The hotel room walls appeared to shut in on Valeria as she grabbed her throat, her body trembling uncontrollably. The bruises Kc had inflicted on her flesh were but a minor consideration compared to the agony he had seared into her heart.Even now, Valeria could hear venom-spiked words whose every syllable dripped with hate: "You can't run and you can't hide. You will suffer, Valeria."A bitter sob ripped from Valeria's throat as she placed her forehead against the cold marble floor.Her tears were overflowing.She was trapped.Even here, hidden behind pseudonyms and security doors, she wasn't safe.Not from Kc.Not from his rage.Not from the nightmare that just wouldn't end.Her fists clenched, nails pressing into the meat of her hands as she forced herself to take a breath. "I have to know the truth."Because if she didn't, Kc would be the one ending her life before she ever stood a chance of defending herself. Her cell phone rang from the bedside stand, breaking the silence. Her
Kc's hand around his pen grew tight until his knuckles whitened. The clucking of lawyer's lingo in the boardroom didn't reach him. His thoughts were elsewhere.On her.Valeria believed she could flee. That she could vanish into the night and get her name cleared.She was mistaken.For no matter where she ran, no matter how far she attempted to get away, he would find her.And when he did—she would suffer.The mere thought sent a wry smile to his mouth."Atty. Page?"Kc's head jerked up, annoyance flashing in his eyes.Marcel shifted uneasily under his icy stare. "Sir, the Roosevelt case summary requires your signature."Kc let out a harsh breath, grabbing the folder in silence. He riffled through it indifferently, signing his name at the end.It was a case that should have commanded his whole attention. A case any lawyer would kill to work on. But for now, Roosevelt and corruption were nothing.All that mattered was she.He closed the folder with a loud snap, making some of the junior
She did not know what was ahead of her.The warehouse in front was looming, rusty metal walls about to fall. Salty air clung to the stench of the sea around it, and a tight silence hung over the grounds like a rope.Kim stood back at an uncertain distance. "Something doesn't feel right."Valeria's heart pounded. "We have no choice."They emerged slowly from the car towards the warehouse. Valeria's hands were sweating as she held the handle and swung open the heavy door, which groaned.Shadows fell over themselves in the poorly lit space as a foreboding light poured out of one, solitary light bulb.And there, leaning against a fire pit of crates—Was Joel.Blood caked on his forehead. Shallow, raspy breathing whistled past his lips.Valeria reached him, hunching next to his mangled form. "Joel! Hold on!"His eyes opened in a flutter. "You… you came…"Kim knelt beside them. "Who hurt you?"Joel gritted his teeth, attempting to move, but agony coursed through his frame. "They—they knew I
City lights faded into the distance as Kc's vehicle rushed along the empty road, the air between him and Valeria heavy with tension, suffocating to swallow. They'd said nothing—nothing since they'd gotten out of the warehouse, nothing since Joel crashed to the ground, nothing since the truth was torn from him once more.Kc's white-knuckled clutch on the wheel tightened, jaw locked so tight it ached. His mind was a whirlwind, filled with questions, rage, and pain that nearly overwhelmed him.Joel was his only hope.And he was dead now.He yanked on the brakes at a red light, and the abrupt jolt of it made Valeria catch her breath next to him.She spoke to him, her voice trembling. "Kc… you're going too fast. We just barely escaped in one piece—""Shut up." Icy voices.Valeria sat rigid, her fists clenched on the seatbelt. She was frightened—she had every right to be.He swung round to her, his eyes black and blazing with suppressed fury. "Did you know?"She blinked. "What?"His voice w
Valeria stood in front of the mirror, looking at the reflection that was returning her look. It was the first time in four months that she'd be stepping back into the bright light―not as the sullied model who had been accused of murder, but as Valeria Jayne, the woman who would reclaim her life.In a black tight designer dress, her stilettos bringing out her long legs, she was the world's supermodel. But the glamour hid her racing heart within her chest.She wasn't battling for her career.She was battling for the truth.Kim emerged behind her, arms folded. "You ready for this?"Valeria took a slow breath, shifting in her seat. "I don't have a choice. I have to rebuild what Kc attempted to obliterate. And I have to uncover who actually murdered Vanessa."Kim's gaze grew cold. "You returning to the public eye is dangerous. Kc's not finished with you. He'll stop at nothing to destroy you."Valeria caught Kim's eye in the mirror. "Let him attempt it. He's already stolen everything from
