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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

I walked out of Damien's suite with my pulse thrumming, his words echoing in my mind.

"Let's see if you're as ruthless as you claim."

The hallway stretched before me, empty and silent except for the soft click of my heels. The air smelled faintly of expensive cologne and polished wood, the remnants of the high society dealings that had taken place behind these closed doors.

I had just secured a powerful wildcard in Damien Laurent. Whether he would be an ally or an adversary in the end remained to be seen, but one thing was certain—he was interested.

As I reached the elevator, I spotted Kai leaning against the opposite wall, arms crossed, watching me with a knowing smirk.

"How was your little midnight meeting?" he asked, pushing off the wall and falling into step beside me.

"Informative," I said simply, pressing the button.

He hummed, his sharp eyes scanning me for cracks. I gave him none.

The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped inside. The moment they closed, Kai turned, pinning me with a look that sent a shiver down my spine.

"Damien Laurent doesn't give his attention freely," he murmured. "What did you say to him?"

I met his gaze, unfazed. "I told him the truth."

Kai let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. "You and your half-truths."

The elevator dinged as we reached the ground floor. The moment we stepped out, the cool night air wrapped around us, washing away the lingering scent of power and deception.

Kai followed me to the waiting car, slipping into the driver's seat while I settled in beside him.

"So, what's next?" he asked, starting the engine.

I glanced out the window, watching the city lights blur past.

"Liam and Serena think I'm just a distraction," I mused. "They have no idea I'm the storm about to level everything they've built."

Kai exhaled a quiet laugh, shaking his head. "And Damien?"

"He's watching. Waiting. Testing me." I turned to Kai, a slow smile curling on my lips. "But here's the thing—he's not the only one."

Because I wasn't just playing this game.

I was rewriting it.

Chapter 14: A Dance with Shadows