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  • 6 hours ago
His Twisted Game, My Dangerous Love - FULL EP (ENGSUB)
Transcript
00:00:00Damon Sterling, my husband's brother. My husband Julian is cheating with my song thief.
00:00:04I paid $300 for a one-night stand. The man was Damon Sterling, my husband's brother.
00:00:08My husband Julian is cheating with my song thief. She is pregnant, and Julian wants to dump me.
00:00:13I will team up with Damon to ruin them. Their nightmare begins today.
00:00:16I wake up in a silent room, 70 floors above the city. Panic cuts through the fog in my head.
00:00:21A vicious hangover pounds against my skull. I try to move, and realize two terrifying truths.
00:00:25One, the sheets against my skin are expensive, and I am completely naked.
00:00:30Two, I am not alone. A man is sleeping beside me, his face buried in a pillow.
00:00:34His back is a wall of muscle, with a jagged white scar across one shoulder.
00:00:38This is not my husband, Julian. Julian is soft. This man looks like he could break things.
00:00:42The charity gala, the dizzy spell, a deep voice, a stranger's hands.
00:00:47Memories of last night crash into me. I cheated. I have to get out of here.
00:00:50Now, after three years in a loveless, sexless marriage, I broke the one rule that kept a roof
00:00:55over my head. I slide out of the bed, my legs shaking uncontrollably. My silver dress lies
00:00:59in a heap on the floor. I scramble to put it on, but the zipper is broken. I need to
00:01:03leave before
00:01:04he wakes up. I find a safety pin in my clutch and stab the fabric together. The sharp point pricking
00:01:08my skin helps me focus. I look for something to write on. An apology, maybe. I grab a notepad from
00:01:13the nightstand. He looks dangerous. I am in his bed, and he is a Sterling. My blood runs cold when
00:01:18I see
00:01:19the embossed letters at the top. The Sterling Plaza. Sterling. It's my husband's family name.
00:01:23The name on my marriage license. My throat tightens as I stare back at the sleeping man.
00:01:27He doesn't look like any of Julian's pampered relatives. I wake up in a strange hotel room,
00:01:32my head pounding. I don't recognize the man sleeping beside me. Panic seizes me. I have to get out,
00:01:37now. Quietly, I slip out of the bed, my heart hammering against my ribs. I grab my purse,
00:01:42ready to flee. But then I stop. Inside my wallet, I see a thick stack of hundred dollar bills.
00:01:47A twisted idea forms in my mind. If I just run, I'm a woman who made a terrible mistake.
00:01:52But if I pay him, this becomes a transaction. It erases the intimacy. It turns a sin into a
00:01:57purchase. He's no longer a mistake, just a service I paid for. I pull out three crisp bills.
00:02:02Three hundred dollars. I walk over to the nightstand, my legs trembling. Next to his platinum Rolex,
00:02:06I place the money down. With a shaking hand, I write a simple, insulting note. For the service.
00:02:11Keep the change. I place it on the cash and take one last look at the beautiful,
00:02:15dangerous stranger. Then I run, not even stopping for my shoes until I'm safe in the elevator.
00:02:20I think I'm free. But seventy floors above me, Damon Sterling opens his eyes. He was never asleep.
00:02:25He sits up, his gaze falling on the empty, still warm sheets beside him. Then he sees the nightstand.
00:02:30He sees the three hundred dollars. A low, dark laugh rumbles in his chest. He, the man who owns half
00:02:35the city, has been tipped like a gigolo. He snatches up my note and crushes it in his fist. His
00:02:40eyes turn
00:02:40to ice as he picks up the phone. Scott. There was a woman in my room. She just left. Check
00:02:45the lobby
00:02:45cameras. Sir? Find her. I don't care what it takes. Find her. I sneak into my own mansion through the
00:02:51back door, desperate to wash the scent of another man from my skin. I stand under a scalding shower,
00:02:56scrubbing myself raw. But as I wipe the steam from the mirror, my blood runs cold. There are faint
00:03:00purplish bruises on my neck. Hickeys. I frantically pile on concealer, my hands shaking. Just as I finish,
00:03:06the bedroom door swings open. It's my husband, Julian. He looks like hell. Where were you? You
00:03:11embarrassed me. Again. I deliver the lie I practiced in the cab. I wasn't feeling well. I came home early.
00:03:17Always the victim. Always so fragile. He storms past me, heading for the bathroom. But as he passes,
00:03:23I see it. A thin, angry red line on the side of his neck. It's not a shaving cut. It's
00:03:27a scratch from a
00:03:28fingernail. What happened to your neck? He freezes, his hand instantly covering the mark. Nothing. Shaving
00:03:33accident. I don't even raise my voice. You haven't shaved since yesterday morning. Stop interrogating
00:03:38me. You're suffocating. He slams the bathroom door, leaving me in a ringing silence. A moment
00:03:42later, his phone buzzes on the dresser. The screen lights up. A message from S. My feet move on their
00:03:47own until I'm standing right over it. I read the text on the screen. The morning sickness is killing
00:03:51me, baby. I need you to bring those pills. My world tilts on its axis. S. Serena Sharp, the pop
00:03:57star he
00:03:58manages. And morning sickness means only one thing. He got another woman pregnant. I stare at my
00:04:03husband's phone. A text message glows on the screen. It's an ultrasound photo from another
00:04:07woman. The caption reads, Our little secret. The bathroom door opens. Julian steps out, a towel
00:04:13around his waist. He sees me and snatches the phone from the dresser. It lit up. I didn't touch it.
00:04:18Don't touch my things. Get out. I have to go to the office. Business doesn't sleep. Unlike you.
00:04:23On a Sunday, he pushes past me. And moments later, the front door slams. But I don't cry. I get
00:04:29to work.
00:04:29I walk to a dusty storage room he never enters. Inside is my hidden studio. Behind a stack of old
00:04:34paintings, I press a loose board in the wall. A secret panel clicks open. The walls are covered
00:04:39with my handwritten compositions. This is my proof. And my leverage. The original drafts for every hit
00:04:44song that made Julian famous. I open my laptop and send a secure message to my contact, Harper.
00:04:48I need Julian's call logs. Credit card statements. Everything. I need leverage. Start the trace.
00:04:54Trouble in paradise? Three days later, the cold war continues. I thought we were skipping it this
00:04:59year. Julian makes an announcement over a breakfast I haven't touched. We're going to the Hamptons for
00:05:03Thanksgiving. Mother expects us. Change of plans. Damon is back. Damon Sterling. Head of the family
00:05:09trust. And the one man my husband truly fears. My husband Julian storms into my room, his face pale
00:05:15with something I recognize as fear. Get dressed immediately. Damon is back from Europe. He's summoned us to
00:05:20the estate. My blood runs cold at the mention of that name. Damon Sterling. The patriarch. The monster
00:05:26in the shadows of our family. And we're the big sapphire ring. Try to look happy for once in your
00:05:30life. Damon smells weakness like a shark smells blood. He sounds like a nightmare. He is. He's a
00:05:36complete psychopath with an infinite checkbook. Do not speak unless he asks you a direct question.
00:05:40And for God's sake, don't touch him. I retreat upstairs to dress. My hands trembling as I choose a
00:05:45severe, high-necked navy dress. It feels less like clothing and more like armor. I sit at my vanity,
00:05:50my reflection a mask of calm I do not feel. I reach for my simple diamond stud earrings, the ones
00:05:55I wear
00:05:55every single day. A wave of pure panic crashes over me. I frantically dump the entire box onto the
00:06:00cold marble countertop. Necklaces, bracelets, and rings clatter in a glittering pile. But the second
00:06:05earring isn't there. I drop to my knees, my hands frantically patting the thick carpet. I tear through the
00:06:11contents of my purse, scattering them across the floor. It's nowhere. Vesper. The car is waiting. Get down
00:06:17here now. His voice cracks like a whip. I quickly grab a pair of pearl drops, shoving the lone diamond
00:06:21deep into a drawer, out of sight. I slide the heavy sapphire ring onto my finger. It feels cold and
00:06:26foreign, like a shackle binding me to my fate. The ride to the Hamptons is suffocating. Julian
00:06:30keeps wiping sweat from his brow, his anxiety filling the small space of the limo. Remember what
00:06:35I told you? Smile. Nod. Don't be your usual depressing self. Don't embarrass me. As we pull up to the
00:06:40Sterling Estate, a fortress against the pouring rain, he grabs my arm. His grip is tight enough to leave
00:06:45bruises. We step inside the grand hall. The air is thick with the buzz of polite, venomous chatter
00:06:50from our assembled relatives. But as we walk through the doors, the entire room falls dead
00:06:54silent for a terrifying second. I think they are all staring at me, at the wife of the family's
00:06:58biggest disappointment. But they're not. Every single person is looking past us, their eyes fixed
00:07:03on the grand staircase. A man is descending. He wears a black tuxedo that fits him like a second skin.
00:07:08He moves with a silent, predatory grace, his presence so commanding it sucks all the air from the
00:07:12cavernous room. And as his dark eyes sweep over the crowd, I know without a doubt, this is the monster.
00:07:17This is Damon. My heart stops. It's him. The man from the hotel. The man I tipped $300. Damon
00:07:24Sterling. I slept with the head of the family. My husband, Julian, drags me forward. Damon,
00:07:29welcome back. Then his cold, calculating eyes land on me. And this must be the wife. Vesper. This is
00:07:35Vesper. Shake his hand. I force myself to reach out my trembling hand. Damon doesn't move. He just
00:07:40stares at my hand with his black leather gloves. I don't shake hands. The rejection is a slap in
00:07:44the face. The entire room goes quiet. Of course. The condition. I forgot. But Damon isn't finished.
