LOGINShare
Chapter 5: A Battle of Fire and Ice
Last Updated:
2025-02-25 13:53:52I didn’t sleep.
How could I?
Dominic Caldwell had played me, twisted my loyalty into a noose, and left me standing in the ruins of my own choices.
My father’s scandal was now public.
Dominic had betrayed me.
And worse, I was still his—trapped in a marriage I had no way of escaping.
By the time the sun rose, I had made a decision.
If Dominic wanted a war, I’d give him one.
****
The next morning, I didn’t wait for him to summon me.
I stormed into the dining room, where he sat at the long mahogany table, sipping his coffee like he hadn’t just burned my world to the ground.
He barely glanced up. “You’re up early.”
I slammed a newspaper onto the table—the same one detailing my father’s downfall. “You used me.”
Dominic sighed, setting his cup down. “We’ve already established that.”
I clenched my fists. “Then let’s establish something else. This marriage? It’s over.”
A slow, mocking smile spread across his lips. “You really think that’s up to you?”
“I won’t be your pawn.”
“You already are,” he murmured, leaning back in his chair. “And you signed a contract, remember?”
Anger coiled in my stomach. “Contracts can be broken.”
His gaze darkened. “Not mine.”
I hated him. Hated his power, his control, the way he made me feel powerless—no, helpless.
But I wasn’t weak.
And Dominic was about to learn that the hard way.
****
I spent the entire day plotting my next move.
By evening, I had an answer.
Liam.
It was risky—dangerous even—but I had no other choice.
I found him in his office, drowning in paperwork and frustration.
When he saw me, his eyes softened. “Elena.”
I didn’t have time for pleasantries. “I need your help.”
Liam frowned. “With what?”
I exhaled sharply. “Taking Dominic down.”
His entire body went still. “You’re serious.”
“Completely.”
Liam leaned back, studying me. “What changed?”
I hesitated. “He betrayed me. My father. Everything.”
His jaw tightened. “I told you to walk away from him.”
I flinched. “And I didn’t listen. But I’m listening now.”
Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “If you go against Dominic, it won’t just be business. It’ll be war.”
I met his gaze. “Then help me win it.”
A long silence stretched between us.
Then, finally, Liam nodded.
“Alright,” he said. “Let’s destroy him.”
****
I didn’t return to Dominic’s penthouse until late that night.
I expected him to be asleep.
I was wrong.
He was waiting for me.
The moment I stepped inside, he was there—leaning against the wall, his eyes dark and knowing.
“Where were you?”
I forced myself to remain calm. “Out.”
Dominic’s lips twitched. “Try again.”
I crossed my arms. “I don’t answer to you.”
His gaze darkened. “That’s where you’re wrong, Sinclair.”
I swallowed hard. “You don’t own me, Dominic.”
His smirk was slow, deliberate. “Then why are you lying to me?”
Panic surged through me, but I masked it with defiance. “I’m not lying.”
Dominic stepped closer, his presence overwhelming. “You think I don’t know where you went? Who you saw?”
I froze.
He knew.
Somehow, he knew.
“I warned you, Elena,” he murmured, his fingers brushing my jaw. “Liam can’t save you from me.”
My breath hitched. “And what happens when I save myself?”
Dominic’s smirk vanished.
For the first time, something unreadable flickered in his gaze.
And for the first time, I wondered if I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.
The next morning, I received a message that turned my blood to ice.
Meet me at the docks. 11 PM. Come alone.
It was from Liam.
I should have questioned it.
I should have waited.
Instead, I went.
But when I arrived, Liam was nowhere to be found.
The docks were eerily silent, the water lapping against the wooden planks.
Something was wrong.
A shiver ran down my spine. “Liam?”
Silence.
Then—
A pair of hands grabbed me from behind.
I gasped, struggling, but a cloth was pressed to my mouth—something chemical, something strong.
My vision blurred.
