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VOWS OF BETRAYAL

For three years, Elizabeth "Liz" Carter endured a loveless marriage to Dante Steele, the enigmatic and ruthless CEO who saw her as nothing more than a pawn in his grander plans. Their marriage was built on a fragile foundation of duty, not affection, as Dante’s heart remained bound to his white moonlight, Maria Sinclair. Liz’s silent devotion and hope for love crumbled the night she lost their unborn child, only to find Dante leaving her side to be with Maria. Devastated and humiliated, Liz chose herself for the first time. She signed the divorce papers and disappeared, determined to rebuild her life. Two years later, Liz returns, no longer the timid wife but a confident, successful entrepreneur commanding the admiration of everyone around her. But her triumphant return is disrupted when Dante reveals a shocking truth—he never signed the divorce papers. He’s still her husband, and this time, he’s not letting her go. Liz is thrust back into Dante’s world, one filled with danger, betrayal, and secrets. As she uncovers hidden truths about their marriage and the dark forces surrounding them, Liz realizes her departure shattered something within Dante. Now, the once-emotionless man is desperate to prove his love. But Liz has changed, and so have her priorities. Torn between the pain of her past and the man Dante claims to be now, she must decide whether to risk her heart again or finally sever the ties that have bound her to him for so long. Vows of Betrayal is a story of heartbreak, redemption, and rediscovering self-worth in the shadow of love, with twists that will leave readers breathless.

Belluxarose · Urbano
Classificações insuficientes
101 Chs

The Calm Before the Storm

The aftermath of the battle was quieter than expected. The docks were still smoldering from the explosions, the air thick with the remnants of smoke and gunpowder. Dante had ensured that Viktor's men were either captured or neutralized, but there was an unsettling stillness in the air.

We had won this battle, but the war was far from over.

Back at the estate, the usual hustle and bustle of the mafia world seemed to continue as usual, but I couldn't shake the feeling of unease gnawing at me. I could see it in Dante's eyes every time he looked at me — the lingering worry, the unspoken questions about how much longer he could keep me safe from the storm that Viktor was about to unleash.

I stood by the window in our bedroom, watching the fading light of dusk settle over the property. The shadows stretched long, casting an eerie glow over the manicured lawns and towering gates. Everything felt too calm, too quiet.

Dante entered the room, his footsteps light but purposeful. I turned to face him as he approached, his expression as intense as ever.

"We've secured the docks, but we still don't know the full extent of Viktor's plans," he said, his voice low, almost like a warning.

"Do you think he's truly finished?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "After everything tonight, can we say we've won?"

Dante was quiet for a moment, his gaze fixed on me. The weight of the past few days was evident in the lines of his face, and the dark circles beneath his eyes. He was exhausted, but there was no slowing down for him. Not when Viktor was still out there, waiting for the right moment to strike again.

"I don't know," he admitted, his voice rough. "But I won't let him take you from me."

The air between us was thick with unspoken words, but before I could respond, Matteo walked into the room, his expression grim.

"Dante," he started, his tone serious, "we've got a problem."

Dante turned to face Matteo, his eyes narrowing. "What is it?"

"It's Viktor. We've intercepted some of his communications. He's making moves—big ones. He's not just after your empire anymore, Dante. He's planning something that will tear everything apart."

Dante's jaw clenched as he took in the information. He was no stranger to Viktor's ruthlessness, but this felt different. There was something more personal about this latest threat, and I could see it in Dante's eyes as he processed the implications.

"Details," he barked, his voice sharp with authority.

"We don't have all the pieces yet," Matteo said, his voice lowering as if speaking of something far worse. "But we've found something. A location. A meeting between Viktor and a few of his key allies. They're planning something big, and they'll be making their move soon."

Dante's fists tightened at his sides. "We need to move fast. We can't let him get the upper hand."

"We'll need to prepare," I said, my voice steady despite the tension that was building inside me. "We can't afford to be caught off guard."

Dante turned to me, his eyes searching mine as if weighing every possible option. "Elizabeth, this is getting dangerous. I won't put you in harm's way."