00:07:51But he takes a step closer, invading my space. He leans down, his face inches from mine, pretending to
00:07:57look at my earrings. I can smell the wood smoke on his skin. You owe me $300. He pulls back,
00:08:02a cruel smirk
00:08:03playing on his lips. I'm frozen, trapped. I'm staring into the eyes of the devil himself. And now,
00:08:08I have to sit through dinner with him. At the head of the long dinner table, Damon stares down
00:08:12my husband, Julian. I reviewed the quarterly reports for the entertainment division. Julian's
00:08:17face goes pale. The market is volatile, Damon. You lost 12%. In a boom year, my husband chokes on
00:08:23his wine. Then, Damon's cold eyes turn to me. Before I can answer, Julian speaks for me. And you,
00:08:29Vesper? What do you do to contribute to the sterling legacy? She dabbles. Charity. Garden parties? I grip
00:08:35my fork until my knuckles turn white. He doesn't know I am Iris, the writer of the number one song
00:08:39on Billboard. But Damon sees my silent rage. She looks capable of more. Perhaps she just needs
00:08:45better management. A drunk cousin suddenly pipes up. Is it true about Serena Sharp? The tabloids say
00:08:51she's pregnant. The room falls into a deafening silence. Julian looks like he might faint. The
00:08:56sterling family trust has a clause. Illegitimate children get nothing. And the parent gets cut off.
00:09:01If she is, the father better have deep pockets. Julian drops his fork with a clatter. He turns
00:09:06on me. Vesper has been difficult. She's delaying the trust disbursement signatures. Damon raises
00:09:10an eyebrow, his gaze locking onto mine. Under the table, I feel his leg press against mine. It's
00:09:15heavy and solid, trapping me against the table leg. I just want to understand what I'm signing.
00:09:19He presses harder, forcing my legs apart beneath the heavy tablecloth. My face burns with shame,
00:09:24but I stare straight ahead, refusing to give him a reaction. A prudent quality, he suddenly stands,
00:09:28breaking the contact. Dinner is over. Vesper, walk me to my car. My husband Julian practically begs me
00:09:34to leave with the man who now owns him. So I stand up on shaking legs. I follow Damon out
00:09:38of the dining
00:09:38room, away from the light, and into the pouring rain. A sleek Aston Martin waits for us. It's engine
00:09:43purring. Damon dismisses the valet and turns to me. The polite facade he wore inside is completely gone.
00:09:49He looks dangerous. You left in a hurry. I cross my arms, shivering in the damp air. I didn't know
00:09:54who
00:09:54you were. It was a mistake. The champagne. He lets out a low chuckle, and this time, it sounds genuine.
00:10:00You have a terrible poker face for a liar. He sees me shivering. Without a word, he takes off his
00:10:04expensive tuxedo jacket and drapes it over my shoulders. It's heavy, warm, and smells entirely
00:10:09of him. Get in. My husband is inside. Your husband is a coward who is trying to figure out how
00:10:14to hide a
00:10:14baby from me. Get in. Defeated, I slide onto the cold leather of the passenger seat. He gets in beside
00:10:19me,
00:10:20and the heavy doors seal us in an intimate, terrifying silence. The dashboard lights cast
00:10:24shadows across the scar on his cheekbone. Why did you leave the money? To make it a transaction.
00:10:28Transactions are clean. Emotions are messy. In a flash, he leans over me. He's too close.
00:10:33He grabs my left hand, his grip like iron, his bare skin burning mine. I don't do clean. And I
00:10:38don't do married women. Usually, he reaches into his pocket and presses a small, hard object into my
00:10:43palm. It's my diamond earring, the one I lost in his sheets. I found this. Don't thank me yet.
00:10:48His thumb brushes over the large sapphire on my ring finger. My wedding ring, the Sterling family
00:10:52heirloom. You want a transaction? Fine. Before I can react, he grips the sapphire ring. With a single,
00:10:58smooth, forceful tug, he rips it right off my finger. He held my sapphire ring just out of reach,
00:11:03the stone glittering in the dim light of the car. Collateral. Give it back. Julian will kill me.
00:11:08Let him try. He pocketed the ring, his gaze like ice. Divorce him, Vesper. It wasn't a suggestion.
00:11:13It was an order. Or what? Or I will make your life very complicated. He leaned in,
00:11:19his lips inches from mine. I want my $300 back. But not in cash. The doors unlocked with a sharp
00:11:25click. Get out! Before I change my mind and take you with me. I scrambled out into the rain,
00:11:29my finger feeling naked and cold. The next morning, the reality of my situation hit me like a physical
00:11:34blow. Then, my phone rang. A Manhattan number. He was holding my ring hostage. Mrs. Sterling?
00:11:40This is Scott. Mr. Sterling's executive assistant. He has an item of yours. Send it over now. It was
00:11:46a trap. A power play to force me onto his turf. I'm afraid protocol requires you to retrieve it
00:11:51personally. At global headquarters, fueled by rage, I drove to his glass tower that pierced the sky.
00:11:56I was expected. Security waved me through without a word. The elevator shot up to the 90th floor,
00:12:01a cage lifting me into the lion's den. His assistant pointed silently toward two massive mahogany doors.
00:12:06I took a deep breath and pushed them open. He saw me. His face was a mask of stone. The
00:12:11office
00:12:11was enormous, with a floor-to-ceiling view of Central Park. And there he was. Damon, sitting
00:12:16behind a desk the size of a battleship, speaking rapid-fire French on a call. Without breaking his
00:12:20call, he flicked a single finger toward a chair. A silent command. But I refused to be summoned like
00:12:24a dog. I remained standing, ready for war. I stand in Damon's office, my hand outstretched.
00:12:30My ring. Now. It suits my marriage. He ignores my hand. Instead, he opens a drawer and pulls out the
00:12:35diamond ring, inspecting it under the light. It's a gaudy thing. It doesn't suit you. Your
00:12:40marriage is a lie. And I have the proof. His eyes turn to ice. I stare down at the papers
00:12:44inside.
00:12:45My husband's name, Julian, is on every page. He drops a manila folder on the desk. It slides
00:12:49across the polished wood, stopping right at my fingertips. These are his secret financials.
00:12:53Hidden accounts I never knew existed. I see wire transfers to a real estate agent for a condo in
00:12:58Soho. Then I see the worst of it, payments to a fertility clinic. He's moving her in. He's using
00:13:03your family's funds to set up a second life. The truth is a physical blow. I knew it, but seeing
00:13:08it in black and white makes it real. But I refuse to give him the satisfaction. I push the folder
00:13:12away. I don't care about your investment advice. I want the ring. You're a child. A cruel smile plays
00:13:17on his lips as he leans back against his desk. Take it. Come and get it. He takes the ring
00:13:22and tucks
00:13:22it deep into the knot of his silk tie, right against his chest. I'm a man who wants to see
00:13:26how far you'll
00:13:27go to get what you want. My pride screams at me to walk away, but the ring is a symbol.
00:13:31I step forward.
00:13:32I reach for the cold metal on his chest. In a flash, his hand shoots out and grabs my wrist.
00:13:36His grip is like iron. There are no gloves today. His bare skin burns against mine. I was drugged.
00:13:41Admit it. You liked what happened at the hotel. You liked the lack of control. The drugs were off
00:13:45by 3 a.m. You stayed until 7. We both know exactly what happened in those four hours.
00:13:50Heat floods my face. He remembers everything. Every touch. Every sound. And he knows I remember it too.
00:13:56He yanks me forward, pulling me off balance until I'm trapped between his spread legs,
00:14:00my body pressed against his. Retrieve the ring, Vesper. My anger finally boils over. I grab the
00:14:05silk of his tie with both hands. I yank it tight, pulling his face down to mine. Here is your
00:14:10payment. But he doesn't flinch. His eyes don't widen in fear. They darken. He's turned on. He grabs
00:14:16my waist. His hand's possessive. He lifts me effortlessly, slamming me onto the edge of his
00:14:21desk. Papers scatter across the floor. He presses his forehead against mine. You have a violent streak.
00:14:25I like it. Then he kisses me. It's not a gentle kiss. It's a collision. Punishing and claiming.
00:14:31My body betrays me, and I melt into him. Suddenly, a harsh buzz from the intercom shatters the moment.
00:14:37Sir, Julian Sterling is here. He's demanding to see you. He's making a scene. Julian.
00:14:41Ice water floods my veins. Damon pulls back, breathing hard. He presses the intercom button.
00:14:46He looks at the door, then back at me. A cruel smirk plays on his lips. Let him in. He
00:14:51points to the
00:14:51dark space beneath the massive desk. Hide. Do you want him to find you here, looking like that?
00:14:56Are you insane? I scramble off the desk and crawl into the darkness just as the door handle begins
00:15:00to turn. Damon pulls his chair in close, sealing me inside. I'm trapped at his feet as the door
00:15:05bursts open. I hold my breath, hidden in the darkness under my brother-in-law's desk. My husband's
00:15:10voice cuts through the silence. Damon, we need to talk. He's here for money. My money? He paces closer,
00:15:15and a wave of cloying sweet perfume washes over me. Vanilla. It's his mistress Serena's scent,
00:15:20all over him. He thinks I'm just a roadblock to his new life. Serena is sick. She's waiting in the
00:15:25car. I need to get this over with. Vesper is poking around the accounts. She won't sign the
00:15:29papers. I need the cash now. She's a nuisance. Once the baby is born, I'm dumping her. Suddenly,
00:15:34I feel a light touch on my shoulder. A single tear slides down my cheek. I suspected it,
00:15:39but hearing the words shatters me. It's Damon's pinky finger, brushing against me from the arm of his
00:15:44chair. A silent message, hidden from my husband's view. I hear him too. She's a doormat. She has no
00:15:49talent, no spine. She's nothing without the sterling name. My sadness burns away,
00:15:53replaced by pure, cold rage. Damon's finger taps my shoulder once. A warning. Wait. Get out,
00:15:59Julian. You wouldn't dare. Try me. Get out. The office door slams shut, leaving us in silence.
00:16:05I crawl out from my hiding spot, my dignity in shreds. Damon just watches me, his face unreadable.
00:16:10You heard him. I walk to the desk and see the sapphire ring he gave me. I pick it up
00:16:14and shove it deep
00:16:15into my pocket. I will never wear his lies again. I turn to face Damon, my voice devoid of any
00:16:20warmth.
