The Heirs of a Broken Vow

It was Cassidy.

This was all her doing.

To protect us and our babies, the Donovan brothers had sequestered us at this private Hamptons estate, far from the chaos of New York.

Some time ago, my father's company held its annual gala, which Louise and I attended.

On our way out, we ran into Cassidy. She greeted us with her usual disarming warmth. Since she was Alvin's childhood sweetheart, we didn't think much of it.

She mentioned that her nutritionist had recommended some supplements beneficial for pregnant women and offered to send some over. Louise, ever trusting, even sketched her a map of our estate's security routes.

Louise told Cassidy she could bring the supplements herself later. We thought it would be nice to have a friend to talk to, to break the monotony of our gilded cage.

But we never imagined her true intentions.

We waited for a whole month.

What arrived wasn't a concerned friend, but thugs who smashed through our gate, pushed me, and delivered the fatal blows.

My baby was almost full-term. Even born prematurely, he could have survived.

I heard his cries. I know I did.

I begged them to give him to me. I could still save him. I had to save him; his birth was the key to unlocking the trust fund.

I owed Alvin. He'd saved Louise and me once, and I'd made him a promise.

He had pinned all his hopes on this child. I couldn't let him down. Even if it killed me, I had to save my baby.

But my pleas were met with more blows, with the searing pain of being shoved down the stairs again.

I watched, helpless, as my son's faint breaths faded under their brutal assault, his eyes closing forever.

I was paralyzed with terror.

When Maria finally returned after a frantic, fruitless search for Alvin, I thought help had finally arrived.

Instead, Alvin was busy comforting a distraught Cassidy.

He was convinced I was lying, just to get his attention.

My baby was dead.

And Louise, who had thrown herself in front of me, had been knocked to the ground by the attackers.

She was only seven months pregnant. Just a few days ago, she had told me with a radiant smile that she could finally feel the baby move, her baby's way of saying hello.

In a flash, it was all gone.

Louise knew some self-defense, but the attackers had overwhelmed her. She was dragged into this nightmare because she was protecting me.

Even now, so weak from her own miscarriage that she could barely stand, she brought a bowl of warm chicken soup, prepared by the cook, to my room herself.

We sat side-by-side on the bed.

"I'm so sorry," I said softly. "If I hadn't been so completely fooled by Alvin, if I had been more careful, I would have seen that he and Cassidy were never just 'childhood friends.' I never would have let her into our lives. You wouldn't have lost your baby. I wouldn't have married Alvin, and you never would have met Anker."

Louise grabbed my hand, her hot tears falling onto my skin.

"It's not your fault. I was blind, too. I just found out today that Cassidy was involved with Anker as well. Don't worry, Willow. I'm with you. I'm leaving with you. I'm getting a divorce, too."

As we were plotting our escape from the two brothers, the estate's main gate was kicked open again.

It wasn't good news, and it certainly wasn't the Donovan brothers having a crisis of conscience.

They had come for Cassidy, and for their own fragile egos.

Sure enough, before anyone even set foot inside, the shouting echoed through the living room.

"Louise, you dare mention divorce to me! Have you learned nothing from that so-called sister of yours?" Anker sneered.

"She's the precious daughter of the Hayes family, the one everyone fawns over. And you? You’re just some stray they picked up to keep her company. Did you really start to believe you were some kind of socialite?"

"And now you want to leave me? Who do you think will have you after this? What man doesn't have a few women on the side? I only made you my legal wife because your child could activate the trust fund. You should have been grateful!"