Sienna doesn’t realize the car is slowing until Noah yanks her out, gripping her wrist tightly. Blinking in surprise, she takes in her surroundings: a sprawling villa stands alone, surrounded by endless land and a chilling silence, broken only by the wind. The villa’s modern lines and grand windows feel cold and isolated.
It’s practically impossible to sneak in without getting caught on camera overlooking every corner.
“Noah, wait,” she protests as he pulls her forward, stumbling over the gravel. He doesn’t care; his hold tightens as he drags her to the front door—a massive slab of wood with beautiful carvings. When they step inside, the heavy door creaks, and Sienna begins to tremble out of fear.
The villa is as lifeless as the land outside. High ceilings and marble floors amplify their footsteps. A single chandelier illuminates the grand foyer. A winding staircase spirals upward, its polished banister gleaming in the gloom. The place feels immaculate, untouched, as if it has been waiting for something—or someone.
Noah pulls her up the stairs, her pleas falling on deaf ears. He flings open a door revealing a gray painted room with massive dark wood furniture, a bed the size of a football field.
With a sudden release, Noah lets her go, and Sienna stumbles into the room, her arms flailing wildly. Unable to catch herself, she lands with a soft thud on the carpet, the impact sending shockwaves through her face. Wincing in pain, she struggles to pick herself up, her gaze darting around the space some more.
To her right there’s a stunning marble-topped vanity with crystal perfume bottles and a gold-rimmed mirror on it. Next to it, floor-to-ceiling windows draped in silky gray curtains completely blocks external lights from filtering into the room. A bedside table with a golden orb shaped lamp on it.
“Noah, please—” she starts again, trying to pull back, but he is relentless.
He throws her onto the carpet, knocking the breath from her lungs. Sienna scrambles to her feet, desperation surging through her. But Noah is quicker, grabbing her arm with a fierceness that makes her cry out. She twists, trying to escape, but it’s futile. His strength overwhelms her, and her struggles only seem to fuel his anger.
Tears stream down her face as she pleads, her voice breaking. “Noah, please, stop. Let me go.”
He doesn’t stop. He won’t stop. “Noah!” she sobs, her voice breaking, but it only seems to push him further.
He doesn’t speak at first, just watches her as if she’s something fragile he’s about to break. Then, without warning, he yanks her closer, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispers, “Do you know how long I’ve waited for you?”
“You’ve grown up,” he continues, his grip on her tightening. “After so many years… so long… you finally appeared in front of me, but you forgot me. Completely.” There’s a bitterness in his voice now, something wounded and angry. “Do you know how that feels, Sienna? To wait for someone every single day, only for them to forget you exist?”
“You didn’t care to remember.” His words slice through her like a blade, sharp and unyielding. “You were right there, and I couldn’t get close. I missed you every day, suffered every day, but you didn’t care. You forgot me.”
She struggles against him, but it’s futile. Her mind races back to the days of their childhood, the innocent times they spent together, the little boy who loved blueberries so much that she had called him “Blueberry” in jest. It feels so far away now, that carefree time. The boy who once made her laugh now stood before her, twisted by years of resentment and pain.
Sienna’s body shakes beneath him, overwhelmed by the sheer force of his presence. The emptiness in his eyes feels unbearable. In her desperation, she does the only thing she can think of. She calls out a name she hasn’t spoken in years.
“Blueberry…”
Noah freezes. The nickname, like a faint playback from their past, slices through the moment. His hands pause, his breath catching as if for the first time since this nightmare began, he hears her. His eyes meet hers, and for a brief second, she sees something familiar.
“You remember,” he murmurs, his voice low, almost reverent. He eases his hold just slightly, but Sienna’s heart hammers in her chest. “You remember everything.”
Sienna doesn’t answer. She can’t. The memory of the boy he once flashes briefly before her, but it’s swallowed quickly by the cold man standing over her. His gaze darkens, the vulnerability gone in an instant. He leans down, his voice a chilling whisper, “Do you remember the promise you made? You said you’d be my bride.”
His words wrap around her throat like a noose, tightening as she gasps for air.
“I won’t let you go,” Noah says. “I’m going to take revenge on everyone in your family. And that includes you.”
