GENESIS“Wake up, you little freak.” That was my morning greeting before a bucket of freezing water drenched me, soaking my thin bedding and making me shiver uncontrollably.“What do you think you’re doing, sleeping this late? Do you think you’re royalty while we serve you?” Mark, my stepbrother, sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. Before I could fully wipe the water off my face, he kicked my bed, sending me tumbling to the floor with a painful thud. My jaw slammed against the wooden boards, sending a jolt of pain through my skull.But I knew better than to stay down. If I valued my life, I had to get up, quickly. Without a second thought, I pushed myself off the ground, ignoring the ache in my jaw as I stood upright.My shoulders instinctively hunched as I faced them, bracing myself for whatever came next. Mark was bad enough, but Jimmy, the older of my stepbrothers, was far worse. His cruelty wasn’t just physical, it was insidious, calculated.Jimmy stepped forward, and I stif
KIER“Welcome back, fam! You know what it is, live and loud from my favorite spot in the city,” I tilted my phone, the live stream capturing the pulsing lights and packed dance floor of the club. The chat exploded with messages, half drooling over me, half trying to get noticed.I leaned back against the VIP booth. My tailored black shirt clung perfectly to my chest, the top few buttons undone to show just enough skin for effect. I raked a hand through my tousled hair, pretending not to notice the camera lingering on my face.“In case you forgot, you’re tuned into the Kier Blackwood channel, where you watch me live a life you’ll never afford. But hey, at least you can pretend.”I scanned the chat, smirking at the flood of comments. ‘Kier, you’re a god!’ ‘Notice me, please!’ ‘What’s tonight’s drink of choice?’I swirled the champagne in my glass, holding it up to the camera. “Champagne, because why settle for anything less? And before you ask, no, it’s not the cheap stuff. But you prob
GENESISI stood in the court, in disbelief. I was marrying someone I didn’t know, a man who clearly didn’t want to marry me. I knew it for sure. First, he was late to the court wedding. Second, his eyes never looked at me with warmth. His gaze wasn’t full of hate, but it wasn’t tender either. It was more like he was inspecting me, sizing me up, with no real interest. There was no hunger in his eyes like there was with Jimmy. Instead, when he looked at me, it felt like disappointment, as if I wasn’t what he had expected.Well, we were both in the same boat. This wasn’t what I had expected either. When Monica had called me downstairs last night, I thought I was in trouble. I thought I had done something horribly wrong. But no, instead, she told me I was getting married. Then came the yelling, the slaps, and the broken objects flying through the air.“How dare he? How dare he think he can just waltz back into your life?” Monica screamed at me, throwing things as she went on. Who was this
KIERThree days laterFamily Estate mansion"Y... young master," Richard, the butler, called out just as I was about to leave for the company.I froze, my hand on the door handle of my car. I had bigger things to worry about than whatever insignificant problem he was about to bring up.Not only had I been forced into a marriage with some random woman, but now I had to step into my father's company and learn how to "take charge" of a business I was already well-versed in. I went to business school for this, for God’s sake. I didn’t need to be babysat.I turned and gave him a sharp look. "What is it?"Richard fidgeted, rubbing a hand over his forehead, looking like he'd just run a marathon. "It's about your wife," he stammered.My jaw tightened. My wife? The woman I was married to for a few days now, and still didn’t even know? Why would Richard come to me with this?I exhaled sharply. "What about her?"He hesitated, then spoke in a near whisper. "She hasn't... she hasn't left her room
GenesisThree days.Three long, suffocating days since I was brought to this cold, lifeless mansion. It felt like I’d been dropped into another world, a world too quiet, too clean, too alien. No Monica. No Mark. No Jimmy. No yelling, no beatings, no… anything.I should have felt relief, but the silence only kept me on edge.When I first arrived, I thought it would be like my old home. Rules to follow. Voices barking orders. But this house was nothing like that. The people here, like the butler, Richard, brought me food every day. I barely touched it. The plates were piled high with things I didn’t recognize. Meat glistening with strange sauces. Bread that smells sweet. It was too much. Too strange.I wasn’t allowed to eat like this before, so how could I now?My stomach twisted in hunger, but I couldn’t bring myself to take more than a few bites. What if they were testing me? What if eating too much would bring punishment?The bathroom was another thing. It was bigger than my old room
KIER I gently led her trembling body toward the stall, concern etched on my face. "What’s the matter?" I inquired, noticing the thick steam billowing from the shower head. It was clear she had cranked the water up to an intense heat.I quickly adjusted the temperature, setting the water to a more comfortable level. The steam began to fade a bit, and I turned my gaze to her fragile, exposed form pressed against the wall, hunched and shivering, my jaw clenched tight.How could someone be so terrified of a simple shower?Her front was still to me, the scars on her skin stark against her pale complexion. Just seeing them made my chest constrict. I forced myself to take slow, deep breaths. Losing my cool wouldn’t do her any good.“Genesis,” I said gently, stepping a little closer. She flinched but didn’t retreat this time. I took that as a sign of progress.“You’re okay, it’s just water,” I reassured her, keeping my voice steady. My hand hovered near her shoulder, but I refrained from tou
