Revenge: The Billionaire's Downfall

the public, we were a fairy tale: the brilliant, cold CEO who was utterly devoted to me, a si

another woman. He called me a "decoy," a "shield" he used to

licly, destroy my dead mother's heirloom, and then, as p

n the canvas, I saw him in the VIP booth, watching with bored detachment as Karina laughed beside

inley. With my last breath, I gave him the secrets that would bring

isappear," I whispe

pte

ionaire who seemed to exist on a different plane from everyone else. His face was sharp, his eyes were distant, and he never smiled

ne had a single, all-consuming obsession. He wasn't cold; he was a furnace of care

ent in Brooklyn. Dean had found her, plucked her from obscurity, and made her his girlfriend.

uilt a wall of security around Hayley so thick that no reporter could get within a hundred feet of her. When a society

the way he followed her with his eyes at parties, the way he personally chose every piece of her designer wardro

city's elite. Hayley, dressed in a gown the color of a midnight sky, felt a rare spark of boldne

'Star of the Sea' necklace when it comes

imple sapphire on a delicate chain. It remind

y turned to ice. He pulled back slightly, his eyes s

e said, his voice low and sharp. "Why

ter of one of Dean's major business partners, drifted over to

ing sharp. "Though, I heard you were asking Dean for the 'Star of the Sea.' Isn

e felt Dean' s hand on her arm, not in comfort, but in warning. He didn't defe

orld of luxury and safety. But sometimes, over small, seemingly insignificant things, this col

She needed a moment of quiet. As she passed a secluded balcony, she heard voices. Dean's

oice was a venomous hiss, completely unlike her public person

devoid of any warmth. "It was a m

art stopped

e it's the real thing," Karina continued, her voice rising with jealousy. "I

like a physical blo

turning sadistic. "She needs a stronger reminder. That she's just a stand

scrutiny. All the danger she thought Dean was protec

tarting to think she' s the queen,

tered Hayley's entire world.

tired of her. Do what you want.

flying to her mouth to stifle a sob. She couldn't breathe. Her mind

he food poisoning incident that had her hospitalized for a week. The stalker who had broken into her studio and destroy

th what she thought was worry. He' d check her for injuries, his touch frantic. He' d murmur

was checking to see if his shield was still functional. The realization was a poison seeping i

ying present. "If she gets too disobedient again... maybe a more permanent lesson is

' s silence, and she knew what it meant.

carpet. She didn't know where she was going, only that she had to get away. The beautif

er hands shook as she threw a suitcase on the bed, pulling open draw

he had never seen before stood there, a cruel smile on his face. He was large, an

he sneered, stepping into the roo

til her legs hit the bed. The man ad

Hayley whispered,

sson," he said, his smile widen

his hand clamping over her mouth. His other

trying to twist away. "I can

He leaned in, his breath hot and foul. "He thinks you're dirty. He can't even stand to touch you, did you

ically, claiming he respected her too much to rush things. It was another lie. He wa

ripped through her. She was n

hot out and grabbed the heavy glass lamp from the nightstand. With

stumbling back, his eyes wide with surprise. She didn't hesitate. She

her hand. Sobs tore from her throat, raw and broken. The

shaking, but she picked it up. There was one number in her contac

t rang twice before a sm

Brennen

had met once, a year ago, at a tech conference. He had been charming, intelligent, and had looked at her with an in

a raw whisper. "Insider information. The ki

use on the oth

ning into something sharp and unbreakable. "I'll g

n's voice was sha

king at the man bleeding on her floor and

York disappear," she said.

his time. When Brennen spoke agai

dead by morning," h