You want to know what's wrong?" she spat, her voice rising as she became consumed by rage. "Why don't you tell everyone here how you've been sneaking around with Ivy behind my back?"

Gasps echoed through the hall and Aiden's composed mask slipped. "Elara, don't do this here," he hissed, his voice low but laced with warning.

"Why not?" she shot back. "Oh, you wanted to come up here and act like all is well, right? You had absolutely no problem betraying me in private so what difference does it make if we bring it out here in the open?"

Aiden clenched his jaw and for a moment she thought he would deny it. Instead he laughed- a cold, bitter sound that sent a shiver down her spine.

"Fine," he said, stepping closer. "You want the truth? I never loved you, Elara. You were nothing more than a stepping stone to help me climb the social ladder and secure my position in your father's company."

His words hit her like a punch in her gut but he wasn't done.

"You're weak." He spat, voice dripping with disgust. "So naive and dumb enough to believe I actually cared about you. But you see Ivy, on the other hand, she is everything you're not-ambitious, smart, and capable."

"You're a monster," she said, her voice shaking with fury and sadness.

"And you're pathetic," he shot back, this time his voice was loud enough to be heard by the whole room. "This engagement is over. Consider yourself free to carry on with your incompetence."

Whispers erupted in the room but Elara could barely hear them as she turned and fled.

They had taken everything from her tonight-her love, her trust, her dignity.

But they would regret ever underestimating her.

She would make sure of it.

"Ivy will be the new heir to the Beckett legacy." her father said.

"What?" Elara whispered, voice barely audible as her heart sank.

The past few days had been a blur of tears and pain. She has locked herself in her room unable to face the world and see the pitiful looks on their faces after witnessing her public humiliation.

Now, her father had just landed the final blow. He had called for a family dinner and announced Ivy as his sole heir.

"I have made my decision and it is final." He said.

Elara couldn't believe her ears. The man before her was a cold and cruel man, not her warm loving father that had raised her.

Ivy sat next to him with a smug smile on her face.

Her father looked at her, gaze unyielding. "I have come to realize that Aiden was right, you have always lacked the skills necessary to lead. Ivy on the other hand has proven herself to be more capable so she's a better choice to carry on the family name."

The room spun around her as her world tilted. Her father's betrayal cut deeper than Aiden's. "You're choosing her over me?" she asked, her voice breaking.

"I'm choosing what's best for the company," he said, his tone detached and sharp leaving no room for arguments.

Ivy leaned back in her chair, her smile widening. "Don't take it personally, Elara. It's just business."

Elara pushed back her chair and shot to her feet, hands trembling as anger surged through her. "You've made your decision," she started,her voice cold and steady. "But don't think for a second that I'm going to sit back and let you destroy everything my mother built."

With that, she turned and walked out, her heart heavy but her resolve stronger than ever before. They had successfully taken everything away from her-her love, her dignity, her legacy. But she would rise from the ashes, and when she did, they would regret ever underestimating her.

Because this time, Elara Beckett was playing to win.

****

She felt empty as she sat beside her suitcase in the cab. She had made up her mind to leave everything behind.

She felt hollow inside.

Her best friend, Lila Morgan, had come through for her and offered her a place to stay in New York. She was the only person Elara had now.

****

The first year was the hardest. She lived in Lia's tiny apartment and worked three jobs to make ends meet. She decided to pursue her life long dream in the fashion industry, she poured every once i'd energy she had into it. Taking night classes after work, networking with anyone who would give her a listening ear.

By the second year she had managed to land an internship at a small designing firm. She worked hard and relentlessly and this caught the CEO's attention and made him out her directly under his wing.

By the third year, she launched her first clothing line. The line was so successful that it sold out in weeks and brought the spotlight on her. The fourth year flew by in a blur.

By the fifth year, Elara Beckett was an unrecognizable woman. Her name spoke volumes- luxury, wealth and power. She owned a multi million dollar fashion empire and her designs has gone global.

But despite her huge success, the pain of her father's betrayal remained. She has worked tirelessly to build her empire and prove them wrong- her father, Ivy, Aiden and the rest of the world. But she still has unanswered questions that are at her everyday.

Why did her father actually give it all to Ivy? That wasn't like him. Why did he discard her so easily?

One night, she sat on a couch in her penthouse sipping on a glass of wine when her phone buzzed with a notification. It was a text from the private investigator she had hired to look into her father and Ivy.

I found something big. Call me.

But despite her success, the pain of her father's Found something. It's big. We need to talk.

Her heart raced as she wasted no time in dialing his number. "What did you find?" she demanded as soon as he answered.

"There's a connection between your father and Ivy that you're not going to like." He said.

"What kind of connection?"

"Your father's decision to make Ivy the heir wasn't because of business. It was because he wanted to keep a secret buried- a secret that could destroy him if it found its way to light "

Elara's grip on her phone tightened. "What secret?"

"I'll send you the files now," he said. "But be careful, Elara. If this gets out, it could change everything."

He cut the call letting his words hang in the air.

What could her father possibly be hiding that was worth destroying her life?

Her phone buzzed again as she received the files. She downloaded them then stared at the file for a moment. Now, she was faced with the truth and she was going to uncover it even if it shattered everything she thought she knew.

She clicked on it and spent the rest of the night taking in its contents. ****

The news sent shockwaves through Elara. She stared at the headline on her screen, unblinking. The words blurred together the more the states at them and her throat tightened.

"Lucian Beckett dies at 64. Beckett Industries is now officially under new leadership."

Her father was dead.

She continued to read the article and saw that Ivy had wasted no time in taking over with Aiden by her side, he was now her fiancé and business partner.

A picture of their smiling faces stared back at her from the screen, a picture of triumph and power. It made Elara's stomach churn.

She felt a sharp pain in her chest. She hadn't spoken to her father in five years, and now she would never get the chance to. She has lost the opportunity to get closure.

She rose from her desk in anger. "They had something to do with this." She began to pace. "I know they did."

Her blood boiled as her resolve hardened. She had been away for too long.

It was time for her to go back.