“I thought you were waiting for me,” he said, exiting the kitchen and heading straight to his room.The next morning, Ellaya was ready to leave the villa for rehearsals, but Iden was nowhere to be found. Lily informed her that he had left early in the morning and that someone would come to drive her to the set."Good morning, Miss Stone. Are you ready?" James greeted her.She was sitting in the living room holding a magazine, waiting for him. She gave a nod and got up to go.It felt like Ellaya's life had become a time machine in just two days. She was so busy getting ready for the event that she did not even have time to visit her own crew. Every day James had been taking her to the hotel and villa, and she had not seen Iden in two days. James was taking care of her needs. Returning to the villa as usual after eating and taking a bath, Ellaya collapsed onto her bed, exhausted, but her thoughts kept returning to him. Taking out her phone, she called him, but after several rings, he
Everyone's attention was drawn to Ellaya when she arrived at the party wearing a black gown that hung down to her ankles and revealed her long leg through a slit in it. She was a stunning woman in addition to being a star. It had been a while since she had seen her crew members, they welcomed her. The celebration was in full swing, and drinks were being served. With Eva, she sat on the couch and drank her soft drink."Where is Mia, Eva?" Ellaya enquired while surveying her surroundings.Eva said, sipping her drink, "She has a date tonight.""Date, who? With a hopeful expression, she asked, hoping it was not the man she was envisioning. "I am not sure if the man who visited her every day is the same one.""Iden is what you mean." she asked with scowl."Yes, Eva gave a nod."A burning question tormented her: "Why the hell am I feeling this way? Forcing me to feel this way, who the hell is he? She was so furious that she wanted to give him a black eye. "Ellaya, could you please tell me
As Ellaya entered the villa, she gasped in shock and peered at the man seated in the living room with his head bowed, his elbow resting on his thighs, and his head in his hands. He appeared feral, akin to a lion with wounds. He got up and approached her slowly; his hair was disheveled, his coat was thrown on the floor, his shirt buttons were broken, and he was sheeting. His eyes were red and his nose was fanned.Her heart raced at the sound of his slow steps, her palms perspired, and her legs remained planted. 'He said he was only an assistant, but his aura was that of a king. He said, "You are a queen, Ellaya; I am a slave," but I feel as if he is a king and I am a bird in his cage. Why am I feeling this way when he is near me?' She stared at his irate face, lost in contemplation.Bringing her out of her trance, he grabbed her arm, spun her around, and caged her between the wall and his arms. "Ellaya, stay away from him", he commanded in a deep, fierce voice. After a brief pause, sh
"Oh, come on, Laaya. How long are you going to ignore me?" She went into the kitchen, and Iden trailed behind. Sitting on the kitchen island chair, she waited for Lily to bring her coffee and breakfast without saying word to him or even looking at him. He sat across from her as well. Lily placed her breakfast and coffee on the table. Ellaya scowled, her lips turning downward as she looked at the coffee. The word sorry floated over the coffee, and ketchup was used to draw a smile on the sandwich. She lifted her head and gave Lily a glare. Lily bent her head and glanced at Iden. Ellaya understood whose craft it was. She got up and walked out without taking a sip of her coffee or a bite of her breakfast. Iden got up as well and trailed behind her. Lina and Lily were staring at them as if they were the weirdest people ever to walk the planet.She sat in the car and gave James the order to drive, but Iden sat down next to her before he could revved the engine."Ain't you accompanying M
Without taking her eyes off of him, Ellaya managed to break free from him she stepped back, averting her gaze from Iden again, before turning to open the door as Austin stood grinning and holding a bouquet. Iden glanced at him and then at Ellaya, furrowing his brows and puckering his lips before turning and walking away.Austin brought Ellaya a bouquet, which she put in a vase before going outside with him. "Who was that man?" While seated in the driver's seat, Austin inquired."He is Mr. Raun's assistant". She answered while glancing at his room's window.He gave her a frown but said nothing. "What is wrong?". She asked, flinching her eyes at him."Somewhere, I think I may have seen him?""Where?""I am not sure, I mean I cannot recall right now, let's go and forget about him". He cranked the engine and made no further attempt to bring up the subject.She was greeted by the group of hotel's managers and all of his hotel employees in an upscale hotel." Welcome, Miss Stone, we ar
"What" he gripped her tighter "Ellaya, this is the first time someone has touched you, which is why you are feeling this way. It is fine, everything will be fine; you will get used to it." He held her face and attempted to kiss her, but was thrown to the ground before he could even do so.Iden took hold of his color, pulled him, and punched him once more.HOW. DARE. YOU. MOTHER. FUCKER . Kapow, he struck him, furious.Austin regained consciousness after a moment and struck him in the chest, causing him to stumble back. As Iden's shadow bodyguard pointed their gun at Austin from a distance, he lifted his eyebrows and motioned for them to stay out of his way. Austine charged him once more, grinning and wiping the blood from his lower lip, but Iden blocked the blow and struck instead. "Did you not hear what she said?" KAPOW"She does not want you to touch her you mother fucker" . KAPOW"She does not want to marry you a fucking bastard". KAPOW"How the fuck you dare touch her, you fucki
