Unbroken Vows

Chapter 10

Tul shot up from the bed, his heart pounding in his chest, beads of sweat clinging to his skin. The echoes of a crash reverberated in his mind—his accident, a sudden memory that shattered the fragile peace he'd found in Mew’s arms just moments ago. His breath came in shallow gasps as the memory replayed in his head like a broken record.

Mew’s face blurred in front of him, the soft touch of his kiss still lingering on his lips. But this time, Tul pushed him away, his trembling hands creating distance between them.

“Don’t... don’t touch me,” Tul muttered, his voice shaking. He clutched his head, feeling the weight of his confusion and pain.

“Tul?” Mew’s voice was soft, a mixture of surprise and concern as he reached out again, his touch hesitant but filled with warmth. “Tul, what’s wrong?”

But Tul couldn’t listen. He had convinced himself that everything around him was a hallucination. The love, the tenderness—none of it could be real. The warmth he craved, the comfort of Mew’s embrace, was a dream his shattered mind was creating to cope with his suffering.

“I’m going crazy,” Tul whispered, his eyes wide and haunted. “I... I’m seeing things... I’m hearing things... None of this is real. You aren’t real.”

Mew, stunned by the intensity of Tul’s words, knelt beside him on the bed, pulling him gently into his arms. Tul’s body stiffened at first, but Mew didn’t let go. His embrace was firm, a reminder of the love they once shared, even if Tul couldn’t remember it now.

“Shh... don’t be harsh on yourself, love,” Mew whispered against Tul’s ear, his voice soothing like a lullaby. “Take your time. Rest. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

For a brief moment, Tul felt the comfort of Mew’s arms around him, as if they were still in their home, safe and whole. It was his haven, his refuge. He let himself melt into Mew’s chest, his breathing slowing, his heart calming. It felt like home. This felt real.

“I’ve got you,” Mew reassured him, stroking Tul’s hair gently. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”

Tul closed his eyes, surrendering to the warmth. His exhaustion was catching up to him, and for the first time in a long while, he felt... safe. But just as his body began to relax, the sharp, shrill ring of Mew’s phone pierced the air.

Mew shifted to check the phone, his arm loosening around Tul. The screen lit up with a name that sent Tul’s world crashing back down: Lilly.

Reality hit Tul like a punch to the gut.

Lilly. His wife. The mother of his children.

Tul jerked out of Mew’s embrace, his heart racing as cold, hard reality gripped him once again. What am I doing? This wasn’t his place. Mew had a family—two daughters, a wife, a life he didn’t belong in anymore. And what was Tul? He was pregnant with Max’s child, a constant reminder of his trauma, and there was no place for him here.

Mew noticed the shift in Tul immediately, his brows knitting in confusion. “Tul? What’s wrong? Please, talk to me.”

But Tul didn’t answer. His eyes were glazed with panic, his body trembling with the weight of it all. Before Mew could stop him, Tul bolted out of the bed and ran out of the apartment without a word, his sobs trailing behind him like broken glass.

“Tul! Wait!” Mew shouted, but it was too late. The door slammed shut, and Tul was gone, leaving Mew standing there, helpless and heartbroken.

Tul ran through the streets of Bangkok, the cold night air stinging his skin as his tears blurred his vision. He didn’t know where he was going; he just needed to get away. The pain in his chest was unbearable, and the cruel reminder of Mew’s life with Lilly tore at him with every step.

He finally collapsed against a streetlight, his body heaving with sobs. The cold reality of his life washed over him in waves, suffocating him. “What am I doing?” he choked out, tears falling freely down his face. “I don’t belong... anywhere.”

Meanwhile, Mew, still in shock from Tul’s sudden departure, grabbed his keys and rushed out the door, desperate to find him. But as he opened the door, his phone rang again—this time with an unknown number. His heart pounded in his chest as he hesitated, torn between finding Tul and answering the call. He chose the latter, hoping for some kind of direction.

“Hello?” Mew’s voice was tight with urgency.

“Mew...” His father’s voice, filled with an unusual heaviness, came from the other end. “You need to come home. Now.”

Mew’s stomach twisted into knots. Something was wrong. Without another word, he hung up and sped home, a sense of dread growing inside him.

As he entered the house, he was greeted by the sound of loud, anguished sobs echoing through the halls. His heart sank.

“Lilly... Lilly’s gone,” his mother whispered, her face tear-streaked and pale. “She passed away.”

Mew stood frozen, the weight of the words not fully sinking in. His daughters, Mayera and Mayesha, both barely a year and a half old, were crying in the arms of a nanny. The sight of their little faces broke something inside him.

He picked them up, holding them close as their tiny hands gripped his shirt, their cries muffled against his chest. The familiar scent of their baby shampoo, their soft warmth, brought back a memory—one he hadn’t thought of in years.

It was a warm afternoon, and Mew and Tul were walking through an orphanage, hand in hand. The children had flocked to Tul, drawn to his kindness like moths to a flame. Mew smiled, watching as Tul crouched down to speak to them, his voice soft and full of love.

One little girl tugged at Tul’s sleeve, asking, “Are you going to be a daddy?”

Tul had laughed softly, his eyes glowing with warmth as he looked up at Mew. “Maybe one day. We’re planning to have a family soon.”

Mew had knelt beside him, placing a hand on Tul’s shoulder, and smiled at the girl. “We want to give our child a home full of love, just like this.”

The memory hit Mew like a tidal wave, crashing over him with a force that left him breathless. Tul had always wanted children. They had planned for it. And now, Tul was out there—alone, pregnant, and suffering. Mew’s heart clenched.

But before he could make sense of the chaos inside his mind, a sickening thought struck him: Tul is pregnant. Not with his child, but Max’s. The realization filled him with both fury and despair.

Meanwhile, back in Max’s cold, dark apartment, Tul’s nightmare was far from over. Max’s face was twisted with rage as he lashed out at Tul, his belt snapping against Tul’s already bruised skin.

“You’re pregnant,” Max spat, venom dripping from every word. “With my child.”

Tul’s voice cracked as he pleaded, “Please, Max... don’t... don’t hurt the baby.”

But Max only laughed, his grip tightening on the belt as he raised it again. “Do you really think Mew’s going to come back for you? You’re nothing to him now. You never were.”

Tul sobbed, his body shaking with pain and fear. He wanted to fight back, but he was too weak. Too broken. As the blows continued to rain down on him, Tul heard Max’s voice fading in and out. And then, just before everything went dark, he heard Max on the phone.

“I can’t have him anymore,” Max growled to whoever was on the other end. “Do what you want with him. He’s finished.”

And then, everything went black.

To Be Continued...