In the dark parts of her past, Emelia RedField was a victim, a pawn in the games of those who wanted to use her. She found out that the more she asked for love, the more she wanted a family, the RedFields will never have a place for her. She struggled, until darkness took over. But she was given a second chance, a time before it all began, a time when she wasn't riddled with scars. She finds herself entangled with Kaidon Blackwood, a man with secrets as deep as his eyes, and together they dance on the edge of desire and revenge. She will have her revenge on those who had made her suffer!
Voir plusChapter 1
Emelia's Pov “Arghhh!” I screamed, pain shooting through my spine as hot iron burned through the skin on my face. It hurts! It hurts so much! I was thrown to the floor, my chin hitting the hard concrete floor. Scrambling backwards, I clawed at my face, feeling the melting flesh drip down my chin. “Hahahaha!” Nora, my younger sister laughed, her voice echoing in the dark room, her amusement piercing through the thick air like a blade. "You look hideous now, dear sister." She mocked, twirling the branding iron in her hand. The tip still sizzled, glowing a furious red from the heat, "But don't worry, it's not like you had much to lose." Tears blurred my vision, the sharp sting of burnt flesh sending fresh waves of agony through my nerves. I gasped for air, my body trembling violently as I forced myself to crawl backward. "N-Nora… please…" I choked, my voice barely a whisper. She sighed, tilting her head as if bored. "I was hoping you'd put up more of a fight.” She mused, crouching beside me. Her fingers gripped my chin, forcing me to look up at her, "Where’s that fire you always had, Emelia? Where’s that little spark of defiance? You know I never liked you, Emelia so why did you try to cover what wasn't yours? Why did you always try to get in my way? Why did you even have to stay in the mansion! You should have refused to become a RedField! Why were you always so greedy?!” Nora's voice rose the more she spoke and with my one good eye, I stared at her in shock. “I was greedy?” I let out a choked laugh, my broken ribs protesting the movement. Greedy? That’s what she thought of me? I could barely hold myself upright, my hands trembling as I pushed against the floor, but I still managed to look up at her. "You call me greedy." I rasped, my voice hoarse from the pain. "But who was the one who took everything from me? Who lied? Who betrayed me? I only wanted to be recognised by my real parents! How was I greedy?!” Nora’s smile vanished. Her grip on the branding iron tightened. "You should have never been here." She hissed, "You should have never been born! You should have just stayed in that poor orphanage! How dare you try to take what's mine, huh?!" And with that, she slammed the iron against my shoulder. A fresh wave of agony ripped through me. My body convulsed, the scream torn from my throat as my skin burned, the scent of scorched flesh making me nauseous. Nora watched me writhe with cold satisfaction before finally stepping back, dropping the iron with a loud clang. "By the time I am done with you, Emelia. The world won’t even remember you existed." She turned to the guards, "Lock the door. Make sure no one goes in or out.” "You… will regret this…" I rasped. For a moment, something dark flashed in her eyes. But then she grinned. "Regret?" she echoed, her thumb pressing against the raw, burned skin of my cheek. I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood, "No, sister. The only one full of regret… is you." She shoved me back, standing to her full height. I collapsed onto the cold ground, my chest rising and falling rapidly. Everything hurts. My body was battered, my face burning, my limbs too weak to even move. Her words echoed in my brain, “The only one full of regrets is you.” Right… That was right… I was the one who was full of regrets. She was right. I should have known my place, I never should have tried to ask for love from my real parents. I never should have tried to fit in with the people I called my family. I should have not been so naive to the extent that I believed they would treat me better than where I used to be. A bitter chuckle escaped my lips. Why was I so stupid? But then, a knock came from outside, it was so soft I almost thought I imagined it. I forced my eyes open, my heart shaking. "Miss Emelia…" A whisper came. I tried to move, to lift my head, but my body was sluggish, unresponsive. The window creaked open. A small figure crawled inside. I