Shattered Vows
introduction
Athena
1. Athena (Female Lead)
Profession: Data Scientist, Self-Made Billionaire
Personality: Cold, Dominating, Genius, and Emotionally Distant
Background: Athena is a brilliant data scientist and a self-made billionaire. Known for her icy and detached personality, she dominates the tech world with her unmatched intellect and business acumen. However, beneath her seemingly unbreakable exterior lies a woman haunted by guilt over the death of her best friend, Sana, in a car accident. Athena, who was driving, survived the crash, but the event left her emotionally scarred and riddled with self-blame. Her coldness is both a shield and a coping mechanism, but she hides a significant secret—her deteriorating health. Despite her cold front, she is highly vulnerable and fragile, both physically and emotionally. She agrees to a forced marriage with Arnold out of guilt, seeing it as penance for her role in the accident, but refuses to show her vulnerability, believing she doesn’t deserve love or care.
Arnold
2. Arnold (Male Lead)
Profession: CEO of a Massive Empire, Royal Family Member
Personality: Ruthless, Proud, Passionate, Conflicted
Background: Arnold is the CEO of a powerful conglomerate and a member of a royal family, accustomed to a life of power, privilege, and control. His world is shattered when his fiancée, Sana, dies in the car accident that Athena survives. Blaming Athena entirely for Sana’s death, Arnold’s grief turns into deep-seated hatred, which becomes the driving force behind his initial decision to marry her. He views the marriage as a punishment for Athena, making a venomous vow at their wedding to hurt her for the rest of their lives. Despite his outward cruelty, Arnold is deeply conflicted. His feelings evolve as he discovers more about Athena’s struggles, and he begins to see her not as the enemy but as someone equally broken by the tragedy. Arnold’s journey is one of redemption, as he struggles to reconcile his love for Sana with the growing affection he feels for Athena.
Sana
3. Sana (Best Friend)
Personality: Kind, Warm, Compassionate, Joyful
Background: Sana was Athena’s best friend since childhood and Arnold’s beloved fiancée. Warm, caring, and full of life, she had an infectious personality that brought light into the lives of those around her. Sana’s tragic death in the accident is the catalyst for the story’s conflict, leaving both Arnold and Athena devastated in different ways. Though deceased, her presence looms over the entire narrative, influencing Arnold’s initial hatred for Athena and Athena’s own sense of guilt. Both Arnold and Athena’s memories of her shape their actions and emotions, even as they try to move forward with their lives.
Lord Henry
4. Lord Henry (Arnold's Father)
Profession: Business Tycoon, Royal Figure
Personality: Ambitious, Authoritative, Pragmatic
Background: Lord Henry is a powerful and pragmatic figure in the royal family and the business world. He is the one who orchestrates Arnold and Athena’s marriage for political and financial reasons, seeing it as a way to preserve family ties and consolidate their power. Cold and calculating like his son, he prioritizes the empire’s success over personal feelings, putting immense pressure on Arnold to marry Athena despite his grief. He sees Athena as a valuable asset, recognizing her brilliance and the benefits she could bring to their business empire, though he underestimates the emotional toll the marriage will take on both her and Arnold.
Lady Eleanor
5. Lady Eleanor (Arnold’s Mother)
Personality: Elegant, Diplomatic, Compassionate
Background: Lady Eleanor is a gentle but firm presence in Arnold’s life. Unlike her husband, she cares deeply about her son’s happiness and is more concerned with the emotional ramifications of the forced marriage. She tries to mediate between Arnold’s anger and Athena’s coldness, though she remains unaware of Athena’s hidden health problems. Lady Eleanor is more empathetic toward Athena than most, and she quietly urges Arnold to let go of his hatred, hoping that time will help heal the wounds of both.
