Lahat ng Kabanata ng Shattered Vows: Kabanata 81 - Kabanata 90

The city streets were quieter than usual as Killian made his way to Isla's apartment. The choice he had made a few hours earlier sat heavy with him, a reminder of what he had chosen to do. His heart pounded in his chest, a rhythm of excitement and fear, as he stood before her door.His phone buzzed in his pocket, and he pulled it out, seeing another text from Isla. His fingers stalled on the screen before he opened it, holding his breath as he read the message.*I'm home. If you want to talk, I'm here. But only if you mean it. Only if you're ready to be real with me.*Killian felt a pang of guilt. He had been hiding for so long behind walls, behind expectations, behind anything other than his own truth. But tonight was different. He had made the decision to leave Celeste, to walk away from a life that had been carefully created for him in favor of the one that he had always wanted. And finally, the hardest thing was left: to demonstrate that he was ready to be the man Isla needed. He

Isla spent the following days wrapped in a haze of contemplation, the silence of her apartment an ever-present reminder of the choice she had to make. She could still hear Killian’s words echoing in her mind: *“I’ll wait for you, for however long it takes.”* The sincerity in his voice, the rawness of his vulnerability, was something she hadn’t anticipated. It made her question everything—everything about the life she had believed she had built without him, everything about the way she had started to see herself.She had always prided herself on her independence, on her ability to stand on her own two feet without needing anyone. But now, alone in the quiet of her vacant apartment, she couldn't help but wonder if she was deceiving herself. Was she strong enough to let go, to eliminate Killian from her heart, or was she still that woman who had given all of herself to him, only to be broken again?The answer, though, was one that was not to be discovered over the course of a few days. H

The following days were filled with subdued skepticism for Isla. She was returned to her life—her job, her schedule—but everything was different. It was as though a small shift had occurred, something she couldn't define, but it gave her an irrevocable feeling that something was coming. She wasn't sure what it was, or how to prepare herself for it, but she knew it would change everything.She sat at her desk in the office, staring into her computer screen, the documents before her blurring to a haze. Her mind kept drifting back to Killian's words. His voice lingered in her head, with the sincerity that both comforted her and disturbed her. She wasn't going to decide yet—she knew that. But whenever she thought she had shaken him off, a part of her wanted the connection they had shared.The phone suddenly rang, snapping her out of her reverie. She glanced down at the screen, her racing heart as it read Killian's name.Her fingers lingered over the phone for a moment, a flash of emotions

The city hummed with its own rhythm, but for Isla Carter, it was all just a bit. softer. Quieter. It had been three days since she'd stood beside Killian Blackwood in the brightly lit community center and said the words she'd never been brave enough to say until that moment. "Maybe I'm still in love with you."Those words had changed everything. And nothing had been rushed. There were no grand statements or fireworks. No immediate talk of labels or planning. Just a slow rebuilding. And for once, Isla didn't feel like she needed to rush to get ahead of her emotions.She was in her bookstore again today. The scent of old paper and cinnamon coffee greeted her, and sunlight streamed through the windows, casting golden squares on the wooden floor. Customers browsed idly through the shelves, and her helper, Margo, waved as Isla entered."Morning, boss. You look. glowy," Margo teased.Isla smiled, her cheeks going pink. "It's the weather.""Okay, let's pretend it's not the sexy billionaire

Rain was still coming down on the city, sheeting the streets with a damp, mournful glow. Isla Carter slumped beside the big glass wall of her tiny rented studio, her knees to her chest, looking blankly out into the world beyond. Her tea had gone cold hours ago, sitting on the table.She hadn't replied to Killian Blackwood's previous attempts to reach out to her.Hundreds of messages. Voicemails, emails, even handwritten letters left on her doorstep — all ignored.She didn't know if she was brave enough to see him again. She didn't trust him — not entirely. Not yet.And the ache in her chest warned her that even one small mistake could destroy her for good this time.A sharp knock shattered her downward thoughts.Isla braced.She hadn't been expecting anyone. Her heart hammered pitifully. She crept quietly to the door and peered through the peephole.Of course.Killian.He stood there, dripping from the rain, a fistful of white lilies clutched tightly in one hand. His face was a map of