GENESIS“Stop fiddling with your food and eat,” he commanded, his voice echoing with a deep authority that made me catch my breath. He was sitting uncomfortably close to me on the adjacent stool, right by the counter.It wasn’t that I didn’t want to eat; the meal looked absolutely delectable, and my stomach rumbled like a beast at the mere sight of it. The real issue was that if I consumed more than my allotted share, I would face punishment, and that was something I desperately wanted to avoid.“Go ahead, take more,” he urged as I twirled the spaghetti around my fork. I hesitated but eventually took a bit more, quickly bringing it to my lips before he could demand that I stuff my mouth even fuller. Despite the bath he had given me and the moments of apparent kindness, I knew better. People like him were the worst, pretending to care while hiding a monstrous side, unpredictable and dangerous, much like Jimmy.I understood that I had to stay alert, to keep that lurking monster within h
Kier's POVI couldn't believe what I was seeing. This girl had to be joking. What on earth did she think she was doing? “What are you doing?” I asked, and once again, she flinched. Honestly, the number of times she had reacted like that whenever I spoke or got too close was beyond counting.She turned to face me from her spot on the floor. After tending to her injury and putting a band-aid on it, I carried her to my room, determined to avoid a repeat of the chaos that had previously happened in her room.That meant saying goodbye to Sofia, the sweet brunette I had wanted to bang today. As soon as I set her down, she jumped onto the cold, hard floor beside the bed. Who does that? Apparently, she does.“What are you doing on the floor? Get on the bed,” I instructed, and she stared at me with wide eyes, as if I had just suggested the most absurd thing imaginable. I couldn’t blame her; it was a ridiculous request, even to my own ears. I wasn’t one to share a bed unless I had just fucked
KADE“Get them in, Fang,” I barked, swerving the car as the tires screeched across wet asphalt.“But boss, we haven’t heard anything from Alpha yet,” Fang said, hesitation bleeding through the line.My brows pulled tight. “What do you mean? He was supposed to notify you about the drop an hour ago.”There was a pause, filled with nothing but static and Fang’s uneasy breath. “We got silence. No code, no ping. I thought maybe he was stalling for a reason.”“He’s not stalling,” I growled, weaving past a slow-moving truck. “He’s either compromised or playing a game he shouldn’t be.”“What do you want me to do?”“Lock down the south exit. Now. No one leaves the district unless they’re tagged.”“But if they’re tagged, that means…”“Yeah.” I cut him off. “That means they’re part of this.”Another pause. Then Fang said, “Copy that. South gate's ours. I’ll ping you if anything moves.”I ended the call, jaw tight.If Alpha was off-script, this was bigger than a missed drop. But I shoved that tho
GENESIS“Damn, they’re so good,” Calista mumbled, resting her head on the barre.Yes, barre. That was a new word I’d learned today, and I was proud of it—even if I can’t say it out loud.We stood there, watching the ballerinas move gracefully across the studio floor until the instructor finally called for a break.Some of the girls plopped onto the floor, chugging water like they’d just crossed a desert. Another new word I learnt.Others kept practicing, pointing their toes and stretching their legs like perfection was one pirouette away.I was watching one girl in particular, completely mesmerized, when Stacy suddenly grabbed my hand.“Don’t look, don’t look—but Jaden is coming over here,” she whispered urgently.Calista shot upright like she’d been electrocuted, fussing with her hair.Was something wrong with her hair?Jaden strolled over and stood beside us, his gaze flicking between Stacy and Calista.“How are you girls today?” he asked, smiling.Calista flushed red—like tomato-sa
“Ahhhh, I hate that fucking bitch!” Veronica screamed, hurling a vase against the wall. It shattered into sharp, glittering pieces that skittered across the floor. On the couch, her two friends—Amanda and Mika—exchanged uneasy glances.Veronica stood a few feet away from the wreckage, chest heaving, her face flushed with rage.Mika leaned in closer to Amanda and whispered, “What is she mad about this time?”Amanda sighed, already sounding tired. “What do you think? The little wife of Kieran.”Mika nodded. “But why is she still hung up on that? I thought she was over him.”Veronica whipped around to face them, her hair a wild mess that looked like a bird’s nest, her makeup smeared and chaotic like a melting mask. She looked like she was teetering on the edge of a breakdown.“Over that? You think I’d be over it?” she growled. “Do you know how long I’ve stood by Kieran? My mind was set—he was going to be mine. And then that silent little thing just waltzes in from nowhere and takes him l
GENESIS“First position, second position… Stacy, leg down, not up—you’re not trying to kick anyone,” Miss Reneta said with a patient but firm tone.The room giggled softly. Even I cracked a small smile. Stacy rolled her eyes dramatically. Miss Reneta didn’t notice, but Stacy did as she was told.Miss Reneta clapped her hands twice. “Alright, everyone. Let’s try that again, but this time with music.”As a soft piano melody filled the room, I tried to mimic the movements. Heels together. Toes pointed out. Arms curved like I was holding a giant invisible ball. I moved slowly, cautiously, trying to remember everything she had taught us.My body didn’t feel graceful. My arms were stiff, my balance shaky. But I was trying. I wasn’t going to give up.“Good, Genesis,” Miss Reneta said as she passed by, gently adjusting my elbow. “That’s it. Nice control.”I blinked, surprised by the praise. My chest swelled just a little with pride. Across the room, Calista caught my eye and gave me two enthu
GENESIS“Yes, Lily, do ballet! It’s so fun and amazing, and you get to dress up so beautifully,” Daisy said, bouncing in her seat as she looked at me. I glanced at the dancers again, watching them move with such grace. It was beautiful, like they were speaking with their bodies. But it also looked incredibly difficult. Daisy called it “fun,” but I had a feeling this kind of dance wasn’t to be underestimated. The way their legs moved so high... I was amazed.But my mind wasn’t fully on the decision about which class to choose. My eyes kept gravitating toward the bruise on Kieran’s face. And it wasn’t just that—he had bruises on his wrists too, like he’d slammed them against something. The one on his face looked like he’d been hit.What happened?He’d gone to work hours ago and now came back like this.He turned away from the iPad in his hands and looked at me. “What do you like...?” His voice trailed off as I pressed my hand gently against the injury, and he smiled softly.“What is it..
