[WARNING: THIS BOOK IS EXTREMELY DARK. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!] ---- "Hello there, blonde!" A voice laced with an unsettling coldness echoed. Scarlet gasped and her eyes widened in sudden, horrified recognition. Tears welled in her eyes as she prayed this was all some cruel delusion, that death had mercifully claimed her before she was forced to set her eyes on him again. His piercing gaze troubled her soul as it always did. It was after all, a constant reminder of the profound torment he had inflicted on her that night. "Oh, you're no longer a blonde?" he mused mockingly, one hand lifting to brush against the shortened strands of her hair. Scarlet flinched. The hatred rolling off him filled her with a sense of immense dread that sparked an internal plea for salvation. She tried to flee. Unfortunately, Dane pounced with lightning speed, effortlessly pinning her hands above her head. He straddled her hips, effectively immobilizing her thrashing form beneath his weight. "Re-virginity patching?" he sneered down at her. "Do you really want to deceive your fiancé in such a way?" Scarlet's mind was filled with doubts and fear. Had the procedure truly been completed with this devil around? She prayed deeply and silently for Michael to save her from this monster's grasp. Dane’s other hand seized her chin in a bruising grip, forcing her to meet his cold stare. "Open your eyes!" he commanded menacingly. "There will be no point in patching if you refuse to obey me!" "Please let me go!" Scarlet cried out in desperation. "You have exacted your revenge – it’s over! What more do you want?” "Indeed, I have. However, I’ll not stop until your entire body is unrecognizable except for my marks!”
View MoreA heavy sense of danger surrounded a sleek black car, followed closely by two similar vehicles until they stopped in front of the grand gates of a tall skyscraper.
Big men in sharp black suits got out of the other cars and lined up behind the lead vehicle like soldiers.
The driver rushed to open the back door for the man inside.
First, a pair of long legs stepped out, wearing shoes so shiny they reflected the city around them. Then, a tall man emerged, dressed in a suit that looked like it was made from gold threads
His hair was jet black and perfectly styled, though a few rebellious strands fell across his forehead.
His eyes were a steely gray, sharp and intense, with brows that arched dramatically against his skin.
He smoothed out his suit as he walked towards the building entrance.
A slight smirk appeared on his lips—hardly noticeable but definitely there.
"Good morning, sir!" His employees greeted him in unison, bowing their heads respectfully.
Some of them were barely able to stand straight without trembling like a leaf as he passed, followed by a group of men who seemed to shadow him.
No one dared to break the tension that suddenly blanketed the entire space.
He moved with confidence and strength, every step radiating a masculinity that made women’s hearts race, even though his aura was extremely cold.
The private elevator doors opened with a soft ding, signaling his arrival on his private floor.
"Good morning, sir," his secretary, Joey, greeted lowering her head to show respect.
He walked by without acknowledging her or even looking her way.
Joey was used to his indifference, so she straightened up and adjusted her outfit.
She undid the top two buttons of her blouse, revealing a hint of her creamy skin.
Then she hiked up her skirt just enough to showcase her toned legs and retouched her makeup.
Her hair fell in soft waves over her shoulders as she sauntered towards his office door with newfound confidence.
She knocked gently on the polished wood before entering with a seductive sway of her hips. "Sir, I have brought the paperwork you requested," Joey announced, placing the files before him and bending over slightly to accentuate her feminine allure.
Yet, the man before her didn't spare her a glance.
"Perhaps you've forgotten, but I have no interest in cheap thrills," he stated icily without raising his gaze from the documents spread before him.
Joey felt a flush of embarrassment creep up her neck at his blunt dismissal.
She bowed her head in shame and quickly made to retreat from the room.
The realization that she had overstepped the boundaries of propriety hit her like a winter chill, but the depth of her love for him was such that she was ready to gamble away her decorum for just one night in his arms.
"Hold it!" His deep and resonant voice suddenly sliced through the tension-filled air, causing her to halt abruptly in her tracks.
"Are you a virgin?" His question hung heavily in the room.
"Yes Mr. Creighton, I am a virgin," Joey responded swiftly, her voice barely above a whisper.
He nodded slowly, his gaze steady on hers.
The room once again fell into a weighted silence that seemed to stretch out endlessly.
"Be at my place when the clock strikes twelve! You know the drill. Now get out!" He finally spoke flatly.
Joey could feel her heart hammering against her ribcage like a wild bird desperate to escape its cage.
She knew precisely what he meant by 'you know the drill.' It was an unspoken directive for her to arrive clad in a provocative red dress that left little to the imagination.
A wave of exhilaration washed over her entire being at his words. "Yes sir, I will be punctual," she murmured softly before turning on her heel to exit his office.
Her legs wobbled slightly under the weight of anticipation as she kept picturing herself spending an intimate night with him.
'I have finally managed to capture his attention.' Joey screamed internally. This was a feat that felt akin to scaling Mount Everest.
—-
As Joey completed the last bit of paperwork for the day, an involuntary smile tugged at the corners of her mouth.