"I'm not backing down, Dante," I replied, my resolve clear. "This is my fight too. If we don't stop Viktor now, he'll keep coming. We need to finish this once and for all."

He looked at me for a moment longer, his gaze filled with something unreadable before he finally nodded. "Alright. But you stay close to me. No more risks."

I nodded, determination hardening my expression. We had come this far, and I wasn't about to let Viktor tear us apart. Not now. Not ever.

---

Planning the Strike

The next few hours were a blur of activity. Dante, Matteo, and the rest of his men went into full tactical mode. They worked through the night, analyzing maps, tracing Viktor's movements, and gathering intelligence. Every detail mattered, and they couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

I sat in the war room, studying the documents spread out before me. The dim light of the room flickered as Dante paced back and forth, his mind working faster than I could keep up.

Matteo approached me, his expression tense. "We've tracked the location. Viktor's planning something at an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city. It's isolated and heavily guarded. He's not making it easy for us."

I looked at the map, my finger tracing the path leading to the warehouse. "It's close. We don't have much time."

"No," Matteo said, shaking his head. "We're not the only ones going after Viktor. There are others—rivals who want him dead just as much as we do. The question is, will we get to him before they do?"

Dante's voice cut through the tension. "We move fast. We hit them hard. There's no room for second-guessing."

I stood up, my resolve hardening. "I'm going with you."

Dante turned to me sharply, his eyes fierce with concern. "Elizabeth—"

"I'm not staying behind," I cut him off, meeting his gaze with a fierce intensity. "I've been by your side this entire time. I'm not going to stop now."

He studied me for a long moment, as if weighing my words, then finally gave a stiff nod. "Fine. But you stay close. You're not getting caught in the crossfire."

---

The Final Move

The hours that followed felt like an eternity. The adrenaline coursed through my veins, and my every sense heightened as we made our way to the warehouse. The plan was simple: strike hard, strike fast, and eliminate Viktor before he had a chance to escape.

The night was eerily quiet as we neared the location, the abandoned warehouse standing like a silent sentinel in the distance. We could see the shadows of Viktor's men moving about, unaware of our approach.

Dante's voice was low in my ear, his tone commanding. "Stay behind me. Keep your head down."

I nodded, gripping the handle of my weapon as we made our way closer. The tension was palpable, every step bringing us closer to the confrontation that could finally end this nightmare.

We breached the warehouse, moving in stealthily. The sounds of footsteps and muffled voices echoed through the large space. Dante motioned for his men to spread out, and I followed him, my heart pounding in my chest.

And then, as we rounded the corner, we saw him. Viktor stood in the center of the warehouse, surrounded by his men. His eyes flicked toward us, a smirk spreading across his face.

"You think you've won?" Viktor's voice echoed through the cold warehouse. "You're too late."

But this time, Dante was ready. He raised his gun, his aim steady.

"This is the end, Viktor."

The dust had settled, but the weight of Viktor's words still lingered in the air. Dante had been victorious in the battle at the docks, but even in the heat of the confrontation, I could sense that something was still off. Viktor had always been a man of strategy, and despite his defeat, I couldn't shake the feeling that he was far from done.

We had returned to the estate, the tension in the air thicker than ever. Dante had been uncharacteristically quiet, his mind preoccupied. His victory over Viktor felt hollow, as though the real battle was still to come.

I had retreated to the comfort of our room, seeking solace in the familiar surroundings. The estate, once a symbol of safety, now felt like a looming cage, the walls closing in as each day passed. It wasn't just the danger from Viktor; there was something more, something darker, that I could feel gnawing at me.

I sat by the window, watching the moon rise, its pale light casting long shadows over the grounds. The peace was deceptive. We had won a battle, but Viktor's promise echoed in my mind.

"Elizabeth."

I turned, my heart skipping a beat at the sound of Dante's voice. He stood in the doorway, his posture tense, his eyes shadowed with weariness. But beneath it all, there was a flicker of something more—something that mirrored the unease that had been building inside me.