Sienna’s body shudders. She’s trapped. The boy she once knew, the one she promised to marry in innocent childhood dreams, has become this—someone she doesn’t recognize, someone who terrifies her. She doesn’t see an escape.
Noah loosens his hold on her slightly, his hand brushing the tears from her cheek. The gentleness feels twisted, mocking.
Sienna is about to say something when he silences her with a rough kiss, his lips pressing against hers in a way that feels more like a punishment than an expression of love. It’s not gentle, not like the Noah she remembers from her childhood. It’s possessive, harsh, a claim being staked.
When he pulls back, his eyes bore into hers. “You’re mine now, Sienna,” he says softly, but the words are anything but comforting. “You’ll always be mine. No matter what happens, you’ll never be able to leave me.”
Noah pins Sienna beneath him, his weight pressing her into the soft carpet as his hands roam recklessly all over her body. His grip tightens on her wrists, holding them above her head, leaving her helpless as his other hand moves down her body. He’s not gentle—his fingers roughly graze over her breast, squeezing through the fabric of her gown, making it ride up as he continues. His breath is hot against her neck, the sound of it loud in her ears as she struggles, her body writhing beneath him.
“Noah, stop!” she yells, trying to twist away, but it only seems to spur him on. His mouth finds hers again, desperate and unrelenting, silencing her cries. His hand moves lower, fingers skimming bare thigh as her gown rides higher, exposing more of her skin. The roughness of his touch intensifies Sienna’s fear. She thrashes, desperate to free herself.
“Noah, please—stop!” she screams again, her voice breaking as she kicks against him. Her knee connects with his side, but it barely fazes him. His fingers dig into her skin as he presses his body closer, his need overpowering any sense of restraint. Tears blinds her vision as she fights, but it’s like pushing against a wall. He’s too strong, too driven by something dark and uncontrollable.Sienna’s breathing grows ragged, her chest rising and falling rapidly as her panic turns into full-blown terror. “Noah, no—stop!” she gasps, struggling harder. She kicks again, this time with more force, her heel connecting with his shin. It’s enough to throw him off balance for a moment, but his hands are back on her in an instant, rough and demanding as they move up her leg again.But then her body betrays her—her breath comes in quick, shallow bursts, her chest heaving uncontrollably. She’s hyperventilating, her vision darkening at the edges. Noah pauses, his hands freezing as he looks down at he
She fetches a small first-aid kit and begins treating the bruises with delicate hands. The silence between them is heavy, but it’s what Sienna needs right now. No words. No explanations. Just the quiet support of someone who’s always been there.Sienna winces as Mia dabs at a particularly dark bruise on her wrist, the spot where Noah had gripped her the hardest. Mia’s hand hesitates, her jaw clenching, but she still doesn’t ask. She doesn’t need to.Sienna leans back against the couch, so tired as her mind finally replayed everything like a broken record. She can barely keep her eyes open, but before she can drift off, her phone buzzes on the coffee table. The sound jolts her, pulling her from the edge of sleep.Mia glances at the phone, then back at Sienna. “Do you want me to get it?” she asks softly.Sienna doesn’t answer, her eyes fixed on the screen, but she doesn’t move. The caller ID flashes Noah King in bold letters. Shaking her head, she turns her face away. She can’t deal wit
“I don’t bite—what are you so afraid of?” Ethan’s voice is light, casual, as he releases Sienna and returns to his seat, settling in like he’s got all the time in the world. He gestures to the sofa across from him. “Come on. I’d like the company. Sit down.”Sienna stays planted where she is, suspicious. There’s no telling what he’s really after. Throwing his hands up in mock surrender, he grins. “Just sit and relax. You look like you could use it. I swear, I won’t do anything. If I do, feel free to kick me where it hurts.” His laughter softens the edge of his words.She considers his offer. Her feet ache in the stilettos she’s been wearing, reminding her how much she misses her sneakers and jeans. She’s never felt so out of her element.Finally, she gives in, setting her tray down and moving to the sofa. She eases herself onto it, crossing one leg over the other and meeting his gaze.Ethan leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “You know,” he says, studying her, “you’re real
