Broken Vows, Rising Flames

Clara’s POV The first thing that came to me was the beeping. It was steady and relentless. A sound I didn’t recognise fully until my eyes opened to the harsh light from the fluorescent bulb. I blinked my eyes, trying to accommodate the light and at the same time trying to move my body. A groan escaped my lips as a sharp pain shot through my back. For some reason I felt numb, unable to feel my lower abdomen. The place wasn’t strange, as it was very obvious I was in a hospital. Closing my eyes again, I could see flashes of images from the accident flickering in my mind, which stopped when the door opened. I opened my eyes to find a nurse walking into the room. Her lips curved into a warm smile when she noticed I was awake. “You’re awake,” she whispered softly. My lips parted in an attempt to speak, but my mouth felt heavy. “What happened?” I managed to say faintly, feeling the dryness in my throat. She stepped forward and brushed my hair backwards. “You don’t have to

Clara’s POV Early the next morning, Sandra, a friend of mine, helped drag my suitcase while Ethan wheeled me from behind. It was obvious my days as Damon's wife had come to an end. For five years I had tried my very best to be a dutiful wife to him, but he didn't appreciate my love. My suitcase made a soft thud against the marble floor, the sound feeling like a mockery. I never believed a day like this would come, a day I would be divorced, crippled, and pregnant with just a thousand dollars as alimony. Outside, the morning breeze crawled under my skin, sending a chill down my spine. The cab driver was leaning behind his car, and when he saw us, he hurried forward to help Sandra take the luggage to the trunk. Before entering the car, I turned one last time to the mansion, and memories flooded my mind. I could still remember the first day Damon and I moved in. He told me it was the home where we would both grow old together. It was funny how life had different plans for us.

Clara’s POV I straightened in my seat as the flight attendant's voice echoed across the first-class session. “Ladies and gentlemen, we’ll be arriving in New York in twenty minutes. Please fasten your seatbelts as we would soon begin our descent.” I huffed softly, after six years, I was returning to New York. I’d come back to the same place that offered me nothing but pain and sorrow. Finally, I would be meeting Damon Adams again. I couldn’t tell whether I would feel sad to see him or happy that I was finally going to put him in his place. Maurice slowly shifted his head on my lap, snapping me out of my daze. I looked down at him, my fingers buried in his hair. He was the only reason I had fought so hard to get to where I was. Every decision I made was aimed at giving him a better life. A life where he wouldn’t have to depend on a scumbag like his father. I made sure he lacked nothing and never felt the void of fatherly love. I smiled as I listened to his slow rhythmic brea

Clara’s POV Mr Salvador turned to face me fully. “Mr Damon stepped out to—” He paused as Maurice mistakenly dropped his spoon to the floor, which produced a clattering sound. Salvador and I turned to him as he clutched onto his food flask. “Sorry,” he whispered softly and lowered his face to the floor. “Mr Damon isn’t around at the moment. You will meet him at the board meeting tomorrow.” I forced a smile, knowing too well that he was holding back what he had intended to say earlier. My lips parted to press further, but he interrupted me before I could speak.“I’ll go get the luggage now,” he added and headed for the door. When the door closed behind him, a soft exhale escaped my lips. What was he trying to tell me?Well, I was able to take a shower and change into something more comfortable when the doorbell rang. The door opened, and Salvador walked in with some other guy. I hadn’t seen him before, but I could tell he was likely the hotel staff. They had both mine and Mauric

Damon’s POV The taste of the almost cold coffee swished in my mouth as the door opened and I walked into the room that was humming like a hive. The door groaned and the entire room swept in my direction, silence immediately holding the hall hostage as their eyes locked on mine. I walked toward the head of the table that was stabbed with the rays from the various reporters and punctuated with the microphones from them as well.My heart thumped with sadness with every step I took. It felt like a dream that I desperately wanted to wake up from, a nightmare that continued to plague my senses. I inhaled deeply as I mounted the stairs and rounded the table that was filled with other important people. I scanned the row and the empty seat stuck out like a sore thumb. she still wasn’t here. My nerves ticked in annoyance; did she think this was a joke?I scoffed as I lowered myself onto the chair.“This is a private meeting; we have only allowed each and everyone of you here to witness this fo