The last thing I heard before darkness swallowed me whole—
Was Dominic’s voice.
“Did you really think I wouldn’t see this coming, Sinclair?”
Then everything went black.
Related chapters
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 6: The Devil’s Move
I awoke to the chilling touch of cold metal on my wrists. My head throbbed, and my vision was hazy as I tried to comprehend my surroundings. The dim, flickering light overhead cast unsettling shadows on the concrete walls. Where was I? I pulled at my hands, realizing I was handcuffed to a chair. A wave of sickening déjà vu washed over me. This wasn’t my first encounter with Dominic Caldwell, but this time felt different. I wasn’t sure I would escape with my life. Footsteps broke the silence, slow and deliberate. Then he emerged into the light. Dominic. Clad in a black suit, his expression was inscrutable, embodying the ruthless billionaire who ruled the city. But his eyes? They glowed with a dark, menacing intensity. “You should have known better, Sinclair,” he said, his voice low and almost indifferent. “Did you really think I wouldn’t discover your little alliance with Liam?” My heart raced. He was aware. I swallowed hard, striving to keep my voice steady. “You kidnapped me.
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 7: A Deal with the Devil
I felt the blood drain from my face.Dominic stepped out of the shadows, slow and controlled, like a predator that had just cornered its prey. His expression was unreadable, but his eyes—those dark, calculating eyes—burned with triumph.I had been played.Again.Liam stiffened beside me. “Caldwell,” he said, his voice a forced calm.Dominic ignored him. His focus was on me, and me alone.“You never learn, do you, Sinclair?” he murmured.I forced my chin up. “Looks like you don’t either,” I shot back. “Eavesdropping is a bad habit.”His lips curved into a smirk, but there was no amusement in it.“You thought you were so clever, didn’t you?” he mused. “Slipping away. Meeting your little ally in secret.” He took another step forward, his presence suffocating. “Tell me, Sinclair, did you really think I wouldn’t be watching?”I said nothing.Because the truth was, I had underestimated him.Dominic wasn’t just ruthless—he was ten steps ahead. Always.And now, I was trapped.His gaze flicker
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 8: Lies Wrapped in Silk
I couldn’t sleep.The message played on a loop in my head.“Your husband isn’t the only one with secrets.”What did that mean? Who was this person?I sat in the dimly lit bedroom, gripping my phone like it held all the answers. I could feel Dominic’s presence in the penthouse—he was still in his office, working late, as if nothing had happened. As if he hadn’t just pulled the rug out from under me.I had spent so much time focusing on destroying Dominic, convinced he was my biggest enemy.But what if I was wrong?What if there was someone worse lurking in the shadows?I typed back.Me: I need proof.Nothing.I tried again.Me: If you’re telling the truth, show me something real.Still nothing.I exhaled sharply, tossing my phone onto the nightstand. I hated this—being in the dark, being played. Every second in this penthouse felt like a chessboard where I was two moves behind.But not for long.I swung my legs over the bed and stood. If this mysterious informant wasn’t going to hand m
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 9: The Vanishing Act
My father’s words echoed in my mind.“She’s gone, Elena.”Thea had vanished.And no one knew why.I felt my stomach tighten. My sister had always been the perfect one, the one who followed the rules, who played the game exactly how our father wanted. She wouldn’t have just disappeared—not unless something had happened to her.And now, I was standing in her place, married to a man I couldn’t trust, tangled in a conspiracy I didn’t understand.I took a shaky breath, trying to process it.“I want the truth,” I said, my voice sharp. “Everything.”My father studied me carefully. “You won’t like it.”“I don’t care.”His expression hardened. “Thea was supposed to marry Dominic as part of the original arrangement between our families. But three weeks before the wedding—she ran.”My breath caught.“Ran where?”“If I knew that, do you think I’d be sitting here?” He exhaled sharply. “She left without a trace. No messages, no goodbyes. She just… vanished.”A sick feeling twisted in my gut.“You r
Last Updated : 2025-04-09Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 10: Shadows of the Past
The silence stretched between us, thick with something unspoken.Dominic’s jaw was tense, his fingers gripping the phone so tightly I thought he might crush it. His eyes—dark, intense, unreadable—were locked on mine.I forced myself to breathe. “Who was she last seen with, Dominic?”He hesitated.Then— “Julian Hale.”The name hit me like a slap.I swayed slightly, gripping the edge of his desk. “That’s not possible.”Julian Hale was a ghost from my past. A name I hadn’t heard in years.A man I had once trusted—once loved.He had been my closest friend in college. The golden boy with an easy smile and a mind sharp enough to cut through steel. We had been inseparable—until he vanished without a word, leaving behind only whispers of scandal and betrayal.And now, my sister had disappeared, last seen with him?My stomach twisted.“What the hell does Julian have to do with this?”Dominic exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “That’s what I intend to find out.”I shook my head.