A ball of nerves all day long, she had been counting down the hours until dusk so she could surrender herself fully on his plush bed.
A glance at her wristwatch showed 6:15 p.m., prompting Joey to rise from behind the desk and make her way toward the CEO's office.
Her nerves were stretched taut as a violin string from the adrenaline rush.
Her hand trembled slightly as she reached out to knock gently on the imposing glass door before pulling it open and stepping inside.
She treaded softly until she was just a few paces behind him.
He stood tall by the expansive glass window, his silhouette framed against the cityscape below.
His hands were nonchalantly tucked into his pockets while he stared at the bustling metropolis beneath him.
His eyes held a distant, icy quality that hinted at a mind teeming with thoughts - thoughts that usually occupied him whenever he found himself alone.
"Sir," Joey began with flirtation that was as much a part of her as the curls cascading down her back. "I've completed my tasks for today, and if it's not too much trouble, I'd like to leave a bit earlier so I can prepare myself for our rendezvous tonight."
He didn't even swivel around to acknowledge her request. Instead, he nonchalantly raised his wrist, the glinting diamond watch catching the afternoon sunlight streaming through the blinds.
Then a low hum of agreement rumbled deep in his chest.
A triumphant grin bloomed across Joey's face, lighting up her eyes. "Thank you ever so much, sir," she replied gracefully. "I'll be ready at the stroke of midnight," she promised before spinning on her heel and exiting the room with an air of satisfaction.
The shrill ring of his phone shattered the silence left in Joey's wake.
His jaw tightened instinctively, thinking it was an unwelcome interruption from someone whose life he wouldn't think twice about ending. However, as he pulled out his phone and saw the caller ID, his stern expression melted into one of soft affection.
"Hey babe," he greeted warmly.
A soft chuckle echoed from the other end of the line. "How was your day, my darling Dane? Why haven't you come home yet? When you're away for so long, love, you should know it has me fretting."
"There's no need to worry yourself over me, mama," Dane reassured her gently.
His voice was laced with exhaustion but also a hint of fondness. "I'm just buried under work right now." He paused before adding softly, "Get some rest, Mom; I'll be coming home late, so don't stay awake waiting."
Mrs Creighton sighed heavily on the other end, her heart heavy with worry and resignation. She was no stranger to his nocturnal activities, but it didn't make it any easier to accept.
"Alright, son. Just...be careful," she implored, her voice trembling slightly.
"Sleep well, mom."
With that final sentiment, Dane ended the call.
Terror propelled Flora to her feet. Her body swayed like a reed in the wind as she attempted to flee. Unfortunately, her escape lasted mere seconds before Dane's fingers tangled in her hair, yanking her back with savage force.His features transformed into a mask of unbridled fury."Please, I'm begging you." Chris's voice cracked with desperation. "She's just a child, innocent of all this. Take my life instead. She doesn’t know anything of the person you want."Tears streamed down Chris's face as he collapsed to his knees.Dane's penetrating gaze shifted between the trembling girl and his former right-hand man with his expression unreadable.The girl's presence stirred something deep within Dane - a recognition of the pure innocence he'd once known in another.His dead love interest had taught him to recognize the difference between genuine innocence and calculated deception. Yet this knowledge did nothing to stay his hand as he tightened his grip on Flora’s hair, drawing a sharp cry
Chris’s stomach twisted at Dane’s words. He knew what his boss was capable of, and he knew that Scarlet or Hanna as he had tried to convince Dane was in grave danger.“Sir, please—”Dane silenced Chris with a glare. “I don’t need your permission, and I certainly don’t need your protection!” He snarled.With that, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, his men trailing behind him.Chris watched him go and his heart pounded in his chest.Dane refused any company in his car, having his security detail follow at a respectful distance in another vehicle.His grip on the leather-wrapped steering wheel tightened until his knuckles blanched white.The interior of the car felt suffocating, charged with the electricity of his rage. Every breath he drew felt like inhaling fire… his chest constricting with an emotion he refused to name."How dare she?" The words escaped through clenched teeth, venom dripping from each syllable. "How dare she crawl under my skin like this?"Memories of
Flora’s hands were trembling so badly she could barely turn on the faucet when she returned to the restroom.She splashed cold water on her face, her reflection in the mirror pale and wide-eyed.Her heart was still racing, and she pressed a hand to her chest, trying to steady her breathing.The man who had dragged her into that room was terrifying. Yet, there was something strange about him—something almost… noble.He had let her go, after all. Why? She couldn’t understand it.“Flora! Where have you been?” Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her brother’s voice filled with worry.She turned to see him standing just outside the restroom with their mother close behind. Both of them looked anxious, their faces tight with concern.“I was about to come in there after you!” Jean continued in a tone sharp yet laced with relief.“I’m sorry,” Flora said quickly, forcing a weak smile. “My stomach was upset, and I felt dizzy. That’s why I took so long.”Jean frowned, scanning her pale
