CHAPTER 02: Her Wrath Begins

There’s always a reason— buried deep and often dark— behind every cruel, cold, and ruthless soul. A story of betrayal, of scars left by an abusive past, a neglected childhood, or a heart so shattered that it never mended. That’s how devils are born…

“Daisy, email me today’s schedule. And call Mike— tell him to send them to their Dadu’s place. Inform him I’m flying to New York tonight.  Also, ask him to ready the private jet before 9 PM,” Davina commanded in a tone colder than ice, her voice devoid of warmth or emotion.

Her swivel chair creaked softly as she turned, gazing intensely out at the panoramic skyline of Sydney from the vast glass windows of her sleek, high-tech office. Everything gleamed white— clinical, lavish, and intimidating. A space that mirrored her persona: polished, powerful, and untouchable.

She rose with feline grace, her body wrapped in a sleek black bodycon dress that clung to her like a second skin, revealing dangerous curves and unapologetic elegance. Perched on stilettos, her high ponytail swayed with every move, exuding quiet command.

But behind the flawless exterior, her mind was a storm.

For the first time in years, she felt a knot in her stomach.  Anxiety gripped her as she thought about the upcoming gala. The media— vultures, all of them— would be swarming, waiting to uncover the mystery that was Davina Parker. And she was going to reveal herself soon.

She was terrified, though she’d never admit it. Public appearances haunted her. The flash of cameras, the weight of curious stares— they brought back suffocating memories. Even when she’d traveled with Michael, he’d shielded her from the spotlight. But this time, she would stand alone.

Still, she knew Michael would be there— her anchor in a sea of chaos. Yet her soul craved something more: a moment of vulnerability, someone to hold her, someone she could lean on, even just for a second. Her heart throbbed, heavy with emotions she had long buried.

And so, she picked up her phone and FaceTimed the one person she trusted with her life— Naina Furtado.

Naina, the head of her New York office. Her secret ally. Her confidante. The one who held her hand during the darkest hours of her life.

“Hey!” she said coolly, masking the desperation in her voice.

“Hey Davi…” Naina’s tone was soft but steady.

“I know why you’re calling. Don’t worry, love, everything’s almost done. Just tying up a few loose ends. And your accommodation? Taken care of. Just a few more days, alright?”

“You know right how crucial this is to me,” Davina exhaled sharply.

“That’s why I asked you, not someone random. Also— some changes need to be made. I don’t want just him ruined, but Ryan too. He’s going down along with that bitch. Only Alex stays out of this. He’s not innocent, but… I owe him that much.”

Her voice lowered to a sinister whisper.

“And Naina… I want the gala to be preponed to the date we spoke about earlier, and about the other thing, I want their faces clearly exposed. Their voices— their groans, their curses, their shame— I want it all to be heard. Loud and raw.  I want that bitch and my so-called bestie to be at the gala. Let them bleed like I did. Let them feel humiliated, like once they all humiliated me.”

Her eyes burned crimson as her voice dropped an octave, becoming venomous.

“Those videos need to be sent to every major channel. Local. International. Flood the media. Let the world watch. They will do anything and everything to stop the media from getting their hands on those videos. For him, his family’s reputation… is his pride. That’s why all these years, they have always buried all their dirty little secrets within the family. And that’s where I’ll begin— by shattering that pride. But for now, hold on to that evidence until my next instruction.”

Her voice trembled with rage. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes but she blinked them back with fury.

Naina paused. There was so much she wanted to say— but she also knew Davina. Once her mind was made, nothing could stop her. Still, something tugged at Naina’s heart.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” she asked gently, almost a whisper.

“I mean… what if she was just a pawn too? What if she was also used, also broken…?”

Davina’s silence was thunderous. Then, like a storm unleashed, she snapped.

“I don’t care anymore. Really Naina? You dare question me?” Her voice was low, lethal.

Her eyes blazed with betrayal. “How. Dare. You.”

She wasn’t herself anymore. She was losing it.

Before she could unleash a torrent of fury, Naina quickly apologized, assuring her the plan would be executed perfectly, that she’d preview it all before finalization. The call ended abruptly.

Silence fell, but inside Davina, a war raged.

Guilt gnawed at her for shouting at Naina. She knew her friend meant well. But the questions reopened wounds she thought were long sealed. Her mind reeled, screaming with old voices, old ghosts.

She turned back to the window, staring out into the horizon as if searching for strength.

And then she broke.

“He made me like this,” she whispered.

“FUCK… He made me a cruel, heartless bitch…”

She grabbed her head, her nails digging into her scalp, trying to silence the screams inside. Tears poured from her eyes— hot, bitter, relentless. Her breath hitched as the sobs grew louder.

She slammed her MacBook shut.

“I know I shouldn’t have said that to you, Naina. But there’s no turning back now. You have to understand me,” she said to the empty room.

“I know it’s filthy, maybe even evil. But they did worse. And she—” her voice cracked again

“—she stood there. Watched. She knew everything and still did nothing. She let it happen.”

She took another breath, wiping her face with trembling hands.

“I know this revenge will destroy me too. I know I’ll lose everything. But I need to fight back. His destruction is the only thing that will heal me. Bring peace and end this war inside me. To watch him in his ruins was my only motivation to survive all these years. The only reason I am still breathing. I had promised myself years back that I would make him regret his actions and make him beg for my forgiveness.”

Her sobs became louder. She covered her mouth to suppress the sound, but her body shook violently.

“She chose him over me,” she whispered with a broken laugh.

“Now… it’s payback time.”

Her expression twisted into a cruel smile.

“I’ll make you all regret everything. And you, my darling Devil… I’ll turn your world into a living hell. I’ll take your empire, your happiness, your pride. I’ll crush it all. I’ll make you beg for my love, for my presence. But I’ll never return. I’ll haunt your peace. Ruin every joy. You’ll repent. I am well aware that even now you don't really believe that I am no more, and still you are hunting for me.”

She slammed her fists into the desk. Her hands bled from the force, but she didn’t care. The pain grounded her.

“You made me a whore in front of my parents. You shattered my dignity. They abandoned me because of you. Now, I will make you regret breathing. I’ll expose you. Destroy you. Even if it costs me my life.”

Her voice dropped to a whisper, laced with fury.

“I’m just getting started…”

Her face was flushed with rage, her eyes wild— brimming with grief, hate, and something darker. Her hands trembled, her breath heavy.

But she didn’t care about the consequences.

She had already burned too much to turn back now.