Last Updated : 2025-04-14Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 11: Midnight Lies
I stood at the dock's edge, gripping my phone tightly. The midnight waves lapped gently against the wooden boards beneath me, while the moon cast a soft, silvery light over the water. The air was thick with the scent of salt and something else—something metallic, hinting at danger lurking nearby. Julian was late.Dominic had wanted to accompany me, but I had managed to slip away before he could intervene. If Julian had any connection to Thea’s disappearance, I was determined to uncover the truth myself.Taking a deep breath, I scanned the dark surroundings. The docks extended into the shadows, eerily quiet except for the occasional creak of boats swaying at their moorings.Then I heard footsteps.I turned quickly.A figure stepped out of the darkness.It was Julian Hale.He looked leaner than I remembered, his sharp features obscured in shadow, and his once-boyish charm now replaced with a harder edge. His dark hair was longer, tousled by the wind, but it was his eyes that startled m
Last Updated : 2025-04-14Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 12: The Ghosts of the Past
I stared at the bloodstained note in my trembling hands.“Your mother started this. Now you’ll pay the price.”The words felt like a noose tightening around my throat.My mother?This wasn’t about my father’s corruption scandal. This went deeper—darker.Dominic stood across from me, his expression unreadable, but his tense posture told me everything. He knew something.I lifted my gaze. “Tell me.”His jaw tightened. “Elena—”I stood, despite the throbbing pain in my shoulder. “No more half-truths. No more secrets. If my mother was involved in this war, I deserve to know.”He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “It’s not that simple.”Anger flared in my chest. “It never is with you, is it?”His eyes darkened. “Because the truth will destroy everything you think you know.”I stepped closer. “Try me.”He hesitated for a long moment. Then—“Your mother and my father were lovers.”The words hit me like a slap.I staggered back. “What?”His gaze locked onto mine. “It wasn’t ju
Last Updated : 2025-04-14Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 13: The Council’s Move
The moment the words left Dominic’s mouth, my heart slammed against my ribs.Thea’s been taken by the Council.I barely registered the way my breath hitched or how my fingers curled into fists at my sides.Dominic’s grip on his phone was tight, his knuckles white. His jaw clenched. “She sent a message before they got to her.”I snapped out of my daze. “What did she say?”He turned the phone toward me. A single text glowed on the screen.Warehouse. Midnight. Come alone.The blood in my veins turned ice-cold.Dominic swore under his breath. “They’re baiting us.”I already knew that. The Council didn’t make careless moves. They were calculated, patient, and terrifyingly precise. If they had Thea, it meant they were done lurking in the shadows. They wanted us to come to them.And they wanted us vulnerable.I swallowed hard. “We don’t have a choice.”Dominic shook his head. “We do. We just don’t like any of the options.”I knew what he meant. Walking into a trap was the worst possible move
Last Updated : 2025-04-14
Latest chapter
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 40: Burning Bridges
The day after the kiss, the world felt as if it had shifted on its axis, making everything I had ever known—everything I had fought to safeguard—slowly dissolve. Dominic’s words from the night before echoed in my thoughts, intertwined with the kiss that ignited something deep within me. I hated it, yet I couldn’t deny its truth. I resented my longing for it. I was bitter that, in that fleeting moment, I had allowed myself to be vulnerable with him. Given all that had happened, all the lies and manipulation, how could I let him penetrate my defenses? The most painful part was my inability to push him away. The way he looked at me, the fire burning in his eyes, the intensity of his touch—everything about him was utterly captivating.I wanted to run. I wanted to escape from this tangled mess that had somehow become my life. But deep down, I knew I couldn’t. The pull between us was too strong.I stood in front of the mirror, examining the reflection staring back at me. My hair was stil
