Novel-novel oleh Favy Beeee

Cassandra's PovWeeks turned into months, and the city outside the windows changed from winter gray to the fresh greens of spring. I was free, I went to see my brother Leo, who cried the moment he saw me, apologizing a hundred times. I told him it was over, assured him I was safe, but I did not tell him everything, some things were meant only for me and Damien.Then Damien did something huge, something I was not expecting, using his money and power not in the way I was used to. He tracked down the men who ran the underground network, the ones responsible for the auctions. He did not fight them with violence, nor did he destroy them. Instead, he bought them out, paying an obscene amount of money that no one could refuse. He purchased the entire operation, and then he shut it down forever.One evening, as we stood on the balcony with the door wide open so I could come and go as I pleased, he told me about it. “It is gone,” he said. “The building has been sold, and the records destroyed.

Cassandra's PovThe last man who wanted me dead was gone. Damien told me that in his office, sharing the man’s name and what he had done. He said it was finished, and the legal papers on his desk confirmed I was free, with my brother’s debt wiped clean. There were no more enemies lurking in the shadows, and it was finally over.I stood in the office, looking at the papers but not touching them because I felt a strange numbness.“It is done,” Damien said, standing by the window but not looking at me. He was looking out at the city. “You are legally safe, no one has a claim on you anymore.”I waited for him to say more, but the silence filled the room heavily, a different and final kind of quiet.“What does that mean?” I asked, my voice quiet and sounding small in the large room.He turned to look at me, his face calm and wearing the mask he donned for business, empty of any feeling I could understand.“It means you can leave,” he said clearly and directly. “The obligation is gone, the

Cassandra's PovThe peace didn't last for long. The retaliation began quietly and weird things started happening. Damien told me to not leave the penthouse. He told me that the security was doubled, and for some reason, I believed him. I felt safe.One afternoon, I was in the library, looking at a book. The lights suddenly went out and the hum of the air conditioner stopped. Everywhere was silent. Then, the emergency lights came on. I heard a shout from the hallway and it was cut off immediately.My heart jumped into my throat. I put the book down and walked to the door. I opened it slowly and checked the hallway. It was empty, but I could hear the sound of a struggle from near the front door. It was definitely not Damien's men because their fights were quiet and efficient. This one was messy and loud.I turned back into the library to find a phone and hide. A hand covered my mouth from behind. A hand wrapped around my waist, yanking me off my feet. I screamed against the gloved hand.

Cassandra's PovI was in Damien's office looking for a book. He had told me I could read anything in there. I found a file tucked behind some others on a shelf. It was old and the paper was faded. I wasn't trying to snoop but the name in the tab caught my eye. It wasn't my name, it was another woman's name, Eliza.I opened it and I saw some photographs. The woman in the photograph had dark hair with a pretty smile. There were newspaper clippings about a disappearance and some police reports that ended with the word “closed.” I also saw handwritten notes in Damien's sharp writing. The last note simply said, “I failed her.”My hands were shaking, so I decided to place the file back. I felt like I had seen something I shouldn't have. I began to wonder, maybe the men who took me weren't just loan sharks. They were probably part of something more worse.Damien found me later in the living room. I was just sitting there, staring at my hands. He knew something was wrong.“What is it?” he ask

Cassandra's PovThe days after the shooting felt different. The danger was real now. It was not just something he talked about. We were bonded by it. He had saved my life. I had seen the violence he was capable of. It should have scared me more. But it didn't. It made something between us sharper. More addictive.He started to train me. "I will not always be there to shield you," he said one morning. He took me to a room in the penthouse I hadn't seen. It was a gym, but simpler. The floors were matted."Show me your stance," he said.I stood there awkwardly. He came up behind me. He put his hands on my hips. He adjusted my feet. "Wider," he said. His voice was close to my ear. "Balance is everything."He taught me how to throw a punch. He wrapped his hands around mine, showing me how to make a fist. "Thumb on the outside," he said. "Always." He showed me how to use my whole body, not just my arm. He stood in front of me and let me practice on his open palms. The sound of my fist hitti

Cassandra PovThe day started like any other. I was in the living room reading, Damien was in his office. The sky outside was a flat gray, i heard the elevator chime. I looked up, expecting to see Ms Albright or one of the security men. But the door opened and a man didn't know stepped out.He was not dressed in a suit. He wore a dark jacket and his eyes scanned the room fast and he sighted me. The book slipped from my hands, the man reached into his jacket. He pulled out a gun, he didn't say a word. He just raised it, he was pointing it at me.I couldn't move or scream. Time seemed to slow down, i saw his finger tighten on the trigger.Then Damien was there, he came from nowhere and slammed into me. He wrapped himself around me and drew us both to the floor behind a large sofa.A loud crack filled the air. The sound was deafening, a bullet hit the wall where my head had been. Piece of plaster rained down on us.Damien was on top of me, his weight pressing me into the carpet. I could

