The Oath That Binds the Dawn

The day before my wedding to Elias Johnson, the heir to the Johnson family, my best friend, Chloe Smith, killed my mother in a car crash.

Elias didn't just shield her from the consequences.

He tore up our marriage contract and publicly announced his union with Chloe instead-a new alliance forged over my mother's grave.

I swore I'd make Chloe pay.

I crashed their celebration party, vowing blood for blood, but all I got were jeers and pity.

They called me an outsider who didn't understand the rules.

Just when I was breaking, James Wilson, the head of the Wilson family, the quiet, shadowy man who had watched me grow up-knelt before me in front of everyone.

He promised to be my shield and the blade of my revenge.

I said yes.

I placed all my hope in him to uncover the truth about my mother's death.

He told me Chloe had been dealt with by the family's "rules," sent to a "prison" from which she could never leave.

I believed him.

But in the third year of our marriage, I overheard him talking to his family's lawyer.

"James, did you really marry Olivia Taylor just for a 'peace treaty'? It was an 'accident.' Why would you gamble the entire Wilson family on it?"

"Becoming her husband was the only way."

" As her spouse, I could sign that peace accord as the sole legal representative of the Taylor estate. It was the only way to save Chloe and placatethe Johnson family."

"As long as Chloe is safe on her island in the Caribbean, that's all that matters. As for me... I don't matter."

So, the marriage I saw as my salvation was nothing but an elaborate lie, a scheme to protect the woman he truly loved.

The "peace treaty" signed in my name, the one that stopped a bloody war between the families, and Chloe's life of freedom-that was what he really wanted.

I was merely the pawn to be discarded.

...

In his office, James Wilson stared at a photo of Chloe on a sun-drenched beach, his smile a mix of heartbreak and relief.

"It's been three years. Just seeing her happy is enough, even if I'm not the one who gives her that happiness."

"As for Olivia... I'll spend the rest of my life making it up to her. This conversation is over."

The family's lawyer, an old man named David Carter, turned pale with anger but was helpless.

"James, we've spent decades legitimizing the family business. You're talking about covering up a murder!"

" If the Feds or the Johnsons ever find out, it won't just be you-the entire Wilson empire goes down!"

"Chloe Smith intentionally murdered her. That's a fact. Why the hell would you risk everything for a woman who doesn't love you?"

James's face turned to ice.

"Enough, David. We will not speak of this again. I don't believe Chloe did it on purpose. It was a tragic accident. I gave Anna Taylor a funeral befitting her status. The Taylors were honored."

"To save Chloe, I'd give more than a company. I'd give my life."

David was frantic.

"And what about Olivia? She'll find out eventually! The second she gets suspicious and starts looking for Chloe, your whole plan is shot to hell!"

"You used her name to pardon her mother's killer. How do you expect her to live with that?"

James was silent for a moment, then lit a cigar.

"Then she must never know. Three years is long enough. Her 'sentence' should be over."

"Make the arrangements. And remember, don't let Olivia find a single clue."

"James, as your laywer, I have to warn you! No secret lasts forever! To protect a murderer, you've hurt someone even more innocent. If Olivia learns the truth, you are finished."

A tear slid down my chin.

My whole body trembled, my hands barely able to hold the dinner I'd brought for him.

Footsteps were getting closer. I scrambled into the stairwell to hide.

So, my mother's fatal car crash was never brought before any "rules" or laws.

Chloe wasn't atoning for her sins in some cold, dark cell like he'd told me.

She was on the other side of the world, bathing in sun and freedom.

And my husband, the man I loved with every part of me, had orchestrated it all.

His tenderness, his protection, it was all a performance to save his true love.

For three years, I had lived inside his carefully constructed lie.

I thought I had found a sanctuary, but I was standing in the middle of hell.

What a fucking joke.

I stumbled down the stairs and stood outside the Wilson Group tower.

I waited for five hours.

I waited until the last light in the building went out.

Finally, his figure appeared.

The moment he saw me, his eyes filled with concern.

He rushed over and took my hands.