The room had tilted on its axis as Valeria gazed at the low-resolution picture on the computer monitor.Valeria's eyes widened in a gasp of breathlessness.The person fooling with her vehicle…was someone Kc trusted.Mark went pale while he spoke low, "I told you. you don't want to know."Valeria's hands began to tremble. "Who is he? What is his name?Kim zoomed in, bringing the image into focus. Although the video was poor quality, the man's face was clear enough to identify now.And when Valeria saw it—her stomach was in a tight knot of pain.She refused to believe it."Oh my God." Kim breathed.Valeria took a step back, her heart thudding.It was a person Kc worked with.A person constantly by his side.Sebastian Cruz.Kc's right-hand man. His most trusted investigator.The man who had been providing him with information, bringing him up to date about Valeria's location.The man who had informed him she was guilty."No… no, no, no," Valeria breathed, her head shaking. "This doesn't
The nights had grown colder, with the biting winds scratching away at Valeria's skin as she hung over her hotel-room balcony. Below her, endlessly extended out were the city lights, creating an illusion of peace that she no longer chose to believe existed.Because she knew now.This wasn't all about her.It was never all about Kc's agony or Vanessa's demise.It was something else.And if they didn't discover the truth in time, more lives would be broken.A loud thud on the door made her jump.She gulped, holding on to the railing as she turned her back. She already knew he was there.Taking a quick breath, she walked towards the door and swung it open.Kc filled the doorway, his face non-descript but the seriousness etched in his eyes spoke louder than words.They didn't say anything for a moment.Then—"What do you have?" Kc's tone was rough, to the point.Valeria stepped aside so he could enter. "Kim and I have been digging." She shut the door behind him. "And we found something."K
The air was thick with tension in the room as Kc and Valeria met eyes. The burden of betrayal, of deception, of hurt—it all came crashing between them like an unspoken tempest.Kc gritted his jaw so tightly it hurt. He was holding on by a thread, barely keeping himself from needing to destroy something—someone.Sebastian Cruz.A man he trusted. A man he counted on.A snake.And here was Valeria—the woman he vowed to destroy—standing in his presence, the sole holder of the truth.His world had been turned around.Valeria drew breath, shattering the silence. "We have to have proof."Kc snorted, tugging frantically at his hair. "Proof?" He sounded laced with fury. "You want proof to finish him? I could have him pulled off the earth by morning."Valeria's heart thudded at the icy, deadly threat in his voice."Kc," she warned slowly, moving forward. "If we do this wrong, he'll get off. He'll cover up the proof just as he did last time."Kc's fists were bunched at his sides, his entire body
Valeria was suffocating. The atmosphere around them was stifling, constricting—one heavy with unuttered words, feelings too tangled to untangle. She could not draw air into Kc's angry gaze, the dark vacuity of his eyes leaving her numb.Her fists were balled against the material of his shirt. "Why, Kc?" Valeria pleaded, her voice breaking with the urgency of it all. "Why are you doing this to me Kc? I've already shown I had nothing to do with the murder of Vanessa! I've endured enough! I lost everything—my career, my pride—due to your fanaticism!"Kc's teeth clenched together, his body rigid as if he held something malevolent, something deadly. "You think it's that easy?" His voice was a growl, the whisper gentle but it was the power of a storm about to unleash. "You think I can just release you? That I can just erase you?"Valeria's breasts trembled and dangled in her unbalanced respirations, the nails burying into his collar. "I don't want to be entombed inside this anymore, Kc! I d
Valeria's breath was stolen from her by Kc's words, held in suspended animation before her like an unacceptable burden. Blue eyes blazed into hers, recalcitrant and bold, as if challenging her to deny him."You don't get to do that," she spat, rage suppressed in shaking breath.He smiled, slowly and sensually, his lips curving into the shape. "Watch me I always reminded you."Valeria could feel the cold trickle down the base of her neck."This is not possible," Valeria struggled to say, trying to push him in the chest, but he was not moving. "You can't stand there and say you own me!""Can I?" he taunted, shifting to the side. "Who's going to stop me Valeria? You?"He laughed harshly, unamused, his hand running up her arm, searing as it traveled. "You have every opportunity to get away, Valeria. And you don't."Her own heart slamming against her chest walls. "Because you're always in my way!"Kc exhaled a rough breath, his own pleasure conquered by something nastier—something jealous.
