Sinful Vows의 모든 챕터: 챕터 21 - 챕터 30

"Daddy, what’s all this?" Miriam shouted as she pointed at the large flat-screen television mounted on the far wall of the living room. Her finger trembled slightly, as her voice became sharp, almost breathless with disbelief.On the screen, the moment played again, bold and vivid in high definition. Ethan Malcovich stood in a well-cut navy-blue suit beside his father, Norman Malcovich, at a lavish gala. Spotlights flickered like stars across the crowd, camera flashes popping every second. And right there in the center, Ethan reached out for Aria’s hand, and said the words that made the room erupt.“I’m sorry I didn’t let you know on time, dad” Ethan said, “but this woman standing beside me is my woman. My fiancée.”There had been no ring. No kneeling. No bouquet. Just a loud, clear, public declaration in front of powerful men, reporters, and his father. But it was enough. Enough to humiliate Miriam. It was enough to rip apart the illusion she had clung to for years.Gilbert, her fath

AriaStepping out of VernBuilds, I paused the moment I reached the last glass step and saw them. Two men in deep black suits. They weren’t just security staff—no. These weren’t VernBuilds employees. These men were trained, rigid in posture, emotionless in the face. Their expressions were cold like polished granite, and the air around them felt too still to be normal.A black jeep, long and bulletproof-looking, stood parked with the engine humming so low that you’d miss it if you weren’t paying attention. Tinted windows. No plates I could see. This wasn’t just any pick-up.I tightened the coat around me. The wind wasn’t cold, but my skin prickled with tension. I had never been to Marcus Gerry’s home. Not once. In all our meetings, all our transactions, all his secretive strategies, he always came to me. He always chose a hidden corner in the hood I lived in. We met in alleys, in the backseat of tinted cars, in parking basements with barely any light. That was our pattern. That was his

Coming out from the airplane, Ethan looked up at the wide sky. The clouds were scattered like cotton wool drifting lazily across a pale blue canvas. He took in a long, deep breath, letting the cold, fresh breeze brush past his skin, rushing through his jet-black hair that was slicked back neatly just hours ago. He felt the chill in the air bite lightly at his cheeks, making him tighten the lapels of his sleek navy blue suit as he stepped forward."Oh, here we go," he murmured under his breath, almost like a whisper meant only for the wind to carry.He descended the aircraft’s stairs slowly, every step calculated, every movement calm, sharp, and full of grace. His brown loafers made soft tapping sounds against the metal stairs as he adjusted his stance and stepped onto the solid ground. The air tasted different, like crisp, and almost too clean. He tugged slightly on the bottom of his blazer to straighten it, then slipped one hand into his pocket and pulled out his phone.The screen li

AriaAs my lips brushed on Ethan, I felt this tingling sensation crawl deep into my belly. It wasn’t supposed to be there. I didn’t invite it. It came on its own like a foolish butterfly in the wrong garden. God, I thought I had already forgotten about our wild encounter. I masked it up quickly, faster than a blink. My eyes didn’t show it. My lips didn’t shake. I just kept smiling. It was fake, pretty, and powerful.Ethan, surprised yet too polite to react, slipped his hand around my waist as I stood close to him. Ethan was nothing but a naughty fellow. His fingers rested lightly but confidently, the way a man might hold a woman he was so much into. He didn’t say a word. He didn’t need to. His face said it all. His eyes screamed, "Girl, this ain’t my cousin," but I didn’t flinch.Miriam’s eyes were stabbing daggers, blazing with so much fury that it could melt the expensive chandelier hanging above our table. She wasn’t even blinking. Her hand was still hooked tightly to Ethan's, as i

"Miriam, what are you doing?" Ethan asked, lowering his fork slightly and tilting his head to look at her. His voice was low, careful, the way someone speaks when they know everyone is watching. The sound of the silverware clinking and glasses touching remained soft in the background, but the energy around our table had completely shifted. Like a silent earthquake had moved beneath the fine floors of the five-star restaurant.Some diners turned their heads for a second, pretending to check the light fixtures or adjust their napkins. But their eyes lingered. You could feel it. That hum of curiosity. Even if they couldn’t hear what Miriam was saying, the air around us was loud with tension.Miriam didn’t answer immediately. She sat down slowly, like a balloon letting out air in quiet exhaustion. She looked like she was trying to keep the last piece of her pride from slipping off her face. Her body slumped for a second before she straightened again, her neck stiff, jaw locked. Her eyes w