"What are you doing here? How long have you been waiting?"

"Not long, I just got here. I brought you dinner. Your assistant said you were in a meeting, so I didn't want to interrupt."

"Don't do this again. It's cold out here. I'd be heartbroken if you got sick."

He pulled me into his arms and placed a soft kiss on my forehead.

The gesture was as loving as ever.

But it really made me sick.

He could really do this-hold one woman while his heart belonged to another.

He opened the passenger door for me and then spoke, as if the thought just occurred to him.

"By the way, Chloe's 'sentence' is almost up. You two were friends, after all, and she's paid her dues. Besides, we have a lot of business with the Smith family now, so..."

"Yes, it's all in the past," I cut him off calmly.

"I won't cause her any more trouble, don't worry."

He visibly relaxed, a small smile touching his lips.

"Thank you, my sweet Olivia. I'm so lucky to have you."

I turned my head, silent tears rolling down my face.

Back home, while he was in the shower, I opened his laptop.

The password was Chloe's birthday.

The desktop background was an aerial shot of the Maldives.

That was where Chloe had been "serving her time" for the past three years.

I logged into his private social media account.

The banner photo was a picture of him and Chloe as teenagers.

He was only following one account.

I clicked on her profile, which was filled with pictures of Chloe's luxurious life abroad.

The jewelry she wore was from the latest collection of the Wilson Group's own luxury brand.

The private villa she was vacationing in was an overseas property the Wilson Group had acquired three years ago-their only overseas resort.

With a trembling hand, I opened his encrypted ledger.

There was only one recipient's name: Chloe Smith.

One million dollars, every single month, transferred through a complex network of accounts.

He had done this for three whole years.

I felt a deep, hollow sorrow settle in my chest.

I remembered the bio on his private account.

It was just a single word:Wait.

I'd once asked him what it meant. He'd said it was nothing.

Now, I understood.

In three years of marriage, besides the cold wedding photo on the wall, we didn't have a single picture together.

No matter how many times I asked, he'd just say we saw each other every day and didn't need formalities like that.

Only now did I understand.

It wasn't that he didn't need them. It was that I wasn't worthy of them.

I laughed bitterly and closed the laptop.

I booked myself a one-way ticket to Europe, departing in three days.

Then, I initiated the process to terminate all of my official identification.

Three days.

That was enough time to say goodbye to the last three years.

I set a countdown as my phone's wallpaper.

When he came out of the shower, I pretended to be asleep.

He moved quietly around the room.

I didn't sleep at all.

The next morning, I was in the bathroom when my phone rang.

James's confused voice came from the bedroom.

"Olivia? You got an email from the Department of Homeland Security? 'Identity termination'? What is this?"

I rushed out and took the phone.

"It's nothing. My driver's license is about to expire, I'm just scheduling a renewal."

"Don't you have to deal with that new shipment at the port today? You should go."

He didn't question it.

He just pulled me into his arms, his lips brushing against my ear.

"Thank you, baby. I'm so lucky to have such a sensible wife."

I smiled but said nothing.

"As a reward, I'm giving you a exquisite gift tonight, okay?"

"Okay. I'll be waiting for you at home."

He was trying so hard to keep me from going after Chloe.

His three-year performance was entering its final act.

The moment he left, I completed the final step of my identity termination.

After filling out the forms, I contacted an old family friend, a retired private investigator.

I asked him about the details of the "peace treaty."

He simply told me that a treaty signed by a surviving family member was absolutely binding and could not be revoked.

I didn't ask any more questions.

I just had him draft two copies of a legal severance document.

With the statements in hand, I went to the Wilson Group headquarters.

As I walked into the lobby, I heard the receptionists whispering.

"Is that Mrs. Wilson? I heard she just got back from 'rehab.' Her vibe is... no wonder Mr. Wilson would do all that for her. Though I'm a woman, my heart is fluttering!"

"It has to be her. That Birkin is a global limited edition. I've seen the boss looking at jewelry catalogs for her. So romantic..."