blinked, “Lena?” What was she doing here? She was trembling, her face pale, but her eyes were filled with urgency, "Miss Emelia, I came to help you but we have to go before Nora comes back." She whispered desperately. I wanted to speak. To ask why she was here, why she was risking her life for me. But I couldn’t. Lena didn’t wait. She grabbed my arm, looping it around her small shoulders, and pulled. "Come on.” She urged, "Please…" With every ounce of strength left in me, I moved. Together, we stumbled toward the window. However, we had barely made it outside when a voice cut through the night. "Going somewhere?" It was Nora. She stood in the dim moonlight, arms crossed, her lips curling into a slow, wicked smile. "You really never learn, do you, Emelia?" she sighed, shaking her head. Lena froze. Before I could react, Nora's guards grabbed her. "NO!" I screamed, reaching for her. Lena thrashed, kicking wildly, but she was no match for them. One of the guards yanked her arm and then… CRACK. A bloodcurdling scream tore from Lena’s throat. My stomach dropped as I stared at her in horror. Her hand… They had broken her hand. Tears streaked her pale face, her tiny frame shaking from pain. But through her sobs, she looked at me. "Run." She whimpered. I couldn’t leave her. I couldn't. She helped me. She had helped me! "GO!" she screamed. "Miss Emelia, please! RUN!" “No… I can't… I can't leave you…” “Miss Emelia, go, alright? I wanted to repay you for how you helped me back then and I finally had the chance to do that. I don't regret anything and neither should you. It wasn't wrong for you to ask for love. It wasn't. So please go, GO! RUN!” My heart shattered. But I ran. I forced my battered legs forward, sprinting toward the street. The cold night air whipped against my face, every step sending fresh agony through my body. Behind me, I heard Nora’s furious voice. "Don’t let her escape!" Footsteps thundered after me. I pushed harder, lungs burning, vision blurring. The streetlights ahead flickered, the sound of car engines roaring in my ears. I was almost there. I had almost escaped but then, I saw headlights and it shone into my eyes, I raised my hands to cover my sensitive eyes from the light. However, I couldn't react quickly. My body was hit by the car and I flew back, my body hitting the pavement with a painful thud, my spine cracking. It was cold. It was really cold. I could feel life slipping away from me. Through my blurry eyes, I saw Ethan, my fiancé, come out from the car that had hit me. I could hear screams and shouts. Ethan and Nora stepped closer to me, he held her by the waist, comforting her as she cried. There was no emotion on his face. I gasped, wanting to say something, but blood had filled my throat and the world was spinning. I knew I was going to die. But I didn't want to die. I didn't want to die. I want to live. So please… if someone was out there. If they felt pity for me… give me a second chance. I won't ask for love anymore, I won't want a family anymore. So please, give me a second chance to right my wrongs! Please!Emelia’s PovThe crowd hushed, the whispers dying abruptly. Nuella’s smirk wavered, her nails digging into her palm as she forced out a laugh, brittle and high-pitched, “You talk well for a fake.”Her laughter echoed, but this time, fewer people followed.I stood tall, arms crossing once more, my eyes locked on hers without a hint of hesitation, “And you talk too much for someone who’s already lost.”Nuella clenched her fists, her eyes spewing fire at me, and then, “She’s a fake!” Nuella declared, her finger stabbing through the air at me, “This girl standing here, she’s not the real ELLA.”The words cracked like a whip across the grand hall.Gasps erupted. Heads turned. The murmurs began instantly, spreading like fire in dry grass.“She’s really not the real one?” “But how does Nuella know?” “Shouldn't we wait for the hosts to come here before we start throwing around accusations?” Nuella’s eyes gleamed with cruel triumph as she went on, her voice carrying perfectly over the grow