00:16:21I heard him. And now, I'm going to destroy him. I'm going to take everything. The elevator climbs to
00:16:26the 40th floor of the sterling global tower. It feels less like an ascent and more like a slow crawl
00:16:31to my execution. The stiff collar of this catering uniform scratches my neck. It's a constant reminder
00:16:36that I'm wearing a costume. In the reflection of the brass doors, I see a ghost. A silver name tag
00:16:41is
00:16:41pinned to my chest. It reads, Sarah. My friend Harper's work is flawless. The cloned ID badge
00:16:46got me past security. And this uniform fits just well enough. I grip the handle of my prop.
00:16:50A stainless steel coffee cart. The elevator dings. And the doors slide open. I step out into chaos.
00:16:56Phones ring endlessly as executives in sharp suits speed walk across the carpet. I keep my head down,
00:17:01pushing my cart. To them, I'm just the help. Invisible. I don't care if the server is down.
00:17:06Get a patch running now. My blood runs cold. It's Scott, Damon's right-hand man. He knows me.
00:17:11He knows my face. His eyes sweep the hallway and lock onto me for a split second. My heart stops
00:17:16dead in my chest. But a junior associate runs up, shoving a tablet in his face. Sir, the projection
00:17:20unit is glitching again. Scott groans, completely distracted. He waves a dismissive hand in my
00:17:25direction without a second glance. Coffee? Finally. Bring it in. Side table. And don't make a sound.
00:17:31He swipes his keycard and holds the heavy boardroom door open. I nod mutely and slip inside,
00:17:36my heart hammering against my ribs. The door clicks shut behind me, sealing me inside the lion's den.
00:17:41I slip into the boardroom, just another server in a crisp white uniform. At the head of the table,
00:17:45Julian gestures at a screen, spouting nonsense about market penetration. He's a fool, bleeding
00:17:50money from the trust, and he thinks no one can see it. But across from him, at the far end
00:17:54of the
00:17:54table, sits Damon Sterling. He isn't looking at the screen. He's looking at Julian. He taps a fountain
00:17:59pen against the polished wood. Tap, tap, tap. The sound is like a predator waiting for the perfect
00:18:04moment to strike. This is my chance. The IT guy is in the corner, distracted by a server issue. I
00:18:09move
00:18:10to the main presentation laptop, pretending to wipe a smudge from the podium. With my other hand,
00:18:14I reach into my apron. My fingers close around a cool metal flash drive. My body shields the ports
00:18:19from view. It's not just a drive. It's a bomb Harper loaded for me. It carries a script that will
00:18:23bypass
00:18:24every firewall and execute instantly. I slide the drive into the laptop's USB port. I hold my breath,
00:18:29my entire future hanging in this single moment. A small window flashes on the screen for a fraction
00:18:34of a second. Injection complete. I pull the drive out, slipping it back into my pocket. My mission is
00:18:39done. I turn to leave. And I freeze. My eyes lock with Damon Sterling's. He has stopped tapping his pen.
00:18:45He is looking directly at me. The uniform, the cap, the disguise, it all melts away under his gaze.
00:18:50He knows. If he says my name, it's over. It'll be arrested for corporate espionage. It'll be ruined.
00:18:55His eyes narrow. He looks from me to the laptop, then back to me. Hess letting it
00:18:59happen. Hess waiting for the show. Then, he slowly picks up his water glass and takes a sip,
00:19:04turning his attention back to Julian. I don't question it. I walk out of the room,
00:19:08the heavy door clicking shut behind me. A moment later, I hear it from inside. A sharp collective
00:19:13gasp. What is that? Turn it off! I lean against the wall as chaos erupts, his voice rising to a
00:19:18panicked scream. That is. That is private property. I lean against the cold steel wall outside the
00:19:24boardroom, my heart pounding like a war drum in my chest. Inside, the chaos I orchestrated has
00:19:29finally erupted. The panicked shouting of powerful men has already begun. Is that an ultrasound? Who
00:19:34in the hell is Serena Sharp? And why is the Sterling Company account paying for her private hotel
00:19:37suite? My custom virus is working perfectly, cycling through every dirty secret I pulled from
00:19:42Julian's hidden cloud files. The positive pregnancy test from three months ago. The endless hotel
00:19:47receipts. The secret email's planning for his illegitimate heir. I can hear Julian's pathetic,
00:19:51high-pitched screams as his entire world collapses around him inside that room. It's a glitch!
00:19:55A computer hack! Someone is trying to frame me! This is a lie! But then, a calm, deadly voice
00:20:00cuts through all the noise like a razor blade, silencing everyone. It's Damon Sterling, the
00:20:05cold and calculating head of the entire Sterling family. It's the truth. This meeting is adjourned.
00:20:10A stunned, heavy silence falls over the room. Just like that, it's done. My first target is
00:20:14neutralized. My phone buzzes in my pocket. A single, sharp vibration. It's a message from
00:20:18my hacker, Harper. The screen displays only two lines. Trace erased. Ghost protocol active.
00:20:24I am now a complete ghost. I push open the heavy fire exit door and slip out, the sharp click
00:20:29of
00:20:29my heels on the concrete, the only sound in the stairwell. This is the rhythm of my victory.
00:20:33I struck the first blow against the man who tried to ruin my life. Hours later, in a sprawling glass
00:20:38office on the 90th floor, Damon Sterling watches me on a screen. He's replaying the black and white
00:20:42security footage from the hallway, time-stamped just three hours ago. He sees my disguised figure in the
00:20:47catering uniform, my chest heaving as I lean against the wall. He watches intently as I gather
00:20:51myself and look directly up into the camera lens. And then, I wink. A quick, defiant, adrenaline-fueled
00:20:57challenge meant just for him. His assistant, Scott, enters the office, carrying a cardboard box and
00:21:02looking like a man marching to his own execution. Sir, I'll pack my things immediately. The security
00:21:07breach. It was my oversight. It was all my fault. Damon slowly closes his laptop, hiding my face from
00:21:13Scott's view, as if protecting a secret. Put the box down, Scott. It wasn't a breach. He leans back
00:21:18in his massive leather chair, his voice dangerously low and full of something unreadable. It was a
00:21:22correction. After docking the man's bonus, Damon gives one final, chilling order that changes
00:21:27everything. Delete the hallway footage. All of it. Now. The only evidence of my attack is gone forever.
00:21:32The most powerful man in the city is protecting me, and I have absolutely no idea. I'm hiding out in
00:21:37a
00:21:37small, dusty apartment. My phone buzzes on a wooden crate I'm using as a table. It's an unknown number,
00:21:42but I know exactly who it is. Damon. The message is short, and it makes my blood run cold. The
00:21:48uniform didn't fit. My fingers tremble as I type a reply, trying to play dumb. Wrong number? The
00:21:53response is instant. Don't insult my intelligence, Vesper. I saw you. I let you leave. He's right.
00:21:59He could have had security tackle me to the ground. He's toying with me. What do you want?
00:22:03Entertainment. Don't be boring next time. Before I can even process his threat,
00:22:07my laptop pings. An urgent message from my ally, Harper. Urgent. Julian booked a flight.
00:22:12I open the file. My estranged husband booked a private charter to Los Angeles. He's running from
00:22:17the embezzlement scandal I exposed. The Galaxy Chronicles Project. The biggest film of the year.
00:22:21He's fleeing to the West Coast to manage Serena Sharp's new movie. I will not let him win. If he
00:22:26succeeds there, he'll rebuild his reputation and claim the entire family trust. I look around this
00:22:31tiny, temporary room. There is nothing keeping me in New York. I pack my few belongings into a duffel bag,
00:22:36as rain batters the window. Book me a ticket to LA. Economy. Cash. I'm going after him. Going
00:22:42Hollywood? I type back to Harper, my mission clear. I'm going to finish what I started.
00:22:46I drive for hours to my husband's private Malibu beach house, a glass box perched on the cliffs
00:22:51where he conducts his business trips. The gate code he gave me months ago still works. He's too arrogant
00:22:55to believe I would ever dare to follow him here. I let myself into the silent foyer and climb the
00:22:59floating staircase, drawn by the sound of giggles and clinking glass from upstairs. I don't bother to
00:23:04knock on the master bedroom door. I just push it wide open, ready for the worst. And there it is.
00:23:09A bad movie trope come to life right in front of my eyes. My husband, Julian, is in bed with
00:23:13his
00:23:13mistress, Serena. The sheets tangled around their limbs in the afternoon light. To make it worse,
00:23:18she's lounging there wearing my favorite silk robe, the one I kept at this house for our summer
00:23:21trips. Just a sip, Jules. We have to celebrate our new start, our new family. She reaches for the glass
00:23:26of amber liquid he's holding, but he pulls it away. No alcohol for you, Serena. You have to think of
00:23:31the baby. My son needs to be born perfect. The words my son finally make them turn their heads
00:23:35and see me standing frozen in the doorway. Serena lets out a high-pitched theatrical shriek and yanks
00:23:40the expensive duvet right up to her chin. Julian scrambles backward on the mattress so fast he nearly
00:23:44falls off, his eyes wide with shock and fury. Vesper, what in the hell are you doing here? How did
00:23:49you
00:23:49find us? I don't scream. I refuse to cry. I feel a strange, cold calm as all the hope I
00:23:55had for us
00:23:55finally dies. I reach into my tote bag, my movements steady and deliberate, and pull out a single blue
00:24:00folder. With a flick of my wrist, I toss it onto the bed, where it lands between them like a
00:24:04physical
00:24:04barrier. Sign it, Julian. What is this? What kind of game are you playing now? It's a legal separation
00:24:10agreement. It states, I have no claim on your assets, and it frees me from your debts before
00:24:14you crash this company. Serena, now fully composed and smug, smirks at me from the pillows as if I'm a
00:24:19joke. Just sign it, Jules. The little mouse knows she's been beaten. Let her run away. Julian's face
00:24:24turns a deep shade of red. He can't stand that I'm not begging for his attention. He gets out of
00:24:29bed,
00:24:29standing tall in just his boxer shorts, trying and failing to look intimidating. You tracked me
00:24:33across the country for this? You're pathetic and desperate. You have absolutely no leverage here,
00:24:37Vesper. You're a nobody. But that's where he is completely and utterly wrong. I have all the
00:24:41leverage I need. I slowly pull my phone from my pocket, letting the bright screen light up his
00:24:45angry face. Displayed on it is a crystal clear image of a hospital toxicology report from the
00:24:49night of the charity gala. I have the blood work, Julian. I know Serena slipped something into my drink.