"I heard Mr. Wilson bought that hotel in the Caribbean just for her. They were childhood sweethearts, you know. You couldn't write a movie this good!"

Top floor. James's office. I stood at the door, listening to the familiar voices inside.

"These past three years... have you been okay?" James asked.

"Mmm, better than okay. I woke up to the ocean every day. The air tasted like freedom. I haven't even thanked you properly, James. Without you, the Johnsons would have fed me to the fish..."

"Don't say that. It's over. I know you didn't do it on purpose. Helping you was about keeping the peace between our families."

Chloe laughed, a bright, tinkling sound.

"You're still the same. If Olivia knew everything you did for me, she would lose her mind."

"This bag is too much. You should give it to Olivia. I'm worried if she sees it, she'll run to the authorities again"

That was Chloe. Take everything she could get, then play the magnanimous victim.

Three years ago, at the party Elias Johnson threw for her, I publicly exposed her as my mother's killer, breaking ties with them completely.

But every guest there took her side, blaming me, the "outsider," for destroying their hard-won peace.

I became the laughingstock of the entire circle.

James's arrival was my only salvation.

But now, he was the one pushing me back into the abyss.

His secretary, rushing to deliver a contract, didn't see me and pushed the door open.

When James saw me, a flicker of panic crossed his eyes.

"Olivia? When did you get here? Don't misunderstand. Chloe just got back. We were just catching up, that's all..."

"Olivia, long time no see."

Chloe stood up, dressed in a brand-new couture gown from a Wilson-owned brand.

Her face was glowing, radiant with health, not a single trace of someone who had returned from "atoning for her sins."

I smiled and nodded, forcing down the lump in my throat.

"It's fine. I was just passing by to. Since you're busy, I'll head home."

James thought I was angry and followed me out, trying to explain.

"Don't be like this. I was just asking how she was doing over there. I mean, a girl all alone in a place like that... it must have been hard."

"It's been three years. Shouldn't all the grudges be forgotten by now? Didn't you say it was all in the past?"

Seeing how anxious he was, I almost laughed.

He had sacrificed his own marriage to play this part for me, all to save Chloe.

Now that Chloe was back, safe and sound, who was he putting on this act for?

"Yes, it's in the past. Don't worry, I'm not unreasonable. I meant what I said."

"You go back to work. I'll be a good girl and wait for you at home."

He let out a sigh of relief and had his secretary escort me downstairs.

Before I left, he made a point to remind me that the Johnson family was hosting a grand welcome-back dinner for Chloe the next night.

Appearances must be kept.

The official story was that Chloe had been studying abroad in Europe. No one would mention her "incarceration."

I nodded, promising not to cause a scene at the dinner.

Only then did he let me go.

Back home, I took the enormous wedding photograph off the wall.

With a pair of scissors, I cut it to shreds, piece by piece.

Then, I tossed the scraps into the fireplace and watched them burn.

James didn't come home that night.

Chloe, however, reactivated her American social media account and posted for the first time in years.

It was a picture of a candlelit dinner.

The man's face wasn't visible, but you could see his wrist.

The spot where a wedding ring used to be was bare, but the skin was a shade lighter than the rest.

It was James.

Just as she'd hoped, I 'liked' the post.

Then I turned off my phone and packed the few belongings I had left.

The next morning, James's assistant delivered a gown for the evening's dinner.

I opened the box.

It was an old design from last season.

By the time I arrived at the Johnson family estate that evening, Elias Johnson had just finished his welcome speech.

He announced that Chloe would be taking full charge of all business partnerships between the Johnson and Smith families.

The room was buzzing with envy.

Everyone was saying how lucky Chloe was, to have the two most powerful young men in the city wrapped around her finger.

The moment I appeared, the hall fell silent.

All eyes were on me, waiting for the show to begin.

James was busy networking with the heads of various families and didn't have time for me.

So Chloe played the hostess and pulled me aside, up to the second-floor terrace.

With no one else around, she dropped the act. Her face was twisted with mockery and venom.

"Olivia Taylor, after all these years, you're still so pathetic."

