acm0219

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

As I stepped out of the hotel, the city greeted me with its usual symphony—honking cars, distant chatter, the occasional siren slicing through the morning air. It was chaotic, unpredictable, and full of opportunity.

Kai was waiting by the car, sunglasses on, arms crossed. He looked up as I approached, and without a word, he opened the door.

"How was breakfast with the devil?" he asked as I slid into the passenger seat.

"Enlightening," I murmured, fastening my seatbelt.

Kai got in, starting the engine with a smooth turn of the key. "And? Did he try to play the charming villain or the ruthless businessman?"

"Both," I said, glancing at him. "But I expected that. What I didn't expect was his offer."

Kai's grip on the wheel tightened ever so slightly. "Offer?"

"Protection," I said, watching his reaction.

He scoffed, shaking his head. "From what? The consequences of your own recklessness?"

"From Liam. From Serena. From the people who think I'm just another pretty face to be dealt with."

Kai exhaled sharply. "And let me guess—you turned him down?"

Kai muttered something under his breath, something that sounded suspiciously like "unbelievable." Then he glanced at me, his expression unreadable.

"Celeste, you do realize Damien Laurent doesn't do anything out of generosity, right?"

"Then why the hell are you playing this game with him?"

I turned to him fully, a slow smile curling on my lips. "Because he thinks he's leading. But I'm the one setting the pace."

Kai let out a humorless laugh. "That's a dangerous assumption."

"So is underestimating me," I shot back.

Silence settled between us, thick with unspoken words.

Then, finally, Kai sighed, shaking his head as he pulled into traffic.

"You're going to get yourself killed."

I smirked, looking out the window. "Not today."

Chapter 17: A Wolf Among Sheep