00:24:53And I know you covered it all up. The smirk vanishes from Serena's face, replaced by pure panic,
00:24:58because drugging someone isn't just a scandal, it's a felony. I hold up my phone, the screen
00:25:03glowing with the evidence that will utterly destroy him. If I release this, Serena goes to jail,
00:25:07and you go down as her accomplice. My husband Julian freezes, his hand hovering in the air.
00:25:12Defeated, he snatches a pen from the nightstand. The threat is real. I hold the nuclear codes to his
00:25:16entire life, his reputation, and his career. He aggressively scrawls his signature across the
00:25:21separation papers, officially ending our sham of a marriage. Get out. Take your trash and get out of my
00:25:26house. Don't you dare come crawling back when you're starving and alone in the city. I won't. I take the
00:25:30signed papers, confirming his signature is valid. Step one is complete. On my way out, I pass a large
00:25:36framed photo of our wedding day on the wall. We looked so happy, standing on the deck of this very
00:25:40house. It was all a carefully constructed lie. I ripped the frame from the wall without a second
00:25:44thought. I walk calmly to the kitchen and drop the entire thing into the trash can. The glass shatters
00:25:49with a loud, satisfying crunch. The sound of my old life breaking apart. Outside, the salty ocean air
00:25:54hits my face. I am finally, legally, officially free. I pull out my phone and send a text to my
00:25:59only ally, Harper. Signed. Proceed with phase two. Phase two begins tonight at the exclusive Stars for
00:26:05Hope charity gala. Julian always forced me to wear severe, boring navy dresses to these events to make
00:26:10me invisible. But tonight, I am wearing red. This isn't just a dress. It is my declaration of war.
00:26:15A backless silk gown that clings to my curves like liquid fire. It is bold. It is dangerous. As I
00:26:21walk
00:26:21into the grand ballroom, the entire room falls silent. Heads turn. Whispers follow me. Who is
00:26:26that? Is that the sterling wife? No, it can't be. She looks alive. I hold my head high and see
00:26:33them
00:26:33across the room. Julian and his mistress, Serena. She is clinging to his arm, but her laughter stops
00:26:38abruptly when she sees me. Well, well. Security really does let anyone in these days. Here for the free
00:26:43food, Vesper. Did Julian finally cut your allowance? My replacement, Serena, saunters
00:26:48over to me at the gala. Ask her why she's shaking, Julian. Hello, Serena. You look tired. Is the guilt
00:26:53keeping you up? Am I? I kept the blood work. I sleep like a baby. Especially in your old bed.
00:26:58She hit me. She's crazy, Julian. She attacked me. The crowd gasps. She invades my space. Her breath
00:27:04reeking of gin and malice. You're just a discarded rapper, honey. Julian threw you away because you're
00:27:09empty. I calmly set my glass down, my hand perfectly steady as I look her in the eye.
00:27:13Then, my palm connects with her cheek. The sound is sharp, like a whip. You. The entire ballroom goes
00:27:19dead silent. Everyone stares. What the hell is going on? Serena stumbles back, clutching a red
00:27:24handprint already blooming on her shocked face. I step forward, lowering my voice to a lethal whisper
00:27:29only she can hear. I have the toxicology report from the New York gala, Serena. The night you slipped
00:27:34something into my drink, leaving me disoriented and vulnerable. The color drains from her face.
00:27:38Her anger vanishes, replaced by pure, unadulterated fear. You. You're lying. Just then, my ex-fiancee
00:27:45Julian pushes through the crowd, his face purple with rage. Serena throws herself into his arms,
00:27:50sobbing fake dry tears. Apologize. Now. No. I said apologize. You are embarrassing me. Apologize or I
00:27:57will have you thrown out. He looks down. Serena is trembling, not from pain, but from terror that her
00:28:02crime is about to be exposed. I laugh. A cold, dry sound that chills the room. I turn my back
00:28:07on them and
00:28:08walk away, my spine straight and proud. You deserve each other. But I don't know that I'm being watched
00:28:12from the VIP balcony above. A man named Damon Sterling swirls his whiskey, his eyes burning
00:28:17with a desire for me. Last night, the billionaire Damon Sterling looked me in the eyes and declared
00:28:21war. This morning, I launched my counterattack from an anonymous co-working space. My target is
00:28:26Galaxy Chronicles, his $200 million sci-fi epic. The film is bleeding money, and its director,
00:28:31Cole Chen, is desperate for a theme song. I open an encrypted email, using my secret identity,
00:28:36the ghost composer known only as Iris. I attach a single file, Project Phoenix. MP3. My soul turned
00:28:43into sound. With a single click, I hit send. The first shot has been fired. Two miles away,
00:28:48in the private lounge of Capitol Records, Damon Sterling is out of patience. He's a silent partner
00:28:53in the film, the man who holds all the power and all the money. We need a sound, Cole. The
00:28:57investors
00:28:57are getting nervous. You're over budget, and you have no theme. I know. I know. The studio's composer,
00:29:03Serena, is struggling. Suddenly, Cole's assistant bursts into the room, holding a tablet. Serena is
00:29:09a hack. Drop her. I don't care about big names. I care about results. Cole, a submission just came
00:29:13in. It bypassed every security filter. It's from Iris. The air in the room goes still. Cole freezes.
00:29:19Iris? The ghost composer? The legend who's never been seen? Damon's boredom instantly vanishes,
00:29:24replaced by a sharp, predatory focus. Play it now. The assistant hits play. A single, mournful cello
00:29:31fills the oppressive silence. Then, violins swell like a rising tide, vast and lonely. It is the
00:29:37sound of a dying star and a beating human heart. Damon closes his eyes. A brutal headache that has
00:29:42been tormenting him all morning instantly disappears. The tension drains from his shoulders. His breathing
00:29:47deepens. His entire body relaxes. He recognizes this feeling. It is an impossible, biological anchor.
00:29:53The music ends, but the spell remains. It is the same profound sense of calm that he has only ever
00:29:58felt in my presence. My god, this is it. This is the sound of the film. But Damon doesn't hear
00:30:04him.
00:30:04He doesn't care about the movie anymore. He opens his eyes, and they are dark with a new,
00:30:08dangerous obsession. Who sent it? I walk into the high-end cafe, my head pounding. I just need a
00:30:14coffee. I place my order and turn to find a table. He looks up as I enter, and his eyes
00:30:18lock onto mine.
00:30:18That's when I see him. Damon. Sitting in a corner booth, reviewing contracts on a tablet,
00:30:23there is no smile, no wave. He looks right through me, as if I'm a complete stranger. The rejection
00:30:28stings, but then I realize he's ignoring me on purpose. Good. I move to a small table near the exit,
00:30:33trying to make myself invisible, but the peace is shattered when the door chimes. Serena walks in,
00:30:38wearing giant sunglasses and surrounded by her yes-men. I need a matcha, and make it fast. I have
00:30:43to catch Cole before he leaves. She grabs the large iced green drink from the counter. She turns to leave,
00:30:48and then her eyes land directly on me. A malicious glint appears in her eyes. She sees an opportunity
00:30:53for a little accident. She starts walking toward the exit, her path taking her directly past my
00:30:58table. As she gets close, she feigns a stumble on her six-inch heels. Oops. She launches the cup
00:31:03with a flick of her wrist. The lid pops off. Twenty ounces of green sugary liquid flies through the
00:31:07air. It's aimed directly at my laptop and my clean, white blouse. I'm trapped between the table and
00:31:12the wall. I flinch, bracing for the cold impact. It never comes. A blur of charcoal gray fabric moves
00:31:17into my vision. Damon. He lunged from his seat with an inhuman, predatory reflex. He places himself
00:31:22directly between me and the flying cup. Splash! The matcha hits Damon's back, soaking into his
00:31:27expensive Italian suit. The entire cafe goes dead silent. Even the espresso machine stops hissing.
00:31:32I stare at his broad back. He took the hit for me, but Damon isn't moving. He's completely still,
00:31:37a statue covered in green. A green drink flies through the air, aimed right at me, but Damon moves
00:31:42in front of me, taking the full hit. The sticky liquid soaks his expensive suit. In an instant,
00:31:47he freezes solid, like a statue. He isn't breathing. His eyes are blown wide with sheer
00:31:51animal panic. I don't think. I just act, pressing my hand flat against his chest. Breathe. His heart
00:31:57hammers against my palm like a trapped bird, but at my touch, the frantic rhythm begins to slow.
00:32:02The panic in his eyes vanishes, replaced by a terrifying, cold calm. He turns slowly to face
00:32:06the woman who threw the drink, Serena. You have poor balance, Miss Sharp. Mr. Sterling. I tripped.
00:32:12It was an accident. Her friend Julian runs over, trying to play the hero. Damon, don't be petty.
00:32:16How much can a suit cost? Julian chokes, his face turning pale. Damon steps right up to him,
00:32:22towering over him with silent menace. Damon ignores him and turns back to me. That suit was
00:32:26$50,000, Julian. I expect the check by morning. His hand clamps around my wrist like a steel trap.
00:32:31You're coming with me. What? Why? His eyes are silently screaming at me to play along.
00:32:35Because you are the cause of this mess. And I have questions. He drags me out of the coffee shop
00:32:40and
00:32:40shoves me into a dark, reeking alley. He spins me around, his grip still crushing my wrist. I didn't
00:32:45expect a human shield. You ruined your suit. Why didn't you dodge? I have a hundred suits.
00:32:50He leans in closer, his intense gaze burning into me. I don't have a hundred of you.
00:32:54The back door of the cafe bursts open. It's my ex, Julian. Vesper, wait! He runs toward us but
00:33:00stops dead at the sight of Damon's furious expression. I flinch, hiding behind Damon's
00:33:04body as he steps between us. Damon, where are you taking her? She is under investigation.
