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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 moment Seraphina stepped inside the estate, a strange sense of unease settled over her. The grand foyer was immaculate—black marble floors polished to a perfect sheen, a crystal chandelier casting sharp reflections across the high ceilings. Yet, despite the opulence, it felt empty. Hollow.

Damien walked ahead of her, his long strides unhurried, exuding an air of effortless control. "You'll stay in the east wing. No one will bother you there."

She halted. "And if I want to leave?"

He turned, his expression unreadable. "You won't."

A flicker of defiance flared in her chest. "You can't keep me here forever."

Damien chuckled, the sound low and rich. "No, I can't. But you won't leave until I say you can."

The certainty in his voice sent a chill down her spine. "You're no better than them."

His smirk faded. "I'm nothing like them."

She wanted to argue, to throw his arrogance back in his face, but before she could, a figure appeared at the top of the grand staircase. A woman—tall, elegant, with piercing blue eyes and a smirk that mirrored Damien's.

"So this is the girl you bought?" she mused, descending slowly. "Pretty thing. Though I expected more of a fighter."

Seraphina's fists clenched. "Who are you?"

The woman reached the bottom step and extended a manicured hand. "Evelyn Thorne. Damien's sister."

Seraphina's gaze darted between them. There was a resemblance in their sharp features, in the way they carried themselves like royalty.

Evelyn's smirk deepened. "You look like a lost kitten, dear. I hope you're more than that."

Damien shot her a warning look. "Enough, Evelyn."

Evelyn merely shrugged, turning on her heel. "Just making sure she knows that being here isn't a fairy tale. It's survival."

With that, she disappeared down the hall, leaving an uncomfortable silence in her wake.

Seraphina inhaled sharply. Damien was watching her again, waiting to see how she would react. She met his gaze head-on.

"I don't need a fairy tale," she said quietly. "I just need revenge."

Something dark and satisfied flickered in Damien's eyes. "Then you're exactly where you need to be."

As the doors to her new room swung open, Seraphina knew one thing for certain—this was just the beginning.

Chapter 3: The Thorned Cage