Broken Vows and Buried Twins novel Chapter 179

Making up her mind, Hester looked at Caden. "Alright. Whatever you want, buddy."

"Really?!" Caden's eyes lit up like fireworks, staring at Hester in pure adoration. "So I can invite Mom over to play tomorrow?"

Hester's lips curved into a faint smile. "Yes, you can."

"Thank you, Godmother!" Caden cheered, his eyes crinkling into happy little crescents. "You are the prettiest, kindest, most amazing person in the whole world!"

Hester couldn't help but laugh. "Did someone roll that chicken leg in sugar? You're quite the smooth talker tonight."

"I'm just telling the truth!"

Caden's bright, infectious laughter echoed through the dining room, harmonizing beautifully with Hester's soft chuckles.

It was a picture-perfect moment of domestic warmth—but they both subconsciously knew the clock was ticking on these peaceful days.

...

After dinner, Caden immediately called Seraphina.

He lay on his stomach on the living room sofa, kicking his legs in the air as he excitedly video-chatted with her on his smartwatch.

Seeing how engrossed he was, Hester slipped quietly out the back doors to take a walk through the garden and let her dinner settle.

The autumn wind had a sharp bite to it.

Realizing she'd forgotten a jacket, Hester rubbed her arms, deciding to head back inside before she caught a chill. The moment she turned around, she nearly collided with Julian walking down the stone path.

He had a tailored trench coat draped over his arm.

"Lena said you were out here. The temperature drops fast at night. You shouldn't catch a cold."

Julian stopped in front of her and offered the coat.

Hester took it without meeting his eyes. "Thanks."

She was pregnant; her health was her top priority right now. She slipped the heavy fabric over her shoulders and crossed her arms over her chest, instantly feeling the chill recede. She let out a quiet breath of relief.

Seeing that Julian was just standing there staring at her, she said coolly, "I'm going to stay out here a bit longer. You can go back inside."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked toward the small gazebo by the koi pond.

Julian watched her slender silhouette for a second, his jaw tightening, before he fell into step behind her.

The night air was heavy and thick, the sound of their footsteps swallowed by the rushing water of the artificial waterfall.

Hester sat down on the wooden bench inside the gazebo. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Julian stopping a few feet away.

Ignoring him, she grabbed a handful of fish food from a nearby bucket and tossed it into the dark water. A swarm of brightly colored koi instantly broke the surface, mouths gaping as they fought for the pellets.

He came home every night, but he slept in the study.

Hester hadn't reacted at all. They lived under the same roof, but the chasm between them was widening by the hour. Some days, they didn't exchange a single word.

If it weren't for Caden anchoring them to the same physical space, they would be nothing more than hostile strangers leasing the same property.

This was the absolute last thing Julian wanted.

For the past few nights, he had been tormented by dreams of their newlywed days.

Back then, Hester had been elegant and composed in public, but behind closed doors, she was soft, incredibly affectionate, and utterly devoted to him.

Last night, he had dreamt of their wedding night.

In the dream, she had been shy but fiercely passionate. At the height of their intimacy, she had sobbed his name into the dark room, a sound so utterly broken and beautiful it made his chest ache even in his sleep.

He had woken up with a heavy, aching need, disgusted by his own lack of control.

Julian felt a suffocating cocktail of frustration, bitter regret, and profound defeat.

He didn't want to admit it, but he was drowning in the memory of what they used to have.

He couldn't stop obsessing over the same miserable question: How the hell did they end up destroying everything?