Filed to story: Shattered Vows (Venessa Windsor) Book PDF Free
In Jexburgh, during the depths of winter, the biting cold made it feel like being trapped in an ice cellar.
Inside the women’s prison workshop, Venessa Windsor, clad in her prison uniform, was sewing shoes.
Her hands were swollen and red, tormented by chilblains and blisters, causing her unbearable pain.
At that moment, a prison guard approached her and called out, “Venessa Windsor, the Pierce family has arranged for your bail. You’re free to leave now.”
The mention of the Pierce family caused a wave of instinctual fear to sweep over Venessa, momentarily rendering her unable to comprehend the prison guard’s words.
Four years ago, her fate had taken a dramatic turn.
On her eighteenth birthday, the very day she came of age, she transitioned from being a wealthy heiress to being labeled a thief.
Her biological mother, a housekeeper, had secretly switched her identity with that of the true daughter of the Pierce family.
When the housekeeper confronted Venessa for money, the entire affair came to light.
From that moment, Venessa’s life took a bleak turn. She watched the Pierce family tearfully embrace each other, sharing their longing and affection, while she stood awkwardly and cluelessly on the sidelines.
In that instant, she had to accept the harsh reality. The father and mother she had known for eighteen years no longer belonged to her.
After a long while, Alaric Pierce finally noticed Venessa standing awkwardly to the side. He contemplated for a good amount of time before he gathered the courage to say, “Vena, even if Madison returns, you will always be the eldest daughter of the Pierce family. From this day forward, Madison will be your little sister.”
Harriet Carraway, realizing that she had been neglecting Venessa, also offered her comfort. “Vena, I will continue to love and care for you as if you were my own daughter.”
Venessa had genuinely believed it.
However, the humiliation came too swiftly.
The Pierce family was invited to the birthday banquet of the daughter of the prestigious Lorimer family, Tiffany Lorimer.
At the banquet, they witnessed Madison stealing the precious necklace belonging to Tiffany.
They also witnessed firsthand as Madison’s best friend accused her of being a thief on the spot.
Tiffany flew into a rage, even threatening to call the police and have her thrown into jail.
Together, they fell silent, subconsciously deciding to let Venessa take the blame for Madison.
Despite being completely innocent, Venessa begged and struggled, but it seemed as if the entire world had turned against her.
In the end, she was still sent to prison.
At that moment, she realized she no longer had parents.
“Hey, she’s off to enjoy the good life, huh? Ladies, do you think she will forget about us once she’s out?” the prison bully teased Venessa with a hint of contempt in her voice.
In an instinctive response, Venessa found herself kneeling on the ground. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I was wrong. Please don’t hit me,” she pleaded.
The prison guard frowned impatiently. “Venessa Windsor, come out!”
It finally dawned on Venessa that she was getting out. The prison bully who used to pick on her would no longer be a threat.
Under the watchful gaze of the prison bully, Venessa lowered her head and slowly moved away.
After finalizing her release procedures, she donned her thin, worn-out casual clothes and was then escorted to the prison gates by a prison guard.
From a distance, she saw a tall and slender figure leaning against a luxury car.
The man was dressed in a glossy black satin shirt, its buttons partially undone. His piercing black eyes constantly radiated an aura of authority and power.
Venessa gazed at the figure before her, feeling no joy at reuniting with a loved one. Instead, a lingering fear quickly enveloped her. Her already disabled leg began to throb with a dull pain again.
He was Gabe Pierce, the man she had considered her older brother for the past eighteen years.
In order to appease the lady of the Lorimer family, he had specifically arranged for the prison bully to give her special attention.
He was the source of all her suffering in prison.
The cold wind was biting.
What was colder than winter was the chill in Venessa’s heart.
Four years had passed.
Venessa believed her heart had grown numb, but she still couldn’t help feeling a deep sense of sorrow.
She fought back the urge to cry.
As she suppressed her inner negative emotions, Gabe had already started walking toward her.
She was scared, terrified even, but she dared not hide. She knew that evasion would only invite more brutal treatment. Even though she had left the prison, this conditioned response had already taken root.
“It’s been a while. I’m sorry.” She bowed respectfully, her voice laced with a mix of fear and detachment.
Gabe was taken aback for a moment.
They hadn’t seen each other in four years.
To his surprise, the once haughty little princess, who thought the world of herself, began her first encounter with him with an apology.
He had prepared himself for Venessa’s outburst, anticipating her to demand justice as she did four years ago. However, instead of lashing out, she quietly slumped her shoulders, relinquishing the upright posture she once held.
She appeared fearful, which was exactly what he had hoped for four years ago.
Not only had she reached that point, but she had done so with such genuine sincerity.
At that moment, he found himself unable to face it and accept it.
In that brief instant, a wave of melancholy surged from the depths of his heart.
He was like a defeated lion, exiled into a world of solitude, with only the cold and darkness for company.
Gabe took a deep breath and began slowly, “Grandma missed you terribly. Given her advanced age and illness, Mrs. Lorimer specifically signed a letter of forgiveness to secure your early release from prison.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Gabe realized his demeanor wasn’t warm enough. He stepped forward, intending to gently embrace Venessa, but she avoided him.
Gabe was momentarily stunned and pondered for a moment. His tone softened even more as he said, “It’s all in the past now. I’m still your brother. Come with me.”