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 39: Bound by Fire
The warmth of Dominic’s hand in mine was a silent promise—one that I didn’t know whether to accept or burn. His fingers lightly curled around mine, and for a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe in the comfort it brought. But as soon as the thought entered my mind, I shoved it aside.I hated him. I had to.The man who had destroyed my father, who had forced me into this twisted game, couldn’t just be someone I allowed myself to feel something for. His words echoed in my mind—I love you. But how could I trust those words? He had lied to me before, manipulated me. The man who claimed to love me was the same one who had built an empire on the backs of people like my family.But as the hours dragged on and I remained in this sterile hospital bed, Dominic didn’t leave my side. He watched over me as if his very existence depended on my recovery. It was suffocating, but at the same time, there was something in the way he held me, the way his gaze never left me, that made my heart rac
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 38: Breaking Point
The world spun in a disorienting blur, the sound of my own heartbeat thudding in my ears like a drum. I was on the ground, the cold concrete scraping against my skin, but it felt distant—like I wasn’t really there. The pain in my side burned like fire, but even that seemed muffled, as if someone had wrapped the world in a fog I couldn’t escape.I tried to move, to get up, but my body wouldn’t cooperate. My breath came in short, shallow gasps, and for a moment, all I could do was focus on that—breathing. In. Out. In. Out.“Elena!” Dominic’s voice broke through the haze, his hands gripping my shoulders, shaking me gently but urgently. “Stay with me. Elena, please—stay with me.”His words cut through the panic that was rising inside me, and my mind snapped back to reality. The gunshots. The men. The blood. The pain.I looked up, blinking as my vision swam. Dominic was kneeling beside me, his face pale, his brow furrowed in fear. But I didn’t have the strength to reassure him, to tell him
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 37: The Price of Desire
I couldn’t breathe.His words hung in the air between us, thick with meaning. You’re the only thing I’ve ever wanted. I had spent so much time building walls, convincing myself that Dominic Caldwell was nothing but a ruthless CEO—an enemy, a manipulator, someone to hate with every fiber of my being.But now, standing there in the middle of the street, his words felt like a punch to the gut. I wanted to scream at him, to demand answers, but instead, I found myself frozen—caught between the need to understand and the desire to run as far away as possible.“Why?” I managed to whisper, my voice hoarse, a tremor I couldn’t hide slipping through. “After everything, after all of it, why the hell would you say something like that?”Dominic didn’t flinch. He didn’t come closer, didn’t make any move to close the gap between us. His gaze never wavered, and for a moment, I thought I saw something flicker in his eyes—a kind of pain, raw and jagged, as though he was carrying a burden that was far h
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 36: The Breaking Point
The cold air pierced through my clothing, chilling my skin as I stood there, paralyzed, unable to comprehend the gravity of the words that had just been uttered. The man before me—Dominic’s ever-present shadow, a specter lurking in the darkness—had just dismantled everything I thought I understood. There was no escaping the truth now. This was far more significant than my family, more profound than Dominic, more overwhelming than anything I could have braced myself for. The battle I believed I was engaged in, the struggle I had fought so fiercely to win, was merely a diversion—another piece in someone else’s merciless game. My thoughts were racing, desperately trying to piece together the puzzle, seeking any means to reclaim my agency. I had been so confident, so resolute in my mission to reveal Dominic for the man I thought he was. But now, everything was obscured, enveloped in uncertainty. I was lost in a fog of mistrust, unsure of who held the reins. All I knew was that I had to
