The Broken Vow

Prologue

Once upon a time in a land not too far away, a king and queen got married. Opulence oozed from every corner as the rich and powerful of high society gathered to witness the wedding of the year. Amidst the sea of ​​expensive and sparkly diamonds and chandeliers, the king and queen exchanged their vows. Though their smiles were wide for the cameras and the world, their eyes were cold and detached. They both knew that this was a business agreement masked as love.

A few years later, their daughter was born; a princess with beautiful brown skin that glistened like sun-kissed caramel. Her stunning dark eyes were framed by thick lashes, and a tiny button nose sat perfectly in the center of her face. Her black curls cascaded down her back like a crown. She was a picture of beauty

The princess was showered with designer clothes and endless toys. However, her heart only desired her parents' love and attention. Absent most of the time, they left her in the care of a revolving door of nannies. Just like that the princess turned ten.

Innocent, naive and desperate for affection, she fell prey to the charms of a silver-tongued man. Seduced by his attention and seemingly genuine care, she thought she had finally found someone who cared about her. Little did she know, he was a monster in disguise. How would she have known anyway? Because this monster didn't don a cape or possess sharp fangs and horns. His eyes were not red with malice. Instead, he wore a mask of charm and manipulation. Like a spider, he spun his web, enrapturing her with his sweet words and false promises.

The night he stole her innocence, his presence loomed over her with a predatory glint in his eyes that would haunt her for years to come. A single tear rolled down her cheek as she lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling as he violated her body and destroyed her soul. The sound of his movements - the rustle of clothing and the creak of floorboards - filled her room as he calmly dressed himself, like nothing out of the ordinary had just happened.

She longed to curl up into a ball and disappear, to escape the reality of what had just occurred. But she was frozen in place, unable to move or speak, as he closed her bedroom door behind him with a soft click. Her heart somehow knew that this was only the beginning of a never-ending nightmare that would repeat itself over and over again.

The princess was right.

His visits were sporadic and unpredictable, sending shivers down her spine every time. The fear and dread consumed her, never knowing when he would appear next.

With each twisted game he played, a sense of unease and terror crept over her, leaving her feeling violated and used. After each encounter, he would gaze at her with a sickening combination of adoration and pride. His fingers would trace over her skin, his words dripping with insidious charm as he declared her the most beautiful girl he had ever laid eyes on. Each time he left, she would immediately run to the washroom to scrub off his vile touch. But no amount of scalding water or harsh soap could rid her of the shame and degradation that clung to her like a second skin. She would scrub until her skin was raw and tender. After that she would wear a new set of clothes and lie on the very same bed where he had defiled her. She lay there, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes, feeling broken and numb. Even tears refused to come after the first few times. It wasn't anger towards him that consumed her, but a deep self-loathing and disgust for allowing herself to be used in such a way.

Just when she thought she had reached the peak of suffering, he would return once again. Like a predator stalking its prey, he always found his way back to her shattered spirit, relentlessly pursuing her until she was completely broken.

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