In the Wake of the Shattered Promises

On their seventh wedding anniversary, Kimberly Williams discovered a divorce agreement in Richard Munoz's nightstand drawer. It was covered in scribbles and cross-outs, as if he'd agonized over the decision time and again. [If I fall in love with someone else during the marriage, I voluntarily give up all my assets and leave with nothing. Here's the list of properties.] He'd originally vowed to walk away penniless for her sake, but in the asset section, he'd crossed things out one by one. First, he struck through the house he planned to give her, then changed the $50 million to $500,000. Finally, in a ruthless scrawl, he added: [Better if Kimberly leaves with nothing. Can't help it. Lotta is pregnant.] Chapter 1 Kimberly Williams slumped onto the bed, stunned beyond belief. Richard's signature on the divorce agreement was sharp and decisive, with no hint of hesitation. The document had been drafted seven years ago, right when they'd just gotten married. Back then, he'd been willing to give up everything for her. But each year after that, he'd crossed out more assets. Seven years later, she was the one expected to leave empty-handed. Her phone buzzed suddenly with a text from Richard: [Unexpected business trip. Don't wait for me.] She tried calling him, but his phone was already off. Then a message from a friend popped up—a screenshot of a social media post by Lotta Anderson, the underprivileged student Kimberly had been sponsoring. [Got praised today! To celebrate my first period without any leaks, Mr. CEO says we gotta party it up.] The nine-photo grid showed Richard smiling warmly, tenderly fastening a stunning sapphire pendant around her neck. The post was geotagged at a romantic couple's hotel. Kimberly's breath caught in her throat. He couldn't remember their seventh wedding anniversary, yet he'd gone out of his way to celebrate something as trivial as Lotta's period. And that sapphire pendant? She'd spotted it at last week's auction. It was her family's heirloom and her mother's lost keepsake. She'd been about to bid when she learned her credit card had been frozen. She had asked Richard why, and it had taken him forever to reply: [Don't waste money on useless junk like that.] Clutching her bidder's paddle, she'd felt utterly lost in the auction hall. Finally, she'd decided to sell her graphic design portfolio to scrape together the funds. But someone had phoned in a remote bid that blew everyone else out of the water. Kimberly had beaten herself up for weeks, hating that she couldn't preserve her mother's memento. She'd never imagined the bidder was Richard himself. He knew how desperately she wanted it, yet he'd gifted it to Lotta. Even on their anniversary, he'd lied about being buried in work while wining and dining the other woman. And his gift for her? A divorce agreement that left her with nothing. He'd been cheating for the entire seven years of their marriage, and she had been completely oblivious—even introducing Lotta to him. Lotta was a poor college student Kimberly had sponsored. When she'd first visited to express her thanks, Richard had complained that she was invading their privacy and said he couldn't stand her. "Some country girl with no manners, tracking mud all over my cashmere rug. If she doesn't ace her exams, cut her off—no more handouts." Kimberly had teased him, telling him not to get petty and that the girl had a grateful heart. She'd never suspected a thing between them. For seven years, everyone in their social circle knew Richard didn't play around; he only had eyes for Kimberly. But the next time they met, Lotta had transformed into his personal assistant. He'd explained it casually: "She's had a tough life. You've been helping her for years, so giving her a job is just me taking some weight off your shoulders." Kimberly had brushed it off with a smile. But now, her hands trembled as she scrolled through Lotta's social media. She remembered Lotta had always blocked her from viewing posts, but now the girl seemed eager to show off everything. While Kimberly had been downing drinks to close a business deal for Richard and ending up in the ER with a bleeding ulcer, Lotta was using his credit card to buy her first Louis Vuitton bag. While Kimberly cared for Richard's bedridden grandmother, changing bedpans and cleaning up messes, he was off on fake business trips, taking Lotta to perfume-blending workshops. Lotta had even posted a rant: [Your wife is such a clingy type, calling you back for every little thing. Can't she survive without a man?] Richard had commented below: [If she were half as independent as you, it'd save me a headache.] But that day, Kimberly's mother died from cancer. Kimberly had cried until she was hoarse, frantically