"Thanks to your husband, I spent the last three years in the Caribbean living better than in paradise. You didn't really think James married you for love, did you?"

" Let me tell you the truth. If he hadn't needed you to sign that treaty, he wouldn't have even looked at you twice!"

"Olivia, you're a fucking joke!"

Rage burned inside me. I couldn't hold back any longer.

I slapped her hard across the face.

A cold smirk played on her lips. She took a few quick steps back and threw herself down the stairs.

Screams erupted from the grand hall.

James was the first to reach her, pulling her tightly into his arms.

He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a fury I had never seen before.

"Olivia Taylor, what the hell are you doing? Are you insane?"

"Chloe was being nice to you, and you push her? You promised to let the past go! What is this bullshit tonight?"

My face was a cold mask, my voice devoid of any emotion.

"Me? Causing bullshit?"

"James, don't you think you both owe me an explanation for what reallyhappened?"

His brow furrowed, a flash of panic in his eyes.

"An explanation for what? Hasn't Chloe paid the price for the last three years? What more do you want?"

"That was then, this is now! No matter what happened in the past, it doesn't give you the right to attack her today!"

"Olivia, right now, apologize to her!"

Before I could speak, Chloe started crying pitifully in his arms.

"Don't... don't be hard on Olivia. It was all my fault back then. I'm the one who wronged her... Just let today be another apology for the mistake I made..."

"Since she hates me so much, maybe we shouldn't see each other anymore. I don't want to make things difficult for you."

My nails dug into my palms, drawing blood.

Watching them walk away together, I knew. It was completely over between us.

I was "escorted" out of the estate by Johnson family security.

Two hours later, a text from James finally came through.

"Chloe just got back and she's still unstable. Don't blame her. I only made you apologize for the Johnsons' sake."

"I'll make it up to you when I'm done here tonight, okay? I told you I had a gift for you, don't be upset."

But I knew that show wasn't for the Johnson family.

It was for me.

He had played the part of a loving husband for three years.

Now, it was time for the performance to end.

I sat at home with the severance papers, waiting until dawn.

He never came.

I only saw the news online-the heir to the Wilson family had caused a scene at the hospital for his beloved.

Chloe only had a few scrapes, but he had summoned the best surgeons in New York to consult on her case.

In the photo, he held Chloe in his arms, his eyes filled with a tenderness I had never seen.

When the sun came up, I called him.

He didn't speak right away.

On his end, I could hear him giving orders to his assistant.

"Boss, are you really transferring the Caribbean hotel to Miss Smith's name? That will cost the family hundreds of millions in assets!"

"Please, reconsider this."

"No need. Do as I say. I owe her this. Also, draw up another contract transferring 50% of our family's shares in the Las Vegas casinos to Chloe."

After the assistant left, James finally remembered he was on the phone.

"Olivia? Sorry, I kept you waiting. I'm heading home now. By the way, what did you call for?"

I looked down at the documents in my hand.

"It's nothing. You're busy. I won't disturb you."

"Okay. You be good and wait for me at home. I'll be right back."

I didn't wait any longer.

I signed my name on the papers.

With my luggage, I left the "home" I had lived in for three years.

I mailed a copy of the fraudulent "peace treaty" to James's office.

If I timed it perfectly, he would receive it just as my plane was taking off.

I was gone for a full day and night.

He never went home either.

The countdown on my phone hit zero.

The moment I stepped onto the plane, a message from him arrived.

"Olivia, I had my assistant drop your gift off at the house, but no one answered."

"Are you still mad?"

"Stop pouting. Be good. I'm coming home right now."

I glanced at Chloe's new post from the hospital.

In the photo, a man was gently feeding her porridge.

I didn't reply.

After receiving confirmation that my identity had been successfully erased, I deleted every trace of him from my life.

At the hospital, James's assistant burst in, clutching a mailer envelope, his face white as a sheet.

"Boss, bad news! Mrs. Wilson... she found out about the peace treaty you forged three years ago! And I can't reach her!"