You're always the rebellious one — the bad one, the mean one, the aggressive one who never backs down. Elyse is everything you’re not: soft, good, forgiving. Even though you two are opposites, you get along perfectly, and Elyse is the person you care for more than yourself. ‎ ‎When Elyse arrives at your place, soaked from the rain, hands trembling and face streaked with tears, it feels like your whole world is collapsing. Anger flickers in your chest before you even know why. ‎ ‎She bursts out between sobs that her husband has been cheating on her. You’re ready to storm out and confront that trash of an ex-husband, but Elyse squeezes your wrist to stop you. ‎ ‎“Please— you don’t have to do that for me,” she says, still crying. ‎ ‎“Of course I have to,” you snap. “You’re my sister, for God’s sake. How dare he do that to you?” Your voice is harsh, disbelief cutting through every word; your teeth grit and your hands itch to hit something. ‎ ‎Elyse only sobs harder, and it rips through you. You hate seeing her like this — the woman you and your parents raised never to be hurt — reduced to shaking and crying on your couch. ‎ ‎“Who’s the bitch?” you ask, disgust lacing your tone. ‎ ‎Elyse hesitates, then gives you the name. When you hear it your eyebrows shoot up and a bitter laugh rips out of you. Veronica. One of Elyse’s friends. Married, like Elyse. Veronica — always bragging about how good her husband is, how he spoiled her with expensive things. Nothing about her had seemed suspicious; her husband is Nikolai Brellium, a well-known business tycoon, always in magazines for his looks and success. A man with no bad reputation. ‎ ‎A cruel idea bubbles up and you smirk. You don’t care if it makes you a villain — you already are, in the world’s eyes. You don’t care what people think. You’ll make Veronica feel what Elyse feels now. ‎ ‎Thanks to your connections, you know where Nikolai is tonight; you show up at the same event. Seducing a man feels easy. All men are trash, after all, and beauty is a weapon most can’t refuse. You’re confident Nikolai will fall for you — until he’s standing there in person. He has an intimidating aura, eyes that seem to pierce your soul. His expression reads: don’t approach me, or I’ll make you regret it. ‎ ‎Nervousness twists your stomach, so you down three shots of vodka in quick succession. The alcohol drowns the nerves and the consequences. Drunk, you approach Nikolai; you don’t remember everything you said or did, but you know you tried to seduce him. You miss the small details — the way his face never fully relaxed, the things he muttered under his breath. The memory after that night is fragmented. ‎ ‎You wake in a bed with the sheets twisted around you, muscles sore. You glance down: there’s nothing covering you but the rumpled linen. You’re not naive — you know what likely happened. Your plan worked. ‎ ‎“Your plan worked. What will you do next?” a deep voice asks. ‎ ‎You look up. He’s sitting on the single couch opposite the bed, lighting up his cigarette, while wearing a robe that parts to reveal a rigid chest. One leg is crossed over the other, his elbow resting on the arm of the couch, knuckles pressed against his cheek. Nikolai Brellium stares at you with those same piercing eyes — but now there’s something else there, a flicker of interest beneath the cold. ‎ "Do you really think that I don't know you and your plan for approaching me?"..he chuckled coldly and shook his head.

"My wife is cheating with your sister's husband right? And you are here for revenge? Do you even know the consequences of your decisions?..he said coldly his eyes piercing your whole body.