The rain hammered against the bulletproof windows of the Wei mansion like a thousand tiny fists. Shards of crystal chandelier glittered across the black marble floor, catching the dim light from the wall sconces and turning the opulent living room into a field of broken stars. Six men in tailored black suits stood motionless along the walls, their faces blank, their hands resting on the concealed holsters at their hips. They were not Wei family bodyguards. They belonged to Liam Qiu.
Zane Wei knelt on the cold floor, his once-perfectly styled hair matted with sweat, his expensive Armani suit crumpled beyond repair. He clutched the phone to his ear so tightly his knuckles turned white, his voice trembling so violently the words barely came out.
"Please... Mr. Qiu... I beg you... give us one more week... we'll have the money, I swear—"
The voice on the other end of the line cut him off. It was low, cold, and utterly devoid of emotion, like ice scraping against stone. Even through the phone, it sent a shiver down every spine in the room.
"Twenty-four hours. Either you bring me what I want, or I'll have every member of the Wei family dragged to the bottom of the ocean. Starting with your precious little sister."
The line went dead.
Zane dropped the phone. It skittered across the marble floor, coming to rest against a pair of bare, pale feet.
He looked up.
Standing in the shadow of the grand staircase was Katherine Wei.
She wore a faded white cotton dress that hung loose on her thin frame, the hem frayed at the edges. Her long black hair fell in a curtain around her face, hiding her features. Her eyes were downcast, her hands clasped loosely in front of her. She looked like a ghost, pale and fragile, as if a strong wind could blow her away.
But anyone who knew her would have seen the stillness in her posture, the way her muscles were coiled like a spring, ready to strike at any moment. Anyone who knew her would have known that the blind, helpless girl everyone saw was nothing more than a mask.
Zane scrambled to his feet. He crossed the room in three long strides, dropping to his knees in front of her. He grabbed her hands, his fingers digging into her skin so hard it would leave bruises.
"Katherine... baby... you have to help me." His voice was thick with tears, his eyes red and swollen. "You're the only one who can save us. The only one who can save me."
Katherine said nothing. She just stood there, her head tilted slightly to the side, as if listening to the sound of the rain.
Three years ago, she had been the most feared assassin in the world. Code name: Black Phoenix. She had killed twenty-seven people, all of them powerful men who thought they were untouchable. She had never missed a target. Until Liam Qiu.
Three years ago, she had snuck into his penthouse, a knife hidden in her hair, ready to drive it into his heart. But he had been waiting for her. They had fought, and for the first time in her life, she had lost. He had shot her in the shoulder, the bullet tearing through her flesh and leaving a permanent scar. She had barely escaped with her life.
And then Zane had found her.
He had taken her to a private hospital, paid for her treatment, and told her that the organization she had worked for was dead. That everyone she had ever known was gone. That he was the only one who cared about her.
And then he had staged the car accident.
He had told the world that Katherine Wei had been in a terrible crash, that she had suffered severe brain damage and lost her sight. He had locked her away in this mansion, keeping her prisoner, telling her that she was useless now, that she needed him to take care of her.
She had let him believe it.
Because it was easier to be the blind, helpless Katherine Wei than to be the Black Phoenix, alone and hunted. Because for the first time in her life, someone had pretended to care about her.
But she had always known the truth.
Zane didn't love her. He owned her.
And now, he was going to sell her to the devil to save himself.
"He wants you, Katherine." Zane's voice was desperate, his breath hot against her skin. "Liam Qiu wants you. He saw your picture at the charity gala last month, and he said he'll forgive all our debts if you marry him. Just for one year. One year, and then we'll be free. We can go anywhere we want. Paris. Rome. Anywhere. Just the two of us."
He leaned in, pressing his forehead against hers. His eyes were wild with obsession, the same look he had given her every day since the accident.
"You're mine, Katherine. Always mine. This is just temporary. I'll come for you. I promise. As soon as this is over, I'll come and get you, and we'll never be apart again."
Katherine finally spoke. Her voice was soft, almost whisper-quiet, but it cut through the silence like a knife.
"Does he know I'm blind?"
Zane flinched. He pulled back, forcing a smile.
"Of course not. I told him you're just shy. That you don't like to be around people. He doesn't care. He just wants a pretty wife to show off. You'll be fine. Just do what he says. Don't make him angry. And don't tell him anything about us. Okay?"
He didn't wait for her answer. He stood up, snapping his fingers at the maid who was hovering in the doorway.
