Chapter Eleven: The Beginning of the EndSERA’S POVThe hotel suite is quiet, the city lights bleeding through the floor-to-ceiling windows. I sit on the couch, my hands wrapped around a glass of wine I barely taste.Across from me, Raven watches, silent and unreadable.I don’t know why I trust her.I shouldn’t.She’s dangerous, unpredictable. Everything Ethan would call a bad influence.But when I look at her, I see freedom. A kind of recklessness I crave.A kind of power I need.I take a deep breath, finally letting the words slip past my lips. "Ethan owns me."Raven’s gaze sharpens. “Explain.”So I do.I tell her everything.The suffocating marriage.The emotional manipulation.The way he flaunts his mistresses, humiliates me in front of his business partners. The prenup that chains me to him, leaving me powerless to leave without losing everything.I talk until my throat is raw, until my hands are trembling.And Raven listens.Not with pity—but with something else. Something sharp
Chapter 12: The Wild Card in Play Celeste's POV I ran my manicured nails along the rim of my wine glass, my dark red lips curling into a smirk. Something was off with Ethan. i have known him long enough to sense when he was troubled. The man was a bastard, arrogant and entitled—but he was also predictable. Lately, though, he had been on edge. Distracted. i watched him at our usual rendezvous at the penthouse suite he kept for our affairs. Normally, he would spend the entire night indulging in his vices—whiskey, power, and me. But now? He barely touched his drink. His phone never left his side, and the moments i caught him staring into space with that pensive scowl only confirmed one thing. Sera was up to something. I despised Ethan’s wife—not just for being his legal partner, but because Sera had something she wanted. The power of being Mrs. Ethan Carter. The prestige. The security. i had played my part well, staying in the shadows, waiting for the moment Ethan would finally toss
Chapter 13: Possession and PaybackSera’s POVI lay tangled in Raven’s sheets, my body aching from the fire they had ignited hours ago. The room smelled of sex and sin, the air thick with heat and lingering desire. i should leave. i should slip out before Raven woke up, before i got sucked into another round of passion that would make me forget why I was really here.But as i turned to sit up, a firm hand wrapped around my wrist.“Where do you think you’re going?” Raven’s husky voice sent a shiver down my spine.i swallowed, my resolve weakening as I met Raven’s piercing gaze. The woman was irresistible, all sharp edges and dangerous temptation. Her dark hair was tousled from sleep, and the possessive glint in her eyes made me clench.“I have to go,” I murmured, even as my body screamed at me to stay.Raven’s grip tightened slightly, not enough to hurt, but enough to make it clear she wasn’t letting go. “Back to him?”I sighed. “It’s not about him.”Raven sat up, dragging her fingers
Chapter 14: A Trap Set in FireEthan’s POVI had always known Sera was hiding something.For weeks, she had been different. More confident. More distant. It wasn’t like her to push back when I threw Celeste in her face, wasn’t like her to move around the house with such quiet defiance.She wasn’t submissive anymore.It was subtle at first—small changes, tiny cracks in the foundation of my control. But I wasn’t a fool. I saw them. I felt them.And tonight, I was going to find out exactly what the hell she was up to.From the shadows of our bedroom, i watched as Sera tiptoed across the room, clutching her coat. She paused, glancing at the bed where i pretended to sleep, and for a moment, i thought she would hesitate.But she didn’t.She crept toward the door, slipped outside, and disappeared.My lips curled into a slow, dangerous smirk.Got you.I waited exactly five minutes before moving. Rising from the bed, I grabbed my car keys and followed.---Sera’s POVMy heart pounded as I drov
Chapter 15: His Move, Her HellSera’s POVThe morning light crept through the curtains as i stirred, my body still tangled in the sheets of Raven’s bed. The scent of whiskey and spice lingered on my skin—Raven’s scent.For a brief moment, I let myself exist in this bubble of stolen pleasure. But then, reality slammed into me like a crashing wave.The way my gut twisted told me everything—i wasn’t safe anymore.I pushed myself up, rubbing a hand over my face as Raven stirred beside me."Leaving so soon?" Raven’s voice was husky, lazy, but there was something sharp in her gaze."I have to," i whispered.Raven sat up, her dark eyes locking onto mine. "You’re scared."I didn’t deny it. I had every reason to be.Ethan Carter was a cruel man. And she don't want to give him any ultimate reason to destroy her.---Ethan’s POVI sat in my office, staring at the untouched glass of scotch in front of me. My jaw ached from clenching it too hard.Sera thought she could humiliate him?That she coul
Chapter 16: The War Has BegunSera’s POVI sat in the dimly lit corner of my bedroom, my hands trembling as i rubbed the red marks Ethan had left on my wrist. His grip had been unforgiving, his anger barely restrained."Did you really think I wouldn't find out, Sera?"His voice still echoed in my mind, dark and venomous.I had barely managed to escape his fury when his phone rang, distracting him just enough for me to lock herself in the bathroom. It wasn’t the first time Ethan had lost control, but this time was different. This time, he knew.My secret was out.My body ached, my mind spiraling into chaos as i tried to think of a next move. Ethan wasn’t the kind of man who simply walked away. He would make me pay.My phone vibrated, the soft hum slicing through the thick silence of the room.Raven.I hesitated, my pulse racing. I had told myself I wouldn't go back to her, not tonight. Not after everything that had happened.But I needed to breathe. I needed to be free—even if it was j
