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
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
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 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
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
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
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.
The night before the wedding. Brilliant attorney and trillionaire CEO of Page and Associates Law Firm stood in front of the magnificent penthouse window over a city that Kc Page ruled over, all that gleaming in promises from that very skyline which was made under precise and thoughtful plans of the one. He will be married the next day and will become a father the soonest after that. Life unfolds precisely to plans.And his phone rang.And his phone rang.One call. One silence, before the storm."Kc… "The voice on the other end was tight, trembling. His best friend, Ethan."It's Vanessa."A cold heart. "What about Vanessa?"A pause, of its own. The kind where something can't be said."There was. an accident."The world cracked. Kc clutched at the edge of his desk, his knuckles white."What kind of accident?" His voice was unnervingly calm, but something inside him was already breaking.Ethans breath shuddered. "She—she didn't make it, Kc."The words were a blade, twisting deep into hi
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
Valeria lounged before an enormous mirror, bright lights splashing on her flawless face as makeup artists buzzed around her like a swarm of bees. The aroma of expensive perfume merged with the mild smell of hairspray lingered in the atmosphere of the dressing room, and the soft tones of the designers and assistants delivered a muffled hum of effort.She was home.Back in the industry that once celebrated her. Back on the path that had been violently ripped from her the day of Vanessa’s accident. But no matter how many layers of foundation they applied or how expensive the fabric draped around her body, there was no covering the scars Kc had left behind.“Breathe,” Manager Kim’s voice came from behind her.She exhaled shakily, forcing a smile. “I’m fine.”Kim crossed his arms. "No, you're not. But you're here, and that's what matters."Valeria glared at him in the mirror. "I need to do this, Kim. I need to get my life back."He looked at her, then nodded approvingly. "Then let the worl