The Road to Revenge

Cold, Alone, and Hunted

Sophia sat in the shadows of an abandoned warehouse, drenched from head to toe. The cold night air bit at her skin, but the fire in her heart burned hotter. Natalia had betrayed her.

Her face was all over the news now.

"International fugitive Sophia Adeyemi wanted for illegal arms trade, suspected in multiple homicides…"

She clenched her fists. It was all lies. Natalia had made sure of that.

But if the world thought she was a criminal, then fine. She'd be the kind of criminal that Natalia feared.

Finding a Lifeline

Her phone was ruined from the water, but she still had one advantage—her mind.

Sophia had spent years in this world, rubbing shoulders with billionaires, drug lords, and corrupt politicians. She knew people who hated Natalia just as much as she did.

But first, she needed money.

She found a stolen car, hotwired it, and drove toward the only person she could trust: Marco Ricci, a black-market banker in Milan.

If anyone could help her disappear and regroup, it was him.

An Old Friend, A New Enemy

Marco's private club was exclusive—hidden inside a five-star hotel, only accessible through a secret entrance.

Sophia walked in, dripping water and blood, her clothes torn. The guards almost threw her out, but when Marco saw her, his eyes widened in shock.

"Sophia? I thought you were dead."

"Not yet." She collapsed into the chair. "But if I don't get some help, I will be."

Marco hesitated. He was powerful, but helping Sophia meant going against Natalia.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?" he asked. "You're a walking death sentence. Natalia wants you gone. The police want you behind bars. Every bounty hunter in Europe is looking for you."

Sophia smirked despite the pain. "Good. That means I still matter."

Marco sighed, rubbing his temples. Then, finally, he said:

"What do you need?"

Sophia leaned forward, her voice cold as ice.

"Money. A new identity. And the location of every single one of Natalia's operations."

The Rise of the Real Queen

It took three days. Three days of waiting, hiding, and planning.

When Marco finally handed her the information—bank accounts, secret shipments, Natalia's home address—Sophia felt alive again.

This wasn't just about survival anymore.

This was war.

And by the time it was over, Natalia would wish she had killed her when she had the chance.

 The Queen Returns to the Board

Sophia had spent years learning from the best—corrupt billionaires, warlords, and power-hungry politicians. She knew how they thought, how they played the game. And now, it was her turn to move.

She sat in a dimly lit room in a safe house Marco had arranged for her. The air smelled of old cigars and expensive whiskey. On the table before her was a map of Natalia's empire—shipment routes, offshore accounts, secret warehouses.

Marco leaned against the wall, watching her carefully. "What's the plan?"

Sophia's fingers trailed over the map. "We're going to take everything she has."

"You mean kill her?"

Sophia smirked. "Not yet."

Natalia's strength came from her power, money, and fear. If Sophia wanted true revenge, she had to strip her of everything before delivering the final blow.

Tonight, they'd start with the money.

The Heist – Striking the Heart of Natalia's Empire

Natalia kept millions in hidden offshore accounts, but her real wealth moved through her underground casino in Monte Carlo.

If Sophia could hit it, she could cripple Natalia overnight.

Dressed in a sleek black gown, her hair curled to perfection, Sophia walked through the doors of the casino like she still owned the world.

Marco had arranged fake IDs and disguises for the team—a hacker, a getaway driver, and an explosives expert.

The plan was simple:

Sophia distracts security. The hacker shuts down the casino's surveillance. The explosives expert creates chaos. They empty the underground vault and escape before Natalia even knows what happened.

But as Sophia stepped onto the casino floor, a familiar voice sent chills down her spine.

"Well, well… look who's back from the dead."

She turned slowly.

Natalia.

Dressed in a crimson dress, holding a champagne glass, Natalia's eyes burned with amusement. She knew Sophia was coming.

Sophia's heart pounded, but she kept her expression unreadable.

"Miss me?"

Natalia smirked, taking a sip of her drink. "Oh, Sophia… you should've stayed dead."

The game had just changed.

And now, Sophia had to improvise—or die.