The Unwritten Vow

The sharp crash of glass against marble shattered the silence. Deep red wine splattered across the pristine floor, seeping into the cracks like spilled blood.

Sarah Winters stood frozen at the doorway, the taste of bile rising in her throat. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, drowning out the sounds of the city beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.

James, the man she had spent six years loving, was in bed with her best friend.

Chloe.

Together.

The scene was like something out of a twisted nightmare, one she couldn't wake up from. The silk sheets tangled around their bodies, Chloe's golden hair spilling across the pillows, James's bare torso exposed as he turned toward her, an unreadable expression on his face.

Sarah's breath came in short, sharp gasps, her fingers curling so tightly around the doorframe that her knuckles turned white.

The air reeked of betrayal.

For a moment, none of them spoke.

Then Chloe, her best friend, her supposed sister in everything but blood let out a soft, lazy chuckle. She didn't scramble to cover herself, didn't look the least bit remorseful. Instead, she stretched like a cat, completely unbothered.

"Wow, Sarah," Chloe mused, tilting her head with a smirk. "You really have terrible timing."

Sarah blinked.

Terrible timing?

Her nails bit into her palm as something inside her snapped.

"Are you kidding me?" The words ripped from her throat, raw and furious. "I catch you screwing my fiancé, and that's what you have to say?"

James finally sighed, rubbing his temple like she was an inconvenience. "Sarah, don't be dramatic"

"Dramatic?" A bitter laugh tore out of her. "You're naked in bed with my best friend, James! What the hell do you expect me to be?"

She turned to Chloe, her chest rising and falling rapidly. "And you... how long?"

Chloe didn't even flinch. "Before the engagement."

Sarah's stomach twisted.

Before the engagement.

The weight of those words crashed over her, suffocating her.

She had spent months planning a future with James, picturing wedding vows and a lifetime together. And the whole time, he had been crawling into bed with her best friend.

She had been a fool.

James exhaled sharply, finally pushing himself up on the bed. "Look, Sarah, let's not do this. What's done is done."

Sarah's hands trembled, but she clenched them into fists. "What's done is done?"

"Yeah." His voice was cool, detached. "We both know this wasn't going to last. I was just waiting for the right time to end things."

Her chest ached so much it felt like she was being torn apart from the inside.

"And why is that, James?" she asked, voice dangerously low. "Why the hell would you propose to me if you had no intention of staying?"

Chloe rolled her eyes, sighing dramatically. "God, Sarah, do you really need it spelled out?"

James ran a hand through his hair, finally standing. His voice was void of any guilt when he spoke.

Sarah let out a sharp, bitter laugh, her hands trembling at her sides. Her voice cracked, but she didn't care. "I gave you everything. I loved you, and you threw me away like I was nothing."

James stepped closer, his expression void of remorse. "You are nothing, Sarah. You always have been."

Something inside her snapped.

"You don't match my status, Sarah."

The words sliced through her like a blade.

"You're smart, sure, but let's be real, you're an orphan with nothing but a decent job. Chloe, on the other hand," he glanced at the woman still lounging in his bed, "is from a family that actually matters."

Silence.

The floor seemed to vanish beneath Sarah's feet.

She had always known James came from wealth, and had always been aware that his family saw her as less. But she had thought he was different.

She had thought their love was enough.

She had been so stupid.

Something in her shattered.

Sarah let out a shaky breath and stepped forward. Then, with a swift, furious motion, she grabbed the nearest bottle of wine from the bar cart and hurled it against the wall.

The bottle exploded on impact, shards raining down like glittering daggers, deep red liquid dripping down the walls.

James took a startled step back, eyes widening.

Sarah didn't care.

"You bastard," she hissed, pointing a shaking finger at him. "You used me. You let me believe we had a future while you-while you-"

Her voice cracked, but she refused to break.

James scoffed, shaking his head. "Sarah, don't be pathetic. This is why I never told you earlier, you get too emotional."

"Too?" She sucked in a breath, rage and pain burning through her veins.

Everything, the years of love, the memories, the nights spent dreaming of a life with James, had been nothing but lies.

She had spent years giving James her love, her time, her devotion, only to be discarded like trash.

But no more.

Her hands trembled as she reached for the engagement ring on her finger. With one final glance at James, at the man she had once thought was her future, she ripped it off and threw it across the room.

The diamond landed with a sharp clink against the floor, rolling to a stop at James's feet.

For the first time, his face flickered with something unreadable.

Sarah clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as she forced herself to stand tall. She wouldn't let them see her break. Not now. Not ever.

She turned her gaze to Chloe, who was still smirking as if she'd won some twisted prize. "You can have him," Sarah said, her voice steadier now, laced with quiet fury. "I hope he betrays you the way he did me. And when he does, remember this moment."

Chloe's smirk faltered just slightly.

Sarah spun on her heel, her head held high, but as she reached the door, she paused, gripping the frame. Her voice was low but sharp as a blade.

"This isn't over."

Then she walked away, leaving behind the wreckage of what she once thought was her future.

The world outside moved on as if nothing had happened, but for Sarah, time had shattered just like the wine glass she had dropped the night before.