handling all the arrangements alone. Richard had kept glancing at his phone, itching to leave—not for work, but to rush back to Lotta. Every timeline matched perfectly. It hit Kimberly like a gut punch, leaving her breathless with pain. She stared at her reflection in the mirror, all dressed up, then at the cold dinner on the table. It all felt like a cruel joke. After a long pause, she dialed a number she knew by heart but hadn't called in years. "You still want to set me up with that illegitimate son from the Shaw family? As long as he doesn't mind that I'm divorced, I'll marry him." If seven years of marriage only brought betrayal, she was done with it. Wiping away her tears, she geared up to contact a lawyer and draft her own divorce agreement. Just then, her phone pinged with an anonymous text: [Come to Vista Mansion. I've got a show you'll want to see.] Chapter 2 The opulent mansion was easily worth ten million dollars. Kimberly climbed the stairs, and through the slightly ajar door, she heard moans and heavy breathing. Two naked bodies were entwined on the bed. "Easy there. My period's not quite over yet," Lotta whined. Richard kissed her with a tenderness Kimberly had never seen from him. He croaked, "Don't worry, babe. I won't go all the way. Just wanna hold you." Lotta pouted playfully. "What if you can't hold back? You'd have to go home to her for that, right?" Annoyance flashed across Richard's face. "I don't even want to touch her. Aside from the bare minimum as a husband, just looking at her makes me feel disgusted." Kimberly stumbled back, her heart throbbing with dense, stabbing pain. Lotta sent her a voice message: [You heard that? He'd rather cuddle me during my period and do nothing than go back to you. Oh, and you probably didn't know. We had a baby once, but it was a miscarriage.] Kimberly's heart went numb with agony. How could she not know? That divorce agreement spelled it out. Richard wanted her out with nothing because Lotta was pregnant. Kimberly texted back: [Fine by me.] Kimberly went to a law firm and drew up a new divorce agreement, asking for a fair 50-50 split. If they went to court, Richard—as the one at fault—would lose even more. But she didn't want to drag their marriage into a messy battle; she just wanted an out as quickly as possible. Her top priority was getting him to sign it, so she texted Lotta again: [If you can get him to sign the divorce agreement, he's yours.] Two days later, Richard came home, looking refreshed and satiated, but when he saw Kimberly, his demeanor shifted back to indifference. "What's up? You look wiped out." Kimberly paused, then shook her head. "Nothing." Just then, a delivery guy knocked. "Here are your anniversary flowers. Sorry for the delay—the blue roses were out of stock the other day. Happy anniversary!" A huge bouquet of vibrant blue roses was thrust into Richard's arms. He froze, then turned with a guilty look. "Sorry, I forgot the other day was our..." Kimberly gave him a cold stare. "Apologies after the fact are meaningless. Some things, once missed, are gone forever." He reached for her hand, trying to placate her. "Come on, it's just a couple of days late. Don't give me the cold shoulder. Work's been crazy. I'll make it up to you." She ignored him and set the flowers on the table. Richard blinked, any guilt evaporating. "Kimberly, this isn't like you." She stopped, turning to him. "And what should I be like?" Should she cater to his every whim, hang on his words, and thank him profusely for an empty promise? "It's just an anniversary—not Christmas or anything. Does the formality really matter that much? Fine, forget it." He waved dismissively. "I'll make it right today. Get changed—we're going to the mall." He headed downstairs, and her grievances welled up. But maybe it was best to clear the air. As she stepped into the elevator, the lights suddenly went out. Her heart immediately leaped into her throat. She pounded the alarm button, but nothing happened. In her desperation, she called Richard, but the line was busy. A text came through: [Something came up. Hang tight at home.] She froze, and right after, Lotta's text came: [My cramps are killing me, and he's coming over to comfort me. Looks like your anniversary plans are ruined again.] Her claustrophobia kicked in. The elevator could drop at any moment. Desperately, she texted Richard: [I'm stuck in the elevator! Call the building manager! I don't have their number!] [Richard, save me! It's pitch black here! Please!] Minutes passed with no response. A rumble echoed, and the elevator plunged. She screamed and blacked out. Chapter 3 Opening her eyes again, Kimberly found herself in the hospital. "You awake?" A nurse adjusted her IV drip. "How are you feeling? You were so pale