00:33:09My blood runs cold. An investigation? For what? Corporate espionage. The breach in New York.
00:33:15I'm taking her into custody. It's a lie. A brilliant, terrifying lie that paints him as a
00:33:20ruthless CEO, not my protector. You're arresting her? I'm handling a liability you created.
00:33:25Or would you prefer I investigate your personal accounts? The financial threat makes Julian turn
00:33:29pale. Fine. Do what you have to do. Just keep me out of it. He backs away, utterly defeated.
00:33:34Damon guides me to a black Maybach waiting at the curb. Get in! His voice is for Julian's benefit,
00:33:40but his hand on my back is gentle. The heavy door slams shut, sealing us in silence. But the second
00:33:44we move, a strangled sound rips from Damon's throat. He claws at his shirt, hyperventilating.
00:33:49Get it off! It's touching me! I realize the cold matcha has soaked through to his skin,
00:33:53triggering a severe sensory overload. Let me help? I push his shaking hands away and unfasten the buttons
00:33:59myself. I pull the ruined shirt from his shoulders, revealing his bare chest and a long white scar.
00:34:03He kicks the shirt to the floor like it's poison. Are you okay? No, it feels like acid. The powerful
00:34:09CEO who just destroyed my ex is now completely vulnerable, and I'm the only one who can help him.
00:34:14I watch Damon in the back of the car. His hand is on his knee, shaking so violently the whole
00:34:18seat
00:34:18trembles. He's completely lost, trapped in a silent scream of panic. Damon, can you hear me? He doesn't
00:34:24answer. He just stares at nothing, his eyes wide with a terror I can't see. I can't stand it. I
00:34:29unbuckle my
00:34:29belt and slide across the leather seat right into his personal space. Look at me. I force his head
00:34:34up, cupping his face in my hands. His skin is burning with fever. He flinches, but then leans
00:34:38into my cool touch with a shuddering breath. It's too loud. The noise. It's everywhere. Then focus
00:34:44on me. Block it out. Just me. I run my thumbs over his sharp cheekbones, trying to anchor him to
00:34:49reality. But then his phone shrieks from the center console, a violent, piercing sound. He recoils as if
00:34:55struck. Make it stop. Please, make it stop. A protective rage boils inside me. I lunge for the
00:35:00phone to smash the screen. My hand brushes against the bare, heated skin of his chest. In a flash,
00:35:05his strong hands are on my waist. He lets out a sharp, ragged gasp. The touch seems to overload
00:35:09his entire system. He yanks me onto his lap, crushing me against him. He's using me as a human
00:35:14shield against the world. His heart is a war drum against my ribs. He buries his face in my hair,
00:35:19breathing me in. I look down at this broken man, and I make a decision. I lean in and cover
00:35:23his mouth
00:35:24with mine. It's not a kiss of passion. It's a kiss of mercy, a way to shut out the noise.
00:35:28But he
00:35:29groans. A low, guttural sound, and suddenly his hands are in my hair, pulling me closer. The kiss
00:35:33turns desperate, starving. He tastes of coffee and pure desperation. Just as quickly, the car stops.
00:35:39The spell is broken. Go. Before I forget why I shouldn't keep you, Damon shoves me back. He's
00:35:45breathing hard, his pupils blown wide, but the shaking is gone. He fumbles for a spare shirt, pulling it on
00:35:50like armor, hiding the man I just held. The words hit me like ice water. I scramble out of the
00:35:54car
00:35:54and run, my lips still burning from his. My computer pings, and a single notification flashes on the
00:36:00screen. Offer accepted. Funds transferred, $500,000. The trap is set. I lean back in my worn-out
00:36:06chair, a slow, satisfied smile spreading across my face. My rival, the famous singer Serena, just paid
00:36:12half a million dollars for her own career suicide. Right now, she's probably celebrating in her VIP
00:36:17hospital suite, thinking she saved herself. She's been faking a panic attack, a pathetic PR stunt to
00:36:22gain sympathy after her last public failure. Her career is on the line, and she was desperate for
00:36:26a hit song. So I offered her one. Through my anonymous persona, Iris, I sent her agent a rejected
00:36:32track. A song I wrote specifically for her, called Fallen Star. How fitting. She has no idea the brilliant
00:36:37songwriter she's buying from is the woman she tried to ruin, and she has no idea the song itself is
00:36:41poison. It's a technical masterpiece, beautiful and haunting, but I wrote it in a key that is a physical
00:36:46impossibility for her damaged voice. The climax of the song requires a sustained high F note. The
00:36:51moment she attempts to record it, her vocal cords will shred. She won't just lose the song, she'll
00:36:55lose her voice. Forever. Sing your heart out, Serena. Make it your grand finale. I stand and pour
00:37:01myself a glass of cheap red wine. It tastes better than any champagne. It tastes like justice. But as I'm
00:37:06savoring my victory, my phone buzzes on the counter. An encrypted message from a number I know all too
00:37:10well. It's Damon. The silence is gone. The noise is back. I need you. Now. Damon. The cold sea
00:37:16CEO who thinks he owns the world. I know he told his bodyguard I was just a necessity. A tool
00:37:21to
00:37:21quiet the chaos in his mind. He has no idea the woman he uses for relief is the same one
00:37:25destroying
00:37:26his brother's fiance. He thinks he's in control, but I can feel the raw panic in his text. He's
00:37:31finally realizing he's not addicted to the silence I bring. He's addicted to me, and it terrifies him.
00:37:36My phone buzzes on the table. I see his name on the screen. Julian. What do you want? A part
00:37:41of me
00:37:41wants to ignore it, but I answer. I glance out my second floor window. His Porsche is parked right
00:37:46outside my building. He had me followed. He expects me to be jealous. He's wrong. I just
00:37:50bought Serena a song. From that Iris songwriter. Half a million dollars. She's going to be a huge
00:37:55star again. You missed your chance, Vesper. His tone softens, dripping with fake pity. Congratulations.
00:38:01I'm sure it will be a smash hit. I'm happier than I ever was with you. Are you happy, Vesper?
00:38:05Living in
00:38:06a dump like this? His assistant. His mistress. While his girlfriend is pregnant. The truth silences him
00:38:11for a moment. Then comes the desperate, insulting offer. Come back to me. I'll set you up in a condo.
00:38:16You can be my assistant. I can't help it. I burst out laughing, but he's the one who is truly
00:38:22alone.
00:38:22It's better than being alone. You're nothing without me. A new email immediately pops up on my laptop.
00:38:27I'm not alone, Julian. I end the call. It's from the producer, Cole Chen. The subject? Iris. He wants a
00:38:34meeting. I type a quick reply. No meetings. But I will send the final score for the movie. I open
00:38:39a new
00:38:39composition file. The music flows out of me, powerful and destined for an Oscar. This isn't some cheap
00:38:44pop song designed to fail. This is my real masterpiece. Galaxy's Edge. At that exact moment, across town,
00:38:51Serena is in a recording studio, and she is screaming. Across town, my rival Serena is in a recording
00:38:56studio. My trap is in motion. She's trying to hit a note she'll never reach. Serena, maybe you should
00:39:02rest. You're straining. No, I will nail this. She takes a deep breath and pushes. She forces the air from
00:39:08her burning throat. And then... snap! A tearing sensation deep in her throat. The taste of blood.
00:39:14Her voice is gone. Instantly. The next morning, I read the news on my phone. I feel a small twinge
00:39:19of guilt, but it passes. Pop star Serena Sharp hospitalized with severe vocal hemorrhage.
00:39:23I remember the smirk on her face when she tried to destroy me. My friend Harper calls me.
00:39:27You're dangerous, V. Remind me never to cross you. She did it to herself. I just gave her the rope.
00:39:32My victory is sweet, but it doesn't last long. This is my big break. But there's a catch.
00:39:37An email arrives from the Galaxy Chronicles production team. My song submission, Galaxy's
00:39:42Edge, is a finalist for the main theme. They require a live demonstration. A closed-door
00:39:47audition. In front of investors and production staff. In front of the two men I'm hiding from,
00:39:51Julian and Damon. If I go, they discover my secret identity. If I don't, I lose the contract.
00:39:56As my mind races, a loud buzz cuts through the silence. The intercom. Who is it? Delivery.
00:40:02A moment later, a sharp knock echoes from my front door. A knock echoed through my dingy apartment.
00:40:07I opened the door. It wasn't a delivery guy. It was Scott, Damon Sterling's assistant,
00:40:12holding a small velvet box. Mr. Sterling sends his regards. He asked me to deliver this. I took
00:40:17the box. He nodded once and was gone. I locked the door and opened it. Underneath was a handwritten
00:40:22note in sharp Angular script. Inside was a brand new, encrypted smartphone and a VIP pass to the
00:40:27Galaxy Chronicles showcase. I have a suspicion. Don't disappoint me. He was challenging me,
00:40:32daring me to step back into the game. As if on cue, the new phone buzzed, rattling on the
00:40:36wooden crate beside me. Challenge accepted. The name on the screen made my blood run cold.
00:40:41Julian Sterling. My ex-husband. For three years, seeing his name triggered instant panic. My body
00:40:46still remembered the fear. My thumb automatically hovered over the green answer button. It was muscle
00:40:50memory, but I wasn't his wife anymore. I was a ghost. I was Iris. I moved my thumb. I pressed
00:40:56the
00:40:56red decline button. I pressed it hard. The buzzing stopped. The room fell silent. It was a tiny act of
00:41:02defiance. But in that moment, it felt like I had just dropped a bomb. Across the city, in a penthouse
00:41:07office, that bomb went off. Julian Sterling let out a roar of pure rage. He threw his phone,
00:41:12smashing it against an imported marble wall. She declined me. She actually declined me. He stood
00:41:17there, chest heaving, as a calm voice cut through the silence. Rough morning? My old phone vibrates on
00:41:22the desk, a persistent, annoying buzz from a life I'm leaving behind. The screen flashes with a name I
00:41:27never want to see again. Julian Sterling. I already know what this is. He wants to apologize. He wants
00:41:32to beg. He wants to use his empty words to lure me back into the gilded cage he built for
00:41:36me.