She sat in her small apartment, numb, as the city buzzed beyond her window. The betrayal still clawed at her chest, a relentless ache she couldn't shake. She had spent the night tossing and turning, replaying James' cruel words over and over.

"You never matched my status."

"Chloe does."

Sarah's fingers tightened around the coffee mug in her hands. She had given that man everything, her loyalty, her trust, her damn heart, only to be tossed aside like she was nothing.

Her phone vibrated on the coffee table.

Olivia Lee.

Sarah let it ring. She wasn't ready to face work, to pretend everything was fine. But Olivia wasn't the type to let things slide. The phone buzzed again. A message this time.

Olivia: "Are you seriously ignoring me? Where the hell are you?"

Sarah exhaled sharply and typed back.

Sarah: "Not in the mood today."

The reply was almost instant.

Olivia: "Get your ass to work."

A bitter laugh escaped Sarah's lips.

Dragging herself off the couch, she grabbed a wrinkled blazer from the armrest and threw it on. Fine. If work was the only thing keeping her from spiraling further, she'd go.

By the time she reached the office parking lot, her hands were trembling.

She took a deep breath, forcing the emotions down. No one could see her like this.

Stepping into the building, she adjusted her blazer and lifted her chin. If James expected her to crumble, he was in for a surprise.

But the moment she entered, all eyes were on her.

The whispers. The stolen glances. The undeniable shift in atmosphere.

Sarah's stomach twisted. What the hell was going on?

She strode forward, her heels clicking against the marble floor, determined to ignore them. But as she passed, the murmurs only grew louder.

"She doesn't know yet?"

"God, that's brutal."

"I'd be mortified if I were her."

Sarah's jaw tightened.

Whatever it was, she wasn't going to stand there like a fool.

As soon as she reached her desk, Olivia was already waiting, arms crossed, an unreadable expression on her face.

"You look like hell," Olivia said flatly.

"Good morning to you too," Sarah muttered, dropping into her chair.

"So? You gonna tell me why half the office is staring at me like I grew two heads overnight?" Sarah asked

Olivia blinked at her, then exhaled sharply. "You haven't seen the news, have you?"

Sarah frowned. "What are you talking about?"

Sarah's fingers hovered over her keyboard. A strange feeling settled in her gut.

"What news?" she asked warily.

Instead of answering, Olivia reached over and tapped the screen. "See for yourself."

Sarah's heart pounded as she opened her browser.

And then she froze.

There, plastered across the screen, was a headline that made her stomach lurch.

BREAKING NEWS: JAMES TURNER AND CHLOE HARRISON – A SECRET ROMANCE EXPOSED

Beneath it were photos. Pictures of James and Chloe, her best friend, wrapped in each other's arms. Laughing. Kissing. Whispering in each other's ears like they were the only two people in the world.

Sarah's blood turned to ice.

Her breath came out in short, uneven gasps as she clicked through the images. Some were taken at a rooftop restaurant, James holding Chloe close, their lips inches apart. Another showed them walking hand in hand at a luxury resortone she and James had planned to visit together.

And then there was the worst one.

A video.

Her hands shook as she clicked play.

"Chloe, baby, you know you're the only woman I've ever wanted," James' voice was smooth, sickeningly sweet.

Sarah's pulse roared in her ears.

"And Sarah?" the reporter asked.

James smirked. "We were never meant to be. It was bound to end."

Sarah's hands curled into fists.

Every single part of her body screamed.

Chloe giggled in the video, tilting her head toward James. "Some people just don't belong in our world."

Sarah slammed the laptop shut.

The office was dead silent, every eye still on her. Waiting for her reaction.

Waiting for her to break.

Olivia's face darkened. "Sarah, listen to me-"

She had known James and Chloe betrayed her, but seeing it on the news? Seeing them flaunt their affair like she never mattered? That was a new level of humiliation.

She needed air.

She needed to escape before she suffocated in this nightmare.

Without a word, she grabbed her bag and stormed out of the office.

---

Sarah didn't remember how she got home.

One moment she was pushing through the whispers, the next she was in her apartment, her back against the door, gasping for air.

Her vision blurred.

Her entire world had just imploded.

She had braced herself for the pain when she caught them in the act. She had told herself she was done crying over them.

But this?

This was different.

This wasn't just betrayal behind closed doors.

This was public humiliation.

The entire city now knew that James Turner, the man she was supposed to marry, had been screwing her best friend behind her back.

And he didn't even have the decency to deny it.

Sarah let out a bitter laugh, but it quickly turned into something more raw, something broken.

She grabbed the nearest thing, a framed photo of her and Chloe from years ago and hurled it across the room. The glass shattered against the wall.

Just like her heart.

A strangled sob escaped her lips, and she sank to the floor, clutching her chest as if that would somehow keep the pain from tearing her apart.

Betrayal burned through her, white-hot and unforgiving.

How could they do this to her?

How could she do this to her?

The weight of everything crashed over her, pressing her into the floor. She wanted to scream, to claw at her own skin just to rid herself of the ache.

But all she could do was sit there.

Broken.

Alone.

And with nowhere to hide from the world that now knew her pain.