"Get her ready. The plane leaves in an hour."
The maid led Katherine up the grand staircase to her bedroom. It was a large, beautiful room, with a four-poster bed and a balcony overlooking the garden. But it had always felt like a prison to her.
The maid helped her out of her cotton dress and into a silk nightgown the color of midnight. It was made of the finest Italian silk, so soft it felt like water against her skin. She brushed Katherine's hair, braiding it into a single plait down her back. She slipped a diamond necklace around her neck, the cold stones pressing against her throat.
Katherine stared at her reflection in the floor-to-ceiling mirror.
The girl looking back at her was a stranger.
She had high cheekbones and full lips, skin as pale as porcelain. Her eyes were large and dark, framed by long, thick lashes. But there was no light in them. No life. They were empty, like the eyes of a doll.
She reached up, touching the scar on her shoulder through the silk. It was still there, a thin, white line, a reminder of everything she had lost.
A reminder of Liam Qiu.
The maid led her back downstairs. Zane was waiting by the door, holding a black leather suitcase. He took her hand, lacing his fingers through hers.
"Remember what I said," he whispered. "One year. I'll come for you."
He kissed her forehead, his lips cold against her skin. Then he handed her over to the two men in black suits.
They led her out of the mansion and into a waiting black limousine. The doors closed with a soft thud, sealing her inside. She didn't look back.
The limousine drove through the rain-slicked streets to the private airport. A black private jet was waiting on the tarmac, its engines humming softly. The men led her up the steps and into the cabin.
The interior of the jet was like a five-star hotel suite. There were leather sofas, a marble bar, and a bedroom in the back. Everything was black and white, sleek and modern, with no personal touches anywhere. It felt cold and impersonal, just like its owner.
Two flight attendants were waiting for her. They were beautiful, with perfect hair and makeup, but their eyes were filled with fear. They didn't speak to her. They just gestured for her to sit down on one of the sofas.
Katherine sat down. She crossed her legs, folding her hands in her lap. She closed her eyes, pretending to rest. But her ears were open, listening to every sound.
The jet took off, climbing into the stormy sky. The flight attendants retreated to the galley, their voices low as they whispered to each other. Katherine could hear every word.
"Did you see her? She's so young. And so beautiful."
"Poor thing. She has no idea what she's getting into."
"No one survives a year with Liam Qiu. The last one jumped off the balcony of his penthouse six months ago."
"I heard he keeps a torture chamber in the basement of his island. He likes to watch people suffer."
"Three years ago, a woman tried to kill him. She stabbed him in the chest, right through the heart. But he didn't die. He killed her entire family, and then he spent the next three years hunting down everyone who had ever worked with her. No one knows what happened to her body."
Katherine's fingers tightened around the edge of the sofa. Her heart was beating fast, but her face remained calm.
She knew exactly what happened to the woman who tried to kill Liam Qiu.
She was sitting right here.
The flight lasted three hours. When the jet finally landed, the sun was beginning to set. The sky was a brilliant shade of orange and pink, casting a warm glow over the private island below.
But there was nothing warm about this place.
The island was surrounded by jagged rocks and crashing waves. There were no beaches, no palm trees, no signs of life except for the massive black mansion that sat on top of the cliff. It looked like a fortress, with high walls and iron gates, and guards patrolling every corner.
The men led her off the jet and into a waiting black SUV. They drove up the winding road to the mansion. The iron gates swung open slowly, creaking loudly in the wind. As they passed through, Katherine heard the gates slam shut behind them.
It sounded like a coffin closing.
The SUV pulled up in front of the mansion. A man was waiting for her on the steps. He was middle-aged, with gray hair and a stern face. He was wearing a black suit, and his hands were clasped behind his back.
"Miss Wei," he said, his voice flat and emotionless. "My name is Stevens. I am Mr. Qiu's butler. Follow me. He is waiting for you in his study."
Katherine got out of the SUV. She stood there for a moment, looking up at the mansion. It was even bigger up close, towering over her like a giant. The windows were dark, like empty eye sockets. She could feel eyes on her, watching her from every corner.
Stevens turned and walked into the mansion. Katherine followed him, her bare feet sinking into the thick black carpet. The hallway was long and dark, lined with oil paintings of men in suits. All of them had the same cold, calculating eyes as Liam Qiu.
They walked up a grand marble staircase and down another hallway. Finally, Stevens stopped in front of a pair of massive oak doors. He knocked once, softly.
