The Devil's Kiss
Description
Sophia Evans grew up with Liam Devereux-her brother's best friend, the boy she always loved. He was her protector, the one person who made her feel safe when the world was cruel. They shared a bond that seemed unbreakable, until one fateful day when Liam made a promise to her: he would return after college, and they would be together. But when the time came, Liam vanished without a trace, breaking her heart and leaving her in despair. Years later, Sophia finds herself in the Hamptons, facing the unimaginable: her brother is in a coma, and she has nowhere to turn. Desperate, she knows only one person can help-Liam. Now a ruthless, feared billionaire, he's no longer the same boy she once loved. His cold, calculating demeanor is a far cry from the man he once was. With no other options, Sophia swallows her pride and approaches Liam, hoping for mercy. But Liam isn't interested in old promises or old feelings. He offers her a deal-his help, but in exchange for something far more personal: a kiss, one that seals a contract of obligation. She will repay him with her body, and Liam will collect his payment when the time comes. Caught between desperation and desire, Sophia is forced to make the hardest choice of her life. As their past resurfaces and sparks of their old connection reignite, Sophia must confront the dangerous power Liam holds over her. But can she survive the consequences of the dark deal she has made, and can love truly thrive in a world so tainted by power and betrayal?
Chapter 1
May 6, 2025
Sophie Evans
He was the first person I saw on the billboard the moment I arrived in New York. Liam Devereux.
The sight of his chiseled face, those piercing blue eyes that once used to watch over me like a silent guardian, sent a jolt of emotions crashing through me.
I thought I had buried every memory of him, but seeing his larger-than-life image on the towering screens of Times Square proved me wrong.
The taxi moved swiftly through the city streets, the neon lights casting a kaleidoscope of colors on the windshield. I barely noticed the blur of yellow cabs, honking horns, and the sea of pedestrians.
My mind had already transported me to the past, to a time when Liam Devereux was just a boy with a devilish smile and a heart I thought belonged to me.
Liam had been my everything in college. He had protected me from the bullies who thought my shy demeanor made me an easy target.
He had walked me to my dorm at night, shared his deepest thoughts with me under the stars, and made me feel like the most important girl in the world. I thought we shared an unbreakable bond, a connection so strong that nothing could sever it.
But I was wrong.
Just when I thought he was finally going to ask me to be his girlfriend, he disappeared without a trace.
No calls, no messages, nothing. It was as if he had never existed. The pain of that betrayal had driven me away from New York. I had packed my bags and fled to London for university, swearing never to set foot in this city again.
Yet, here I was, back in the place I had sworn to forget.
And the first thing I saw was him.
I shook my head, forcing myself to focus on the reason I had returned, Lucas. My brother.
The taxi pulled up in front of the hospital, its red-and-white neon sign glowing ominously against the dark sky.
A lump formed in my throat as I paid the driver and stepped out. The sterile scent of antiseptic filled the air, mingling with the faint aroma of rain from the earlier drizzle.
With slightly trembling fingers, I dialed the number that had called me that morning, the one that had shattered my world with the news that Lucas had been admitted here.
The line connected after a few rings.
"Hello?" The woman's voice answered, sounding tired and strained.
"I'm Sophie Evans," I said quickly, my voice shaking more than I wanted it to. "I just arrived at the hospital. Where should I go?"
There was a brief pause before she responded. "Come inside. I'll meet you at the entrance."
I took a deep breath and stepped through the automatic glass doors. The bright lights inside made my already throbbing headache worse. My eyes scanned the lobby, and then I saw her.
A woman, probably in her early twenties, stood near the reception, clutching her phone tightly. She had a petite frame, long wavy brown hair, and a pale face marked with worry. The moment she spotted me, her lips trembled, and she quickly hung up the call.
She walked toward me hesitantly, then, as if unable to stop herself, she wrapped her arms around me. The warmth of her embrace caught me off guard.
When she pulled away, I noticed the lone tear that had slipped down her cheek.
"I'm Benita," she said softly.
Benita. The name sounded familiar, but I couldn't recall ever hearing Lucas mention a girlfriend. He had always been so private about his personal life.
I nodded, trying to mask my surprise. "You're... his girlfriend?"
She swallowed hard, as if the words were difficult to say. "Yes."
For a brief moment, I studied her face, searching for any signs of dishonesty, but all I saw was raw pain.
She reached for my hand, squeezing it gently. "Come with me."
I let her lead me down a long, dimly lit corridor. The walls were painted in muted shades of blue, and the faint beeping of monitors echoed in the distance.
I tightened my grip on my bag. My heart pounded with each step we took.
"Benita," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper. "What happened to my brother?"
She stopped walking and turned to face me. Her brown eyes glistened under the fluorescent lights.
"There was an accident," she said, her voice breaking. "Lucas was driving home late when his car lost control. It crashed into a divider and flipped multiple times before it came to a stop. The paramedics found him unconscious. He's been in a coma ever since."
I felt the world tilt beneath my feet.
"A coma?" My voice came out strangled.
Benita nodded, her hands trembling as she wiped away a fresh tear. "The doctors said he's stable, but there's no telling when, or if, he’ll wake up."
I stood frozen, unable to process the words.
Lucas. My only brother. The boy who used to chase fireflies with me in our backyard. The one who called me his "second mom" because I always took care of him when we were younger. The same Lucas who had promised to visit me in London last summer but never made it.
And now, he was lying in a hospital bed, unresponsive.
The weight of the news hit me all at once, knocking the breath from my lungs.
"No," I whispered, shaking my head. "No, no, no…"
Benita reached for my hand again, but I barely felt it. My ears were ringing. My vision blurred.
This couldn’t be real.
This had to be a nightmare.
And yet, the cold, sterile walls of the hospital, the dim flickering lights above, and the scent of antiseptic all told me otherwise.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out. A sharp, suffocating pain clenched my chest.
Then, suddenly, I heard a voice from behind.
"Miss Evans?"
I turned sharply to see a doctor approaching, dressed in blue scrubs with a clipboard in hand. He had tired eyes, the kind that had seen too many sleepless nights and too much pain.
"Are you Lucas’s sister?" he asked.
I nodded quickly, my throat too dry to form words.
He sighed, glancing at the chart in his hands. "Your brother’s condition is critical. We've done everything we can to stabilize him, but his brain activity is low. We need to be prepared for all possibilities."
The words made my knees buckle.
Benita gasped softly beside me, covering her mouth with her hands.
I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. "What... what are you saying? Are you telling me there's a chance he won’t wake up?"
The doctor hesitated, then said. “His injuries are severe. His organs have taken a significant hit. We’ve determined that he needs an urgent transplant.”
My breath caught in my throat.
“A transplant?" I choked out, my voice rising in pitch.
The doctor met my eyes with a grim expression. "Yes. Without it, he won’t survive."
The words slammed into me like a freight train. My vision spun, and a wave of dizziness washed over me.
I let out a strangled cry, the sound echoing down the empty corridor.
The Devil's Kiss
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