Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Outsider's Vows : Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

Days went by and David threw himself into his new role. His mornings started earlier, his nights ended later. Meetings, presentations, and phone calls piled up, filling every hour of his schedule. At first, it didn't seem like a big deal. After all, he had expected this level of intensity from the job, and the adrenaline of proving himself fueled his energy.Despite the intensity of his workload, David found himself thriving in the fast-paced environment.Olivia, his executive assistant, surprisingly became a trusted ally, her sharp wit and unwavering loyalty proving invaluable. Even with her initial hesitation about working with David, she soon came to respect his tireless work ethic and strategic vision."You know, when I first met you, I'll admit I had my doubts," she confided one day as they rode the elevator up to the executive suite. "James was a hard act to follow, and I wasn't sure you were ready for the weight of this job."David arched an eyebrow, his expression amused. "An

Avery woke to the soft sound of birds chirping outside her window, but the peace of the morning did little to ease the weight in her chest. The argument from the night before lingered like a dark cloud over her heart. Sunlight poured into the room, warm and golden, yet her spirits remained low. She sighed, running a hand through her tangled hair as she sat up, the hurtful words she and David had exchanged playing on a loop in her mind. A soft knock interrupted her thoughts, and before she could answer, David entered. He was holding a bouquet of flowers—purple flowers—and a small shopping bag. His smile was strained, hopeful but tentative. "Good morning," he said quietly, stepping into the room. His eyes searched her face, pleading for some sign that she had softened. Avery's gaze flickered to the flowers, her heart sinking further. Purple. Of course he had forgotten. She forced a smile, not wanting to reignite the tension, but it barely hid her disappointment. "Good morni

There was a soft knock on the door, and Olivia entered his office."I came to drop these, and also... someone's here to see you," Olivia announced, and then Stephanie entered."Stephanie? What are you doing here? Olivia, you shouldn't just allow strangers on the CEO's floor. It is disrespectful," David said."Actually, she is an employee here. A new employee. She just resumed last Monday," Olivia announced.It was then that David noticed Stephanie wasn't casually dressed. She even had an ID card on her neck."What department? With what qualifications? And under whose approval?" David questioned."She's in the marketing department," Olivia replied, her tone calm but firm. "Her qualifications meet the necessary standards, and her approval came from Human Resources. As you know, I handle the final reviews for new hires."David's brow furrowed, his frustration barely contained. "So, you approved this without informing me?""With all due respect, sir," Olivia began, her voice steady, "you'

Avery froze, her hand still resting against the bathroom door, his words echoing in her mind."Stephanie?" Her throat went dry, and she pressed her palm against the cool wood. How had he found out? And why now, of all times?"I—" she started, but her voice faltered, not knowing how to continue.The door opened, and David stood there naked, not meeting her eyes, instead looking somewhere past her shoulder. His bare chest rose and fell steadily."The whole time," he said quietly, more to himself than to her. "You said nothing to me.""David, I—" Avery struggled to find the right words. "It wasn’t like that. I didn’t think it mattered. It was... before.""Before?" He let out a bitter laugh. "You didn’t think I should know that the woman I used to be with... was also the one you were with?"Avery felt her chest tighten. "I didn’t think it would change anything," she admitted, her voice softer now. "I never thought it was important because it was in the past. It never meant—""You didn’t

He had messed up. Big time.His heart plummeted.The woman lying next to him, her bare back exposed by the tangled sheets, was most definitely not his wife.It felt like a punch to the gut. This wasn’t Avery, the woman he had vowed to protect and cherish.How had it come to this?He shot up from the bed, wincing as a wave of nausea washed over him. His head spun from the hangover, the remnants of last night’s alcohol still heavy in his system. His clothes lay discarded haphazardly on the floor, and as he quickly gathered them, flashes of the previous night came flooding back. The bar. The drinking. The anger. Stephanie. And he had let it happen.How could he have been so weak and reckless? Avery... the thought of her name made his chest constrict with shame and regret. He stumbled into the bathroom, turning the faucet on and splashing cold water onto his face. He stared at himself in the mirror, his reflection a haunted, broken version of the man he once was.What would Avery say