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16. Color Me Fucked.
Last Updated:
2025-03-02 03:15:44
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Retribution 17. Face off
Anastasiya Van Houten Paralyzed.That was the only word that could explain my situation at this moment. Paralyzed with fear—not just of Malcom, but of the sheer fact that I might not be able to save my body.Because behind Malcom stood one man.Not just any man.Agent Fourteen.Maxwell Richter.Before I climbed my way up the ranks in Nova Command, I endured thousands of defeats. I had been thrown off my feet so many times by masochism, cruelty, and power struggles that I knew exactly when to admit defeat.And right now, in my weakened state against Richter—unless some miracle returned my strength and skills—I was cooked.But I wasn’t Anastasiya Van Houten if I didn’t laugh in the face of death."You dumb fucking bastards," I exhaled, pushing my hair away from my face, darting my gaze between Malcom’s Cheshire grin and Agent Fourteen’s emotionless stare."Ah," Malcom nodded, satisfaction etched deep into his face. "Cat got your mask?"They both moved closer, caging me in like predator
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Retribution 18. Breaking the Unbreakable
*Trigger Warning. (Abuse)*Anastasiya Van Houten I barely saw the knife coming.A sharp, blinding pain erupted in my shoulder.My breath hitched.My body jerked, a strangled sound escaping my lips as he drove the blade deep into my flesh, the cold metal biting through muscle like butter.I collapsed against the wall, my legs nearly giving out from the shock of it.The pain was searing, white-hot, suffocating.My fingers twitched, reaching for his gloved hand that clutched the knife—Bad idea.The moment I moved, Maxwell twisted it.I choked on a scream."You're pathetic," he murmured.His voice was calm, collected—like he was simply stating a fact.He pulled the blade out, and I barely registered the warm, wet sensation of blood pouring down my arm. My vision blurred for a second, my body screaming at me to shut down, to collapse.But I couldn’t.I clenched my teeth, locking my knees, forcing myself to stay upright.Maxwell exhaled through his nose, shaking his head.Then, he moved c
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Retribution 19. The Truth Untold
Anastasiya Van Houten Blood trickled down my forehead, mingling with the sweat that littered my skin.I could barely keep my eyes open, the pain coursing through my body was numbing, pulling me under. Into the darkness. But I had to stay awake, stay alive until I found out what happened to my body.If not for Maxwell's secure grip around my hair, hoisting my head up while I was on my knees, I would have collapsed long ago.Malcom sat before me by the altar, his legs wide open as his lips curled in that familiar, mocking smile—the one that sent every nerve in my body screaming to run.But I didn’t.I stood my ground. Like always.His dark gaze swept over me, slow and deliberate, taking in my disheveled state—torn clothes, a literally ripped shoulder blade, bloodshot eyes, and bruises on every angle.“You really couldn't just pretend?” His voice was smooth, almost teasing. “I must say, with how convincing your acting was that day, I wasn't expecting you to fall so easily for such an o
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Retribution 20. Between Wolves and Monsters
Anastasiya Van Houten Every ounce of liquid in my body seemed to dry up as I stood shell shocked, in his arms, eyes never prying from his empty gaze.I always held pride in myself for being able to read emotions perfectly, one look in your eyes and I could tell your innermost thoughts, could sense your murderous intentions.But with the tower of a man before me, I found myself face to face with a graveyard. I couldn’t see anything except the darkness, the depravity, the non-existent yet hidden demons buried beneath.They drifted over my bruised face and tattered clothing, taking in every detail yet betraying no reaction.“I..” My words were frightened back into its cage. His grip around me was firm and unyielding, my front crushed against the hard panes of his broad chest, my blood staining the white of his dress shirt. We were close, so close that I could hear the only thing that made him human—his slow yet steady heartbeat unlike my chaotic and erratic one.“Valencia “ Malcolm’s gr
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Retribution 21. The King takes his Pawn.
Vladislav Aslanov Moroz I watched silently as Anatoly handed her limp and bloodied body over to a man at the back, who roughly threw her over his shoulder.Reece made a move forward but one move from Anatoly sent him backward. Power wasn’t just about wealth. It wasn’t just about influence. It was about control—about understanding people before they even understood themselves.And I understood Malcom Reece.For years, I had watched him weave his empire, solidify his dominance, and crush anyone who dared to stand in his way. He was meticulous, ruthless, and undeniably dangerous. But even the most indomitable men had weaknesses. Cracks in the armor they didn’t even realize existed.I had been waiting to find Malcom’s.And now, that very weakness had fallen right into my arms.I glanced back at the battered woman —Valencia Nightingale, Malcom’s fiancée and a figurehead princess or so the world believed. She lay limply in my bodyguards arms, her body trembling from exhaustion, her torn h
Last Updated : 2025-03-02Retribution 22. Rebirth in Fire
Anastasiya Van Houten.Have you ever been on meth before?That creeping sensation when the drug seeps into your system, twisting reality at the edges. Your vision distorts, colors sharpen, and suddenly, you’re soaring through galaxies—spinning, weightless, untethered. The world bends, warps, shifts into something unnatural.And yet, somewhere deep inside, you accept it.That eerie, almost serene acceptance.That was exactly how it felt now.And as I found myself, laying in the middle of a field, the rays of the warm yet blinding sun casting a golden hue across my face, obscuring my vision for a moment. The scent of wet grass, clung to my nose, wafting up my senses, providing a vivid imagery to the world I found myself in this time.I didn’t struggle, jump into a whirlwind of questions as I had done before, I silently accepted that I was in another dimension, maybe in the middle of the milky way, A dimension that was neither a dream nor reality. Despite the sheer absurdity, I felt that
Last Updated : 2025-03-03Retribution Author's Note.
