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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 city blurred past as Kai drove in silence, the tension between us settling into something almost comfortable. Almost.

"Where to?" he finally asked, eyes on the road.

Kai's jaw tightened. "Risky move, showing up at Liam's place unannounced."

"Good." I leaned back, adjusting the strap of my dress. "Let him know I'm not afraid of him."

Kai let out a quiet scoff, but he didn't argue. He knew me well enough to understand that once my mind was made up, there was no point in trying to change it.

The drive to Obsidian—Liam's prized nightclub—was short, but every second of it felt like a countdown. I wasn't just walking into enemy territory. I was making a statement.

By the time we arrived, the club was already in full swing, music pulsing through the walls like a heartbeat. The line outside stretched around the block, but we bypassed it with ease, the bouncers recognizing Kai instantly.

Inside, the air was thick with perfume, liquor, and bad decisions. Neon lights bathed the crowd in shades of blue and red, bodies moving in rhythm with the bass.

But my focus wasn't on the dance floor. It was on the VIP section, where Liam sat like a king on his throne.

His gaze locked onto me the second I stepped into view.

A slow smile spread across his lips. "Celeste. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

I sauntered over, stopping just before his table. "I thought it was time we had a little chat."

He gestured lazily to the seat across from him. "By all means."

I sat, crossing my legs as I met his gaze head-on.

"You and Serena made a mistake," I said, my voice steady.

Liam's smile didn't waver. If anything, it deepened. "Did we?"

"You thought I wouldn't fight back."

He chuckled, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Oh, Celeste. We never thought that. We were counting on it."

"What do you mean?" I asked carefully.

Liam leaned forward, his voice dropping to something almost conspiratorial. "You've been so focused on making your moves, so determined to prove you're untouchable, that you didn't stop to ask yourself one thing."

The music pounded in my ears, but his next words cut through it like a blade.

"Are you playing the game… or are you being played?"

I didn't let my expression falter. But deep inside, something cold settled in my stomach.

Because for the first time since this all began, I realized something terrifying.

I might not be the only one pulling the strings.

Chapter 18: A Whisper of War