Chapter 17: Dangerous MovesSera povI stood in front of the mirror, watching my reflection as i traced the faint bruises on my wrist from Ethan’s grip the night before. My stomach twisted in rage, but beneath that, there was something sharper—a burning need for control.Ethan thought i was weak. That i would always be his caged, obedient wife. But he had underestimated her.My phone vibrated. A message from Raven."Are you ready to destroy him?"I smirked."More than ever."Tonight, I would play the perfect wife one last time before setting everything in motion.---Ethan PovThe Seduction of a MonsterI sat in my study, swirling a glass of whiskey, deep in thought. I had noticed the shift in Sera—her defiance, the way her eyes held secrets she refused to share. Something had changed, and it made me uneasy.When she entered the room, my grip tightened around my glass.She was wearing a silk nightgown, deep red, the fabric molding to her body like a second skin. The color of temptation
Chapter 18: The Beginning of His DownfallSera’s POVThe city skyline stretched before me, a sea of glittering lights, but I only saw my reflection in the glass. The woman staring back was a stranger—her lips curled in a smirk, her eyes alight with something dark and dangerous.Power.I had never felt it before. Not in this way.I swirled the deep red wine in my glass, savoring its rich taste, its warmth spreading through my veins. The sound of Ethan’s enraged voice echoed from his office, his anger a symphony to my ears.He was unraveling.And I was the one pulling the threads.My phone vibrated on the table, breaking my trance. I reached for it, my pulse quickening at the name flashing on the screen.Dante: We’ve successfully linked him to two shell accounts. His company is now under federal review. Soon, they'll be knocking on his door.A slow, satisfied smile spread across my lips.It was happening.I set the phone down just as the door to Ethan’s office burst open, slamming again
Chapter 24 – The Breaking PointSera’s POVThe morning after was suffocating.I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, Ethan’s scent still clinging to my skin like a cruel reminder of my failure.I let him win last night.I let him have control.But not anymore.My body ached from his touch, from the violence of it, from the way he had tried to claim me. But I wasn’t the woman he thought I was anymore.I turned my head slightly, watching him sleep beside me, his breathing deep and steady. He looked so peaceful—so disgustingly at ease.How could he sleep so soundly after everything? After the war we’d waged on each other?A slow rage built in my chest.I wanted him gone.I wanted to erase him from existence.And I knew exactly how.Ethan’s POVThe smell of coffee and something sweet drifted through the house, pulling me from sleep.I stretched, wincing at the scratches down my back.Sera had fought me last night, and I had loved every second of it.She still belonged to me, whether she ad
Chapter 23 – False Evidences Sera’s POVThe newsroom’s voice rang through Ethan’s office, a cruel reminder of how quickly the tides had turned."Detective Dante Cross, accused of planting false evidence, has been arrested. In a shocking turn of events, business mogul Ethan Carter is now regaining the public’s trust after allegations against him were proven to be fabricated. Investors are rallying back, and support for Carter Enterprises is growing once again."I stood there, frozen. My entire body vibrated with rage.This wasn’t how it was supposed to go.Ethan should’ve been drowning in scandals by now. His empire should’ve been crumbling. Instead, he was rising—stronger, untouchable, smug as ever.A slow clap broke the suffocating silence.I turned, my nails digging into my palm, and met Ethan’s gaze.He leaned against his desk, a whiskey glass in hand, swirling the amber liquid lazily. That infuriating smirk played on his lips—the one that said I always win."You really thought yo
Chapter 22: Slow Poison and Burning ObsessionSera’s POVI sat at the small table in Raven’s apartment, my fingers trembling as I traced the rim of my wine glass. The city lights outside blurred into streaks of white and gold, but my mind was sharper than ever.“I can’t just leave,” I whispered, more to myself than to Raven. “Not without consequences.”Raven leaned against the counter, her dark eyes piercing through me. She wasn’t the type to sugarcoat things. “Then don’t leave. Destroy him instead.”I let out a breath, shaking my head. “You make it sound so easy.”“It is easy, Sera.” She walked toward me, placing her hands on the table, forcing me to meet her gaze. “Ethan thinks he owns you. He thinks you’ll always be under his control. Prove him wrong.”My heart pounded. I had already begun laying traps—money moved to secret accounts, fake lipstick stains on his clothes, suspicious messages on his phone. I had started chipping away at his sanity, but it wasn’t enough.I needed him w
