Chapter 1: Cold Embers
The leather seat of the black Escalade was still cold against Elena’s bare shoulder. Rain blurred the neon skyline of New York into streaks of light as she ended the call and dropped the burner phone into her purse.
For six months, she had played the role perfectly—Julian Vance’s quiet, fragile fiancée. She endured his arrogance, his family’s subtle cruelty, and tonight, the final test: a staged theft and a carefully orchestrated humiliation meant to break her.
Julian had thrown her out like she was nothing.
He had no idea who she really was.
“Elena Morozov,” Marcus said from the driver’s seat, voice steady. “It’s done. His accounts are frozen. The board is in chaos.”
May you like
Elena wiped the dried blood from her cheek and exhaled slowly.
“Good,” she said quietly. “Let him understand what it means to lose everything in one night. Take me to the penthouse. I’m done wearing this dress.”
