All Chapters of TANGLED VOW : Chapter 11 - Chapter 20

The first public appearance after the hospital discharge came sooner than either of them wanted. The board had demanded a statement a show of unity to quiet the growing rumors that the Hale heir was spiraling after the warehouse incident. Cassian had tried to push it back, but Elena insisted they face it head-on.“You can’t keep hiding me like I’m a dirty secret,” she had told him that morning. “If we’re doing this fake engagement, let’s at least make it look convincing.”Now they stood side by side at the entrance of the upscale charity gala, cameras flashing like gunfire. Elena wore a deep emerald gown that hugged her figure while carefully covering the bandage on her side. Cassian’s hand rested possessively on her lower back, his black tuxedo making him look every inch the powerful heir he still was — at least on paper.The media went wild the moment they stepped onto the red carpet.“Mr. Hale! Is it true the engagement started as a c

The days after the board meeting felt heavier than the warehouse bullets. Elena spent most of her time in the garden, sitting under the old oak tree where everything between her and Cassian had once begun with hatred. The bandage on her side was gone, but the guilt remained — raw, constant, and growing stronger with every passing hour.She kept replaying the boardroom scene in her mind. Cassian had stood up for her. He had called her his fiancée in front of powerful men who could destroy his future. But she had seen the conflict in his eyes, the way his jaw tightened when he spoke. He was protecting her, yes. But it wasn’t love. It was duty mixed with the complicated mess her lie had created.That night, she found him in the study, reviewing documents by lamplight. He looked exhausted, sleeves rolled up, hair disheveled. When he saw her in the doorway, something possessive flickered in his gaze, but he didn’t smile.“You’ve been avoiding me,” he

The argument from the previous night still lingered in the air like smoke. Elena had barely slept, the guilt twisting inside her like a knife. She had started this entire mess with one impulsive lie at the party, and now Cassian was paying for it with his reputation, his position, and his peace of mind. The latest anonymous threat had only made it worse.She wandered the estate gardens in the late afternoon, needing space from the heavy silence inside the house. Cassian had been in meetings most of the day — lawyers, PR teams, board advisors. He had barely looked at her when he left that morning, the tension from their late-night clash still raw between them.As she approached the old oak tree, she heard voices. Cassian was there, speaking with Marcus, one of his closest friends and a trusted advisor. They were partially hidden by the tree’s wide trunk. Elena stopped behind a hedge, not intending to eavesdrop, but the words froze her in place.“…this engagement situation,” Marcus was

Elena stayed at the hotel for two full days. The silence from her phone felt both freeing and terrifying. Cassian had stopped texting after the third unanswered message, but she knew him well enough to sense the storm building. He wasn’t the type to let go easily not when he felt responsible for someone.On the third afternoon, a soft knock came at her hotel door. She opened it cautiously and found Lucas standing there, looking stronger than he had in the hospital but still carrying shadows under his eyes. He had a small bag of takeout in one hand and a determined expression.“How did you find me?” Elena asked, stepping aside to let him in.“Cassian told me you left. He’s worried. Furious, actually. But mostly worried.” Lucas set the food on the small table and sat down. “I figured you’d pick somewhere quiet but not too far. Sibling intuition.”Elena managed a weak smile as she joined him. The sight of Lucas the secret twin who had survived so much grounded her a little. Their bond

The gala was supposed to be a strategic move — a public show of strength after the board meeting and the Langfords’ escalating threats. Elena had agreed to attend only because Cassian insisted they needed to appear united. Now, as they walked into the glittering ballroom, she regretted it.Cassian’s hand rested possessively on her lower back, guiding her through the crowd. He looked impeccable in his tailored black tuxedo, but the tension in his shoulders told her he was on edge. Their tense alliance from the investigation the day before had brought a fragile peace, but the overheard conversation and her guilt still hung between them like a shadow.They had barely spoken on the drive over. Elena felt the distance she had created, and part of her wondered if it was the right choice. But every time she looked at him, she remembered his words to Marcus “temporary,” “damage control.” The guilt wouldn’t let her forget.They were only twenty minutes into the event when the past arrived in