00:41:36I let it ring one more time, just to make him wait. A final, petty insult. Then, with a cold
00:41:41sense of
00:41:42finality, my finger stabs the red decline icon. The ringing stops. The silence is satisfying, but it's
00:41:47not enough to erase him. I pick up the phone, its plastic case feeling cheap and tainted by his memory.
00:41:52My thumb moves with cold precision as I navigate to my contacts list. I find his entry, the picture of
00:41:57his
00:41:57handsome, smiling face now, just a mask that mocks me. I scroll past the numbers and email
00:42:01addresses, all the digital leashes he used to control me. I go all the way to the bottom of
00:42:05the screen, to the one option that matters. Block this collar. A small window pops up. A final
00:42:10barrier between me and my freedom. You will not receive phone calls, messages, or FaceTime from
00:42:14people on the block list. I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life. My finger presses
00:42:18confirm without a single moment of hesitation. An electric jolt of pure adrenaline shoots through my
00:42:23veins. It's the powerful, physical sensation of a heavy chain finally snapping in two.
00:42:27I am free. He can't reach me anymore. I hold down the power button, watching the screen fade to black
00:42:31for the last time. I open my desk drawer and toss the old device inside, burying it under a stack
00:42:36of
00:42:36papers. It can rot in the darkness, a forgotten relic of a life I've left behind. My hand then reaches
00:42:41for its replacement, the sleek, matte black phone Damon gave me. I press the power button and it hums to
00:42:46life, its screen glowing with a clean, untainted light. This is my weapon now. In that moment of clarity,
00:42:51the music trapped in my head finally breaks loose. It's not a sad song about heartbreak. It's a
00:42:55symphony of pure, unadulterated rage. It's the anthem of a woman ready to burn the whole world down just to
00:43:00see
00:43:00the sky again. I spin to my keyboard and my hands crash down, playing a chaotic, dissonant chord that
00:43:05sounds like glass shattering against marble. I grab my pen and write the words that will set me free. You
00:43:10thought I was the echo, but I am the sound. Julian will see this. He will know his control is
00:43:15broken. You
00:43:15thought I was the anchor, but I'm the ground you can't find. The next morning, I wake up before the
00:43:19alarm. My body aches with a deep, bone-weary exhaustion. I drag myself to the bathroom mirror.
00:43:24Dark circles bruise the skin under my eyes. I look like I've been in a fight. In a way, I
00:43:29have. But I
00:43:29splash cold water on my face. Today is the day. I have to record the final master for the Galaxy's
00:43:34Edge
00:43:34showcase. The deadline is noon. I pack my equipment into a battered tote bag. The encrypted phone Damon
00:43:39gave me feels heavy in my pocket. It's a constant reminder of the dangerous alliance I've made.
00:43:44I take the subway to the arts district. The studio Cole Chen booked is a hole-in-the-wall
00:43:48place called the Sound Garden. It smells of stale coffee and burnt electronics, but the equipment
00:43:52inside is top-tier. Cole is already there, pacing the control room. He looks like he's running on
00:43:57pure caffeine and panic. Vesper, you're here. The showcase playback is in a few hours. Are you
00:44:02ready? I give him a sharp nod. I was born ready, Cole. I look at the microphone waiting for me.
00:44:06This
00:44:06isn't just a song. It's my declaration of war. I walk into the recording studio, and the producer
00:44:11looks like he's seen a ghost. To him, I'm not Vesper. I'm Sarah, a proxy singer hired to do a
00:44:16job.
00:44:16You're here. We have four hours. The investors are breathing down my neck for the final mix.
00:44:21I don't waste time with his panic. I pull out my hard drive. Let's load the session. We work for
00:44:25two hours straight. The track is complex, and something is missing. It needs more strings.
00:44:30The bridge is empty. We need a live cello section, but we don't have the budget approved.
00:44:35Cole runs his hands through his hair, his frustration boiling over. He looks at me for an answer I don't
00:44:39have. That's his problem. Call them. Call the money. He hesitates, then nervously pulls out his
00:44:44phone to call the primary investor. I can't hear the other side of the conversation, but I watch
00:44:48the color drain from Cole's face. He hangs up, looking completely stunned. He said to pause the
00:44:53session. He's coming down. Pause the session. We're on a four-hour deadline, but 20 minutes later,
00:44:58the door to the control room flies open. A man storms in, radiating so much power the air itself
00:45:03feels heavy. This must be Damon Sterling. Cole starts to speak, but the man silences him with a
00:45:07single, sharp look. He walks to the leather couch at the back of the dark room. He sits and stares
00:45:12at me
00:45:12through the soundproof glass. I am trapped in the isolation booth, with his intense gaze fixed
00:45:16on me. I ignore him. I put on the oversized headphones, close my eyes, and get lost in the
00:45:21music. Rolling, the haunting melody starts to play. I take a breath, ready to unleash everything. I open
00:45:27my mouth and sing. The sound that comes out is not just a voice. It is a raw, untamed force
00:45:31of nature.
00:45:32I pour every ounce of pain and defiance I have into the microphone. When the last note fades,
00:45:36I finally open my eyes. I look through the glass at Damon Sterling. He is gripping the armrest of the
00:45:40couch, his knuckles bone white. His face is a mask of pure, undisguised shock, as if he's just seen a
00:45:45ghost. I pour my soul into the final note, my voice shaking the glass of the recording booth.
00:45:50I open my eyes, and he's there. Damon Sterling, the billionaire producer, watching me from the
00:45:55shadows. The song ends. The silence is a physical weight. He stands, his eyes dissecting me. The
00:46:00acoustics are muddy. I push open the heavy door, stepping into the lion's den. I lift my chin,
00:46:05meeting his cold gaze. He's not talking about the room. He's talking about me. The budget is
00:46:10the problem. A cruel smirk plays on his lips as he steps toward me. We'll discuss the budget over
00:46:14lunch. It's not a question. It's a threat. Suddenly, a sharp cramp rips through my stomach.
00:46:19I hide a wince. I'm not hungry. His eyes flash with anger. He hates being defied. I didn't ask if
00:46:24you
00:46:24were hungry. He turns to the other men in the room. Wrap it up. We're leaving. I have no choice.
00:46:29I have to follow him. I force myself to stand up from the studio chair. A wave of absolute horror
00:46:33stops me
00:46:34cold. It's not the pain. It's the sudden, undeniable dampness. My blood turns to ice. I'm wearing
00:46:40white jeans. My eyes dart back to the chair I just left. There, on the beige fabric, is a small,
00:46:45dark crimson spot. My body has betrayed me in the most humiliating way possible. In a room full of
00:46:49men, right in front of him. I freeze. Unable to move. Unable to breathe. Trapped in my own personal
00:46:55hell. I stand to leave the meeting, but I freeze. Damon Sterling holds the door, and I see his sharp
00:47:00eyes follow my horrified gaze down to the chair. He sees it. The bright red stain I left behind on
00:47:05the
00:47:05white plastic. My blood runs cold. This is the man who treats the world like a petri dish,
00:47:09and I just contaminated his studio. I brace myself for the wave of disgust I know is coming. But he
00:47:14doesn't even look at me. His gaze locks on the sound engineer, who is just starting to turn around
00:47:18in his chair. In a blur of motion, Damon steps directly in front of me, becoming a solid wall
00:47:23of charcoal gray wool. He completely shields me from the rest of the room. Meeting canceled. Clear the
00:47:28room. What? But we just... Now, before anyone can react, he shrugs off his expensive suit jacket.
00:47:33He steps behind me and, without a single moment of hesitation, wraps it around my waist. He pulls
00:47:38the sleeves tight and ties them in a firm knot, the heavy fabric completely covering the back of my
00:47:42white jeans. Walk. I... I'm so sorry. The chair. Forget the chair. Keep your head up. He places a firm
00:47:50hand on my shoulder, guiding me past everyone and out to his waiting town car. The driver opens the
00:47:54rear door, revealing a pristine, cream-colored leather interior. I can't. I'll ruin the seats.
00:48:00Damon doesn't argue or negotiate. He just lifts me into his arms and places me gently
00:48:03inside. He slams the door, climbs in after me, and hits a button. The black privacy partition slides
00:48:08up, sealing us in our own world. Pharmacy. The nearest one. Now. Alone with him, I finally break,
00:48:15curling into a ball as sobs rack my body. I'm so sorry about your jacket. I didn't know. I hide
00:48:19my
00:48:19face in my hands, waiting for him to finally recoil in disgust. But instead, I feel a warmth spread
00:48:25across my lower back. It's his hand, rubbing slow, firm, grounding circles. Stop apologizing.
00:48:30His voice is quiet and gentle, a tone I have never, ever heard from this cold, ruthless man
00:48:35before. I sit in the leather seat of his luxury car, tears streaming down my face. My white jeans
00:48:40are ruined, and so is his expensive suit jacket. He reaches out and wipes a tear from my cheek
00:48:45with his thumb. It's biology, Vesper. It's not a crime. Damon Sterling, the infamous billionaire
00:48:49germaphobe, doesn't even flinch. The car glides to a stop in front of a CVS. He went to buy pads
00:48:54for me.
00:48:55Stay here. I watch in disbelief as he steps onto the dirty sidewalk and walks into the pharmacy.
00:48:59Five minutes later, he slides back into the car, tossing a plastic bag into my lap.
00:49:03Inside are three different boxes of pads, a bottle of Advil, and a bar of dark chocolate.
00:49:08He just stares out the window, his jaw tight. There's a restroom in the cafe next door. Go!
00:49:12I rush to the cafe, change my clothes, and throw my ruined jeans in the trash. When I return to
00:49:17the
00:49:17car, I hold out his stained jacket. I'll pay for the dry cleaning, or I'll replace it. He takes the
00:49:22jacket without a single glance at the stain. Dispose of this? He simply passes it through the
00:49:26partition to his driver. Sir? It's done. Get rid of it. He turns back to me, his eyes intense.
