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
“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“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
“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
Genesis’s eyes blinked open, greeted by darkness. The room was shrouded in shadows, the windows completely covered by thick curtains. She looked around, but the blackness made it impossible to see anything—or anyone.Panic stirred in her chest. She immediately climbed out of bed, but the speed at which she moved made her stagger. Her heart began to race.She hated the dark. It reminded her of that place.With trembling hands, she bent down and fumbled for the bedside lamp. Her fingers found the thin rope, and she gave it a sharp tug. Warm light flooded the room, pushing the shadows away. She exhaled, shakily, her breath catching on relief.She was in their bedroom.But Kier was nowhere in sight.As she stepped forward, something small slipped from beneath her dress and hit the floor with a soft clink. Genesis looked down and saw the vial. She immediately bent and snatched it up, holding it tightly in her hand.Monica had given it to her. A bitter little secret in a glass bottle.“Take
KIERShe mustn’t know what happened last night.She stared at the smudge like she was trying to understand it—like her mind was racing to place it somewhere safe and failing.I shouldn’t have come back like this. I should’ve cleaned up. Taken a second to think, to breathe. To be better.But I wasn’t.And now, she was staring at me like she didn’t recognize me. Like I was someone else entirely.She looked like she was breaking.I reached out to her again. “Genesis…”Her breath hitched the moment my hand touched her shoulder—and something in me shattered. Not just because she flinched—God, she flinched—but because I saw it in her eyes.She wasn’t here. Not really.So I stood. Her eyes followed me, wide and wary, like she was bracing for something. Preparing for impact.I dragged a hand through my hair, staring down at her. She looked scared… so damn small. I wanted to wrap her in my arms, protect every inch of her.But first, I needed to take care of this mess.I made my way to the rest