"I've been thinking," he said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. "Viktor's not done. He'll strike again, and when he does, I need you to be ready."

I nodded, understanding the gravity of his words. "I know. I won't let him win."

Dante approached, his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. The warmth of his touch was a grounding force, but it couldn't extinguish the uncertainty brewing in my chest.

"We're a step ahead of him now, but I don't think we can keep him at bay for long," he said, his voice low. "He's too calculating. Too dangerous."

"I'll fight with you, Dante. I'm not afraid of him," I replied, my voice steady, though I couldn't shake the unease in my heart.

Dante's gaze softened as he crouched in front of me, his hands gently cupping my face. "I don't want you in the line of fire. You've already been through enough."

"But I'm not going to sit back and watch you fight alone," I said firmly, my resolve growing stronger. "We've already come this far. I'm with you, Dante. Always."

His eyes searched mine, as though looking for something—an assurance, a promise—and when he found it, his lips curled into a faint, weary smile.

"Together, then," he said softly, before leaning in to kiss me gently.

But even as his lips met mine, a part of me remained uncertain. Viktor's words haunted me, and I knew this was far from over. Whatever his next move was, it would be even more dangerous than the last.

The calm before the storm had arrived, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were about to be thrust into something far darker than we could imagine.

---

The Next Move

The following days were a blur of preparation. Dante's men were on high alert, but there was an underlying sense of tension that permeated everything. Viktor had been subdued, but his presence was still felt, like an invisible threat hanging over our heads.

Matteo and I worked together, going over every detail of the dock's operation. We knew Viktor had allies, and it was only a matter of time before he would mobilize them against us. But there was something different this time. The uncertainty in the air was palpable, as though Viktor was preparing for something far more devastating than a mere attack.

"What are you thinking?" Matteo asked one evening as we pored over maps and schematics.

"I don't know yet," I replied, running my fingers over the map of our operations. "But I can feel it. Something's coming."

Matteo's brow furrowed as he studied me. "You think Viktor's planning something bigger?"

I nodded. "I know he is. He wouldn't go down so easily. He's a master strategist, and he's always three steps ahead."

"You're not wrong," Matteo muttered, his voice laced with frustration. "It's like we're waiting for a bomb to drop, but we don't know where it's going to hit."

I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "We just have to be ready for whatever comes next."

As I glanced back at the door to the main room, I could see Dante's shadow through the frosted glass. He had been in and out of meetings all day, his mind consumed with the logistics of our next move. But I knew that no matter how much he tried to prepare, Viktor's next strike would catch us off guard.

And when it did, we would be ready to fight.

---

An Unexpected Turn

The following morning brought news that would change everything. Dante's phone rang in the early hours, the sound piercing through the silence of our room. I heard him answer, his voice tense but controlled as he listened intently.

"What is it?" I asked, sitting up in bed as he clicked the phone off.

"Viktor's made a move," he said, his face grim. "But not the way we thought."

I frowned. "What do you mean?"

"They've taken someone," he replied, his voice thick with anger. "Someone important. Someone close to us."

My stomach dropped as the realization hit me. "Who?"

Dante's gaze hardened, his jaw clenching. "Matteo."

---

The Race Against Time

The moment Matteo was taken, everything shifted. Our world, once filled with strategy and calculated moves, now teetered on the edge of chaos. Viktor had escalated the game, and he was playing for keeps.

Dante's face was stone as he paced the war room, barking orders to his men. There was no room for hesitation. We were going after Matteo, and we were going to bring him back—no matter the cost.

"We have a window of time," Dante said, his voice cold. "Viktor will be using Matteo to get to me, and we can't afford to give him any leverage. We find him, we get him back. No one else gets hurt."

I could see the determination in Dante's eyes, but beneath it was the raw fear of losing someone else he cared about. It was a feeling I understood all too well.

"We'll get him back," I said, my voice firm. "I'll help you."

Dante met my gaze, his expression unreadable for a moment before he gave a sharp nod.

"We're going in. Together."