KIERAN"Stop making that face," I muttered, adjusting the cuff of my shirt. "He got himself fired."She was still staring at me—lips slightly parted, eyes wide, like I’d just confessed to murder. Maybe in her innocent little brain, I had. But that bastard deserved it.I leaned closer, gripping the headboard behind her, caging her in. Her breath caught. She tried to move back, but there was nowhere to go.Just how I wanted it."He looked at you too long.""Smiled too wide. And then he touched you. I saw it on the footage."Her brows drew together. She grabbed her notebook, scribbling fast and furiously:NO HE DID NOTLIAM IS NICE TO MEI gritted my teeth. "See, that's the problem. I didn’t hire him to be nice. And that—what he did—that wasn’t him being nice. That was him wanting something else.”She shook her head. I didn’t care. I grabbed her waist and lifted her up off the bed. Her legs instinctively wrapped around me as I carried her down the stairs."I’ll get you a new tutor. Maybe
GENESIS"How much for a smile?"Huh?My head tilted before I could stop it. I blinked up at him, confused.I scrunch my nose slightly. Was this... a game? Was I supposed to smile now? But why would he pay for that?He pushed me gently against the wet, smooth stone wall. The coldness against my back contrasted sharply with the heat of his bare body pressing into mine. I could feel something else, too—hard, stiff—pressing against me.Heat rushed up my neck, blooming across my face.He lifted one hand from my waist to wipe the water from his face. The shower kept pouring over us, but since I was backed against the wall, my view wasn’t blocked. I saw everything.Then he cupped my cheek with a rough, warm palm.“Did I upset you, kitten? Since I came home, you haven’t smiled at me. You haven’t even looked at me.”Oh.Guilt slammed into my chest, hard. That’s what had been clawing at me since the moment he walked through the door. Every time my mind drifted to that tiny bottle filled with po
Kier"You're late," my dad said the moment I stepped into the dining room, barely a second after spotting me.I rolled my eyes and glanced at Genesis, who sat in the chair closest to him. She looked at me, then quickly looked away, her eyes dropping to her plate.I tore my gaze from her and looked toward Donald at the head of the table. Without a word, I moved to the seat opposite her and sat down."And you're still here, Father? I thought you'd have left by now."I smiled at him, but it didn’t reach my eyes. I snuck another glance at my wife, who still refused to look at me. She stared at her food like it was more worthy of her attention than I was. My hand clenched into a fist. It was ridiculous to feel jealous of a plate of food—but I was. I wanted to toss it across the room just to force her to look at me."So that was your plan all along?" he said, voice laced with something darker. "Stay behind and wait for your old man to finish eating and leave? Or were you up to something els
Knight Blood, known in the underground as the Black Knight, stood calmly behind the Royal Mirage Casino & Resort, his sleek black car parked just a few feet away. Flames licked the night sky, the building groaning under the weight of its destruction. Wood cracked. Cement blocks fell like thunder. Screams and shouts pierced the smoky air.Knight smiled.His eyes glowed with the fire’s reflection as he watched the chaos he’d created unfold. There was no joy in his grin. No sense of relief.Just a sliver of satisfaction.A tiny flicker of calm buried beneath the inferno of rage boiling in his chest.Because this wasn’t over.Not yet.One of his men stepped forward, voice tight with urgency. “Boss, we have to leave now. The police are…..”“Tell me that’s not the prettiest thing you’ve ever seen.” Knight interrupted, catching the man off guard.The guy hesitated, unsure how to respond. His eyes darted to the fire, then back to Knight, searching for the right words. He glanced around, but n