Chapter 21: A Dangerous PropositionSera’s POVThe room was dimly lit, the glow of the city skyline casting sharp shadows against Raven’s face. She sat on the edge of my bed, her legs crossed, a cigarette smoldering between her fingers.I watched the tendrils of smoke curl into the air, feeling the weight of her words settle between us."Why don’t we just kill him?"My breath hitched.I knew Raven was ruthless, but I never thought she’d suggest this.I swallowed, forcing out a laugh. “You can’t be serious.”Raven exhaled, her gaze sharp and unreadable. “Why not?” She tilted her head. “You’ve taken everything from him. He knows now. He’s dangerous. If we don’t finish him off, he will come back for you.”I stiffened, turning my back to her as I stared at my reflection in the vanity mirror. My fingers traced over the bruises Ethan had left on my wrist the night before. The anger in his eyes. The promise of destruction in his voice.Ethan was dangerous.I had spent years under his thumb,
Chapter 20: The Tables Have TurnedSera’s POVI watched the news as the empire Ethan had built brick by brick collapsed before his eyes.The scandals, the investigations, the lawsuits—it was all happening so fast. His name was being dragged through the mud in every headline, his business partners were pulling away, and his assets were frozen one after the other.I curled my fingers around the champagne flute, savoring the bubbles as they popped against my lips.Raven sat beside me, smirking. "Look at him. Falling apart like a house of cards."On the screen, Ethan stormed past a swarm of reporters outside his office, his face set in stone, his body language screaming barely contained rage.They threw questions at him—"Mr. Carter, did you bribe government officials?""Is it true your offshore accounts have been frozen?""How do you respond to allegations of fraud and money laundering?"His only response was silence. His jaw clenched so tight I thought his teeth would snap.Raven chuckl
Chapter 19: The Perfect TrapSera’s POVThe plan was in motion.Every move Ethan made, every word he spoke, was a step closer to his downfall. He just didn’t know it yet.I smoothed my dress in the mirror, ensuring every detail was perfect—soft curls cascading over my shoulders, deep red lipstick painting my smirk, and a neckline that dipped just enough to distract. Ethan was weak when it came to appearances. He liked his trophies polished, his possessions gleaming.Tonight, I would be exactly what he wanted me to be.And I would destroy him with it.My phone vibrated, and I grabbed it without looking, already knowing who it was.Raven: Dante is ready. Just get him to talk.Me: Consider it done.Sliding the phone into my clutch, I turned back to my reflection.Showtime.---Ethan’s POVThe moment Sera walked into the private lounge, I knew something was different.She was stunning—no, dangerous.There was something in her eyes, something I couldn't place. A confidence, a hunger that h
Chapter 18: The Beginning of His DownfallSera’s POVThe city skyline stretched before me, a sea of glittering lights, but I only saw my reflection in the glass. The woman staring back was a stranger—her lips curled in a smirk, her eyes alight with something dark and dangerous.Power.I had never felt it before. Not in this way.I swirled the deep red wine in my glass, savoring its rich taste, its warmth spreading through my veins. The sound of Ethan’s enraged voice echoed from his office, his anger a symphony to my ears.He was unraveling.And I was the one pulling the threads.My phone vibrated on the table, breaking my trance. I reached for it, my pulse quickening at the name flashing on the screen.Dante: We’ve successfully linked him to two shell accounts. His company is now under federal review. Soon, they'll be knocking on his door.A slow, satisfied smile spread across my lips.It was happening.I set the phone down just as the door to Ethan’s office burst open, slamming again
Chapter 17: Dangerous MovesSera povI stood in front of the mirror, watching my reflection as i traced the faint bruises on my wrist from Ethan’s grip the night before. My stomach twisted in rage, but beneath that, there was something sharper—a burning need for control.Ethan thought i was weak. That i would always be his caged, obedient wife. But he had underestimated her.My phone vibrated. A message from Raven."Are you ready to destroy him?"I smirked."More than ever."Tonight, I would play the perfect wife one last time before setting everything in motion.---Ethan PovThe Seduction of a MonsterI sat in my study, swirling a glass of whiskey, deep in thought. I had noticed the shift in Sera—her defiance, the way her eyes held secrets she refused to share. Something had changed, and it made me uneasy.When she entered the room, my grip tightened around my glass.She was wearing a silk nightgown, deep red, the fabric molding to her body like a second skin. The color of temptation
Chapter 16: The War Has BegunSera’s POVI sat in the dimly lit corner of my bedroom, my hands trembling as i rubbed the red marks Ethan had left on my wrist. His grip had been unforgiving, his anger barely restrained."Did you really think I wouldn't find out, Sera?"His voice still echoed in my mind, dark and venomous.I had barely managed to escape his fury when his phone rang, distracting him just enough for me to lock herself in the bathroom. It wasn’t the first time Ethan had lost control, but this time was different. This time, he knew.My secret was out.My body ached, my mind spiraling into chaos as i tried to think of a next move. Ethan wasn’t the kind of man who simply walked away. He would make me pay.My phone vibrated, the soft hum slicing through the thick silence of the room.Raven.I hesitated, my pulse racing. I had told myself I wouldn't go back to her, not tonight. Not after everything that had happened.But I needed to breathe. I needed to be free—even if it was j