Chapter 3

Elliot Remington's office was a testament to wealth, power, and precision. Located on the top floor of Remington Enterprises, the suite was designed with modern elegance. Floor to ceiling window offered an uninterrupted view of the Manhattan skyline, casting golden light across the space as the sun dipped below the horizon.

The room itself was massive, yet every inch was carefully organized. A custom made ebony desk, polished to perfection, sat at the center of the space. It was a symbol of authority. The deep leather chair behind it was tailored to his frame, commanding in its presence. To the side, a fully stocked bar gleamed under recessed lightning. It's glass shelves displaying only the finest selection of whiskey, scotch and wine

Abstract art adorned the walls, each piece hand-selected to reflect power and sophistication. The dark marble flooring contrasted with the rich wood paneling, and an intricate chandelier hung overhead, a reminder that everything in this space was meant to impress.

Yet, none of it mattered.

Not right now.

Elliott leaned back in his chair, his fingers pressed against his temple. He had spent years turning this company into an empire, yet here he was, being summoned like a child to answer for things that had nothing to do with business.

The sound of polished leather shoes against the Mable floor signaled his father's arrival. Richard Remington never needed to announce himself. His presence alone commanded attention. Dressed in an impeccable navy suit, his silver hair was neatly combed back, his face unreadable as always.

Elliot didn't look up. "To what do I owe the pleasure, father?" He said, his voice smooth but void of warmth

Richard took a seat across him, moving with the controlled precision of a man who had never wasted a single step in his life.

"This won't take long, There's a problem that needs to be addressed." His father said, his tone calm but firm.

Elliott finally met his gaze, his jaw tightening. He already knew where this was going.

Richard adjusted the cuff of his sleeve. "The Hawthorne deal is on thin ice."

Elliott exhaled slowly, dragging a hand through his dark hair. "If this is about my personal life again–"

"It's not just your personal life." Richard cut him off smoothly. "It's the image of this company. The future of our legacy."

Elliot clenched his fists under the desk. The word legacy had been drilled into him since childhood. Everything had always been about the family name, the empire his father had built, and the expectations placed on his shoulders.

Richard continued, his voice steady. "Hawthorne doesn't just invest in companies. He invest In people. He values stability. And a bachelor CEO? That doesn't scream stability, Elliott."

Elliot let out a sharp, humorless chuckle. "So, what? You want me to find some woman, put a ring on her finger, and parade her around like a trophy?"

"If that's what it takes." Richard replied.

Elliott's expression hardened, "That's absurd."

"No." Richard said smoothly, "it's business".

Silence stretched between them, heavy and suffocating.

Elliot could feel the weight of his father's expectations pressing down on him like a vice. He had spent his entire life proving himself, taking Remington Enterprises to new heights, yet none of it seemed to be enough.

His father leaned back in his chair, his fingers interlacing. "You have one month."

Elliott's jaw clenched. "One month for what?"

"To find a suitable woman, make it official or I would have to choose for you." Richard said simply

The words landed like a blow, but Elliott refused to show any reaction.

Richard continued as if he was discussing a business deal rather than his son's future. "If you don't, I'll make the decision for you."

Elliot scoffed, shaking his head. "You can't be serious."

"I am." His father said.

Elliot stood abruptly, pushing his chair back. He turned toward the window, staring out at the city. He had built his own empire, expanded the company beyond what his father had imagined, yet here he was being treated like a pawn.

"This is ridiculous."

"What's ridiculous is you thinking you can ignore this and expect no consequences." Richard countered

Elliot turned back to him, his eyes turned cold.

"And what if I don't, what exactly are those consequences?"

Richard didn't hesitate. "You step down as CEO."

Elliott's chest tightened.

He had expected his father to be ruthless but this, this was another level.

"You're threatening me to strip me of everything i built?" Elliot said.

"No," Richard corrected. "I'm ensuring that you understand the stakes. This isn't just about you, It's about the company, the family name, and the empire we've spent generations cultivating. One man's pride isn't worth risking it all."

"This is bigger than you, Elliot." Richard said, his tone unwavering. It's about securing the company's future. If you can't handle that responsibility, then maybe you're not the right person to lead.

Elliott's stomach twisted, but he masked it with a smirk. "And let me guess, If I step down, you already have someone in mind to replace me?"

Richard didn't answer but the silence spoke volumes.

Elliot let out a slow breath. "So, that's it? One month to find a wife or I lose everything?"

Richard stood, buttoning his suit jacket. "You always claim to be strategic. Prove it."

With that, he turned and walked toward the door, his footstep echoing against the marble floor.

Just before leaving, he paused. "And Elliott, make the right choice, this company cannot afford mistakes."

Then he was gone.

The moment the door clicked shut, Elliot slammed his fist against the desk, sending papers flying. His jaw tightened, his mind racing.

One month.

Find a wife, Secure a deal, Or lose everything he had built.

He had faced impossible negotiations, ruthless competitors, and market crashes, but this,

This is personal.

And personal was dangerous.

For the first time in years, Elliott felt like he was loosing control. And he hated it.

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair. He needed a plan. Fast.