登入分享
Chapter 16
publish date:
2026-08-26 03:00:55
最新章節
The Enemy Vow Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN JULIANI woke at 6 AM out of habit, despite having barely slept. Old routines died hard, even on the first morning of my married life.I showered, dressed for the office, and made my way to the kitchen, expecting silence and solitude like every other morning in this apartment.Instead, I found Elara.She was standing at the counter in sleep shorts and an oversized t-shirt, hair pulled up in a messy bun, flour dusting her cheek and forearms. The kitchen looked like a small explosion had occurred, mixing bowls, measuring cups, and what appeared to be three different batches of muffins cooling on wire racks."You stress bake at 2 AM," I said, stopping in the doorway. "You mentioned that once."She jumped, startled, then laughed when she saw me. "You caught me. Couldn't sleep, and baking helps me think.""What are we thinking about at…" I checked my watch, "...5:47 AM?""Everything. Blackwell. My father. This entire situation." She gestured vaguely at herself, the kitch
The Enemy Vow Chapter 16
CHAPTER SIXTEEN ELARA I lay in bed for almost an hour after saying goodnight to Julian, staring at the ceiling, unable to sleep despite how exhausted I was. Married. I was married. I kept turning the ring on my finger, feeling the weight of it, the strangeness of it. This morning I'd been Elara Vance, daughter of a wealthy family, engaged to a senator. Tonight I was Elara Hartmann, wife of a man I'd known for exactly five days. My phone buzzed on the nightstand. A text from an unknown number. Congratulations on your wedding, Mrs. Hartmann. I do hope you'll be very happy. Do give my regards to your father, assuming he's still speaking to you. I stared at the message, my blood running cold. Senator Blackwell. It had to be. I showed the text to no one, just sat there in the dark, feeling that familiar creep of fear. Another text came through: Sweet dreams. I turned off my phone completely, shoving it in the nightstand drawer like that would make the threat disappear. I should
The Enemy Vow Chapter 15
CHAPTER FIFTEEN ELARALe Bernardin had reserved a private room for us, away from the main dining area. It felt strange, celebrating with such a small group, just the six of us, when most weddings had hundreds of guests.But it also felt right. Intimate. Real, in a way I hadn't expected.Rosa insisted on a toast almost immediately after we sat down. She stood, raising her champagne glass."To Julian and Elara," she said, her accent thick with emotion. "To love that conquers all divides, all feuds, all foolish family pride. May you find happiness together, and may your marriage heal old wounds instead of creating new ones."We all raised our glasses. I caught Julian's eye across the table, and neither of us corrected her assumption about love."To Julian and Elara," everyone echoed.The lunch was delicious, though I barely tasted it, too caught up in the surreal feeling of everything that had happened. Married. I was actually married.Marcus sat beside me, uncharacteristically quiet fo
The Enemy Vow Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN ELARAThe drive to City Hall was quiet, both of us lost in our thoughts. Maya sat in the back seat, occasionally breaking the silence with random comments about traffic or the weather, clearly trying to ease the tension.When we arrived, Dec was waiting near a side entrance, looking uncharacteristically nervous for someone who wasn't actually getting married."Everyone's already inside," he said, leading us through a private hallway. "Rosa's already crying, for the record.""Of course she is," Julian said, but his voice was fond.We walked into a small, elegant room, not the crowded public ceremony space, but somewhere private, with soft lighting and a few rows of chairs.Rosa was there, dressed in her Sunday best, dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief. Marcus stood near her, looking slightly uncomfortable in a suit, but present. He'd come.When he saw me, his expression softened. "You look beautiful, El.""Thank you for coming," I said, my voice thick with emotion."
The Enemy Vow Chapter 13
CHAPTER THIRTEEN ELARA I woke up Friday morning to sunlight streaming through the east-facing windows, just like Julian promised. For a moment, I forgot where I was, forgot what today meant. Then it hit me. I was getting married today. I lay in bed for a few minutes, staring at the ceiling, trying to calm the butterflies in my stomach. This was really happening. In a few hours, I'd be Mrs. Julian Hartmann. My phone buzzed. A text from Maya: *Rise and shine, future sister-in-law! I'm bringing coffee and moral support. Be there in 30.* I smiled despite my nerves and got up, heading to the bathroom to shower. By the time I was dressed, simple and comfortable, since I still needed to figure out what to actually wear to my own wedding, Maya was knocking on my door with two coffees and a garment bag. "I come bearing gifts," she announced, pushing past me into the room. "I raided my closet this morning. I know you probably have something planned, but just in case you don't—or in cas
The Enemy Vow Chapter 12
E L A R A E.V. Sterling.I'd have to tell them about E.V. Sterling."Is that really necessary?" I asked. "We're keeping finances separate anyway.""It's necessary for legal protection," Patricia said gently. "If this ever went to court, lack of full disclosure could invalidate the entire contract."I looked at Julian. He was watching me with those sharp blue eyes, and I wondered if he already knew. If he'd already figured it out."I have a consulting business," I said quietly. "Financial consulting, under the name E.V. Sterling. I've been running it for three years, my family doesn't know about it."Dec's eyebrows went up, but Julian's expression didn't change."I know," he said.I stared at him. "You know?" I asked, surprised."Dec found out when he was doing background research, I told him not to mention it. I figured you'd tell us when you were ready.""You knew and you didn't say anything?""It's your business, your secret. I wasn't going to out you."Something warm spread throug
The Enemy Vow Chapter 3
J U L I A NI stared at the woman in the waiter's uniform, trying to place her face.There was something familiar about her, the sharp green eyes, the way she held herself with perfect posture despite clearly being nervous.Then it clicked.Elara Vance.Charles Vance's granddaughter. Richard Vance'
The Enemy Vow Chapter 2
E L A R AJulian Hartmann.The name alone would make my father's jaw clench. Our families had been enemies for as long as I could remember, something about my grandfather and his, a business deal that collapsed and a friendship that never recovered.I don't know.The details are fuzzy, but the hatr
The Enemy Vow Chapter 1
E L A R A"Elara, darling, wake up." I groaned as I pulled my silk pillow over my head, blocking out my mother's voice and the morning sunlight slipping through my bedroom windows."Leave me alone, Mother. It's not even morning yet." I said, my voice groggy."It's nine thirty, and we have your fina
The Enemy Vow Chapter 5
J U L I A NI watched Elara Vance walk away, my mind still processing what had just happened.She proposed marriage. To me.A Vance proposed marriage to a Hartmann.My grandfather, Eduard would have had a heart attack.I pulled out my phone from my pocket and called Dec."Come back here. Now," I sa
你可能也喜歡
The Breaking Point of Love
Cloudsearcher4.4M 閱讀量A Life Debt Repaid
Cheng Xiaocheng1.1M 閱讀量I Kissed A CEO And He Liked It!
LiLhyz1.5M 閱讀量The Three Little Guardian Angels
Ginger Bud3.3M 閱讀量My Husband’s Brother, My Filthy Trainer
Billie Patsy42 閱讀量Contract with the Cold CEO: Terms of Possession
Kevin Above Story126 閱讀量CHECKMATE, DARLING
UNIQUE WRITER78 閱讀量The Man After You
Star Pocket397 閱讀量
