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Sold like a prized possession, Seraphina Alaric was handed over to the most feared man in the business world—Damien Thorne. She expected chains, cruelty, and a life of silent suffering. But Damien didn’t want a submissive wife. He wanted a weapon.
“You weren’t sold to be my toy,” he murmured, his piercing gaze locking onto hers. “You were sold because they feared what you could become. So let’s make them regret it.”
Betrayed by the family who should have protected her, Seraphina finds herself in an unlikely alliance with the man who "bought" her. Together, they scheme, manipulate, and tear down the empire built on her suffering. As secrets unravel and enemies close in, the lines between vengeance and desire blur.
He was never supposed to care. She was never supposed to fall.
But when the final move is played, Seraphina will stand—not as a victim, not as a pawn, but as the queen of her own destiny. And this time, the only man beside her will be the one who helped her burn her past to the ground.

The Keptwoman

The ride to Damien Thorne's estate was cloaked in silence. Seraphina sat stiffly in the leather seat of the limousine, staring out at the blurred city lights. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap, her nails pressing into her palms to keep her emotions at bay.

Damien sat beside her, his posture relaxed but his presence overwhelming. He wasn't watching her, but she could feel his attention like a weight pressing against her skin. He was assessing her, analyzing her—waiting for her to break.

She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

The car slowed, and as the gates of the Thorne estate loomed ahead, Seraphina felt the cold grip of reality tighten around her throat. This was no simple mansion—it was a fortress. High walls, security cameras, armed guards.

The driver opened her door, and she stepped out, tilting her chin up. If she was going to be locked away, she would not cower. She would not let fear win.

Damien stepped beside her, his voice low. "You can glare at me all you want, but you'll find I'm not your enemy, Seraphina."

She scoffed, turning to face him. "You bought me. That makes you no better than them."

His gaze darkened, something unreadable flashing in his stormy eyes. "They sold you to get rid of you. I took you to make them pay. The difference is—when I'm done, you won't be a pawn anymore. You'll be a queen."

Seraphina's breath caught, but she refused to let his words sway her. "And what do you get out of it?"

A slow smirk curved his lips. "I like watching people burn. And I think you do, too."

The weight of his words settled over her like a promise. She had expected chains, expected cruelty. Instead, he was offering her something far more dangerous.

As the doors to the estate swung open, Seraphina took her first step inside, knowing that whatever game Damien was playing, she had no choice but to play along.

Chapter 2: The Devil’s Cage