Zoe never imagined she'd return to the house that broke her, but a fateful demand brings her face-to-face with the one man she thought she'd buried in her past-Dorian. Once her forbidden lover, now her stepsister Celeste's soon-to-be fiancƩ, Dorian's presence reignites old passions and deeper wounds. The cold hostility between them is palpable, their history a smoldering ember just waiting to reignite. At Celeste's opulent birthday celebration, Zoe is thrust into a world of wealth, lies, and manipulation. Her father's family-who cast her aside years ago-now see her as nothing more than an obstacle in their perfect facade. But Zoe is no longer the fragile girl they once knew. With every cutting glance and veiled insult, she holds her ground, unafraid to shatter the glass walls that surround them. As tensions rise, so do the stakes. Dorian's dark, possessive gaze lingers on Zoe, torn between the woman he once desired and the life he's chosen. The closer they draw, the more dangerous their connection becomes. In this twisted dance of power, pride, and forbidden love, Zoe must decide if she'll fight to reclaim her past-or destroy everything in her path. In a world where betrayal runs deep and love is a weapon, can Zoe emerge unscathed, or will her heart be the ultimate casualty?
Chapter 1 He demanded not to meet any more
"Meet me at the usual place. 8 PM."
"Don't you want to ask if my period is over?"
"It doesn't matter."
Zoe listened to the cold voice on the other end of the line and smirked. "You never even thought about me..."
But before she could finish her sentence, the man abruptly hung up, clearly unwilling to say another word.
At that moment, Zoe was backstage, preparing for her performance. She had a passion for rock music, and tonight, she was the lead singer for her band, "Wild Love," getting ready to perform at a bar.
One of the band members, James, waved her over, signaling that she needed to get ready to hit the stage.
Zoe put her phone down and strode confidently forward, her long legs carrying her with purpose.
The energy of the night ignited the bar, reaching a fever pitch by the time their performance ended, leaving it a bustling 7:30 PM.
"Zoe, why not stay for a drink?" asked the band's keyboardist, a bearded man lifting a beer in her direction.
"I have plans, so I'll be leaving," she replied, downing a shot of tequila. She then headed backstage to grab her black helmet, swinging her leg over her expensive motorcycle.
As she sped into the night, the cool wind rushed past her. Soon, she arrived at a villa nestled against the mountains.
Removing her helmet, Zoe ran a hand through her tousled hair and stepped confidently in high heels into the villa.
The place had an air of opulence but felt uninviting, with its lavish European dƩcor hinting that it was rarely occupied. The quiet night added a layer of mystery to the atmosphere.
Upon entering the hall, Zoe noticed that the lights were off.
In the darkness, a faint orange glow illuminated a figure sitting on the sofa, apparently smoking.
As he noticed Zoe, the man crushed the cigarette out and stood, slowly walking toward her.
"Take it off."
His voice was cold and devoid of emotion. The moonlight highlighted his chiseled features, but his eyes held a chilling detachment.
Zoe smiled softly, then followed his command, starting to undress.
As she tossed her leather jacket aside, she stepped toward him, the moonlight accentuating her flawless figure, every inch of her captivating.
She reached out, pushing the man back onto the sofa and straddling his lap.
On the table lay the half-burnt cigarette he had discarded. Zoe picked it up, took a drag, and blew a perfect ring of smoke into his face.
His expression remained cold, but desire began to flicker in his eyes.
Zoe fixed her gaze on him, her eyes sparkling with allure. "What position do you want tonight?"
"All of them."
His hands glided over her skin, finally resting on her soft lips.
Then he forcefully pulled her closer, capturing her pink lips with his in a heated kiss.
His kiss was aggressive, pushing deep into her, igniting a fire within her.
Zoe responded passionately, feeling the electric thrill of his touch as they moved from the sofa to the dining table, and finally to the bed...
The mysterious man in the villa was named Dorian. They had met a year ago at a rock concert.
Both were fans of the same band and ended up at the same show, where Dorian had asked for Zoe's number.
At the time, Zoe was wearing a provocative mini skirt and a denim top, exuding sex appeal.
Surprisingly, Dorian had shown up in a suit, which intrigued Zoe.
After a brief conversation, the mutual attraction was evident. Zoe kissed Dorian first, and he responded with equal fervor.
They ended up at a hotel, and one thing led to another.