Hi, Lovelies. This is Rahma, the author of Retribution, and if you find yourself here, skimming through this authors note, then I'm really happy and grateful that you read my story. Please tell me what you think, what you find confusing, and your general thoughts about my book and your favorite characters so far. Thank you. *VERY IMPORTANT. MUST READ* As of this stage in the book, Anastasiya has fully accepted her role and her new life as Valencia. Anastasiya Van Houten is dead, and as that, I will no longer be writing in her point of view. She will now be addressed as Valencia as I continue with this book. Forever. I hope this clears the air, and you won't be confused when you read the next chapter, and it's in Valencia Nightingale's point of view. I love you all, and thank you for reading my book. Don't forget to give me a review and tell me your honest thoughts. With much love. Rahma♡
Last Updated : 2025-03-03Retribution 23.Back In Black.
Valencia Nightingale.An almost inaudible groan left my lips as I turned my head to the side, my eyes fluttering open. A thick fog clung to my consciousness, heavy and uneven. My mind felt slow, buffering up my memories as i lay still.I blinked a few times, my vision sharpening finally as I glanced around before latching onto the faint glow of the morning sun filtering through the tiny space between the heavy curtains on the left side of the bed.Where the fuck am I?I lifted my arm, fingers moving sluggishly to rub at my eyes, willing away the lingering itch of exhaustion. The feeling of silk on my bare skin was soft—too soft. A luxury compared to the life I had always been living.My brows furrowed as I finally took in my surroundings.I was lying in a bed. A massive bed.Massive enough that I felt like a grain of sand lost in a desert.I turned my head, my gaze trailing across the endless expanse of dark sheets, the plush pillows, and the intricately carved headboard that loomed
Last Updated : 2025-03-03
Latest chapter
Retribution 29. Dogs and Death Wishes
Valencia Nightingale.Anatoly didn't speak as he dragged me back through the pristine, endless hallways of Vladislav's villa— he didn't need to.His silence was loud enough to send his message clearly.His fury was evident, so visible, i could cut through it with a butter knife. It was practically vibrating from his massive body, as if every step he took barely contained the storm building inside him.I almost pitied him.Key word—almost.But right now? I was too high on adrenaline.And victory.A small, triumphant grin played at the corner of my mouth as I allowed myself to be dragged along. My shoulder still ached and after my scruffle with those guards earlier, the ache had intensified, spreading down my arm, numbing my forearm.But none of that mattered.I had done it.I had gotten Vladislav's attention.Not just a passing glance.Not just idle curiosity.But genuine interest.I had forced him to see meAnd Anatoly? He hated it.I could practically hear his teeth grinding behind t
Retribution 28. Betty Boop
Valencia Nightingale True to his words, I had no choice but to take in every crap and piss they gave me and swallow it without complaining. I spent my night pressed against the door, counting the number of footsteps that echoed as someone walked by, trying to keep the memory of the twists and turns that led to Vladislav’s office fresh and clear in my head. I even stole a paper off the desk and mapped the entire area I walked through with that brute in case I forgot anything. You know what they say? Two times the charm. I was going to put in all my effort to convince Vladislav again. Maybe my argument wasn't solid enough the last time. By the time dawn rolled in, I'd already memorized every inch of the room. Every crack in the walls. Every angle of the windows. Every guard rotation that I could hear just beyond the thick mahogany door. There was no clear path to my destination. If I was planning on escaping, it would have been much easier, but escaping was the last thing on my
Retribution 27. Leatherface.