00:49:32Money is vulgar between partners. We aren't partners. He leans in close, invading my personal
00:49:37space. I said I would pay you back. Aren't we? You owe me. That jacket was worth $5,000. I
00:49:43don't want
00:49:43your money. I want a favor. My heart hammers against my ribs as he opens his mouth to speak,
00:49:48but a sudden chime from the console cuts him off. His phone screen lights up with a new text message,
00:49:52and it's facing directly at me. A text flashes on Damon's phone from my boss, Cole Chen. My secret
00:49:58is safe, but my heart is pounding. He's demanding to know where his kidnapped talent Sarah is. Not
00:50:02knowing that Sarah is me, Damon sees me read it and snatches the phone away. Then he leans
00:50:06in close, his breath hot on my neck. His face turns to stone before he deletes the entire conversation
00:50:11without a word. The favor? I'll collect it when I need it. And when I do, you won't say no.
00:50:15The car
00:50:16pulls up to my apartment building moments later. The window rolls down and Damon holds the bag out to me.
00:50:20Get out. My head's spinning. I scramble out of the car, leaving my tote bag behind in my haste.
00:50:25As our fingers brush, a sharp, audible crackle of static electricity sparks between us. I gasp and
00:50:30yank my hand back as if I've been burned. But Damon doesn't even flinch. He just holds my gaze,
00:50:34his dark eyes completely unreadable. Go inside, Vesper. I grab the bag and run for the safety of my
00:50:39building without looking back. Later, I'm trying to work, but I can't stop thinking about that strange
00:50:43spark. Suddenly, my new encrypted phone rings, shattering the silence. Vesper, I messed up.
00:50:48God, I really, really messed up. I see it's an unknown number, but a feeling of dread makes me
00:50:53answer. Hello? It's my brother, Julian, and his voice is choked with pure terror. What did you do,
00:50:58Julian? My heart stops cold in my chest. Not that. Anything but that. The storage unit. The one in
00:51:04Queens. With all of mom and dad's things. The photo albums. Your mother's jewelry. Your father's
00:51:09journals. Vesper, it's all gone. My phone rings, and my blood runs cold when I hear the panicked voice of
00:51:15my ex-husband, Julian. Vesper, the storage unit. The one with all your parents' things. It's all
00:51:20being auctioned off. The auction is in an hour. My heart stops beating. That unit holds every physical
00:51:25memory I have left of my family, my mother's wedding dress, my father's handwritten notes.
00:51:29I miss the payments. I need you here, in person, to sign the release form. It's the only way. He
00:51:34claims he has the cash to pay the balance, but he needs my signature as next of kin to halt
00:51:38the sale.
00:51:38I'm outside your building right now. I sent a car. Please, Vesper, we have to go,
00:51:42or it's all gone forever. I look out my window and see a sleek black limo idling at the curb.
00:51:46My mind screams that this could be a trap, but the thought of strangers pawing through my parents'
00:51:50most precious belongings is a violation I cannot allow. I'm coming down. I run downstairs and burst
00:51:56onto the sidewalk. Julian is waiting by the open limo door, looking disheveled. Thank God. Get in.
00:52:01We have to hurry. I take a step toward the car, but then I freeze. A cold gut feeling tells
00:52:06me
00:52:06something is deeply wrong. I realize he isn't holding any paperwork, and his eyes are darting around the
00:52:10street nervously, like he's looking for witnesses. Where are the forms, Julian? The desperate panic
00:52:14on his face vanishes in an instant, replaced by a flash of raw, ugly frustration. They're in the
00:52:19car. There's no time for this. Just get in. He lunges and grabs my wrist, his grip tight and
00:52:24demanding, but I rip my arm away from him. You lied to me. There is no auction, is there? I
00:52:28had to see
00:52:29you. You blocked me. We are going to talk about the separation agreement. He lunges for me again,
00:52:34his act completely dropped as he tries to drag me toward the car. Suddenly, the deafening screech of tires
00:52:38rips through the air, stopping him cold. A massive black SUV slams to a halt, perfectly cutting off
00:52:43the limo's only escape route. The driver's door flies open, and Damon Sterling steps out onto the
00:52:48pavement, looking like a thundercloud. Let her go. Julian stumbles back against his limo, as if he's
00:52:54been physically struck by the force of Damon's voice. Damon, I was just, we were just discussing
00:52:58family matters. But Damon just holds up his phone, a cold, knowing look in his eyes. He tapped the call
00:53:03and heard everything. Still using her parents' memory as a bargaining chip, Julian? Pathetic.
00:53:08If you ever use her family as a pawn again, I will freeze your trust fund so fast your credit
00:53:12cards will melt. Do you understand? Julian's face turns a sickly, pale white. Damon didn't
00:53:16just threaten him. He threatened the only thing Julian has ever truly cared about. His money.
00:53:21Julian's limo peels away, leaving me on the sidewalk with Damon. My adrenaline crashes,
00:53:26turning to white-hot rage. I whirl at him. You were listening? You tapped my phone?
00:53:30You're all the same. Liars. Manipulators. I ensured your safety. I shove his chest with
00:53:35all my strength. He doesn't budge. Instead, he grabs my wrists. He pulls me in, pinning
00:53:40me against the cold metal of his SUV. I am nothing like him. His eyes are blazing, just
00:53:45inches from mine. Prove it. His gaze drops to my lips. The argument, the fear, the adrenaline.
00:53:51It all ignites in an instant. He crashes his mouth onto mine. It's not a gentle kiss. It's
00:53:56a collision. An angry, desperate claim. I grab his shirt, pulling him closer,
00:54:00pouring all my rage and confusion into him. I freeze for a heartbeat. Then I kiss him
00:54:04back with equal fury. He yanks open the passenger door. He looks at me. His pupils wide with shock
00:54:09at his own loss of control. Get in. We break apart, chests heaving, the world spinning around
00:54:14us. Where are we going? Away from him. He takes me to a secure hotel, leaves two guards at my
00:54:19door, and disappears. But he doesn't take me to his penthouse to claim his prize. The next
00:54:23morning, the game has completely changed. In his office, Damon's second-in-command presents
00:54:27a marketing plan for the singer, Serena Sharp. The promotional tour budget is $5 million.
00:54:31Double it. Damon Sterling, the man orchestrating my rival's career, gives an insane order to
00:54:36his assistant, Scott. Sir? Serena is. Her voice is damaged. We don't even know if she
00:54:41can perform. Damon just leans back in his chair, a cold smile on his face. Scott finally understands
00:54:46the terrifying plan. Double it. Put her face on every billboard in Times Square. On every
00:54:51bus in Los Angeles, I want her to be unavoidable. The Icarus strategy. Fly her so high, the sun
00:54:55melts the wax. Exactly. When she falls, I want the whole world to hear the impact.
00:55:00An hour later, Serena posts a photo on Instagram, gloating. She stands in front of a giant billboard
00:55:05of her own face, thanking Damon for believing in her. Julian, her boyfriend and Damon's brother,
00:55:09sees the post and the staggering invoice. He immediately calls Damon, his voice shaking
00:55:13with fury. Are you insane? The trust can't cover this. It's necessary for the family image,
00:55:18unless you want to admit your girlfriend is a fraud. She is a star. Then pay the bill.
00:55:22Damon hangs up, leaving Julian to deal with the consequences. Then, I see it. While walking
00:55:27down the street, a bus passes by. Serena's face sneers down at me from a massive ad. My
00:55:32heart sinks. How can I compete with that kind of money? That kind of power? I collapse onto
00:55:36a bench, my hope completely gone. I text my friend Cole. I can't do it. She has the whole
00:55:41world behind her. But the phone that buzzes in my hand isn't a reply from Cole. It's a message
00:55:45from an unknown number. It's from Damon. Don't look up. Look forward. That night, I watched
00:55:50the livestream of a pre-showcase gala on my laptop. Serena arrives on Damon's arm, wearing
00:55:55a tight dress and a fake smile for the cameras. She grabs a glass of champagne, takes a sip,
00:55:59then tries to hand the half-empty glass to Damon. Here, hold this. But Damon doesn't
00:56:03take it. He signals a waiter as if she's handing him trash. Remove this. Then, in front
00:56:07of everyone, he pulls out a sanitizer wipe and cleans his hands. A reporter shoves a microphone
00:56:11in Serena's face, and she lies through her teeth. Me and Julian worked so hard. It's the
00:56:15most unique thing I ever wrote. But before she can say more, Damon steps forward and leans
00:56:19into the mic. I walk into a high-end boutique on Rodeo Drive, ready to spend the last of
00:56:24my savings. The showcase is in two days. I need armor. My eyes land on a silver gown.
00:56:29It looks like liquid starlight. It's perfect. But as I reach for the fabric, a voice screeches
00:56:33from the entrance. I'll take it. She marches in, her boyfriend Julian trailing behind her
00:56:38like a lost puppy. It's Serena Sharp, my biggest rival. She sees me holding the dress, and her
00:56:43eyes narrow into slits. Put it down, Vesper. That's way out of your league. I hold it tighter.
00:56:47I found it first. She scoffs and turns to the salesgirl. I'm performing at the Sterling
00:56:51Showcase. I want to try it on. When the salesgirl hesitates, Serena plays her only card. I'll pay
00:56:57double. I look down at the dress. Then I look at Serena. I see the raw desperation in her eyes.
00:57:01This isn't about the dress. It's about humiliating me. A slow, dangerous smile spreads across my face.
00:57:07Double? The tag says 5,000. So you're offering 10? I don't even blink. 10,000. 15. 20.
00:57:14Julian grabs her arm, trying to stop her. Serena, stop. We can't afford. Shut up, Julian. 25.
00:57:20The entire store falls silent. I've laid the trap. I pretend to consider it. Running my hand over the
00:57:25beautiful fabric one last time. 30,000. Now she has to choose. Go broke for a dress she doesn't
00:57:30even want. Or suffer a humiliating defeat in front of everyone. 40. $40,000. Right now. The entire
00:57:37boutique falls silent. I just smile and drop the sleeve. Serena wants the silver dress I'm holding
00:57:42just to humiliate me. Sold. It's all yours. Her face freezes. She knows she's been played. But
00:57:47her ego won't let her back down. Ring it up. She turns to my ex, Julian. Card. He looks like
00:57:53he's about to be sick as he pulls out his black Amex. The sales girl swipes it. Declined. Try it
00:57:58again. The machine beeps again with the same result. I'm sorry, sir. The account has been frozen.
