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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 stared at the man on my floor, blood pooling beneath him, soaking into the cracks. The glass in my hand was slick with it, my fingers shaking as I finally let it drop.

The realization hit me like a sledgehammer.

I had just killed someone.

Not in self-defense. Not because I had a choice.

Because in this game, hesitation meant death—and I wasn't ready to die.

My breaths came fast, too fast. I forced myself to move, stepping over the body and grabbing my phone. My hands were slick with sweat and blood as I pressed the call button.

Liam picked up on the second ring.

"I need you here. Now." My voice was hoarse, raw.

"Someone just tried to kill me."

I heard Liam curse under his breath.

"I'm on my way. Don't move."

I should have felt relief, but I didn't. Because Liam coming meant answers. And answers meant more danger.

I stepped back, pressing against the counter, my mind racing.

Who sent the assassin?

Nero? No, if he wanted me dead, he would've done it himself.

Vale? Maybe. But he was more likely to turn me than eliminate me.

A name that sent a cold dread crawling up my spine.

Because if Liam sent this man… then calling him here was the biggest mistake of my life.

The knock on my door came twenty minutes later. Sharp. Three times.

I gripped the gun in my shaky fingers and moved toward the door, my heart slamming against my ribs.

His gaze swept over me—my bloodstained hands, the pale look on my face. Then, slowly, he stepped inside.

His eyes flickered to the body on the floor.

Then, he did something that made my stomach drop.

"Well, well, Celeste." Liam crouched down, inspecting the corpse like it was nothing more than a minor inconvenience. Then, he looked up at me, his expression unreadable.

"Looks like someone finally decided to stop playing nice."

Chapter 43: Retaliation