The Phoenix Contract
Seraphina Vale has always been a survivor. Bullied mercilessly by her affluent college classmates and betrayed by her closest friend, Isla Kensington, Seraphina has spent years hiding behind a quiet, unassuming façade. Her turning point comes when Isla’s ultimate betrayal, she leaked Seraphina’s private journal containing intimate reflections about her deceased mother and that led to a public humiliation so devastating that Seraphina ends up hospitalized. Emotionally shattered and at her lowest point, Seraphina stumbles upon Adrian Montclair, a charismatic yet ruthless Mafia boss who offers her an unexpected lifeline.
Adrian, a man haunted by his own dark past, sees something in Seraphina that reminds him of the person he used to be: broken but not irreparable. He offers her a "contract." He will help her rebuild herself, reclaim her life, and exact justice against those who wronged her. In return, she must agree to one favor in the future, the nature of which he will not reveal. Desperate and with nothing to lose, Seraphina accepts, plunging herself into Adrian’s dangerous world.
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Chapter: 8. The First DefeatSeraphina’s fingers trembled slightly as she moved her knight across the board, her heart pounding in her chest. Adrian watched her with a serious expression, his sharp gaze flicking between her face and the board. She held her breath, waiting for his next move.Then, without hesitation, Adrian captured her knight with his bishop. “Pathetic,” he murmured, barely looking up at her. “You hesitate too much. That’s why you’re weak.”She clenched her jaw, refusing to let his words affect her even though she knew he was very right. She studied the board again, trying to think two steps ahead, but her mind was clouded with frustration. When she moved her rook, Adrian sighed and immediately countered with a devastating play.“Tell me, Seraphina,” he said, his voice smooth but sharp as a blade. “Do you plan to continue walking through life hoping people will hand you victories? Because that won’t happen.” He moved another piece, trapping her king. “Check.”She swallowed hard, sweat gathering a
최신 업데이트: 2025-03-20
Chapter: 7. The Rules of SurvivalSeraphina had expected a mansion full of chaos, the kind of place where criminals gathered to plan their next move. But Adrian Montclair’s world was nothing like the crime movies she had seen. His estate wasn’t just a house; it was a fortress, massive and imposing, nestled on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by high walls and security that made escape seem impossible.The first thing she noticed was the silence. Despite its size, the mansion wasn’t filled with the usual liveliness of a home. There were no children running through the halls, no idle chatter. The crew was present but disciplined, moving with purpose, as if every moment had a function. Even the maids who arrived every morning left before nightfall. By sunset, only Adrian’s people remained.Adrian led her inside, his sharp gaze was all over her. The grand entrance boasted a massive chandelier, dripping with crystal, reflecting light across marble floors polished to perfection. A staircase curled up to the second floo
최신 업데이트: 2025-03-13
Chapter: 6. A New BeginningSeraphina sat upright in the hospital bed, her fingers curling around the rough fabric of the blanket draped over her lap. The air in the room was filled with tension as Eleanor, Bianca, Lila, and her father loomed over her like a pack of vultures circling their prey. Their faces twisted with irritation, barely concealed behind the thin veneer of forced concern.“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Seraphina,” Eleanor snapped, arms crossed tightly over her chest. “After everything we’ve done for you, this is how you repay us? Telling us to leave?”She couldn’t accommodate any longer after what she heard on the rooftop. Although she kept wondering where they heard about the fortune from because it was foreign to her, even as the owner. Her father was the only sane option and that got her wondering why he never mentioned it to her.The sense of betrayal was more than she could bear. Their presence irritated her soul to the point it made her retch. They were all planning to steal the la
최신 업데이트: 2025-03-06
Chapter: 5. The DealI stood on the edge of the rooftop, my heart thudding so hard I wondered if it would give out before I took the final step of jumping off and ending it all. Adrian Montclair’s business card was tightly clutched in my palm, so sharp against my skin that it almost tore into it.He had left me standing there, his words lingering in my head just like his irresistible perfume mixed with the smoke of his cigar.“Call me when you’re ready to stop running.”I hated him for showing up, for making me hesitate because I would have been done by now. However, I hated myself even more for letting his presence keep me from jumping. That was the problem—I was not strong enough to make decisions for myself.Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I looked over the city. Everywhere was filled with bright light as the wind tugged at my hair coldly.“Why can my life not be bright and beautiful like this? I am the only darkness in the world. Why is my life so sad?” My lips quivered as I broke do
최신 업데이트: 2025-02-17
Chapter: 4. The Breaking PointI walked into school the next day, my head was hung low and my heart was heavy with fear sprinkled with sadness. I told myself that the comments would fade if I just stayed invisible, like I always had. If I didn’t look at anyone, if I didn’t speak, they’d forget eventually, wouldn’t they? It had worked before. Being invisible had always been my armor, thin as it was.But this time, it didn’t work.Everywhere I turned, there were whispers, muffled giggles, and mocking stares. I caught snatches of their cruel words, each one slicing into me like a knife."Madwoman’s daughter.""Guess insanity runs in the family.""Careful, she might snap any second."By lunch, the whispers turned into open jeers. Isla’s posse made sure of that, they kept fanning the flames she had lit. Even Dane, who once smiled at me like I mattered, joined in. He leaned against a locker, smirking as he said loud enough for everyone to hear, “No wonder she’s such a freak. Guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the craz
최신 업데이트: 2025-02-17
Chapter: 3. Adrian MontclairI’ve always admired Adrian Montclair, though I never expected to meet someone like him in real life. For me, he was just a ghost on a screen, a myth almost too good to be true. A chessboard in his hands was like an extension of his mind. Every of his moves were calculated, deliberate, and unyielding. I would watch videos of his chess matches late into the night, finding solace in the boldness of his moves. I envied that courage, the decisiveness I lacked badly.Adrian’s reputation preceded him. He wasn’t just a chess prodigy and he was a name that carried fear. A mafia boss cloaked in accurate moves, his world was chaos, yet he remained unshaken with all those storms. Stories about him spread through whispers: the man who turned the tides of power in his favor, a leader feared by his enemies and revered by his own. But what fascinated me the most was how untouchable he seemed. Nothing fazed him; nothing broke him. Meanwhile, I felt like I was cracking at the edges every day.People ca
최신 업데이트: 2025-02-17
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