The Unraveled Vows THE Golden Days *end*

[Maya, however, wasn’t so easily deterred. She was determined to get Ethan’s attention, no matter what it took.]

[But for now, Ethan and Rachel were in their own little world, rebuilding the connection they had lost and finding joy in the simple moments they shared.]

( CONTINUE)

~ CHAPTER 14: MAYA'S THREAT, SCARED ETHAN ~

NEXT DAY

The morning sun streamed through the bedroom window as Ethan slowly opened his eyes. He instinctively reached out to Rachel’s side of the bed, but his hand met only cool, empty sheets. A frown creased his brow as he sat up, glancing around the room, but Rachel was nowhere to be seen.

Feeling a bit disoriented, Ethan threw off the covers and headed into the bathroom. As the warm water of the shower cascaded over him, he tried to push aside the thoughts of Maya and the impending meeting that loomed over his day. He needed to focus, to compartmentalize, as he always did in moments of stress. But the knot in his stomach was relentless.

After showering and dressing in his usual sharp suit, Ethan made his way downstairs, adjusting his tie as he went. He spotted Rachel in the kitchen, already dressed and putting the finishing touches on breakfast. She looked up when she heard him enter and gave him a warm smile that momentarily eased his tension.

Rachel Montgomery

"Good morning,"

She greeted him, her voice cheerful.

Rachel Montgomery

"I didn’t want to wake you. I thought you could use extra sleep."

Ethan Montgomery

"Morning,"

Ethan replied, smiling back as he took in her appearance. Rachel looked radiant, wearing a light blue blouse and a pair of tailored slacks, her hair neatly styled.

Ethan Montgomery

"You’re looking nice. Are you heading out somewhere?"

Rachel Montgomery

"Yeah,"

Rachel said, brushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

Rachel Montgomery

"Lena called this morning. There’s a lot going on at the charity, so I’m going in to help out. I might end up staying at her place tonight if we work late."

Ethan nodded, trying to mask the unease that crept up on him.

Ethan Montgomery

"Alright, I’ll drop you off on my way to the office, then."

Rachel shook her head with a gentle smile.

Rachel Montgomery

"No need, Ethan. I’ll drive myself. You’ve got enough on your plate with work. I’ll be fine."

Ethan hesitated for a moment, but then nodded in agreement.

Ethan Montgomery

"Okay, if you’re sure. Just… take care of yourself."

Rachel Montgomery

"I will,"

Rachel assured him as she set the breakfast table. Ethan sat down, and Rachel joined him a moment later, placing a plate of scrambled eggs and toast in front of him.

They ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the clinking of silverware the only sound in the room. Ethan couldn’t help but steal glances at Rachel, his heart heavy with guilt. He wanted to tell her everything, to confess his mistakes, but he knew now wasn’t the time.

When they finished eating, Rachel stood up and gathered the plates, but Ethan stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm.

Ethan Montgomery

"I’ve got this,"

He said softly, taking the dishes from her.

Ethan Montgomery

"You go ahead and get ready to leave"

Rachel smiled at him, a look of appreciation in her eyes.

Rachel Montgomery

"Thanks, Ethan. I’ll just grab my purse and phone."

As she headed upstairs, Ethan busied himself with tidying up the kitchen. He was deep in thought, still grappling with the knowledge that he had to face Maya later that day. When Rachel came back down, she was ready to leave, her purse slung over her shoulder and her phone in hand.

Rachel Montgomery

"Alright, I’m off,"

She said, leaning in to kiss Ethan on the cheek.

Rachel Montgomery

"I’ll call you later, okay?"

Ethan Montgomery

"Sure,"

Ethan replied, forcing a smile as he watched her head out the door.

Ethan Montgomery

"Have a good day."

Rachel Montgomery

"You too,"

Rachel called over her shoulder as she left.

Ethan stood by the window, watching as Rachel got into her car and drove away. His heartfelt heavy, torn between his love for her and the mess he had created. He needed to figure out how to handle this situation with Maya before it destroyed everything he had with Rachel.

Ethan was still basking in the warmth of his renewed connection with Rachel when his phone buzzed on the kitchen counter.The moment felt almost perfect—until he saw the message that shattered the peace he’d fought so hard to rebuild.

The message was from Maya.

Maya Fernandez

[If you don’t meet me tomorrow, I’ll tell your wife everything.]

Ethan felt a chill run down his spine. His fingers trembled as he read the message again, trying to process the threat that now loomed over his marriage. He’d been ignoring her calls, blocking her out of his life, but now she was pushing back—hard.

For a moment, Ethan tried to calm himself. He thought about the past few days with Rachel, the joy they’d shared, and the bond they’d been healing. Maya’s threat seemed desperate, almost pathetic. He tried to convince himself that he didn’t care.

But then, just as he was about to set his phone down and ignore her, another message came through.

Maya Fernandez

[Take a look at this. If you think I’m bluffing, maybe this will change your mind.]

Attached to the message was a photo. Ethan hesitated before opening it, but curiosity and dread got the better of him. When the image loaded, his heart nearly stopped.

It was a photo of him and Maya, taken during one of their secret rendezvous. They were in a hotel room, and it was unmistakable—they were caught in an intimate moment. Maya’s face was clear, and so was his. There was no denying what was happening in the picture.

Ethan’s mind raced. How had she taken this? He didn’t remember ever being photographed, and the thought of this image falling into Rachel’s hands made his stomach churn. He could feel his world slipping away from him.

He was scared now—terrified, actually. What if Maya showed this to Rachel? He could lose everything: his marriage, his life, the woman he genuinely loved. All the happiness he’d rediscovered with Rachel could be destroyed in an instant.

Ethan stared at the photo, his heart pounding in his chest. He knew that if Rachel saw this, there would be no coming back. He had to do something, anything, to prevent that from happening.

His phone buzzed again.

Maya Fernandez

[Meet me tomorrow. Last chance, Ethan. If you don’t, you know what will happen.]

Ethan felt trapped, like a man backed into a corner with no escape. He couldn’t let this photo reach Rachel—not after all they’d been through, not after they’d just started to heal. But meeting Maya again meant risking everything, playing into her hands. He hated the thought of it, but what choice did he have?

He took a deep breath, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. He had to protect Rachel, had to protect the life they were rebuilding. If meeting Maya one last time would keep her quiet, then he had no other option.

Ethan Montgomery

[Fine. I’ll meet you. But this is the last time, Maya. After this, we’re done.]

He sent the message and felt a wave of dread wash over him. Ethan knew this meeting would be dangerous, not just for his marriage, but for his own sense of self-worth. He was playing a dangerous game, and the stakes had never been higher.

But he couldn’t think about that now. All he could do was hope that by meeting her, he could keep Rachel from finding out the truth—at least until he could figure out a way to tell her himself, on his own terms.

But now, what's the use of being afraid or fearing losing Rachel? When the sin has already been committed, one must be prepared to face its consequences as well.

To be continued

Author[Noor]

Hola my lovely Readers 🩷 Hope you enjoyed the chapter Please Like, Comment, Share, Subscribe the story 😊😊 Shower Your love 💟😘