Marcus
6. Marcus (Arnold’s Best Friend)
Profession: Businessman, Confidant
Personality: Loyal, Pragmatic, Cautious
Background: Marcus is Arnold’s closest friend and confidant. He’s loyal to Arnold and often serves as his sounding board. Marcus tries to help Arnold navigate the complexities of his relationship with Athena, offering advice when needed. He doesn’t fully trust Athena at first, believing that she played a role in Sana’s death, but as the truth unfolds, he becomes a supporter of their relationship. Marcus values loyalty and honesty, and his pragmatic approach to life contrasts with Arnold’s more emotional and passionate reactions.
Dr. Eva Williams
7. Dr. Eva Williams (Athena’s Doctor)
Profession: Physician, Specialist in Chronic Illness
Personality: Caring, Professional, Discreet
Background: Dr. Eva is Athena’s trusted physician who knows about her hidden health problems. She is discreet, understanding that Athena wants to keep her condition private, but she constantly urges Athena to take her health more seriously. Eva represents the small circle of people who truly know the vulnerable side of Athena, and she plays a critical role when Athena’s health deteriorates. She is one of the few people Athena can let her guard down with, though Athena still resists Eva’s advice out of pride.
Lucas
8. Lucas (Athena’s Assistant)
Profession: Executive Assistant
Personality: Loyal, Sharp, Dependable
Background: Lucas is Athena’s right-hand man in her company. Extremely efficient, he handles her demanding schedule and ensures everything runs smoothly in her business empire. Though he’s professional and keeps a respectful distance, Lucas is one of the few people who has noticed Athena’s physical exhaustion. He’s loyal to her and silently looks out for her, though he never presses her about her personal struggles.
trailer
The grand cathedral is dimly lit, the air thick with tension. Rows of guests sit silently, the usual joy of a wedding replaced with a somber, uneasy atmosphere. The male lead stands at the altar, his jaw clenched, eyes glaring ahead with barely contained resentment. The female lead, poised and composed, stands across from him, her face unreadable.
priest
Do you, Arnold take Athena to be your lawfully wedded wife, to love, honor, and protect her for as long as you both shall live?
Arnold
I vow to never protect you, to hurt you, and to hate you for the rest of our days.❄️
An audible gasp ripples through the crowd. The air grows colder, and a tense silence blankets the room. The female lead remains unshaken, her eyes meeting his with a hardness that matches his bitterness. She responds without missing a beat.
Athena
And I vow never to need your protection❄️
The tension between them is palpable, the air heavy with the weight of their words. The guests shift uncomfortably in their seats as the ceremony moves forward, the vows having left a deep, unsettling chill in the room.
chapter 1 episode 1
A glittering ballroom filled with the elite of society. Athena and Sana, dressed in stunning evening gowns, are laughing together near the grand staircase, their bond evident as they stand side by side.
Sana
Remember when we used to sneak out to watch the stars? Those were the days!
Athena
Before work took over every moment of my life. You always know how to bring me back to those times.
Despite her usual cold and commanding demeanor, Athena's face is softer, relaxed in the presence of her best friend. Sana, radiant and full of warmth, playfully nudges her.
Sana
That's what best friends are for—keeping you human.
As the night winds down, the two decide to slip out early, their laughter trailing behind them as they exit the ballroom.
Outside, the rain begins to fall steadily, and the wind picks up as they approach Athena’s car. The road ahead is dark and winding, with storm clouds gathering.
Sana
Are you sure you should drive in this? The weather’s getting pretty bad.
Athena
I’ve got this. It’s just a little rain. We’ll be home before you know it.
Sana
* bites her lip, concerned, but trusts Athena’s confidence.*
They buckle in, and the car pulls onto the road, the rain intensifying as they drive.
The road ahead twists and turns, the rain now pouring down in sheets, obscuring the view.
Sana
(nervously) Maybe we should pull over... It’s getting worse.
Athena
(focused) We’re fine. I can handle it.
But as the storm rages on, the road grows more treacherous, and the tension in the car rises with each passing minute.
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