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Once known as the naive and kind-hearted Ava Montague, she was betrayed, framed, and left to die by the very people she trusted most—her fiancé, best friend, and stepmother. But death did not claim her. Instead, a mysterious organization saved her and gave her a new identity: "The Vixen."
With a new face, a new name, and a burning desire for revenge, she returns as Celeste Vauxhall, a woman who plays by no rules but her own. She is no longer the weak, innocent girl she once was—she is now a master manipulator, using charm, intelligence, and deception to dismantle those who wronged her.
But revenge is a double-edged sword. As she gets closer to her targets, she finds herself entangled in a dangerous game of power, love, and deception. And when a mysterious billionaire with secrets of his own enters her life, the lines between vengeance and passion blur. Will she succeed in her mission, or will she lose herself in the very darkness she sought to control?

The Vixen

The moment we stepped away from Liam and Serena, I felt the weight of their stares clinging to my back.

Kai, ever the observant one, kept his pace slow beside me, his fingers tracing lazy circles against the fabric of my dress as if he were merely escorting his date through the ballroom.

"You enjoyed that," he murmured, amusement lacing his voice.

I reached for another champagne flute from a passing waiter, taking a sip to cool the fire thrumming beneath my skin.

I had rattled them. That much was clear. But this game was only just beginning.

"You made quite the impression," a voice interrupted, smooth and deliberate.

I turned, my gaze meeting the calculating blue eyes of Damien Laurent—Serena's older brother.

I schooled my features into polite curiosity.

Damien smirked, tilting his glass toward me. "Someone who enjoys watching a good performance. And that?" He gestured toward Liam and Serena in the distance. "That was quite the show, Miss Vauxhall."

Kai tensed beside me, subtle but noticeable.

Damien wasn't just any guest at this gala. He was dangerous. Wealthy. Powerful. And unlike his sister, he didn't bother with pretense.

"I don't know what you mean," I said smoothly, playing the role of the unbothered socialite.

Damien chuckled. "Oh, but I think you do. You have Serena on edge, and Liam?" He sipped his drink, eyes gleaming with interest. "He looks like he's seen a ghost."

My grip tightened around my glass.

"Do you always make a habit of eavesdropping on strangers?"

"Only when they're interesting."

Kai shifted slightly beside me, a silent warning. But I wasn't intimidated. Not by Damien.

If anything, he was an opportunity.

"Then I suppose I should be flattered," I mused. "But if you'll excuse me, I have more important things to attend to."

I turned on my heel, but before I could take a step, Damien leaned in slightly, his voice dropping low.

"Careful, Celeste. This world has a way of devouring those who don't belong."

I met his gaze head-on, letting a slow, dangerous smile spread across my lips.

"Good thing I'm not here to belong."

Then I walked away, feeling his stare follow me into the night.

Chapter 11: Whispers in the Dark