The Ashes of Vows (Elara and Damon) novel Chapter 1

A year after the divorce.

At a party, those Park Avenue Princesses suddenly started talking about my ex—husband, Damon Blackwood. They were all gushing about how he was one of the few truly devoted men in the cutthroat world of politics and law.

I just chuckled.“His 'devotion'? Please. That was all for his Unattainable Muse, Sloane Ashford.”

She shot me a disapproving look.

“You just got back to the States. You probably have no idea.”

I couldn't help but wonder. After all, no one knew his favoritism for Sloane better than I did.

But what the heiresses said next completely floored me:

“His wife, Elara Sterling.”

Me? His wife of three years? Hearing that, I just wanted to scoff.

I mean, in the third year of our marriage, my mom merely brushed against some billionaire heiress’s haute couture dress. Next thing I knew, her limbs were broken, and she was thrown into the ocean to drown.

The day I sued that spoiled brat, she walked free.

The lawyer defending her? My own husband, Damon. The guy who founded Blackwood Legal, Veridia City's absolute top—tier firm. No one else even came close.

As the trial wrapped up, that handsome, haughty man stepped away from the defense table and shoved an “apology letter” right in front of me.

“Elle, sign it. Unless you want to get slapped with a defamation suit and end up in jail.”

His voice was so smooth, so coaxing. But behind those gold—rimmed specs, his gaze was sharp as ice.

My eyes were blurry with tears, but I still stared him down. My voice trembled.“Why, Damon?”

I just couldn't wrap my head around it.

He married me. Me, his grandfather’s former nanny. He was supposed to love me so much he’d ditched his family's fortune and even endured house arrest by the Blackwood Clan, just to make me his wife.

But after Mom died, I'd begged him countless times, sobbing my heart out. This very morning, I was on my knees at his feet for the ninety—ninth time, pleading with him to drop the case. I even threatened divorce.

And his response?

—“Elle, don't push me!”

Damon huffed, loosening his tie.“Sloane's different. She chased me for a decade, and she even saved my life.”

“I have to protect her, even if the enemy is you, my wife – the woman I supposedly love the most.”

He spoke, then tapped his tablet, showing me a live feed.

“You have two minutes, Elle. If you won't do it for yourself, then think about your mom. Sign it, and I'll give you her ashes back…”

The screen showed the open ocean. A few bodyguards stood there, holding a rosewood urn. One slip, and…

My tears just gushed out.“What are you doing?!”

But he didn't even flinch.“Be good. Don't waste time. Do you really want your mom to spend eternity at the bottom of the ocean?”

“Damon!”

I glared at the man in front of me, my teeth ground together, almost drawing blood.“I'm divorcing you…”

But in this cruel standoff, he stayed perfectly calm, giving no ground.

“Elle, you only have thirty seconds left.”

In that moment, my heart was pierced.

How ironic. This was the man who once loved me more than life itself.

Eight years ago, he'd fallen for me at first sight at Blackwood Manor.

I was Old Mr. Blackwood’s caregiver back then. Our worlds were miles apart, but he still asked me out a hundred times.

If I so much as glanced at a hydrangea, he’d have all the roses in his garden replaced with them overnight.

He'd also, if I so much as twisted an ankle, book out an entire floor of the hospital.

That's when I found out about the other woman: Sloane Ashford. The billionaire's daughter, his childhood sweetheart, who'd been chasing him for years, completely obsessed.

But he only had eyes for me—

“Elle, I only love you. Who cares if Sloane is from a wealthy family and a 'perfect match'? I utterly despise her!”

And to force him to let me go, the Blackwood Clan not only stripped him of his shares but even pulled strings to exile him to some remote island overseas.

Now, bring her back from the ocean…”

But the moment my raspy voice faded, a sudden gasp erupted right behind me.

Sloane suddenly clutched her head, slumping onto the defendant's stand.“Damon, help!” she cried.“My head's killing me again!”

In that split second, Damon panicked. He literally dropped his tablet and sprinted to her side.

On the livestream, the countdown had already finished. Without Damon's stop command, the bodyguards had already opened the urn…

“No!

I already signed!

Damon, tell them to stop, right now!”

I screamed like crazy, but those bodyguards weren't taking orders from me.

I tried to lunge at Damon, to grab onto him, but he only had eyes for Sloane. As he rushed out, holding her, his elbow slammed into me.

I crashed to the ground, my forehead hitting the corner of the table. Tears streamed down my face, splattering onto the tablet screen.

Too late. It was already too late…

The ashes were already being poured from the boat, caught by the icy ocean wind, and gradually disappearing into the churning sea.

An agonizing guilt ripped through my chest.

My mom always hated the cold. She especially hated the icy ocean. But now, she not only died there, she's trapped in those waters forever.

“Mom, I'm so sorry…”

I completely broke down.

Suddenly, all I felt was regret. Regret for falling in love with Damon, for marrying him.

The endless regret hammered in my skull, and my vision swam.

As the world faded to black, frame by frame, I only heard Damon's anxious voice from outside the courtroom.

“Sloane, just hang in there. As long as you're okay, I'll promise you anything!”