The chandeliers glittered above Amaya's head as she slipped through the marble halls of the Cole Empire gala. Laughter and champagne flowed like rivers, but her blood ran cold. Every polished smile, every whispered toast, was a reminder of everything she had lost.
And at the center of it all stood Adrian Cole.
The man who destroyed her family.
The billionaire who wore arrogance like a second skin.
His presence filled the ballroom—dark suit, sharp jaw, and the kind of power that made people lower their gaze. When his icy eyes swept over the crowd, the world seemed to bow. But Amaya didn't. She never would.
Tonight, she was here for revenge.
She adjusted the slit of her black gown and approached him with a glass of champagne in hand. "Mr. Cole," she purred, her smile sharp as glass. "Congratulations on another empire-shaking deal."
Adrian's gaze locked on her, and for a moment she swore he could see straight through her disguise. A slow, knowing smirk curved his lips. "Amaya Rivera. I wondered when you'd finally stop hiding."
Her breath faltered. He knew her name.
Before she could retreat, his hand closed firmly around her wrist. His grip was steady, cold, inescapable. He leaned close, his whisper a blade against her ear.
"Marry me—or watch everything you love burn."
Amaya's heart slammed against her ribs. She came here to destroy him, but in one brutal sentence, Adrian Cole had trapped her in his game.
Her glass slipped, shattering on the floor. The room spun, but his hold never wavered. His eyes were merciless, promising both ruin and possession.
And in that moment, Amaya realized—her war had just begun.