Promises in the Grave

On the day of our wedding, Maverick Lowe sacrificed me as bait to save his childhood sweetheart, Janet Stewart, from her kidnappers.

I was left behind, brutally tormented by the gang.

The next day, the entire internet was flooded with indecent videos of me.

Maverick publicly branded me a disgrace, broke off our engagement in front of everyone, and soon after, paraded Janet as his bride.

While I was drowning in despair, my childhood friend Alfred Hawkins confessed his love.

He said he had always cared for me, and vowed to shelter me from every storm.

With him by my side, I slowly climbed out of that darkness.

We married, and soon after welcomed our daughter, Ruby. The three of us built a life of simple, perfect happiness.

Until one day, I stumbled upon Janet sobbing in Alfred's arms.

Between tears, she choked out, ''The doctor said… without a matching heart, Yoana won't last another month…''

Yoana, her little girl, had been born with a congenital heart defect.

Alfred's hand lingered tenderly on her shoulder as he whispered. ''Don't cry. I told you, Ruby's heart was always meant for Yoana.

''After her birthday, I'll arrange the accident. Then Ruby will be delivered straight to the hospital…''

Everything around me started to whirl and twirl like I was caught in a tornado.

The sound in my ears was like thunder on a hot summer day, booming and crashing, scaring me so much I could barely catch my breath.

I squinted, trying to see Alfred Hawkins's face through the haze, but it was all a blur.

His voice, though, cut through the fog, clear and sharp. "With Ruby's heart, Yoana will be healthy again."

My husband, Alfred, the man everyone called a 'daughter-obsessed dad' because of how much he doted on our daughter, was suggesting we sacrifice our daughter, Ruby Hawkins, to save Janet Stewart's kid, Yoana Lowe.

'No way… This has to be a nightmare...' I told myself.

Janet looked all kinds of uncomfortable as she said, "If Helen gets wind of this, she won't just stand by. I feel so bad for you, Alfred. You don't even like her, but you married her because you felt you had to.

"If I'd known it would cost you your life, I never would've said yes to that crazy kidnapping plan."

Alfred frowned, his face a mix of emotions, as he said calmly, "I don't regret the kidnapping, but I never thought those guys would do what they did to her. If I hadn't married her, she wouldn't have made it.

"Besides, I didn't want her hassling Maverick and making your life difficult.

"However, even though I married her, I never planned to be with her. Now, Yoana needs a heart, and I have no choice… Look, just remember that I did all this for you. Ruby, everything… It was all for you, so don't feel guilty. I'll carry the weight of these sins.

"I'll make it up to her for the rest of my life. I'll make it right for what I've done."

He kept talking, but his words were lost on me. I could no longer hear anything.

The wind howled in my ears, a piercing shriek that seemed ready to burst my eardrums.

I was frozen to the core, my body shaking uncontrollably, barely able to stand.

If not for the sturdy tree I clung to, I would have tumbled to the ground.

I could never have guessed that Alfred was behind the kidnapping that almost ruined me. The man I had thanked from the bottom of my heart all those years was the one who had betrayed me!

Tears streamed down my face in silence. I bit down on my hand, the sharp pain a desperate attempt to stay focused and clear-headed.

Janet, on her tiptoes, gave Alfred a tender kiss and murmured, "Thank you, Alfred. Finding you in this life is my greatest fortune."

A warm flush spread across Alfred's cheeks after her kiss, his eyes a deep pool of love.

He gently stroked her face, whispering, "Janet, always remember that I'm right here behind you."

I could not bear to watch any longer. I slipped away and made my way to my daughter's room.

Ruby, my little girl, was deep in slumber, a dream coaxing a giggle from her lips.

Her innocent face brought a fresh wave of tears to my eyes. She adored her father so much, yet he was plotting against her very life.

The maid, Alice Robinson, noticed my distress.

"Mrs. Hawkins, what's wrong?" she asked with concern.

I shook my head, quickly dabbing at my tears, and forced a smile. "It's nothing. I'm just feeling a little emotional. My little girl... She's grown up so fast."

Alice beamed at me. "You've got it made, you know. Mr. Hawkins spoils you rotten, and Ruby is just the cutest. If you guys had a boy, it would be the cherry on top."

I kept quiet, a wave of sadness washing over me.

Alfred had everyone fooled, thinking he was head over heels for me.

However, who could guess that he actually looked down on me, to the point that sleeping with me was just for another woman?

Even our daughter, Ruby, was nothing more than a cure he had concocted.

With that thought, I whispered to myself, "We're not having any more kids..."

Right then, the door swung open.