The Vows of Vengeance

The moment Maya left the office floor, Ethan didn't waste time.

He walked straight to Lara's office, no hesitation this time.

He knocked once before stepping in.

Lara didn't look up. She was seated behind her desk, typing fast, her expression unreadable.

"If this isn't about business," she said without raising her eyes, "don't bother wasting my time."

He closed the door behind him.

"I love you."

Her fingers froze on the keyboard.

She looked up slowly. Her face didn't move, but something shifted in her eyes.

He stepped closer. His voice steadier now.

"I know I don't deserve a second of your time. I know I ruined everything that was good between us. But I've loved you every single day. Even when I was stupid. Even when I said I didn't."

She said nothing.

"I've always loved you, Lara. Not for a second did that feeling go away. You've always meant the world to me. I tried to let go but it never worked. I see you in my sleep, in my office, in every decision I make. You're in my blood."

Lara swallowed hard but didn't speak.

He kept going.

"I married Maya because I.... I was cornered. Guilted. But it was never love, not even close. Everything I've ever felt that mattered… it was you."

Her voice was low. "And you chose her."

"I made the wrong choice," he said, pain breaking through, "but my heart never moved. It's still yours.... It's always been yours."

Lara stood slowly her face unreadable.

"You shouldn't be saying this," she said.

"But I am," Ethan replied. "Because it's the truth."

She looked at him for a long time. Not cold or angry, just tired.

"Do you even know what you're saying Ethan You're married. You're about to be a father. You broke me in front of the world."

He stepped forward. "And I'd undo it all if I could. Everything. Just to have one more chance with just you, no one else"

She laughed quietly but it didn't reach her eyes.

"You don't get to walk into my office and say I love you like it fixes everything"

"I know" he said softly "But I needed you to hear it anyway"

She looked at him again and this time her voice cracked just a little

"Don't say it if you're going back to her"

He didn't answer, he couldn't.

She turned away first.

"Get out Ethan"

He lingered for a second, then walked out quietly.

The door clicked shut behind him.

Lara sat down again. Her hands were trembling, she didn't cry, but she didn't smile either.

She just whispered to no one

"You're still too late"

It was just past 2pm when Ethan's phone rang.This time it wasn't Maya calling or texting, it was the private clinic he had registered her with weeks ago for a prenatal checkup.

He excused himself from the post-meeting review and stepped into his office, locking the door. He answered with a tense voice.

"This is Ethan Vale."

A calm female voice came on the line.

"Mr Vale. This is Nurse Benita from Hopewell Clinic. We're calling regarding your wife's emergency visit this morning. I'm sorry to inform you that… she's lost the baby."

Ethan's chest went still.

"What?" he said quietly.

"She came in with abdominal pain and light bleeding. The doctor did a scan. There was no heartbeat. She insisted we didn't notify you, but legally we had to. She's resting now."

Ethan lowered into his chair slowly.

No heartbeat?

The words echoed over and over.

He didn't speak for a long while. Just sat there, unsure of what he was supposed to feel.

The baby?

His child?

Gone?

But there was something off. Something that didn't settle. Maya never called him. Never cried to him, never even mentioned she was in pain. And now the nurse was saying she insisted he not be informed?

He ended the call and immediately tried calling Maya but she didn't answer.

He tried again.... still nothing. A part of him felt cold while a bigger part… felt relief.

But still, he picked up his coat and left.

The room smelled of antiseptic and lavender oils she'd brought herself.

Maya sat on the bed, one hand was on her flat stomach, the other holding her phone tightly. She'd just paid off the nurse and doctor crisp cash in brown envelopes. All it took was a few thousand and the promise of silence.

She glanced at herself in the mirror.

No bump.

No baby.

Never was.

She dabbed fake tears under her eyes and took a shaky breath, practicing her grief.

She knew Ethan would show up eventually.

And when he did, he'd find her broken, devastated, the victim.

She needed him soft again. Confused. Emotional. She needed to reel him back in especially with Lara still glowing like a silent threat across every boardroom they shared.

Just as Maya lay back on the pillow, she heard the door open.

Later That Night – Lara's Penthouse

Lara had just finished reading over the final report from Nina when a knock came on her door.

Nina entered with a look of discomfort.

"There's something you might want to see," she said, holding out a small folder.

"What is it?"

"Clinic records. The same private clinic Maya supposedly visited today."

Lara took the folder without speaking.

She scanned the documents quickly, her eyes narrowing.

Everything looked normal on the surface.... blood test reports, ultrasound notes except for one thing.

The last scan was dated over four weeks ago.

The one from today… was handwritten. Not from the usual machine. And signed by a different doctor who didn't even work there full time.

Her fingers gripped the paper tighter.

She pulled out her phone.

"Nina, get me the surveillance footage from the clinic's entrance. I want a timestamp. I want to know when she walked in and who she paid before walking out."

"You think she's lying?" Nina asked.

Lara didn't blink.

"I know she is."

Back at the Clinic

Maya's face buried in Ethan's chest as he held her gently.

She sniffled and whispered about how much she wanted this baby, how she felt like a failure, how she knew she wasn't perfect but still hoped he'd love her through this.

Ethan's hands stayed on her back. Still. Numb.

He wasn't crying, He wasn't angry. He was just... quiet, and she noticed.

"You're not saying anything," she whispered.

"I don't know what to say," he murmured.

She tilted her face up, her cheeks red from wiping too many dry tears.

"You still love her," she said softly.

Ethan didn't move, He didn't deny it either.

Maya's jaw clenched, but she let herself stay in his arms just a little longer.

But her gut twisted when she noticed his eyes weren't on her anymore.

They were far away.

And Maya knew exactly where they were.