when they brought you in. Scared the heck out of us." From the nurse, Kimberly learned that the building manager had rushed her to the ER and tried contacting Richard via the owners' group chat. "She's a grown woman," he'd snapped. "Can't she handle a minor issue without bothering me?" He had hung up without sending a single concerned text. He'd completely forgotten about her claustrophobia. Bitterness surged through her as memories flooded back. In high school, when bullies locked her in a dark storage room, it was Richard who'd smashed the door open, ignoring his bleeding hands as he held her close. "Kimbie, don't be scared. I've got you." The next day, he'd beaten the bullies senseless. "She has claustrophobia, terrified of the dark! Do you realize locking her in there nearly sent her into shock?" He'd gone berserk, earning himself in-school suspension, but it let the whole school know the orphaned Kimberly had someone watching her back. When had he started forgetting? Kimberly pulled out the IV needle. The nurse yelped, "Hey, don't remove that." "I'm fine now," Kimberly said, shaking her head. "No need for the drip." The nurse frowned. "Come on. Don't throw tantrums like that. You're gonna be a mom." Kimberly stiffened, turning in disbelief. "A mom? Me?" "We drew blood when you passed out," the nurse explained. "The doctor reviewed the labs personally. You're three months along. Didn't you notice anything?" Kimberly's mind blanked out. The nurse's lips moved, but she heard nothing. Why now, of all times, when she was planning to divorce him? She stumbled out of the room, torn about what to do with this unexpected pregnancy. Just then, Richard hurried toward her. She stopped, but he blew right past like she was invisible, veering into a nearby room. She paused, then followed instinctively. To her surprise, it was the gynecology department. Minutes later, Lotta emerged with a report in hand, her eyes red and puffy. One after another, they headed to the stairwell. "You heard the doctor," she sobbed. "After the miscarriage, my periods have been irregular and painful. Turns out it's a torn uterine lining. I... I might never have kids again." "Don't worry," he soothed. "We'll have children. I still dream about the one you lost because of me." "If our baby were still here, he'd be in elementary school now," she wept. "Promise me. You'll only have kids with me." He pulled her into a hug, aching for her. "Only with you, I promise." "But what if Kimberly gets pregnant?" He paused, uncertainty flickering in his eyes, but she pressed on. "Unless, after I get pregnant, you get a vasectomy for me." Kimberly's heart clenched. She expected him to refuse and explode in anger. But after a brief pause, he murmured, "Okay. Anything you want." Chapter 4 Lotta smiled through her tears, clinging to Richard's arm as they walked away. Kimberly let out a bitter laugh, not expecting his love for Lotta to run so deep that he'd get snipped for her. She touched her belly, feeling the tiny life inside. This child would never know a father's love. Keeping it would only bring more pain, especially since she was moving on to a new marriage. Wiping her tears, she made a call. "I need to schedule a pregnancy termination. As soon as possible." The procedure was quick. Barely recovered, she received a call from Richard. "Where are you? You're not home." "What is it?" she mumbled numbly. He faltered at her cold tone. "Come on, don't be mad. I got you a custom anniversary gift. Come home and check it out." Kimberly dragged her aching body back and opened the door, only to find Lotta there. "Oh, Kimberly, you're back?" Lotta said, standing in the living room like she owned the place, directing workers as they moved things around. In the center was a half-person-high sculpture, covered in cloth. When they unveiled it, Kimberly's eyes widened in horror. It depicted a naked woman entangled with several men, ecstatic. It was unmistakably her face. "You!" she gasped. Lotta smirked viciously. "Richard's anniversary gift to you. Don't you like it? Art imitates life. I had a master sculptor create it just for you. Look at her face; it's spot-on, right?" The sculpture depicted her past assault, and Kimberly's heart felt torn open. She slapped Lotta hard across the face, but the latter grinned triumphantly. Spotting someone behind Kimberly, Lotta burst into tears. "I'm so sorry. I don't know what I did wrong. Please don't hit me." "Lotta!" Richard's voice rang out. He rushed up and shoved Kimberly to the ground. "What is wrong with you? Why did you hit her?" Kimberly stared up at him, the love in his eyes now replaced by pure venom. "Why?" Her voice broke, tears streaming down. "Why tell her about that? Why?" It was her deepest, most painful secret—one