Echoes of a Shattered Vow

Elton's fists flew, pummeling the hooligans until they sprawled on the ground. He kept kicking, unrelenting.

Jill grabbed his waist. "Stop, Elton! You'll kill them."

The hooligans fled.

Elton regained control, gently holding Jill. "Are you okay? I'm sorry I'm late."

Jill squirmed in his arms, distressed. "You didn't come home, so I came looking for you, but..."

She sobbed, continuing, "Lillian's guys forced me to take some kind of drug. I feel awful, Elton. Help me, please. I'm dying."

"What?" Elton's face tightened as he felt her hot breath, his veins bulging.

Lillian, still shaking from fear, tried to speak. "No, I didn't."

Tears spilled before her words.

Jill pointed at her. "She is mad that I took you from her. She said she'd ruin me and make sure I couldn't show my face around you again."

Lillian tried defending herself. "It was her..."

Elton's hand cracked across her face, his eyes burning with rage. "You're still lying?"

His icy glare pierced her heart.

Jill let out a pained whimper. "I can't take it."

Elton's voice softened instantly. He kissed her forehead. "Don't worry. I'll fix this."

He scooped her up and headed for a nearby hotel.

Lillian, sprawled on the ground, felt her cheek stinging. Tears blurred her vision, and she passed out.

When she woke up, she was back home on her bed.

"Awake?" Elton stood beside her, sighing. "Jill told me everything. She's sorry. She just loves me too much and fears losing me. She wants you to be her bridesmaid to make up for it."

Lillian froze. She knew his love for Jill, but their shamelessness still surprised her.

Jill had nearly ruined her life, but Elton brushed it off with an apology and expected her to play bridesmaid for the culprit.

"Make up for it?" she said, her voice rising. "She wants me to watch you two get married, and that's her apology?"

Elton didn't answer, his stern expression brooking no argument.

Lillian took a deep breath, breaking the standoff. "Fine! I'm leaving soon anyway."

"Leaving?" Elton's voice spiked. He grabbed her wrist. "You're still going on about that? Don't push your luck! You will be her bridesmaid."

No matter what she said, he ignored her, locking her in her room. "When you're ready to play nice and be Jill's bridesmaid, I'll let you out."

"No, let me out!" She pounded the door.

He sat on the couch, silently clenching his fists. He couldn't understand why she was so set on leaving or why her insistence sparked such anger in him every time.

As her departure date neared, he still showed no sign of freeing her. He'd even taken her phone, cutting her off from Alonzo and leaving her restless.

For the next few days, Elton threw himself into wedding plans, sending food to her room daily.

On the wedding day, he finally opened the door, holding a fancy box. "Get changed. The driver's coming soon. Don't mess up my wedding."

He locked the door and left for the wedding venue.

Moments later, the door creaked open. Several burly men in suits entered, startled to see Lillian slumped on the floor.

"Ms. Hogan, are you okay? Should we call Mr. Ballard?" the leader asked.

Lillian looked up, realizing these were Alonzo's men. Today was her departure day, and they were here to pick her up.

She stood up, leaning on the wall. "I'm fine. Take me to him."

On the plane, just before takeoff, Lillian pulled out her phone and deleted every trace of Elton.

'Goodbye, Elton,' she whispered silently. 'We're done for good.'