Sienna skips breakfast, rushing to class bright and early after waking up late. Just as her stomach begins to growl, a message pings on her phone—a summons to the school’s office. Something about her scholarship. She barely waits for class to end before slipping out, her heart thudding with hope and dread. But as she rounds the corner, she stops cold. Standing in her path, looking every inch like royalty, is her half-sister, Nylar.Nylar’s skin glows in the morning light, hair spilling in dark, perfect curls, lips painted a bold red. Everything about her screams money and confidence. Sienna’s instinct is to look away, avoid her entirely, but it’s too late. Those raven eyes are fixed on her, not about to let her escape.“Sienna,” Nylar calls out.Sienna’s steps slow, wary but determined not to let her discomfort show. “Nylar.”“I need to talk to you.” Nylar gestures toward a nearby café, her eyes narrowing as if testing how much control she still has. Sienna knows she should walk away,
It’s Sienna’s 19th birthday, and she doesn’t expect much. She spends most of the day on campus attending lectures, then rushes through a shift at the nightclub where she works as a waitress. But today feels different, as if the universe is finally cutting her a break.After clocking out, her phone rings. It’s her best friend, Mia Carter, insisting that she come over."I’ve got a surprise for you, birthday girl!" Mia teases.Mia’s vibrant presence always chases away Sienna’s darkest moods. Her chestnut-brown hair falls in effortless waves, framing bright green eyes that sparkle like emeralds. Living together in their cozy downtown apartment, they’ve forged an unbreakable bond over late-night laughs, inside jokes, and endless shifts at KAYOL, where they juggle trays and dreams as waitresses while Sienna continues her studies.Sienna smiles, already imagining what Mia has up her sleeve.As she pushes open the door to their apartment, the sweet scent of frosting reaches her before she eve
Sienna hesitates, weighing the pros and cons of confiding in Mia. Their friendship is built on trust and honesty, but this situation is a tangled complication of emotions and secrets. She worries that Mia, with her black-and-white perspective, will struggle to grasp the nuances. The fear of being judged or misunderstood keeps Sienna's lips sealed"Does it matter? If it does, I found it in the trash. What’s it for?"“I can’t explain right now.”“You even know what that means?” Mia asks, her voice tight with disbelief.“Mia, it’s not what you think,” Sienna whispers, running a hand through her hair. “He just... wanted to talk.”“Talk? And he sent you that much? Sienna, wake up. Noah King doesn’t ‘just talk.’ He’s up to something. He wants something. You need to get away from him before it’s too late.”Sienna’s stomach twists. Mia is right, of course. But how can she explain the impossible? That refusing Noah isn’t just hard—it’s dangerous. “You don’t understand, Mia,” she whispers. “If
The car glides smoothly along the busy streets of Washington D.C., the engine's hum a soft backdrop to the thoughts swirling in Sienna’s mind. She sits by the window, her eyes following the blur of buildings and city lights outside, but her mind is stuck in a place she can’t escape—two weeks ago, back in the chaos of the nightclub.The memory grips her as she casts a sideways glance at the man sitting next to her. He’s engrossed in his phone, fingers moving swiftly across the screen, probably handling one of his multi-billion-dollar deals with ease.Noah King. Impossibly handsome, with a sharp jawline, defined by the faintest shadow of stubble that adds to his rugged authority that’s hard to ignore. His dark hair is impeccably styled, though a rebellious strand has fallen across his forehead tonight.His intense blue eyes, currently focused on his iPad, make it easy to imagine how they could freeze someone when they finally land on them.Dressed in a suit that hugs his broad shoulders
Sienna blinks away the memories, pulling herself back into the present. It’s been two weeks since Noah King stepped into her world like some kind of savior—a knight in shining armor, or so it seemed at first. But now, she’s not so sure. There’s no such thing as debt-free salvation with men like Noah. He saved her that night, but his presence in her life afterward feels like shackles she can’t escape. And the chains are tightening.Noah has taken her out to dinner more times than she can count since then. Each time, she waits for the moment he’ll demand something in return. That’s how it works, right? Men like Noah always want something—always feel owed. But strangely, he hasn’t asked for anything. Just dinner. That’s all. He makes sure she’s fed, then either escorts her home himself or sends his driver to drop her off.It should comfort her, but it doesn’t. The small acts of kindness only deepen her unease. It’s like standing beneath a guillotine, waiting for the blade to drop. She kn