Isadora“So unbelievable,” I muttered to myself as I walked into the estate’s private bar.The place was quiet and empty. Just what I needed.I reached behind the counter and pulled down the first bottle I could see. Vodka. I grabbed a glass and poured a way more than a reasonable amount, then downed it like water.My throat burned. Good. I refilled. Again, and again.I rested my head against the cool marble of the counter, eyes closed, my head spinning slightly.I should’ve known. I should’ve seen it. And Viktor.Damn Viktor.“Putting things in my head,” I whispered again.I didn’t even hear the door swing open.“Isa?”I turned. Slowly.Talk about the devil. Viktor stood in the doorway. “I figured I’d find you here.”“You followed me?”“Not exactly. Heard the voices earlier. And then the slam.”“You heard us arguing?”He stepped closer. “The whole damn house nearly heard it.”I exhaled and turned back to the counter.“You okay?”I laughed bitterly. “Do I look okay?”He came closer an

Isadora“She said I what?”“You heard me,” I snapped. “She said you invited her.”He looked stunned. “I didn’t.”I folded my arms. “You’re gonna stand there and lie to my face?”“I’m not lying.”“She said it like it was nothing.”He stepped forward. “I swear to you, I didn’t invite her.”I scoffed. “You think I’m an idiot?”“No. Isa, come on.”I moved around him, pacing. “So let me get this straight— you didn’t invite her, and yet I overheard both of you in the hallway? That was your voice, Ivan. And hers. Talking.”His jaw flexed. “Okay. Yes. I spoke to her. She showed up and pulled me aside. I was caught off guard.”“Then why the hell did you lie when I asked who you were talking to? Why act like I was imagining things?”“Because I knew exactly how this would go!”“You mean I’d be pissed? Yeah, imagine that. Imagine being mad that the man I’m with is whispering in corners with a woman he used to fuck at my goddamn birthday.”“Isa—”“No, don’t ‘Isa’ me right now.”“I was trying to pr

Isadora“I swear, it was her,” I said, sliding into the booth beside Mariana. “Same woman from the salon.”Mariana turned to face me, brow raised. “The one that gave you that weird vibe and compliment?"I nodded. “Now it all clicks.”“What happened?”“She walked straight up to our table like she belonged there. Introduced herself as Elina Petrov.”Mariana blinked. “Petrov? That name sounds familiar.”I ignored that and kept going. “She acted all calm, like she was in charge. Said it was a shame how my birthday ended, insinuating that she was there."Mariana’s head tilted. “Wait. She was at the party?”I nodded slowly. “Yes she was, and I'm realising she was the voice I heard speaking with him at the bathroom. And guess what?"“What?”“She said Ivan invited her.”Mariana’s jaw went slack. “What?”I nodded again, trying to keep my voice steady. “I asked her who brought her. She smiled and said Ivan did. Like it was nothing.”“No way.”“That’s not even the worst part.”Mariana’s brows sh

I didn’t take my eyes off her. The woman, same black hair, same unsettling calm, walking toward me confidently. Poised.“Isadora,” she said smoothly. “We meet again.”I blinked. “You were at the salon.”“Among other places,” she replied, smile faint. She turned to Viktor. “Viktor.”“You are?” he asked politely, nodding."Elina."He paused for a moment, then cocked an eyebrow. "Petrov, the Elina Petrov?"“I suppose so,” she smirked, her eyes flicking back to me.“You two know each other?” I asked carefully.“Not personally,” Viktor replied. “She’s… been around.”“A pleasure,” she said, offering her hand.I shook it briefly, not missing the cold undertone in her voice. “Likewise.”“I’ll give you two a moment,” Viktor said, already backing away. Elina slid into the booth across from me, where Viktor had been.“You’re very pretty,” she said.I tilted my head. “What is this? A game?”“No games,” she said smoothly. “I just figured it was time we officially met and had a talk. Woman to woman

"You good?” Mariana asked again.I didn’t answer. She stared at the screen a second longer. “Do you wanna get out of here? Just clear your head?”“Where?”“Club. It’s not very busy tonight, I confirmed.”I didn’t respond right away, hesitating as thoughts of the image and the mysterious woman lingered.“Come on,” she said gently. “It’ll help.”I looked at the photo one more time, then locked my phone.“Yeah. Fine.”The music played low, more for ambiance than anything else. The club was half-lit, the bar glowing a soft blue, tables empty except for us and a few other people. We slid into a booth near the corner. Mariana ordered something non-alcoholic. But I hadn't touched my drink yet.“You sure you wanna sit here and drool?” she asked, sipping hers.I nodded, eyes on the glass in front of me.“Do you want me to stay?” she asked after a few seconds.I glanced at her. “It’s fine. I know you've got work to do."She hesitated. “Okay… just holler if you change your mind.”I gave a tiny n

A knock landed on the door. I didn’t move.“Isadora?” It was Mariana.I didn’t say anything.“Can I come in?”I sighed, still sitting on the edge of the bed. “Door’s open.”She walked in slowly, glancing around like she wasn’t sure if she belonged. Her hands were tucked nervously into the pockets of her jacket.“I heard about what happened downstairs,” she said gently.“Of course you did. Probably everyone in the house did.”She closed the door behind her and stepped in further. “I just wanted to check on you. You okay?”I let out a short, humorless laugh. “Define okay.”Mariana gave a small smile and walked over. “Can I sit?”I nodded, and she dropped onto the floor in front of me, legs crossed like a kid.“I saw Ivan in the hall. He didn’t say much.”“Yeah,” I muttered. “He never does.”“You wanna talk about it?”I stayed silent for a few seconds. Then it all just… spilled out. “I’m just tired,” I said. “So damn tired.”Mariana looked up at me. “Of what?”“Of everything. The chaos.