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 35: A Deeper Game
My pulse hammered in my ears as the car sped through the streets, leaving the alley behind. I glanced over at the driver, but the figure was obscured by the shadows. The dim light from the streetlamps outside barely illuminated the face, but the sheer force of their presence was undeniable. Whoever they were, they’d saved me—whether by chance or design, I couldn’t tell. But I didn’t care. At that moment, survival was the only thing on my mind.I pressed my back against the seat, trying to steady my breathing, still too disoriented to think clearly. The man in the alley—the one who’d been chasing me—wasn’t just a random thug. He had known too much, too many details. His words echoed in my mind: “You don’t have a clue what you’re dealing with.”What had I gotten myself into?I swallowed hard, trying to quell the panic rising in my chest. Was Dominic involved in this? Was he behind whatever game these people were playing? And if so, what was the real objective? I was no closer to answers
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 34: Unmasking the Enemy
I felt suffocated. As soon as the footsteps ceased, it was as if all the air had vanished from my lungs. There was no doubt now—someone was out there, advancing towards me. My heartbeat thudded in my throat, and every muscle in my body was coiled with anxiety. It was no longer just about Thomas; I sensed that something far more sinister was approaching. I was no longer merely fleeing from Thomas; I was escaping the reality of the situation. I remained as motionless as possible, straining to listen, to wait. The footsteps were slow and purposeful, as if the person was fully aware of their destination. Then came the unmistakable sound of a shadow gliding against metal—the noise of someone sliding along the back of the car—confirming my fears. Someone was near. I reached beneath the seat for the emergency kit that had been gathering dust for weeks. My hand trembled as I grasped the tire iron. I didn’t care if it was insufficient; it was all I had. The weight of it offered a slight re
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 33: Dangerous Alliances
I didn’t have time to think. My body acted on instinct, slamming the door shut behind me as Thomas reached for the flash drive. I knew I couldn’t let him have it. Not when it held the key to everything—Dominic’s past, my father’s betrayal, and the twisted dance we’d all been caught in.But Thomas wasn’t just a threat in the form of a man. He was a shadow, slipping through the cracks with a quiet menace that sent chills down my spine. As I backed away, my mind scrambled for an escape, for something—anything—that could help me gain the upper hand.“Don’t make this harder than it needs to be, Elena,” Thomas called out, his voice calm, unsettlingly so. “You’re smarter than this. You know that keeping the drive is just going to hurt you in the end. All you need to do is hand it over, and I’ll make sure you and your family walk away unscathed.”I was breathing hard, my chest tightening with every word. Unscathed? He was lying. If I gave it to him, everything Dominic had worked for—everythin
Twisted Vows Of Desire Chapter 32: The Weight of Truth
The silence between us was deafening.Dominic stood at the edge of the rooftop terrace, the city lights flickering behind him like distant stars—untouchable, indifferent. The night air was sharp, cutting through the tension that hung like a noose between us. My fingers clenched the edge of the marble balcony, grounding myself, because if I didn’t hold onto something, I might fall apart.“I didn’t want you to find out this way,” he said at last, his voice low and rough.I scoffed. “You mean the truth? That you manipulated every moment of my life to lead me here—to you?”He turned slowly, eyes dark and unreadable. “You think this is easy for me? Watching you look at me like I’m the monster in your story when I was trying to protect you from a truth worse than anything I’ve done?”My throat tightened, rage and confusion warring inside me. “Protect me?” I laughed, bitter and sharp. “Dominic, you orchestrated my father’s downfall. You blackmailed me into this engagement. You lied about eve