Richard had sworn to keep forever. Now Lotta had weaponized it, ripping open the scar and forcing her to relive the humiliation. He finally clocked the sculpture, but Lotta feigned innocence. "I didn't know you'd hate my choice so much. Please accept my apology." But Richard shielded her, glaring at Kimberly with disappointment. "I chose the gift. Why take it out on her? Apologize to her." Kimberly wanted to explain, but the post-procedure pain reminded her it was pointless. What use was reasoning with him? He only sided with the one he loved. "Don't even think about it!" she said firmly. "She knows exactly what she's doing. And Richard, we're getting a divorce." Chapter 5 Richard froze, grabbing Kimberly's wrist. "Divorce? You want to divorce me?" Before she could respond, Lotta whimpered, "My belly hurts so much. Richard, don't fight with her. I..." She passed out mid-sentence, and Richard glared at Kimberly. "This is absurd! Stay here and think about what you've done!" He scooped up Lotta and bolted out. Amid the grave silence, the workers gave Kimberly sympathetic glances before hurrying away. She stood up, grabbed a kitchen knife, and smashed the sculpture into pieces. Her heart ached densely, more from humiliation than pain. It turned out that when Richard stopped loving someone, he could be utterly cruel. For three days straight, he didn't come home, and Lotta didn't text her again. When Kimberly tried sending him the divorce agreement, she found he'd blocked her number. Unsure of his whereabouts, she turned to his assistant, who answered, "Mr. Munoz is at the lounge, having drinks." She followed the location to the upscale lounge. In a private room, Richard was confiding in his best friend. "You really blocked Kimberly for that woman? Have you forgotten how good she's been to you all these years?" said his friend. Richard winced. "I do love Kimberly. Even after what happened to her, I fought everyone to make her my wife. But every time we're in bed, that reluctant look on her face makes me feel like I'm forcing her. She can't forget it, and neither can I." He took a deep drag on his cigarette, his eyes softening. "But Lotta's different. I was her first. She's been with me without demanding any status. I already owe her so much. She's just like Kimberly was back then: pure and innocent. She has this bucket list of things I always wanted to do with Kimberly. Being with Lotta feels like reliving my youth. She deserves better." Kimberly's hand froze on the door. So, that was how he saw her. Seven years ago, she'd endured that horror to save him. But in his telling, it made her sound tarnished and unwilling. She stumbled out of the lounge, lost. Outside, rain poured down, just like that stormy night seven years ago. Back then, Richard had proposed to her. He'd just started his business but was getting squeezed from all sides. Then he'd stolen a big contract from a rival, making enemies. That night, he said he had to entertain clients. Worried, Kimberly went to pick him up. In the downpour, she saw him unconscious, being dragged into a van. Terrified, she chased after them until they reached an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts. They'd drugged him deliberately and planned to break his legs. She burst in, desperately begging them to spare him. But they grabbed her by the hair and dragged her into the bushes. She fought and pleaded, but they slapped her hard. "Make another sound, and we'll snap his legs. He'll be crippled for life!" Eyes wide, she glanced at the unconscious Richard and went limp, like a marionette. Tears streamed down her face as the thugs crowed excitedly. "This woman is an idiot, sacrificing herself for that guy. Bet he won't want her after we wreck her." "We're desperados. If you go to the cops, we'll finish him off." After they left, Kimberly suppressed her hysteria and got Richard home. When he woke, clueless, he grilled her about her swollen eyes and disheveled hair. Afraid he'd do something reckless, she lied about running into a mugger. She never told him the truth, fearing lifelong guilt would consume him. She didn't report it, terrified the thugs would harm him. Later, when nude photos of her arrived, he went ballistic, demanding answers. She only said she'd been assaulted by thugs that rainy night. He was devastated, vowing to protect her forever. In bed, he was patient, but nightmares constantly dragged her back to that trauma. Still, to avoid disappointing him, she forced herself to respond. Now, it seemed he'd always viewed her as damaged goods. Her sacrifice felt like a tragic joke. Her phone buzzed with a text from Lotta: [What do you think if I ask him for a wedding? Will he agree?] Chapter 6 Kimberly stared blankly at the message. When she married Richard, they'd