Ellaya woke up the following morning to her phone ringing nonstop. Glancing away from her sleep, she extended her hand to grab her phone. Her phone exploded as soon as she pressed the green button, and a sharp voice called out from the other side "Ellaya, how did it happen and why were you not in contact with us last night?" Her mother's stern voice sounded in her ear, confusing her. "Mama, what happened and what I did not tell you?" her confused brows knit."Oh my sweetheart, I know you do not want your parents to worry, but please don't; everything will work out just fine. I wish I could be with you right now.""Mama..." she was interrupted."You are a star; you just need to control your image. It is okay, my darling, do not cry so much."Ellaya was staring at her phone, unable to make sense of what her mother was saying or what was happening. Her voice came through as she put her phone back to her ear."Austine's parents will be arriving shortly, so you can go and relax.Oh, my s
"Ellaya, are you ready?" Iden grabbed her arms and looked at her, concerned.Ellaya nodded her head and pressed her lips firmly. Two women assisting her in handling her gown, and the other two helping her with her microphone.Her naturally purple hair, worn loose, complemented her purple long gown perfectly, bringing out the brilliant purple in her eyes. Iden told her that she looked like the most beautiful woman in the world and forbade her from using any artificial lenses or makeup to cover up her natural skin tone and hair colors. Her pink skin was glowing with a hint of shiny makeup. And there she stood looking like a goddess."Ellaya" Iden said, gazing into her purple eyes, "You do not have to be nervous okay.""All I am worried about is that they might think I am endorsing a cartoon character at this charity event, or that they might throw tomatoes and rotten eggs at me for looking like a purple princess". Ellaya repeated her statement nth time while biting her inner cheek.Iden
Ellaya hesitated at the doorway, inhaling deeply. The house still clung to her—whispering ghosts through dust-laden air, pressing its past into her skin. Every shadow murmured stories; memories coiled in the wood and stone, weaving a tapestry of love, deception, and ruin. Her fingers trembled as they brushed the door. It creaked open with a reluctant groan. Silence devoured her whole. She stepped inside. The wooden floor groaned beneath her boots—each step a slow echo, like the thudding heartbeat of the house itself. The air was thick, stale, carrying the weight of forgotten arguments and kisses that had long since turned cold. Then— “Why?” The word sliced through the silence like a blade. She froze. That voice—deep, steady, sharpened by restrained rage—hit her like a gunshot to the soul. Her head snapped to the left. Iden sat on the single worn-out sofa. Legs sprawled. Fingers steepled. Shadows sliced across his face, obscuring the storm underneath—a mixture of grief an
The overweight, middle-aged man pulled Ellaya closer by the waist, reeking of sweat and stale cologne. He leaned in, breath hot against her ear. "It’s time to taste my favorite drink," he whispered, his voice thick with sleaze. Ellaya giggled, head thrown back in mock delight. “Mmm, lucky me,” she purred, her fingers brushing his bloated stomach. Her neck-length short red hair bounced with the motion, and when she smiled, her snow-white teeth framed by blood-red lips seemed almost too perfect—almost dangerous. His eyes drank her in with animalistic hunger.“God, you’re a piece of work.” He shoved the door open and tossed her onto the plush bed. She bounced twice, landing with deliberate grace. Her eyes flicked to the hidden camera inside the ornate painting. She smiled—seductive, knowing. --- Iden sat in silence, watching her every move. Every glance. Every breath. His hand clenched around the armrest, knuckles white. His chest burned, rage simmering like wildfire under h
The air turned suffocating the moment Iden stepped inside the house. The walls pulsed with the echo of raised voices—harsh, fractured, and unforgiving. “As far as I remember, I made myself clear years ago,” Mayor Ruan said coolly, wiping his glasses with slow precision before slipping them back on. His fingers trembled—just enough to betray the storm beneath his calm. “We are done with them.” Across the room, Kai sat with deceptive ease, spine straight, jaw clenched. His voice cut through the static like a blade. “And as far as I remember, they’re still her blood.” The tension snapped into silence. Then came a sound like a splintering bone—a choked sob. Iden turned sharply. His mother was hunched on the couch, her face crumpled in tears. He rushed to her side, kneeling, his hand enveloping hers. “Mom, what happened?” The softness in his tone barely masked the urgency pulsing beneath it. Luna sniffled, voice breaking through the tremor of her grief. “Your uncle’s family