To her surprise, their chemistry was electric, leading them to agree on a friends-with-benefits arrangement.
They met regularly, sometimes more than once a month, and after each passionate night, Dorian ensured Zoe received financial support.
A year passed, and aside from their encounters in bed, they hardly knew each other. Zoe didn't even know Dorian's last name or anything about his background.
Yet, their familiarity in bed remained unshakeable.
Clothes were strewn across the floor, and Dorian's stamina seemed endless, unleashing his desires fully.
Finally, after an hour, the room settled into silence.
Zoe lay exhausted on the bed, completely drained.
Dorian, freshly washed and now dressed in a white shirt, lit a cigar, exhaling smoke as he glanced at the naked woman lying on the bed, her back to him.
He frowned, noticing that Zoe was lazily scrolling through her phone, completely devoid of the modesty one might expect.
Dorian knew Zoe enjoyed her freedom and pleasure, but he had no idea how many men she had been with.
This thought irritated him. Clenching his cigar, he pulled out his phone with his other hand.
At that moment, Zoe's phone pinged with a notification.
It was a message from the bank.
... *$10 million will be transferred to your account by 12:30 PM...*
It was from Dorian.
But this time, the amount seemed significantly higher than usual.
Zoe looked up at the man shrouded in cigar smoke, catching the dark expression on his face, which resembled a stormy sky.
Dorian's voice was icy as he cast a shadow over her. "This is the last time we meet. Delete all my contacts."
His words felt like an unyielding command, leaving no room for argument.
Zoe sat up, peering through the haze at Dorian. "Why?"
Zoe was puzzled as to why Dorian had suddenly cut ties with her.
With a cigar in his mouth, he exhaled a puff of smoke and said coldly, "I'm getting married soon. Stay out of my sight."
"Married?"
Zoe smirked. "So you're still single, huh? I thought a man your age would have already settled down."
Dorian didn't reply, his expression darkening further, his eyes glaring at her with an intensity that felt almost predatory.
Glancing at her phone, Zoe saw the transfer notification and quickly got dressed.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll be on my way."
She slipped back into her black leather jacket and walked over to Dorian, wrapping her arms around his neck and settling into his warm embrace.
They were close enough that their breaths intertwined, and Zoe pressed a kiss to Dorian's cheek. "Congrats on the wedding."
Dorian looked at her with growing disdain, convinced she was just a shallow woman.
He pushed her away.
"Get out of here. I don't want to see you again!"
Without sparing her a glance, he lifted the cigar back to his lips, hiding himself in the smoke.
"Bye!"
Zoe blocked Dorian's number on her phone, striding out of the villa and hopping on her motorcycle, speeding away into the night.
Watching her leave so decisively, Dorian felt a storm brewing in his heart as he stood at the window, gazing at her fading silhouette.
Zoe raced through the darkness, leaning forward as she revved the engine, capturing the attention of many as she flew by.
This was Zoe's nature-bold, direct, and drawn to the thrill of rock music and adrenaline-pumping activities, like taekwondo and high-speed biking.
She was a free spirit, unbound and wild, soaring through life without constraints.
No one would ever trap her in a conventional relationship.
The night wind whipped through her hair as she sped home.
Lying in bed later that night, however, Zoe found herself restless, tossing and turning.
Her mind replayed the memories of her years with Dorian, everything they had shared since their first meeting.
Much of it revolved around their passionate encounters.
Despite their tumultuous relationship, they had always clicked in bed.
But now, she would never see him again.
A pang of regret washed over her.
At least she had received ten million dollars, giving her the freedom to do anything she wanted.
...
In the months following her farewell to Dorian, Zoe spent that ten million enjoying every experience she had missed.
She flew to Thailand to learn Muay Thai, vacationed at the beach with friends, and even joined an expedition to Antarctica.
Her life was carefree and exhilarating; she had completely pushed thoughts of men aside.
Beyond her hobbies, Zoe worked as a psychologist.
Yes, you read that right-this wild woman was a therapist.
Her past experiences had sparked a curiosity about the human psyche, prompting her to earn a psychology degree and a counseling license. Now, she ran her own practice.
Her passion for the job had helped her build a network, with many clients eager to book appointments with her.
One morning, after returning from vacation, Zoe had just finished a session with a teenage client when her phone buzzed.
Seeing the caller ID, her expression darkened.
She answered, irritation seeping into her voice. "What?"
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