I am a viper. I’ve been with Pierce Sterling for three years, and I’ve tried to assassinate him eight times. My latest attempt failed again. He didn’t see my face in the dark, but in the struggle, his grip left a bruising handprint on my waist. That very night, Pierce locked down the entire estate. He began hunting for anyone with a bruise on their body. Desperate, I turned my sights on his illegitimate, simple-minded son. Julian Sterling stared down at the fresh bruise I had just pinched onto his waist, his eyes wide with confusion. "Eva, what is this?" I looked him dead in the eye and lied through my teeth. "That’s a Soulmate Mark. It proves that the love of your life has finally appeared by your side." 1 When the estate bodyguards knocked on my door, I answered wearing nothing but a lace nightgown. I rubbed my sleepy eyes and leaned deliberately close to the lead guard. Staring at his flushing face, I dropped my voice to a husky whisper. "You absolutely cannot let the person who hurt Mr. Sterling get away. You need to search thoroughly, big guy." I blinked slowly, tugging at the strap of my nightgown. "Do you want to come into my bedroom and do a... deep inspection?" The bodyguard turned as red as a tomato. He lowered his head, terrified to look at me, and stammered, "Everyone knows Miss Eva’s devotion to the Boss. The culprit could be anyone, but certainly not you." "Rest well, Miss Eva. We’ll keep looking." He bolted like a rabbit, terrified I’d say something else to compromise him. Watching them retreat, the heart that had been hammering in my throat finally settled. The mark Pierce left on my waist was burning, already turning a deep, ugly purple. I’ve been Pierce’s mistress for three years, and I dream of killing him every single night. But Pierce is sharp, paranoid, and violently fast. I’ve never succeeded. Tonight, however, the usually cautious man was drunk. He was swaying as he walked. While he went downstairs to grab something, I crept behind him and kicked him squarely in the back. Pierce’s head cracked against the stairs, blood gushing instantly. But I underestimated him. A split second before impact, he sensed something. Unable to dodge, he grabbed me. We tumbled down the stairs together. He cushioned my fall, unintentionally, but his grip on my waist was iron-tight. I scrambled away in the dark before he could focus his eyes. Before they loaded him into the ambulance, I heard him bark an order to his head of security: "Lock down the estate. The attacker is hurt. Find whoever has a bruise on them before sunrise!" My heart pounding, I hid back upstairs. I forced myself to breathe. That’s when I saw him—Pierce’s cheap, unwanted stepson, Julian, wandering out of his room looking for a midnight snack. 2 When two bodyguards knocked on Julian’s door, my heart was in my throat. Julian was the result of an affair Pierce’s father—the Old Man—had years ago. The Old Man was too embarrassed to acknowledge the scandal but couldn't bear to leave his flesh and blood on the streets. So, he brought Julian back and forced Pierce to raise him, claiming to the public that Julian was Pierce's son. Despite sharing blood, Julian and Pierce were nothing alike, except for their handsome faces. Pierce was ruthless, a predator who would do anything to get what he wanted. Compared to him, Julian was a fool. A gentle, naive idiot who apologized to dry leaves when he stepped on them and prayed for the cow’s soul while cutting his steak. To save myself, I had pinched a bruise onto Julian’s waist in the exact same spot as mine. Julian was obedient. I told him to close his eyes, and he did. When I was done, he looked at the mark on his skin and blinked his innocent, doe-like eyes at me. "Eva, what is this?" I kept a straight face and spouted nonsense. "I don't know." Julian immediately grabbed his phone. "I'll ask Dad. He knows everything." I snatched the phone away, feigning a sudden realization. "Oh! I remember now. That’s a Soulmate Mark. It’s a mystical sign. It means your destined partner is right here, next to you." By the time I realized how ridiculous that sounded, it was too late to take it back. But that fool Julian didn't just believe it—he blushed. Better him than me, I told myself. I turned to go back to my room, but I couldn't help glancing at Julian’s door. The bodyguards knocked and called his name. From inside, Julian’s voice came after a long pause. "Get out." I froze. That was Julian’s voice, yes. But it lacked the usual softness. The room was pitch black, yet I felt a heavy, predatory gaze landing on me through the darkness, locking eyes with me from the shadows. 3 They didn't search Julian. My guilt vanished as quickly as the danger. I packed a bag and headed to the hospital, ready to weep by Pierce’s bedside and play the devoted lover. Pierce was awake, leaning against the headboard, looking pale and dangerous. I had a script full of tearful worries prepared. But before I could speak, Pierce cut me off. "Lift your dress." My face stiffened. I stared at him blankly. The bodyguards had found three maids with bruises and twelve injured guards at the estate. I thought the witch hunt was over. I gripped the hem of my skirt, whispering, "We're in a hospital, Pierce." "So?" he asked. He stared at me, his eyes devoid of any emotion. I stopped acting shy. I leaned in and kissed the corner of his mouth. "So... I'm shy. I want the lights off if we’re going to play." 4 The room was plunged into darkness. Just as I began to relax, Pierce suddenly flicked on the bedside lamp. The harsh yellow light flooded over me. Pierce’s hand shot out, gripping my throat, forcing my head back. He scanned every inch of my body. His gaze was an open interrogation. Luckily, I had covered the bruise on my waist with heavy-duty theatrical foundation before I came. Under bright white hospital lights, it might have shown. But under the warm, yellow lamp? It was invisible. I pushed him away, pouting like a spoiled brat. "I ran all the way here to see you, willing to fool around in a hospital bed, and you’re suspecting me?" The suspicion in Pierce’s eyes faded, replaced by a faint, cold smile. He twirled a lock of my hair around his finger. "Eva, that perfume you wear... it’s unique. I can smell it from a mile away." It took every ounce of my willpower not to flinch. Pierce looked at me, his voice slow and deliberate. "The staff at the house are useless. They just do what they're told." "But if you think about it... the woman I blacklisted from the industry, the woman I saddled with millions in debt, the woman who should hate my guts... she has more motive than anyone, doesn't she?" He was smiling as he said it. I wanted to smile back. But I couldn't. I started as a small-time actress. I wasn't rich, but I was happy. I had a boyfriend. I was content. Then Pierce saw me. I rejected him, politely. I had a boyfriend. I had morals. He just smiled and said nothing. After that day, my life imploded. My honest, risk-averse parents suddenly started "investing" with the help of a "VIP." Within two months, they lost everything—house, land, savings—and owed millions. My brother’s boss sent him on a company trip abroad. He vanished. My acting career tanked. Blacklists, fake scandals, canceled contracts. I knew I was being targeted. My manager told me she could help. She introduced me to a "Big Shot" who could fix everything. I went to the dinner, and Pierce was waiting. My manager changed her face instantly. She locked the door from the outside. I didn't escape that hotel room that night. My boyfriend, Jace, realized something was wrong. He investigated. He found the truth. Then, Jace vanished. When I found him, he had "accidentally" fallen off a building. He was in the ICU, clinging to life, racking up massive bills. My parents’ loan sharks were calling. My brother’s kidnappers wanted a ransom. Jace needed surgery. That’s when Pierce appeared again. The Savior. He paid the debts. My brother came home. Jace got his surgery. But my father, unable to handle the shame of the debt, jumped into a river. My mother fell into a deep depression. My brother locked himself in his room for three years, terrified of strangers. Jace was left with permanent injuries, his dancing career over. And I? Because I owed Pierce money I could never repay, I became his property.
? Continue the story here ?? ? Download the "MotoNovel" app ? search for "386192", and watch the full series ✨! #MotoNovel