00:58:02Julian's face turns a deep shade of purple. Impossible. It's a black card. It has no limit. As they scream
00:58:08at each other, I find my own armor. A sleek black jumpsuit in the back of the store. It costs
00:58:12$200.
00:58:13I pay in cash. Walking out, I hear a beautiful sound. The sound of a $40,000 dress ripping at
00:58:19the seams. I don't even look back. Now, the night of the showcase has arrived. I can see them in
00:58:24the
00:58:24front row of the massive concert hall. Julian, sweating. His bank accounts wiped clean. And
00:58:29Damon, the industry shark who holds my future in his hands. A giant screen shows the odds. Serena has
00:58:3480% positive sentiment, while I, Iris, have 2% awareness. They think this is already over.
00:58:39I'm just getting started. I stand in the darkness behind the main stage. The roar of the crowd is a
00:58:45physical force against my body. My hands are shaking, but my heart is a cold, hard stone. My
00:58:50phone buzzes in my pocket. A single text message. Show them who Iris is. Damon's words are the only
00:58:55permission I need. He just injected $10 million into my name, a name nobody here even knows. Out front,
00:59:00they're all waiting for their star, Serena Sharp. Ladies and gentlemen, Serena Sharp. They don't
00:59:05know her voice is gone, destroyed by her own lifestyle. They don't know her entire career
00:59:09is now a lie. And they certainly don't know that I'm the one who sent her the backing track she's
00:59:13about to use. The cheers are deafening. I watch through a crack in the curtain as she steps into
00:59:17the spotlight. She looks terrified, her smile plastered on her face. She knows one wrong move,
00:59:22one skipped beat, and she's finished. The music starts. Fallen Star, my song. She lifts the microphone,
00:59:27her lips moving perfectly in time. A voice booms through the speakers. The audience is mesmerized.
00:59:32They're eating it up. It's flawless, clear, powerful, and soulful. It's a perfect deepfake
00:59:37of the talent she lost long ago. In the front row, Julian, the man who betrayed me, looks on with
00:59:43pride. They're falling for the most beautiful lie they've ever heard. He has no idea he's watching
00:59:47his own downfall. Serena thinks this song is her salvation, and I'm just waiting for the right
00:59:51moment to open the gates. She's wrong. It's a Trojan whore. Her perfect performance is about to become
00:59:56her public execution. On stage, the star Serena Sharp was selling her performance perfectly
01:00:00until she spun and her heel caught on the floor. She stumbled, dropping the microphone to her waist,
01:00:05but the voice kept singing. The illusion shattered. She's lip-syncing. It's a fake. The murmurs turned
01:00:11into a roar of booze. Serena fled the stage, humiliated. Then, the emcee called out my challenge.
01:00:16And now, the challenger? I walked into the single spotlight. I didn't dance. I didn't wave. I walked to
01:00:23the microphone and looked into the darkness. I nodded to the band. A single piano chord struck
01:00:27the air. Then, I sang. You thought I was the echo. A collective gasp swept the room. This was a
01:00:32real
01:00:33voice. My voice. The voice of Iris. Across the room, Julian's head snapped up, his jaw slack with
01:00:39shock. Vesper? In the wings, the producer Cole Chen stared, frozen. He knew me as Sarah, his quiet
01:00:44assistant. Sarah? She's... Vesper? But I wasn't done. As I hit the crescendo, the screen behind me
01:00:51flashed to life. It displayed a digital fingerprint of Serena's fake trap. And at the bottom, it showed
01:00:55the MAC address of the machine that created it. I reached down, picked up my laptop, and held it
01:00:59high for everyone to see. The camera zoomed in tight on the serial number plate. The MAC address
01:01:04etched into the metal was an exact match. The MAC address flashes on the giant screen behind me,
01:01:08a long string of numbers and letters that seals her fate. It is a perfect, undeniable match to the
01:01:13machine that created all the hit songs. The audience erupts in a wave of shock and noise as they
01:01:18finally understand the massive deception. I have just proven to the entire world that the
01:01:22superstar Serena Sharp is a complete and total fraud. I am the real genius. The ghostwriter who
01:01:27secretly penned every single one of her chart-topping hits. The final haunting note of my performance
01:01:31hangs in the air, followed by a moment of dead, stunned silence. Then a single, slow, rhythmic
01:01:37clap echoes through the massive concert hall, breaking the spell. My eyes find him immediately. It's Damon
01:01:42Sterling, rising from his exclusive seat in the front row. He isn't smiling. He just looks at me with a
01:01:47burning, intense pride that feels hotter than the spotlights. His applause is the signal. And soon,
01:01:52the entire room is on its feet, giving me a thundering standing ovation. The roar of the
01:01:56crowd is deafening, the adrenaline is overwhelming, and I feel like I can't breathe. I manage a quick,
01:02:00shaky bow before I turn and run off the stage, desperate for an escape from the intensity.
01:02:04But Damon is already there, a solid presence waiting for me in the dim light of the backstage
01:02:08hallway. He says absolutely nothing, just grabs my hand and yanks me forcefully into a nearby dark
01:02:13supply closet. The heavy door clicks shut behind us, plunging us into a world of complete and utter
01:02:18darkness. You did it. His voice is a low, satisfied growl right next to my ear before he pulls me
01:02:22hard
01:02:23against his chest. His lips crash down on mine in a fierce, possessive kiss of victory that tastes like
01:02:27sweat and pure triumph. My real name, the one I was born with. It's Iris. I know. And you are
01:02:33mine now,
01:02:34completely. We stumble out of the closet a minute later, breathless and with our clothes completely
01:02:38disheveled. We need to leave right now. The press will be swarming the front entrance like vultures.
01:02:42We push through the heavy metal doors and slip into the dark, grimy alleyway behind the concert
01:02:47hall. But we only manage to take two steps before three large, menacing shadows detach themselves
01:02:51from the brick wall. They are big men dressed in generic security uniforms, but their faces are as
01:02:56hard and unforgiving as stone. One of them casually holds a heavy baton. Another pulls out a long knife
01:03:01that glints dangerously in the dim light. Mr. Julian says nobody is allowed to leave the premises tonight.
01:03:06My blood runs cold and my heart stops beating at the mention of that name. Julian, my monster of a
01:03:10husband. He wants to have a private word with his wife before she gets any ideas about talking to the
01:03:15press. She's not his wife. And she's not staying. Three men advance on us in the dark alley. We have
01:03:21orders. Before I can react, Damon shoves me hard against the brick wall. Stay back. He rips off his tie,
01:03:26wrapping it tightly around his fist. A man swings a baton, a brutal arc aimed at Damon's head. But Damon
01:03:31moves with terrifying speed. He ducks under the swing and drives his fist into the man's throat.
01:03:36A sickening crunch echoes as the man collapses, choking. The second thug slashes forward with a
01:03:40knife. Damon blocks the blade with his arm, his expensive suit jacket tearing open. He pivots and
01:03:46kicks the man's knee backward. The snap of breaking bone is loud and wet. The third man hesitates,
01:03:50then his eyes lock onto me. He lunges. It's primal, terrifying to watch. No! Damon tackles him to the
01:03:56pavement, raining down brutal punches on his face. Damon, stop! He's unconscious! I have to grab his shoulder
01:04:01and physically pull him off the man's body. Damon stumbles to his feet, panting. His knuckles split
01:04:06and bloody. He stares at his hands, covered in their blood. I wait for him to freeze, for the sensory
01:04:11overload to hit. But he doesn't. He turns and grabs my face with his bloody hands, smearing crimson across
01:04:16my cheek. Are you hurt? Did they touch you? I don't care. I'm fine. Damon, your hands. A car screeches
01:04:22to a
01:04:22halt beside us, and we dive in just as police sirens fill the air. In the safety of the car,
01:04:27I watch Damon
01:04:28slump back against the seat. His hands are covered in filth and blood from the fight. He peels off his
01:04:32ruined jacket and hands it to his driver. Scott, burn it. Yes, sir. My own hands are trembling, but I
01:04:38reach into my bag and pull out a packet of wet wipes. I take his hand. Gently, I begin to
01:04:42clean
01:04:43the violence off his skin, finger by finger. It's okay, I've got you. He just watches me, his eyes fixed
01:04:48on my face. In that moment, I feel a powerful connection. I feel safe. I believe this man would burn
01:04:53down the entire city just to protect me. But an hour later, we stand in his office at the top
01:04:57of the
01:04:57world. And that man is gone. Damon stares at a tablet, his face cold and unreadable. Watch.
01:05:03I step closer and look at the screen. Sterling Media stock. Down 8.4%. The number is flashing
01:05:08bright red. His assistant, Scott, enters the room. The lip sync scandal is trending number one
01:05:13worldwide, sir. The board is panicking. A predatory smile touches Damon's lips. It's the smile of a wolf.
01:05:19Execute the short sell orders. Now. A chill runs down my spine. I don't understand. What are you
01:05:24doing? He finally turns to look at me. The city lights framing him like a demon. This is the art
01:05:29of the short sell Vesper. I knew Serena would fail. I knew her father would send thugs. So I bet
01:05:34against his company. The pieces click into place. And my blood runs cold. Every dollar their stock
01:05:38drops, I make two. I stare at him in horror. The showcase. The fight. My song. You. You planned all
01:05:44of this? I leveraged an asset. Your talent was the catalyst. I just did the math. The warmth I felt
01:05:50in
01:05:50the car vanishes. Replaced by a terrifying cold. I wasn't his partner. I was his weapon. My father's
01:05:56ruined face flashes in my mind. Whispering about market manipulation. Is that all my music is to
01:06:00you? A lever to pull? He stops. For a single fleeting second, I see a crack in his mask. I
01:06:05see a flicker
01:06:06of pain, of exhaustion, of something human. But just as quickly, it's gone. And the monster is back in
01:06:12control.
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