Valencia Nightingale A soundless gasp escaped my lips as my back hit the bed, knocking the wind right out of me. Pain bloomed instantly around my shoulder, numbing my arm. I groaned through gritted teeth, trying to steady myself as my shoulder burned with raging intensity, every nerve screaming in protest. "Fuck," I seethed, tears stinging my eyes before they shot up to the looming brute hovering over me at the edge of the bed. "I'm going to—" "No," he growled, cutting my words in half. "You know what you're going to do?" His tone was sharp and direct, meant to slice. The question was rhetorical, the kind that didn't require an answer, just submission. And I definitely wasn't submitting to no man. Anger rolled off him in thick waves, raising the temperature of the already suffocating room. It pressed against my skin and seemed to block my airways. I inhaled slowly, tasting the faint metallic tang of blood on the back of my tongue. My pulse hammered in my ears, each beat a remi
Retribution 26. No Bargain
Valencia Nightingale"You didn’t think I saved you because I wanted to help you, did you?"His words replayed in my head, dull and throbbing like a pulsing migraine, words uttered so carelessly that one wouldn't be able to detect the cruel intent behind them. I could almost taste the smirk behind his stone-cold face.Every ounce of the previous warmth I had so desperately sought out, in an attempt to make him appear more humane, vanished before my eyes.A cold sensation settled in my stomach. I couldn’t stuff down the bitter emotion rising to the surface of my throat.Disappointment."Then why did you save me?"Vladislav exhaled through his nose, the faintest trace of amusement flickering across his face. He tilted his head slightly, studying me as if I were an interesting puzzle piece that had landed in his lap.“To use you as an exchange for something I want from him.”The words were spoken with such nonchalance that it took me a moment to fully register them.I stared at him, my mi
Retribution 25. K-I-D-N-A-P-P-E-D
Valencia Nightingale. The aroma of dark, rich, traditional coffee wafted through my nostrils as I sat stiffly opposite Vladislav in his office. The scent of coffee, though quite mouthwatering, did nothing to distract me from the undeniably and unreasonably attractive man before me. In all my twenty-three years of living, I had never once looked at a man and thought, "Wow, this man is attractive". But sitting here, despite fuming with anger, that very single thought kept running through my mind. His face was undeniably carved from stone, his features sharp and intimidating, but as I stared longer, watching him through keen eyes as he combed through a bunch of files on his desk, he looked somewhat softer. Maybe it was the bold ray of sun that reflected through the glass windows or the fact that I might have sustained a brutal concussion from that humongousaur attack, but I found myself noticing the way freckles danced across the bridge of his nose—slightly crooked. Long, shoulder
Retribution 24.He Who Must Not Be Named
Valencia Nightingale.My mind churned with plans.I knew Valencia had given me the chance to live my life in her name, but the guilt clawing at my chest wouldn’t subside until I destroyed everyone who had hurt her.And my pride as well—I would never let Malcom and Maxwell Richter get away with what they did to me.The pieces were aligning, but not fast enough. I needed a strategy, a foothold—something to ensure that when I made my move, it would be absolute. Vladislav was the key, but the lock was still uncertain. How could I manipulate a man who had built an empire without ever picking a side?I could tell he wasn't the type of man to be swayed by carnal desires; otherwise, I could have used femininity to sway him.Bargain? I didn't even own shit.My mind was so lost in thought that I didn’t notice the shift in the room’s atmosphere.Not until a shadow moved.A presence, silent and dominating, filled the space.My eyes snapped up, landing on the massive figure standing near the do
Retribution 23.Back In Black.
Valencia Nightingale.An almost inaudible groan left my lips as I turned my head to the side, my eyes fluttering open. A thick fog clung to my consciousness, heavy and uneven. My mind felt slow, buffering up my memories as i lay still.I blinked a few times, my vision sharpening finally as I glanced around before latching onto the faint glow of the morning sun filtering through the tiny space between the heavy curtains on the left side of the bed.Where the fuck am I?I lifted my arm, fingers moving sluggishly to rub at my eyes, willing away the lingering itch of exhaustion. The feeling of silk on my bare skin was soft—too soft. A luxury compared to the life I had always been living.My brows furrowed as I finally took in my surroundings.I was lying in a bed. A massive bed.Massive enough that I felt like a grain of sand lost in a desert.I turned my head, my gaze trailing across the endless expanse of dark sheets, the plush pillows, and the intricately carved headboard that loomed
Retribution Author's Note.
Hi, Lovelies. This is Rahma, the author of Retribution, and if you find yourself here, skimming through this authors note, then I'm really happy and grateful that you read my story. Please tell me what you think, what you find confusing, and your general thoughts about my book and your favorite characters so far. Thank you. *VERY IMPORTANT. MUST READ* As of this stage in the book, Anastasiya has fully accepted her role and her new life as Valencia. Anastasiya Van Houten is dead, and as that, I will no longer be writing in her point of view. She will now be addressed as Valencia as I continue with this book. Forever. I hope this clears the air, and you won't be confused when you read the next chapter, and it's in Valencia Nightingale's point of view. I love you all, and thank you for reading my book. Don't forget to give me a review and tell me your honest thoughts. With much love. Rahma♡
Retribution 22. Rebirth in Fire
Anastasiya Van Houten.Have you ever been on meth before?That creeping sensation when the drug seeps into your system, twisting reality at the edges. Your vision distorts, colors sharpen, and suddenly, you’re soaring through galaxies—spinning, weightless, untethered. The world bends, warps, shifts into something unnatural.And yet, somewhere deep inside, you accept it.That eerie, almost serene acceptance.That was exactly how it felt now.And as I found myself, laying in the middle of a field, the rays of the warm yet blinding sun casting a golden hue across my face, obscuring my vision for a moment. The scent of wet grass, clung to my nose, wafting up my senses, providing a vivid imagery to the world I found myself in this time.I didn’t struggle, jump into a whirlwind of questions as I had done before, I silently accepted that I was in another dimension, maybe in the middle of the milky way, A dimension that was neither a dream nor reality. Despite the sheer absurdity, I felt that