"Come in."
The voice was the same one she had heard on the phone. Low, cold, and utterly terrifying.
Stevens opened the doors and stepped aside. "Go in."
Katherine took a deep breath. She stepped into the study.
The room was enormous. The walls were lined with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, filled with thousands of leather-bound books. A massive black walnut desk sat in the middle of the room, with a single leather chair behind it. The floor was covered with a black Persian rug, so thick it muffled her footsteps.
The entire back wall was made of glass, looking out over the ocean. The sun was setting, painting the water in shades of red and gold. The waves crashed against the rocks below, sending up sprays of white foam.
And standing in front of the window, looking out at the ocean, was Liam Qiu.
He was even more beautiful than she remembered.
He was tall, at least six feet three inches, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. He was wearing a black tailored suit that fit him perfectly, showing off every muscle in his body. His hair was dark brown, slightly messy, as if he had run his fingers through it. His jaw was sharp, his nose straight, his lips thin and pale.
But it was his eyes that had always haunted her.
They were a deep, brilliant blue, like the ocean at midnight. Cold, empty, and utterly ruthless. They were the eyes of a man who had killed hundreds of people and never felt a single ounce of remorse.
He was holding a glass of whiskey in his hand, swirling the amber liquid around slowly. He didn't turn around when she entered. He just stood there, looking out at the ocean, as if she didn't exist.
Katherine stood still, waiting. She kept her head down, her eyes on the floor, playing the part of the blind, frightened girl.
The seconds ticked by. The only sounds in the room were the crashing of the waves and the ticking of a grandfather clock in the corner.
Finally, he spoke.
"Close the door."
His voice was even colder in person. It sent a shiver down her spine.
Katherine turned around, fumbling with the door handle. She pretended to have trouble finding it, her hands shaking. Finally, she managed to close the door. The click of the latch echoed through the silent room.
"Come here."
She turned back around. She took a few tentative steps forward, her feet dragging slightly on the carpet. She stumbled over the edge of a rug, catching herself on the edge of the desk.
Liam finally turned around.
He leaned against the windowsill, crossing his arms over his chest. He watched her, his eyes scanning her from head to toe, like a predator studying its prey. His gaze was so intense it felt like he was stripping her naked, seeing right through her mask to the killer underneath.
Katherine's heart was pounding so hard she could hear it in her ears. But she didn't move. She just stood there, her head down, her shoulders hunched, looking as small and helpless as possible.
Liam pushed off the windowsill. He walked towards her slowly, his footsteps silent on the carpet. He stopped in front of her, so close she could smell him. He smelled like whiskey and cedar, and something else. Something metallic.
Blood.
He reached out. His fingers brushed against her cheek, so cold it made her flinch. He tilted her head up, forcing her to look at him.
His eyes were only inches from hers. She could see the flecks of gold in the blue, the dark circles under his eyes from lack of sleep. She could see the scar on his left eyebrow, the one she had given him three years ago.
"Katherine Wei," he said, his voice low. "Twenty-two years old. Orphaned at the age of ten. Adopted by the Wei family when you were twelve. Three years ago, you were in a car accident. You suffered severe head trauma and lost your sight. Is that correct?"
Katherine nodded. Her lips trembled. "Y-yes, sir."
Her voice was soft and shaky, exactly the way a blind, frightened girl's voice should be.
Liam's thumb brushed against her lower lip. His touch was rough, possessive.
"You're very beautiful," he said. "Even with those empty eyes."
He leaned in closer. His breath was hot against her ear.
"But I don't believe you."
Katherine's blood ran cold.
For a split second, she froze. Her hand twitched, reaching for the knife she always kept hidden in her hair. But she stopped herself. She forced herself to look confused, tilting her head to the side.
"I... I don't understand, sir."
Liam pulled back. He looked at her, his eyes cold and calculating.
"Everyone in the Wei family is a liar. A thief. A coward. And you, Katherine Wei, are the biggest liar of them all."
He turned and walked back to the desk. He picked up a file folder and tossed it on the desk in front of her.
"Open it."
Katherine reached out, fumbling with the folder. She opened it, pretending to run her fingers over the papers inside. There were photographs of her, hundreds of them. Photographs of her as a child, growing up in the orphanage. Photographs of her training with the organization. Photographs of her killing people.
And there, on the top page, was a photograph of her from three years ago. She was wearing black leather, a knife in her hand, her eyes cold and deadly.
The Black Phoenix.