A sharp spin— Cold lips crashed against hers, slamming her back into the jagged brick wall. The scent hit her first. That same deep cologne—smoke, cedar, danger. Then came the ghostly chill of his skin, colder than memory. Her eyes flew open. His were shut, lost in the kiss. His mouth moved over hers slowly, deliberately, tongue tracing hers like a scar reopening. His palm gripped her waist, thumb circling in soft, possessive motions through the thin fabric of her dress. His other hand cupped her jaw with something like reverence. She was caught—breathless between flesh and stone—heart thrashing, body frozen. Heat bloomed in her chest. The kiss drugged her for a heartbeat—seductive, toxic, cruel. Tears burned the corners of her eyes. Nostalgia, sharp and brutal, surged up her throat— Then— A brutal knee to the gut. A groan tore the silence of the alley. Ellaya shoved him off her. He stumbled back, stunned by the force behind her strike. Straightening slowly, he clutched his s
Ellaya crouched behind a crumbling wall, her breath slow, deliberate—the kind you take before a kill. She lit a cigarette with steady hands, the flare briefly illuminating her sharp features. She inhaled the smoke with calm, predatory ease. "Time to say hello to dear daddy," she whispered, flicking the cigarette into the darkness. Her fingers closed around a jagged stone, its rough edges biting into her palm. With a sharp flick, she hurled it deep into the woods. Ahead, a cluster of gangsters lounged around a battered table, their laughter rolling like distant thunder across the night. The heavy air reeked of sweat, gun oil, and cheap beer—thick enough to taste. A heartbeat— Silence. Then— Alarms shrieked, cutting the night like wounded animals. Chairs scraped. Men cursed. The lazy haze of gambling shattered into frantic motion. She moved. A whisper in the dark. The warehouse swallowed her whole. Inside, the smell of gasoline and rust curled around her
Ellaya’s fists clenched, the muscles in her arms coiling with the familiar anticipation of combat. Across from her, the man charged — a wall of fury, his rage radiating like heat off an open flame. She didn’t move. Not yet. Every second stretched into infinity. Her breath was steady, slow. Then — with a snap of motion — she twisted sideways and drove her elbow into his ribs. The sickening thud cracked through the air. He folded instantly, crumpling like a broken doll. Before he even hit the floor, she moved again, hooking his ankle and sending him crashing onto the cold, blood-slicked concrete. The crowd erupted around her — a roar thick and frenzied — but it felt distant, muffled, like noise behind glass. Her world had narrowed to a sharp, merciless focus. Another fighter lunged at her from the side, a blur of desperation. Ellaya caught him mid-strike, pivoting smoothly, her body a blade honed by violence. With a brutal twist, she snapped his arm. The crack echoed louder th
Ellaya lunged, her kick slicing through the air toward her grandfather’s chest. But he was faster. His weathered hands snapped forward, catching her ankle mid-strike. In a single motion, he twisted and flipped her—her back hitting the mat with a bone-rattling thud. Before she could react, a brutal fist drove into her stomach. Pain detonated in her core. Her lungs collapsed inward. Breath scattered like broken glass. She doubled over. But he didn’t wait. He pinned her to the ground, calloused fingers digging into her wrists. Her body thrashed, muscles screaming, wrists raw beneath his unyielding grip. Ellaya cried out—sharp, guttural, alive. “That’s enough for today.” His voice cut cold through the haze. “You’re still weak. Like a toddler grasping at strength that isn’t yours. Push yourself harder.” She scrambled upright, shame searing hotter than any bruise. Her ribs ached. Her knuckles bled. But her mind? Steel. Survival wasn’t a choice. It was her god now.
A gust of wind tore through the room, sweeping papers off the desk like shreds of the past being ripped into the present. Kai stood in the doorway, chest heaving, drenched in sweat. One hand dragged a man by the collar—a mangled heap of flesh and bone. The man's face was grotesque, beaten to a pulp, barely conscious. Blood dripped steadily from his nose, painting a red trail behind them like a signature of vengeance. Arthur followed, silent as thunder before the strike. His fists were clenched so tightly the knuckles bled white. His eyes—cold, ruthless—locked on Iden like a scope lining up its mark. Without a word, Kai kicked the man’s legs out. He collapsed at Iden’s feet in a graceless heap. Silence held its breath. Then a weak, hoarse cry spilled from the man’s throat. He trembled, unable to meet Iden’s eyes. “Having fun, Danny?” Angelo’s voice sliced through the stillness, low and mocking as he crouched beside the man. A cruel smile twisted his lips. “Didn’t expect t
“This is the video we pulled,” Angelo said, turning the laptop toward Iden. He hit play. Young Ellaya hurled a glass of wine at Leo. Her voice sliced through the air like a blade. “You sewer rat! You don’t belong here! You should’ve died in the gutter you crawled out of!” Her finger jabbed toward his face, trembling. “You’re dirt-poor—and that’s exactly what you deserve! You should die like the scum you are!” Then, louder—each syllable laced with venom: “You’re poor—and that’s all you’ll ever be. Die in it.” Iden’s jaw locked. He didn’t blink. Couldn’t. His stomach twisted into a slow, suffocating knot. He’d seen this video so many times, it was seared into his memory. Burned in rage. It was the reason he hated her—or tried to. Failed to. But this clip, this moment... it was the beginning of everything. He had sworn over his friend’s grave to destroy her. And he did—masterfully. “She’s yelling at Leo,” Angelo said. “That’s what the clip shows. And we all believ