kept it simple: just a table at a hotel with a few relatives and friends. She'd suggested it, not wanting him to spend his last savings on a wedding while in debt. But on that day, he had still given her the wedding dress of her dreams. She'd been overjoyed yet sad. The dress maxed out his credit card; his suit was a cheap thrift-store fare. Even so, he'd hugged her, tears in his eyes. "I can't give you the best right now. But when I make it big, I'll throw you the grandest wedding ever." Yet once he succeeded, he gave that wedding to Lotta instead. Kimberly shut her eyes and typed: [Bigamy is illegal.] Before she could send it, Lotta replied: [Yay, he agreed! Kimberly, for all the years you've served him, I'll let you attend our wedding. Honestly, not making him kick you out of the house already is me being generous.] The words stabbed like knives. Still, Kimberly wanted to see Richard's perfect wedding for herself. On that day, she disguised herself in a work shirt, wig, and mask, sneaking in as a server. Richard had booked the city's most expensive hotel, spending a million on decorations alone. Even the wine was air-shipped Romanée-Conti. The lights dimmed, and Lotta walked the aisle in a diamond-encrusted gown, drawing gasps of admiration. Richard, in custom tailoring, extended his hand with deep affection. They looked so perfect together, their vows so heartfelt. Kimberly realized then that he never saw her as his true bride, so that promised wedding never materialized. What Lotta achieved with a single request, Kimberly couldn't get in a lifetime. He slipped a ten-carat diamond ring onto Lotta's finger, his voice tender. "I take you, Lotta Anderson, for better or worse." The diamond sparkled under the lights as he declared, "From this moment, you're my wife, Lotta. I'll love you forever." Lotta teared up, and they embraced in a sweet kiss. The crowd cheered as the atmosphere peaked. But Kimberly's hand shook, knocking a wine bottle off her tray. The noise attracted all the attention to her. Holding Lotta's hand, Richard strode over with a sullen expression. "What the hell are you doing? Do you know how expensive that bottle is?" Kimberly croaked numbly, "Sorry." She bent down to clean it, ignoring the glass slicing her fingers. Lotta recognized her immediately. In fact, she'd arranged for the hotel to let Kimberly in. "They say breaking glass at a wedding brings good luck, but she shattered it during our kiss. Does she think we don't deserve happiness?" Richard's expression turned stormy. He stomped on Kimberly's hand. She yelped as shards pierced her skin, blood flowing, but the man was relentless. "Apologize to my wife." Kimberly stayed silent, her body trembling. "Forget it, Richard. She didn't mean it," Lotta said, feigning kindness. "Go easy; she's just a server scraping by. Maybe she's jealous of me." Richard pulled her close. "You're too kind. Don't let people take advantage of you." Then he glared at Kimberly, full of disgust. "Causing this mess on my wedding day? That's disrespect to my wife and me! Whatever your issue, know this: my wife has things you'll never touch in your lifetime. The hotel owner is my friend. If you don't apologize, every staff member here gets docked pay today!" The other servers panicked. "You heard the man. Do it!" "That wine's over $100,000, and you smashed it on purpose!" "Mr. Munoz, please continue the wedding. We'll handle her." Kimberly's heart stung. Before she could ask if he'd truly abandon her for Lotta, the servers forced her head down, making her lick the spilled wine. "Mr. Munoz, is this good enough?" Richard cradled Lotta. "Toss her out. Don't let her scare my wife." If Lotta was his wife, then what was she? As they dragged her out, her mask slipped off as she brushed past Richard. He didn't recognize her. Outside, the sun shone warmly, but she felt frozen. Staring at the closed banquet doors, she murmured, "Thanks, Richard. Now I can finally move on." She trudged home to get her packed bags. But in the underground garage, someone clamped a cloth over her nose. Chapter 7 Opening her eyes again, Kimberly found herself in the back seat of a car, her hands bound with rope. Richard sat beside her, still in his wedding suit, urging the driver anxiously, "Faster! Step on it!" Unease gripped her. "Where are you taking me? Untie me!" Richard's face was stone-cold. "Lotta's been kidnapped. I need to save her." Her eyes widened. "What does that have to do with me?" "They meant to grab Mrs. Munoz but took the wrong person," he said. "You have to swap places with her." Mrs. Munoz? Conveniently, she was his wife when it suited him. Otherwise, he was marrying someone else. Her heart sinking, she thrashed tearfully. "Trading me for her? You're out of your mind! This