Katherine's fingers tightened around the edge of the folder. Her face remained blank.
"I... I can't see, sir," she said softly. "I don't know what's in here."
Liam laughed. It was a cold, harsh sound, with no humor in it.
"Of course you can't."
He walked back to her. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black leather collar. It was thin, with a small silver buckle. Engraved on the front were two words:
LIAM'S PROPERTY
He held it out to her.
"Put it on."
Katherine stared at the collar. Her hands were shaking.
"W-what is this?"
"It's your new identity," Liam said. "From this moment on, you are no longer Katherine Wei. You are mine. My property. My pet. I own every part of you. Your body. Your mind. Your soul."
He leaned in, his lips brushing against her ear.
"And if you ever try to run from me, or lie to me, or disobey me in any way, this collar will release ten thousand volts of electricity into your body. It won't kill you. But it will hurt. More than anything you have ever felt in your life."
He stepped back.
"Put it on. Now."
Katherine slowly reached out. She took the collar from his hand. It was cold and heavy, like a chain. She ran her fingers over the engraved words, her nails digging into the leather.
She looked up at him. Her eyes were filled with tears.
"Please... don't make me do this."
Liam's face didn't change.
"Put it on, or I'll have Stevens bring Zane here. And I'll kill him right in front of you. Slowly. Painfully."
Katherine closed her eyes. A single tear rolled down her cheek.
She raised the collar to her neck. She wrapped it around her throat, fumbling with the buckle. Finally, she clicked it into place.
It fit perfectly.
Liam smiled. It was a cruel, cold smile, that didn't reach his eyes.
"Good girl."
He reached out, running his fingers over the collar. His touch was possessive, claiming.
"Now, sign this."
He tossed a pen and a stack of papers in front of her.
"It's a marriage contract. For one year. You will be my wife. You will live with me on this island. You will do everything I tell you to do. You will never leave my sight. And in return, I will forgive all of the Wei family's debts. I will even give them ten million dollars. Enough to live comfortably for the rest of their lives."
He leaned against the desk, crossing his arms over his chest.
"But if you break any of the rules, the deal is off. I will take back the money. I will destroy the Wei family. And I will keep you here forever. As my pet."
Katherine picked up the pen. She ran her fingers over the paper, pretending to find the signature line. She signed her name in neat, looping letters.
Liam picked up the contract. He looked at her signature, then looked up at her.
"Very good."
He folded the contract and put it in his desk drawer. He locked it, putting the key in his pocket.
"Stevens will show you to your room. You will stay there until I come for you. Dinner will be served at eight. Don't be late."
He turned and walked back to the window. He picked up his glass of whiskey, staring out at the ocean again.
"You may go."
Katherine turned around. She walked slowly towards the door. Her hand was on the handle when he spoke again.
"Oh, and Katherine?"
She stopped. She didn't turn around.
"If I ever find out that you're not really blind..."
He paused. His voice was so low she could barely hear it.
"I will make you wish you had never been born."
Katherine opened the door. She stepped out into the hallway. The door closed behind her with a soft thud.
She leaned against the wall, closing her eyes. Her heart was pounding so hard she thought it would burst out of her chest. Her hands were shaking so badly she could barely stand.
She had done it. She had fooled him.
For now.
Stevens was waiting for her at the end of the hallway. He led her down another corridor to a large bedroom. It was beautiful, with a king-size bed and a balcony overlooking the ocean. But it was just another prison.
"Your clothes are in the closet," Stevens said. "Dinner will be served in the dining room at eight. I will come to get you at seven forty-five."
He turned and left, closing the door behind him.
Katherine walked over to the bed. She sat down, burying her face in her hands.
She was trapped.
Trapped on an island with the man she had tried to kill. Trapped in a marriage contract. Trapped wearing a collar that could kill her at any moment.
And Zane was out there, waiting for her to finish the job.
She reached up, touching the scar on her shoulder. Then she touched the collar around her neck.
She had one year.
One year to kill Liam Qiu.
Or die trying.
There was a soft knock on the door.
Katherine looked up. Her hand went to the knife hidden in her hair.
"Who is it?"
There was no answer.
The door handle turned slowly.
The door creaked open.
Liam Qiu stood in the doorway, leaning against the frame. He was holding a glass of whiskey in his hand, his eyes dark and hungry.
He smiled.
"Change of plans," he said. "You're not sleeping in here tonight."
He pushed off the doorframe, walking slowly towards her.
"You're sleeping with me."