Dane stood before the mirror the next morning, meticulously adjusting his tie. His reflection stared back at him, cold and unyielding, the sharp lines of his face a perfect match for the sharpness of his emotions.He had chosen his finest suit and the scent of his signature cologne clung to his skin like a second layer.Behind him, the woman in his bed stirred but didn’t wake. He glanced at her briefly with his expression unreadable.He had no intention of waking her… she would follow soon enough, and if she didn’t, there would be consequences. She knew that. He had made it clear.By the time he stepped outside, Chris and the security team were already waiting.The usual salutes from his men were conspicuously absent. Dane noticed but didn’t comment. His demeanor had grown colder, harsher, and he suspected the shift hadn’t gone unnoticed. Everyone was scared to even utter a word around him.The convoy moved swiftly through the city until they reached the company.Chris busied himself
~Meanwhile~Dane leaned back elegantly in his chair.The air in the warehouse office was thick with tension.Across from him, Chris stood with the kind of poised stillness that made him almost blend into the background. His hands were clasped neatly in front of him, his posture respectful but rigid, like he was bracing for whatever Dane might say next.“Why do I care, Chris?” Dane’s voice broke the silence, low and strained. The faint tremor in his voice betrayed the turmoil he worked so hard to conceal.Chris’s lips parted slightly before closing again. “I do not know, sir.” He replied finally.Dane let out a sharp and frustrated sigh. He lowered his head into his hand, his thumb and index finger pressing into the sides of his forehead.The weight of Chris’s response settled uncomfortably in his chest.Was Chris being deliberately evasive? Or was he genuinely clueless? Dane couldn’t decide, and the uncertainty only deepened the gnawing tension inside him.The room felt stifling, suffo
Both mother and daughter clung to each other, their sobs filling the room.Scarlet felt like her chest might burst from the intensity of it all. For the first time in what felt like forever, she let herself sink into her mother’s embrace, into the warmth she thought she’d lost forever.Her face pressed into her mother’s shoulder, and she breathed in that familiar scent—soft and floral, the smell of home, of safety, of unconditional love. It was the same perfume her mom had always worn, and the familiarity of it made her cry harder.Mrs. Wovers eventually pulled back just far enough to take in Scarlet’s face.Her hands cupped Scarlet’s cheeks, trembling as though she couldn’t believe this was real. Then, she began pressing frantic kisses all over her daughter’s face—her forehead, her cheeks, her closed eyes, the tip of her nose. She even gave a quick peck on Scarlet’s lips, just like she usually did when Scarlet was a little girl.“My baby,” she whispered between kisses. “My sweet, bea
Scarlet’s stomach churned the moment Michael mentioned their father had moved back into the mansion.It wasn’t fear. No, she’d burned through her fear of that man long ago. What churned inside her now was pure, undiluted hatred.Not a single part of her cared about his wellbeing. Not his health, not his life—nothing. The mere thought of him being in the same space as her made her jaw tighten.Her hands curled into fists on her lap. “I swear to God, if he tries to touch me…” Her voice was low, venomous, muttered like a warning to herself.She didn’t finish the sentence. She didn’t need to. The thought alone was enough to make her blood boil. She’d rather disappear into thin air than let him so much as glance at her again. After all, he was the one who had destroyed her life.The car slowed as it passed through the mansion’s towering gates. Scarlet glanced out the window, her eyes scanning the familiar grounds. The sprawling gardens, the stone pathways, the grand house… it all looked th
Michael leaned forward to kiss her forehead before pulling her into another hug. "Lincoln is struggling without you. He's been seeing a psychiatrist due to his parents persistent and concern for health."The hair on Scarlet's head stood on end as she looked at his face for confirmation.He nodded solemnly. "You don't know how much he's suffered since you left. His condition is deteriorating. The doctors have warned his parents he might even... hurt himself."Lincoln!Scarlet gasped.The fear of facing him had driven her to her extreme actions, and now it was what kept her tied to her lie.But learning of his despair, she realized the extent of her selfishness. Even though she loved him truly, she feared him too.There would be no one else besides Lincoln in her life. The will to return for him, her mother, and her brother was what kept her going all these months.As for the devil responsible for shattering her dreams, she would do whatever it took to get rid of him from her life.Tears
Scarlet felt the weight of immense shame pressing down on her.She averted her gaze from her brother's intense stare, unable to meet the internal fire that burned relentlessly in his eyes.Tears flowed freely down her cheeks in a torrent unlike anything she'd ever experienced before.She drew in a shuddering breath, steeling herself to finally confide in him about the depths of agony she'd endured during her time living alone in a constant state of distress and fear."The fact that I became his...his whore, it shattered me, Michael," she confessed in a broken whisper. "I never should have been tainted by that indelible stain, that filth. You can't possibly understand the weight of shame and disgust that oppressed me, that shook me to my very core."Her voice took on a haunted edge as she pressed onward. "I lived in constant terror that Lincoln would somehow find out, would start to question my purity. And that's a doubt any man in his position would be justified in having, isn't it?"
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