Emelia’s PovNuella Hale was someone I didn't think I'd have the chance to meet in my lifetime. She was from one of the richest families in all of Capital City and held a prestigious title, however, she could never match up to me in terms of programming, so she declared herself my rival.I at least thought that our meeting could be pleasant, but unfortunately, that's not meant to happen.I tilted my chin, letting my words fall deliberately, “Do you really think presence is proven by how loud one can bark? Do you think brilliance shines because you scream it in everyone’s face?” I took another step closer, the distance between us crackling with tension, “No. True presence is quiet. Unshakable. It doesn’t need to announce itself.”I let my gaze sweep over the crowd, holding their eyes one by one before landing back on her, “And as for not belonging here, my name card is written in gold ink on the chair you tried to steal. My invitation was sealed and delivered. My work has already shape
Emelia’s Pov I turned slowly, my gaze cutting to my guide. His voice was smooth, almost too composed, but there was something in the way he asked that set my teeth on edge.I let out a sharp laugh, cold and humorless, “Why?” I repeated, my tone dripping with disdain, “Because I’m not stupid.”The crowd went still.I took a step closer, my eyes narrowing at both him and the trembling girl, “Do I look like someone who can’t tell right from wrong? Do I look blind to the fact that something about this entire scene stinks? Don’t insult me by expecting me to swallow that pathetic excuse.”The girl’s head hung lower, but her knuckles whitened at her sides. Still, she muttered the same thing, voice weak but stubborn, “I… I was just jealous. That’s all.”Her insistence was almost laughable.I studied her in silence, then let my arms drop, smoothing out my dress, “Fine.” I said flatly, my voice carrying enough weight to make her flinch again, “Keep your excuses if that’s what helps you sleep a
Emelia’s Pov The girl’s lips trembled. She tried to stammer, “N-no, you…”I cut her off, stepping forward, the click of my heels sharp against the marble, “No? Then explain why, after you bumped into me, I reached out to help you, and you screamed like I’d set you on fire. Explain that to everyone watching right now.”Her face paled, the act cracking under the weight of my words.I crossed my arms, keeping my gaze locked on her trembling form, “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue? Or is it just hard to keep your lies straight when the truth is staring you in the face?”The whispers changed again, shifting, muttering.“If you wanted attention, you should’ve chosen another target.” I said coldly, my words slicing through her fake sobs, “Because I’m not someone you can frame so easily.”The girl’s mouth opened, but nothing came out. I stared at her for a moment, confused as to who she even was and why she wanted to frame me in the first place. I've never met her before and I'm confid
Emelia’s Pov Liora’s satisfied smile reflected right back at me, “Oh, it’s you.” She said confidently, dusting her palms together as if she’d just completed a masterpiece, “This is the version the world deserves to see.”Before I could argue, she clapped her hands sharply, and one of the assistants swept forward to pull me up from the chair, “Come on. He’s waiting downstairs.”“He?” I repeated weakly, but they were already ushering me toward the door.By the time I reached the bottom of the stairs, my pulse had quickened into something both terrifying and thrilling. Kaidon stood near the entrance, already dressed, looking devastatingly sharp in a tailored black suit. The cut hugged his shoulders and chest perfectly, his tie neat, his hair brushed back in sleek control.“Kaidon.” I called softly.He turned.The moment his eyes landed on me, his steps faltered. For a long, unguarded moment, he simply stared, his usually quick tongue stilled. His eyes widened, flicking over me in silent
Emelia’s Pov I puffed out my chest dramatically, trying to look dignified despite the heat still rising to my cheeks, “Fine. I’ll reluctantly agree to take the money.” I even tilted my chin up for effect.Kaidon’s grin stretched wider, the streetlight catching the edges of his teeth, “That’s my girl.” He murmured, giving my fingers a squeeze, “We’ll talk about the details when we get home. For now…” His voice dipped low, full of playful promise, “Let’s just have some fun.”“Fun?” I echoed, one brow arched.“Yes, Emelia.” He said with mock exasperation, tugging me forward again, “Fun. You know, that thing you’re allowed to have before you stress about parties and investors.”I rolled my eyes but let him drag me along anyway, “You’re such a child.” “Whatever you call me, Emelia. I accept it.” I huffed but couldn’t fight the smile tugging at my lips as we slipped deeper into Capital City’s neon heart. Kaidon steered me toward a line of food stalls glowing in red and gold, the scent of
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