is your fault. You two paraded a public wedding, making them think she's your wife." "You know?" He blinked, his emotions swirling. He reached for her hand, but she slapped it away. His chest ached, and he looked away. "I'll explain later. Saving Lotta comes first. These guys are rough. She's young and can't handle it. Just switch with her, and I'll send help right away. Don't worry. They're after me, not you." He said it so casually, but her heart broke. No matter how she begged, he remained silent. Soon, they reached an abandoned construction site. He donned a mask and hat, posing as an assistant. Lotta was seen tied to a pillar, a gunman beside her. "I've brought Kimberly Munoz," he said, shoving her forward like an object on a leash. "Release Lotta as agreed." Lotta's eyes filled with tears. "Save me. I'm so scared." "Don't worry. I'm here with you," he soothed, then turned to the kidnapper. "What are you waiting for? You have whom you want." The kidnapper eyed both women suspiciously. "You claim she is Richard's wife, but he just married another. Without proof, why should I believe you?" Richard tossed over their marriage certificate. "I stole this from Mr. Munoz. Take a look. Lotta's the woman I love—I'll save her no matter what, even if it means betraying my boss. That wedding? Just a ploy to make his real wife jealous. She's always been his true love." Gagged, Kimberly couldn't speak. The kidnapper glanced at the certificate, then aimed his gun at Lotta. "Stay back. Let the women switch themselves. Any tricks, and I shoot." Richard pushed Kimberly forward. "Go." She closed her Chapter 8 As the car raced down the road, Richard called his top bodyguard. "Gather a team and go to this location. Get Kimberly out at all costs." Back home, he checked Lotta for injuries, relieved to find none. She clung to his arm, whining, "You've already sent people for Kimberly, so we're good. Let's pack and go on our honeymoon." He stared at her, unease gnawing at him. During the wedding, visions of another woman in that gown kept flashing in his mind. Kimberly would look stunning in it. He owed her a grand wedding. Once Lotta was settled, he'd make it right with the biggest ceremony. He paced anxiously. "We'll go once Kimberly is safe." Lotta pouted. "But you promised. Every minute we're late means I see less of the northern lights." "They won't disappear if we're a bit late. Don't you have any conscience?" Richard snapped, losing it for a second. Lotta burst into frightened tears. "I-I didn't mean it. I just want to finish your promise on the bucket list sooner, so our lost baby in heaven knows his dad loved us." Regretting his outburst, Richard pushed down his irritation and hugged her. "Sorry, that was my fault. You're right; let's go now." After her miscarriage, he'd promised to fulfill her bucket list as compensation. Once it was done, he could focus on Kimberly. Lotta brightened, pulling out a pre-printed document. "I saw this lovely house in the suburbs. Buy it for me?" His mind was preoccupied with Kimberly, and he signed without reading it. "Would Kimberly be scared? Nah, she's level-headed. She'd protect herself," he muttered under his breath. "I've sent a solid team. She will be fine." Lotta tossed the document on the table and eagerly handed him a suitcase. "Let's go!" As they loaded the car, a staggering figure approached from afar. It was none other than Kimberly. When the kidnapper had tried to assault her again, she had kicked him in the groin and fled. In the chaos, she got slashed a few times but ignored the pain. After all these years, she'd found the man behind that nightmare, and it all led back to Lotta. Rushing home, she bumped into Richard loading bags, smiling dotingly as he helped Lotta into the car, heading for the airport. His promises of rescue were lies. Her heart ached, but she stopped, imagining his reaction when he learned Lotta had orchestrated his near-downfall. She was eager to see how Richard would view Lotta, the woman he had cherished for so many years, once he learned the truth. Inside the house, in the study, she spotted the signed divorce agreement on the desk. Just then, Lotta texted: [The divorce agreement is on the table. Richard is mine now.] Kimberly checked the security footage: Lotta had just said she wanted it, and Richard had signed without a glance. She gripped the document tightly as another message arrived: [Your flight to Ashaihill is booked. Mr. Elmer Shaw isn't patient. Get here soon.] Kimberly: [Okay.] Before leaving, she placed the new agreement beside the old one from his nightstand. On the desk, with both documents side by side, she picked up a pen and wrote down three words in a flourish: [As you wish.] Then she wheeled her suitcase out, leaving for good.