[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":10},["ShallowReactive",2],{"viewer-data-260313F01E2B-62":3},{"id":4,"number":5,"name":6,"content":7,"isLocked":8,"price":9,"hasRead":8},62,3,"Chapter 3: Shattered Vows and New Beginnings","\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">He swore on his life he’d never hurt me, that he’d make my heart sing forever.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">At eighteen, we’d have believed those promises were practically etched in granite.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Now, he casually ripped open old wounds, shredding those once-sacred vows like cheap tissue paper.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Three days after packing my bags and ditching the Walker mansion, I found myself standing outside the newly opened wellness and therapy clinic.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">This was my second investment in the business.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Ma’am, the new spot is absolutely killing it! The techniques you taught everyone are next-level genius.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Well, duh. They were effective. For years, I’d poured over and perfected all sorts of therapeutic and pressure-point methods, all for Sebastian’s damn eye condition.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After more than a decade of grinding, I’d become a legit ocular wellness specialist.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian’s eye problems? A thing of the past.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Aurora Jones had stumbled upon my skills by pure chance and became determined to apprentice under me, practically begging to learn my tricks.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing how dedicated and hardworking she was, I taught her a ton of methods and even backed her to open our own clinic.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Aurora totally delivered. Less than a year later, the second branch was booming, and we were already mapping out a third.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Seeing how swamped she was, I figured it was time for me to bounce.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then, BAM! I ran smack into Valentina at the entrance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She was rocking killer red stilettos, her expression dripping with condescension, casually dropping hints about her closeness with Sebastian like it was no big deal.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I wasn’t about to crash her party on opening day, so I turned to dip.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">But Valentina was fast. She strode right past me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Sebastian, look! Natalie’s so worried about you, she even followed you all the way here.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">She launched into a whiny, mocking monologue directed at Sebastian.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A flash of pure anger crossed Sebastian’s face, and his voice was stiff as he turned to me.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“What game are you playing? You said you wouldn’t come home, yet here you are, skulking around and following me! Is this some kind of sick joke?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Valentina kept up her Oscar-worthy performance.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Natalie doesn’t even have a job, and she’s dropping cash on spa treatments and massages. She’s probably here to hit you up for money, right?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Hearing that, some of Sebastian’s anger seemed to dissipate, but his tone remained ice-cold.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Enough of this drama queen act. Just come home. I’ll wire you a million later.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“You throw a tantrum like a child every single day. It’s really unbecoming.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I almost burst out laughing. Was that really how he saw me? I couldn't help but throw a sarcastic barb back.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Mr. Walker, am I just your pretty little trophy now? Aren’t you worried your soon-to-be Mrs. Walker might get the wrong impression?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian always managed to keep his cool around Valentina. He shot me a look.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Selena misses you. Cut this crap and come home.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I just shook my head, my voice steady.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Mr. Walker, you truly have too much time on your hands. Perhaps we should schedule a date to finally sign those divorce papers.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I turned and walked away.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian’s voice dripped with disdain.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“You… you don’t even care about your own daughter. No wonder my mother always said you were a terrible mother.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My steps faltered for a beat, but I kept walking.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian started to move towards me but was yanked back by Valentina.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">“Sebastian, look, there’s the manager. Let’s go chat with them.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian threw one last glance at my retreating back before changing course and heading into the clinic with Valentina.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After years as a trophy wife, my entire existence had revolved around Sebastian.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Leaving the Walker estate meant I had to completely rewire everything—new habits, new social circles, a whole new damn life.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">I’d had my lawyer push Sebastian to expedite the divorce.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Then Sebastian messaged me, asking me to come home to discuss the divorce.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">And stuff about our daughter.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">After a serious bout of hesitation, I decided to go.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">When I walked in, I saw my daughter sitting there, playing nice and quiet beside Valentina.\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">My heart twisted, but a fiery anger also surged. “Sebastian, where’s the lawyer?”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">Sebastian stood up, then sat back down. His reply was chillingly simple, “This is a family dinner. We’re not discussing business today.”\u003C/p>\u003Cp class=\"chapter-paragraph\">A family dinner? Since when did a family dinner include a personal assistant? My temper flared.\u003C/p>",false,0,1774272924704]