Chapter 14: Broken Vows

Cynthia didn’t sleep. She sat in the dark of the penthouse, the stolen folder spread across her lap, her eyes burning from rereading the same lines until the words carved themselves into her skull.

Months, not years.

Every page confirmed it — Caleb’s body was shutting down faster than he allowed anyone to believe. And Liliana — Liliana had been paying Dr. Marin to keep him from the one trial that might have slowed it.

The sun rose in streaks of gray over Manhattan, but Cynthia still hadn’t moved when she heard the elevator hum. Caleb’s steps echoed through the hall, steady, commanding. She shoved the folder beneath the cushions of the couch and stood quickly, her heartbeat a frantic drum.

The door opened. He entered. His suit was immaculate, his expression unreadable, but his hands… they trembled when he reached for his cufflinks.

“Up early,” he said flatly. His eyes flicked over her like he was measuring the air around her. “Couldn’t sleep?”

Her throat was dry. “No.”

Something in her tone must have reached him, because he stopped mid-step and tilted his head, watching her carefully. “What did you do?”

Her pulse faltered. He had always been able to smell secrets.

“Nothing,” she whispered.

The corner of his mouth curved, humorless. “Lie better, Cynthia.” He walked past her, straight into the bedroom, then the closet. The sound of drawers opening, clothes shifting, filled the silence.

Her body moved before her brain caught up. She followed him in, heart rattling in her ribs.

He glanced at her in the mirror as he buttoned his shirt. “If you have something to say, say it.”

Her chest heaved. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

He froze. Just for a second. His reflection stiffened before smoothing again. “Tell you what?”

“That you’re dying.” Her voice cracked. “Months, Caleb. You don’t have years. You’ve known this, and you—”

His hands stilled on the buttons. Slowly, he turned to face her, eyes narrowing. “Where did you hear that?”

She couldn’t answer. Her lips parted but no sound came.

His voice hardened, low and dangerous. “What did you do?”

“I went to the clinic,” she blurted out, trembling. “I saw Dr. Marin. I saw the reports. You’ve been lying to me.”

For a long moment, the world didn’t move. Then he laughed once, bitter, sharp. “So that’s why you’re shaking like a leaf.”

“I had to know!” Her voice rose. “You made me believe there was time. You made me believe I could plan—”

“You don’t get to plan my death,” he cut in, his voice a whip. “You don’t get to decide when or how I go.”

Her eyes stung. “Then what am I to you, Caleb? A body? A cure? A pawn in your war with everyone you hate? You won’t even tell me the truth about yourself.”

He stepped forward. The distance vanished. His breath was hot, his eyes black fire. “You want truth?” His voice shook. “Your father wasn’t an accident.”

The words hit her like a fist. She blinked, stumbling back. “What… what are you saying?”

Caleb’s chest heaved. His jaw clenched, like every word cost him blood. “Your father worked for mine. He was loyal. Until he wasn’t. Until I found out he had been selling information to our competitors. My father was going to destroy him. I—” He broke off, dragging a hand through his hair. “I let it happen. I let Jorge Reyes bury your father’s name in the ground. And I didn’t stop it. Because I was too busy proving myself.”

Cynthia’s knees weakened. Her hands trembled at her sides. “You… you let him die in disgrace.”

Caleb’s eyes closed for half a second. “I was young. Stupid. Hungry for approval. By the time I realized what it cost you, it was too late.”

She shook her head violently. Tears blurred her vision. “You’ve been punishing me ever since. That’s why you came for me. Not because of revenge against Marcus. Not because of love. Because you couldn’t forgive yourself.”

His silence confirmed it.

Her chest tore open with grief and fury. “You destroyed my family. And now you’ve chained me to yours. How much more do you want from me?”

His hands trembled, more violently now. He reached for the dresser, gripping it so hard the wood groaned. “I never wanted this truth between us,” he rasped. “Because once it’s out, there’s no taking it back.”

She took a step back, tears streaking down her cheeks. “You’re right. There’s no going back.”

The air between them was jagged glass, every breath cutting.

Then his body swayed. His grip faltered. He staggered, one hand clutching his chest, the other knocking a glass of water to the floor.

“Caleb!” Cynthia lunged forward, catching his arm before he collapsed. His body shook like an earthquake beneath her hands.

“Don’t—” His voice broke as he tried to push her away, but his strength was gone. His weight bore down on her as his knees buckled.

“Sit down,” she begged, guiding him to the edge of the bed. Her heart hammered in terror. “Please, Caleb. Just—”

His face was pale, his breath ragged. He looked at her like she was both his anchor and his executioner. “Don’t pity me.”

Her hands cupped his face despite herself. “This isn’t pity. It’s fear. I don’t know what to do if you—” Her voice cracked and she stopped.

His eyes softened, just for a second. Then they hardened again. He gripped her wrist with surprising force. “Swear to me,” he rasped. “Swear you’ll stay. Swear you won’t run to Liliana. Swear you won’t betray me.”

Her chest heaved. Her mind screamed to lie, to soothe him. But her heart was breaking open with too many truths at once.

“Caleb,” she whispered, tears spilling, “you’ve already broken every vow we had.”

He flinched. His grip loosened. For the first time, she saw something she never thought possible in him — fear.

Not fear of dying. But fear of losing her before he was gone.

The silence pressed in until her phone buzzed on the nightstand. Both of them turned toward it. Her stomach dropped when she saw the name flashing.

Marcus.

Her hand froze in midair.

Caleb’s eyes tracked hers, then the phone. His jaw clenched, his body shaking with something darker than illness.

“Answer it,” he said, voice cold.

Her throat closed. She couldn’t.

“Answer it.” Louder this time. A command.

Cynthia’s hand hovered above the phone, her pulse hammering so loud she could barely hear. She had no choice. If she ignored Marcus, Caleb would rip the truth from her. If she answered, she risked everything.

The screen buzzed again. The choice burned her alive.