He marched in uninvited, his mass overflowing the space."What in tarnation are you doin' here?" Valeria growled, stepping back instinctively.He shut the door, metal crashing loudly. He walked through the room with all the urgency of a sloth."Like a cat playing with a dead mouse.""You're supposed to be workin' on Sebastian, not bustin' into my bedroom.""I am workin' on him."His tone was flat, too flat. "But you and I have to have a word first."She folded her arms over her chest. "There's nothing to say.""Then why aren't you saying, 'get out'?"Her nails pressed into the palms of her hands. "Because I know you won't."Kc smiled, pleased with her answer. "Clever girl.""What do you want?""You."Her breath caught. "Excuse me?""You heard me."He moved closer, still staring at her. "You've been avoiding me since you found out the truth. You think I'm going to back down and let you pack your bags and leave? ""That's what I'm doing," she hissed. "Leave. Get away from you."He smile
Kc Page was no man of patience.Not where revenge was involved.Not when her name came into play.And certainly not when Sebastian Cruz's name did.The office was dark, the golden glow from the city skyline throwing long shadows on the floor. Kc leaned against the window frame, pockets in his hands, eyes narrowing as he observed the traffic below. The world continued moving, but his mind remained fixated in one spot—Sebastian.A name that felt like acid on his tongue.Behind him, Liam exhaled, shuffling through a thick file on the desk. "You wanted everything on Cruz? Here it is. Every transaction, every offshore account, every questionable business deal. The guy’s been untouchable for years, but if there’s a weakness, we’ll find it."Kc didn’t turn around. "And what about the night Vanessa was killed?" His voice was low, edged with barely restrained fury.Liam paused. "That's the issue. We know he staged it, but the son of a bitch cleaned up after himself. No straight connections. No
The promise, the warning, the absolute possession in his voice sent an icy shiver down her spine.This wasn’t a game.This wasn’t just revenge.Kc wasn’t letting go.And she hated how her body betrayed her, reacting to his nearness with something other than fear.She was furious at herself.Furious at him.Furious at how much control he still held over her without even touching her.Kim yanked her backward, his protective stance shielding her from Kc’s looming form. "Enough, Kc. This obsession of yours—it’s not justice anymore. It’s insanity."Kc chuckled darkly, shoving his hands into his pockets, but there was nothing casual about the way his piercing gaze burned into Valeria."Insanity?" he echoed, tilting his head. "Then why is she still here?"Kim exhaled sharply, his patience thinning. "Because you refuse to let her go."Kc’s smirk widened. "I already told her she could go." His voice was smooth, but there was a bite beneath it. "She won’t."Valeria forced herself to step forwar
Valeria gritted her jaw, bracing herself to stand upright even in the tempest within her. "You can't own me, Kc."Kc laughed, low and ominous, advancing, his presence crushing. "Funny. I don't recall asking your permission."Her fists were bunched. "Why are you still here? You already know the truth! I was not the one who killed Vanessa! I was not the one who destroyed your life!"His dagger-sharp eyes fixed on hers. "And yet, you're still in it."Valeria's heart tightened. He wasn't even in denial any longer—his possessiveness, his obsession. He had struggled so hard to ruin her, and despite the truth finally being out, he couldn't let up."You don't want justice," she breathed, realization falling. "You just want to continue to control me."Kc's lips curled, but his smile wasn't quite so content. "Control?" His voice grew into a growl. "If I was in control, you'd not be here, looking at me like you had a say in the matter."Her breath snagged.This was bad.She needed to back away f
The atmosphere was heavy with tension, oppressive.Valeria walked backstage after her exhausting, all-day photo shoot, her body tired, but her mind unsettled. She had tried to the point of frustration to keep him out of her mind throughout the shoot, but KC Page—was not to be forgotten.And now, turning a corner in the dark corridor of the fashion studio, he waited for her.His massive frame rested against the wall, arms folded, jaw set in irritation."You played all right out there," he said to her, deep voice but with no expression of love.Valeria's fingers tightened around the clutch in her hand. "What do you want, Kc?"He breathed slowly, slowly, then descended from the wall and traversed the gap between them. "Did you think I'd sit back and let you show off yourself before everyone?"She gaped at him in outrage. "Excuse me?""You heard me." His tone slices, with an undercurrent of darkness. "You think you're free now? That because I can see that you weren't the one to do it to V
The next day, blinding camera flashes and the sound of clicking heels on marble catwalk took over the studio.Valeria was in front of the mirror, breathing deeply as stylists and makeup artists buzzed around her. Her own face stared back at her—serene, lovely, but hidden under the surface, a tension emanated in her chest.She was home.Home where she was supposed to be.Home in charge of her life."Breathe, Valeria," she whispered in her ear. "We have a long day before us. First, the Luxe Fashion photo shoot, followed by the rehearsal for the gala runway. No distractions, no second-guessing. Ready?"Valeria nodded, fitting on a game face. "Ready."A flash of approval flashed in Kim's eyes. "Good. Because the world is watching."The background was opulent—floor-to-ceiling windows, soft golden glow, and escorts zipping everywhere with cameras and styling products. Valeria came out onto the stage, body covered in an exquisite satin robe that shimmered under the lighting."Alright, Valeri
Valeria strode away, her heart beating so hard she could feel it in her ears. Her hands shook at her sides, the argument with Kc making her tremble. But she wasn't going to let him see it.Not when he was still staring at her like an animal who did not want to let go of his prey. She took a deep breath as she reached the corridor where Manager Kim waited.Kim immediately stepped forward, sensing the tension radiating off her. “What happened?”“He’s not letting this go,” Valeria whispered, voice thick with emotion. “Even with the proof against Sebastian, Kc still thinks I’m guilty.”Kim cursed under his breath. “That bastard.”Valeria swallowed the bulge in her throat, her hands clenched into fists. "I thought… I thought that once he realized the truth, he'd stop Manager Kim."Kim shook his head. "Kc Page isn't a man who forgives, Valeria. He's the type of man who ravages. And at this point, he still thinks you're the one who destroyed his life."She clamped a hand over her temple. "I