LOGIN~SARA~I yank open my wardrobe and grab the first thing I see.A dress.I crumple it in my fist like it’s Alex’s stupid, smug face and shove it violently into my luggage.“Unbelievable,” I fume under my breath, pacing back and forth between the wardrobe and the bed. “Absolutely unbelievable.”Another blouse. Toss.A pair of jeans. Toss!I slam the drawer shut harder than necessary. “MaryJane can come too. Of course she can. Why not? Why not invite the whole damn city while you’re at it?”I drag my suitcase closer and kneel, pressing the clothes down with unnecessary force.One night. One fucking night with her.My jaw tightens.“So that’s what it is now?” I shove another shirt in. “You bark threats, sleep around, and expect everyone to just… fall in line?”I stand abruptly and pace again, dragging my hand through my hair.“And that stupid smirk—God, I should’ve—”I stop myself, exhaling sharply.Because the truth is…It’s not just anger burning in my chest.It’s something darkerSomet
~SARA~Redheads?He has a thing for redheads?Yeah right, like I care.I take in a deep breath and exhale sharply, straightening as I stand in front of the mirror, peering into it.If the dumbo thinks that he can throw threats around and upset me with some redhead? Well, he is in for a surprise...Just then, a soft knock comes on my door."What is it, now?" I groan, walking towards it. I reach the door in three strides and pull it open.Benita.She looks...terrible.Her eyes are reddish, swollen with heavy bags beneath them like she hasn’t slept in days. Her shoulders slump, and she barely acknowledges me before pushing past sluggishly into the room.I blink, closing the door behind me, then turn just in time to see her collapse onto my bed.“Benita…?” I step closer. “What’s wrong with you?”She groans and drags a hand over her face. “MaryJane sent me to the cold room… to sort ingredients. Fresh from spoiled.”I frown. “That witch?"“Yes, that witch." She drawls. "I’ve been there all
~SARA~For a moment, the room reigns in silence. My chest rises and falls too fast, like I’ve just outrun something. My fingers twitch at my sides, nails biting into my palms as if I need the pain to stay grounded.I know this feeling.The same cold, merciless instinct that took over ten years ago. The same one that made me choose survival over everything else.Over innocence.Over humanity.Over... Doing the right time.I look across across the room, slowly looking at everyone's faces. Mira stands wide-eyed, pale, her lips parted like she wants to speak but doesn’t dare.MaryJane tries to look composed but she avoids my eyes when it lands to her.The maids avoids my eyes entirely, shifting away from me like I had just transformed into something dangerous.Good.Let them feel it. Let them know that I can be twice as deadly as their master.I turn my gaze and glare at him.He barely flinches. He stands, one hand tucked casually into his pocket, but there’s nothing casual about the w
~SARA~We drive down the street in silence, my temple pressed against the cold glass as I stare out the window.The streetlights blur as we speed past, but I barely notice them.My mind is fixed on something else...On Alex.The look in his eyes.The dark, violent rage that radiated from them.Like he was ready to snap me in half without hesitation.Like the gap between chaos and control was nothing but a thin, blurry line and he was ready to cross it at any second.He was willing to go this far without knowing the whole story. If he eventually finds out the truth—which is only a matter of time...My throat tightens.He would end us. Feed us to the dogs and not bat an eye while doing it.A lump forms in my throat, and I clutch my hands together in my lap to keep them from shaking.“So what do we do now?” Mira asks, her eyes locked on the road as she steers.I exhale sharply. “I… don’t know.”She tightens her grip on the steering wheel and seethes through clenched teeth. “Sara, listen
~ALEX~She slaps my hand away and steps back, her gaze flickering. “It’s nothing, Alex. Nothing I can’t take care of.”“Nothing?” I tilt my head to the side. “Nothing that made you come all the way here with…”My gaze flicks to Mira. She swallows and her eyes darts at everywhere but me.I look back at Sara. “…her.”Sara’s breath hitches slightly, and for just a second, I see it. The hesitation in her eyes. A crack in the armor she’s trying so hard to hold together.I frown. Something’s wrong.I’m not stupid. I can read people.She is hiding something from me and I'm sure of it.Her lips part like she’s about to say something, but then she shuts them again.I can almost hear the thoughts racing in her head. The calculations. The lies she’s deciding whether to tell.And I hate that she thinks lying to me will make this better.I take a small step closer.“You’re not a villain, Sara.” My voice softens just enough to show I care. Just enough to make her understand that lying won’t make th
~ALEX~An Hour Ago…The car slows to a stop in front of the mansion, and Jake switches off the engine. We both step out, the night air cool against my skin as we head toward the entrance.“What do you think about Boaz’s findings?” Jake asks, walking beside me.I sigh, adjusting my sleeve. “What is there to think about, Jake?”He shrugs. “If you look at it properly… if she and Miss Frothmoth were close in school, then there’s a chance she knows what happened. Especially since Miss Frothmoth—”He stops talking.I stop walking, then turn to him slowly, clenching my teeth. “Say it.”“Sir, I—”“Goddamit! Say it, Jake.”“Especially since Miss Frothmoth was found dead in the school!” He says quickly.The word hits me. Hard.Dead.It doesn’t feel real, even after all these years. It never does.It feels like something is ripping through my chest all over again. Like I’m being dragged back to that moment—standing there, unable to do anything while everything slipped away from me.She’s gone.N
~SARA~I kiss back. And I hate that I do.I should hate him. Loathe him. Curse him for being the reason everyone was after me.But I don't.Instead, I grab at his face. Heat spreading through me as I push myself forward and slam into his toned muscled frame. He is strong. Really strong. His arms
~SARA~I stare at him, blinking. "Sir, I think," Sandra says to him, glancing at me. "The creative marketing department is doing just fine. Miss Jane is the best marketing agent I have. I don't think Mira and Kayla would be of much help.""Both my daughters have degrees in marketing." Mrs Catherin
~SARA~The hall explodes.Everyone gathers to see what is happening. Whispers tears through the reception, Camera clicks. Someone gasps and the whole place is just...chaos.Alex’s mouth is on mine, ravishing.He kisses back. Raw and hungry, like he has been starving for a taste of me for so long.H
~SARA~Kraa.A bone cracks.Thud.My back slams against the railings.Snap.My head jerks sideways. Breath rips out of my lungs in sharp, brutal force, and my vision turns into a black, hazy mess.Alex’s arms wraps around me, tight.“Fuck, Sara!” he curses as we roll, thudding down the stairs in qu







