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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 weight of the gun in my hand felt heavier than it should. Like it carried more than just bullets—like it held every choice I didn't get to make.

I stood outside my apartment for too long, staring at the door, knowing the second I stepped inside, I wouldn't be alone.

Because the second I turned the key and pushed it open, I felt it.

My instincts screamed at me, but it was already too late. A hand wrapped around my wrist—fast, calculated—yanking me inside before I could react. My back hit the wall, and the cold steel of a blade pressed against my throat.

The voice was smooth, almost amused, but there was nothing playful about the man holding me in place.

I forced myself to stay calm, even as my pulse pounded in my ears.

"Didn't know I had company," I muttered, trying to mask the fact that my fingers were inching toward the gun Liam had given me.

Nero smirked, but his grip didn't loosen.

"You've been very busy, Celeste." His blade traced the curve of my jaw. "Liam Kingston's little errand girl. Nicholas Vale's potential new favorite. And yet…" He tilted his head. "I don't think you belong to either of them, do you?"

Because the truth? He was right.

"You're lucky I like wild cards," Nero continued, finally stepping back just enough for me to breathe. "But luck only gets you so far. So tell me…"

His dark eyes locked onto mine, full of something cold and hungry.

"When the time comes, Celeste… whose side will you take?"

Because for the first time since this started—

I didn't know anymore.

Chapter 40: The First Shot Fired