Broken Vows, A Scientist's Revenge

Dicker

ment sending fresh waves of agony through the broken bones. My pleas to Javier had fallen on deaf ears, swallowed

for what felt like an eternity, the city lights fading into the desolate expanse of the cou

ted against the bruised pre-dawn sky. Moonlight filtered through the grimy windows, cast

in the oppressive gloom, his face unreadable. Bambi was beside him, a ghos

oid of any warmth. "You left me no choice. You refused

ation hit me with the force of a physical blow. He was

rembling. "What kind of punishmen

A heavy, ornate metal bar, its surface glinting d

made my blood run cold. He h

eamed with a chilling delight. She

uggling against the guards. "

said, his voice as cold as the metal bar she held. "Teach her what happens w

s is for your own good, Aurelia. You need to lear

st my ribs. I tried to speak, to beg,

ross her lips. "Oh, Aurelia," she purred, her voice dripping with fake sympathy. "This is going

on impassive. He was enjoyin

ce calm, detached. "We need to make sure she can't w

My hands, my tools, my life.

landed on my left hand, the one already bandaged. A searing pain, sharper than any

ain, Javier? She's

playing on his lips. "Again.

e a hammer blow to my very soul. My hands, once so skilled, so precise, were be

reaming down my face. I could barely breathe. The p

phant glint in her eyes. "She's done, Javier. She

He knelt beside me, his face close to mine. "Do you underst

too immense, too overwhelming. My world was shrin

rything w

ostrils. My hands were heavily bandaged, suspended in slings, throbbing with a du

ou're awake. I was so worried." He leaned in, his voice thick with what sounded like remorse. "I'm so so

y throat. Accident? Carried away? He had orch

oice hoarse. "You watched her br

ng me. Protecting our interests. You were being irrational." He squeezed my arm. "But I've alrea

she feels terrible. She's so distraught. But I explained it to

lintered further. He was still

ean. We can start fresh. Just us. We'll leave all this... unpleasantness behind." He gestured around the sterile room, as if dis

To imprison me in a gil

o scream. I wanted to tear out his throat. But I coul

, a box of artisanal chocolates, a brand new tablet loaded with my favorite e-books. All the things he

ts side, his eyes full of adoration. I remembered the thoughtful gifts, the quiet moments

tesque mockery. His presents w

rehead. "I've missed you, Aurelia. We

o 'before' anymore.

ache spreading through my chest.

itched giggle echoed f

en. Javier's head

linging to her slender frame. Her eyes were wide and tearf

cared." She looked at me, her eyes wide with feigned fear. "I'm so sorry, Aur

er, pulling her close. "It's alright, darling. It was just a dream. I'm here. You're sa

ttling over me. He was truly gone. His heart, hi

by her feigned vulnerability. He saw her as a damsel in distress, a precious thing he

old and sharp, settled in my mind. He was not just my husband

. But my story, my pursuit o