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Damien Vale is a predator in a world of the privileged and powerful. At Ravenwood Academy, where wealth and influence dictate survival, he is king-a cruel, untouchable force no one dares defy. Until Ivy Monroe. She's the new girl, a scholarship student who doesn't belong in his world. She should've stayed invisible, but she made the mistake of looking him in the eye-of standing up to him when no one else would. And Damien doesn't take defiance lightly. He makes her his target. A game. A fixation. But the more he tries to break her, the more he becomes obsessed. No one else can touch her. No one else can hurt her. Only him. Ivy hates him and fears him, but she also sees through him-to the darkness beneath his mask of control. She knows there's something broken inside him, something dangerous. And even though she swears she'll never fall for him, she can't escape him. Because Damien isn't just a bully. He's her shadow, her captor, her inevitable downfall. And in his twisted mind, she belongs to him.
Ivy Monroe never belonged in a place like this.
The wrought-iron gates of Ravenwood Academy loomed ahead, towering over her as if daring her to turn back. They curled into intricate patterns of thorns and vines, their iron edges sharp as if meant to keep intruders out perhaps, to keep something else in. Beyond them, an estate of dark stone and whispered secrets stretched across the mist-covered hills, its spires stabbing into the gray sky. The very air here felt different, thick with something unspoken, something that coiled around Ivy's ribs the moment she stepped forward.
Her hands clenched around the strap of her duffel bag, knuckles whitening. This was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to outrun the shadows of her past. The scholarship had been a miracle, a golden ticket into the world of the elite. She had studied harder than anyone and fought tooth and nail to earn this. But standing here now, in the presence of something so vast, so utterly foreign, she felt like an insect crawling into the den of lions.
A black town car purred past her, the tinted windows concealing the occupants within. It came to a smooth stop near the grand entrance, where a set of marble steps led up to massive double doors carved with the academy's crest. A moment later, a student emerged-a girl with cascading blond hair, draped in designer perfection, her polished boots clicking against the stone as she stepped onto the pavement.
Ivy barely had time to take in her surroundings before another car followed, then another, each more expensive than the last. The students who exited were pristine, poised, and utterly untouchable. Dressed in tailored uniforms with an air of effortless wealth, they belonged here. She did not.
The weight of their gazes found her instantly, raking over her like she was something unfortunate that had drifted in on the wind. The whispering started almost immediately.
"Who's that?"
"She doesn't belong here."
"Scholarship girl. You can tell."
Ivy squared her shoulders, forcing herself to keep walking. She had spent a lifetime learning how to ignore the whispers, how to pretend she didn't hear the ridicule, didn't feel the eyes that tracked her like she was an anomaly in their perfect world.
But then she felt something else. Not just the casual curiosity or disdain of passing students. This was different.
A presence.
Cold. Heavy. Watching.
Her gaze snapped up, and that's when she saw him.
Damien Vale sat lazily on the front steps, his long legs stretched out in front of him like he owned the very ground beneath them. There was something unsettlingly graceful about him, a quiet, self-assured confidence that made the others around him fade into the background. The breeze ruffled his dark hair as he exhaled a slow stream of smoke from between his lips, his cigarette dangling between elegant fingers. But it wasn't the smoke or the careless posture that made Ivy's breath catch-it was his eyes.
A slow drag up her body, appraising, before settling on her face. The intensity behind that gaze was enough to make her skin prickle. But it wasn't lust. It wasn't even curiosity.
It was something far more dangerous.
Interest.
Amusement.
A decision has already been made.
Ivy swallowed hard but refused to look away. She knew instinctively that showing weakness here, in front of someone like him, would be a mistake.
The silence stretched between them, an invisible wire pulled too tight. Then, slowly, Damien tilted his head, his lips curling at the corners in something that wasn't quite a smile. A flicker of challenge, of dark amusement, like he was daring her to speak first.
She didn't.
She forced herself to keep moving, walking past him as though he were no different from the others, as though his gaze hadn't just pressed against her like a warning.
Behind her, she swore she heard a chuckle.
The feeling of unease coiled tighter in her stomach, but she didn't let it show. Not yet.
The dormitory was a towering structure of old stone and ivy-covered walls, as intimidating as the rest of the academy. Inside, the air smelled of polished wood and expensive perfume.
Ivy found her room easily enough, a modest space compared to what she assumed the wealthier students had. A single bed, a desk, a closet-just enough. She dropped her duffel onto the mattress and let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.
She could do this.
She had to.
But the unease from earlier still lingered, settling deep into her bones.
A knock at her door made her jump.
When she opened it, she was met with a striking girl with dark auburn hair, her uniform crisp but her posture far too relaxed to belong to someone who cared about authority. She smirked.
"You're the scholarship girl, huh?"
Ivy hesitated before nodding.
"Name's Sloane," the girl said, leaning against the doorframe. "You're either really brave or really stupid for coming here."
Ivy frowned. "And why's that?"
Sloane's smirk deepened, but there was something almost pitying in her eyes. "Because you've already caught the attention of the wrong person."
Ivy's pulse stuttered. She didn't have to ask who she meant.
Damien Vale.
The first day of classes was uneventful, except for the stares. No one tried to speak to her beyond the occasional sneer or whispered remark.
That was fine. She had expected this. She could survive this.
What she hadn't expected was the note.
It was waiting for her in her locker, a small folded slip of paper tucked between her books. The handwriting was elegant and slanted.
You should have looked away.
No signature. No need for one.
Her fingers tightened around the paper, her pulse hammering in her ears. She should have ignored it, should have crumpled it and thrown it away.
Instead, she turned her head slightly, scanning the hall.
There, at the far end, leaning casually against the wall, was Damien.
He wasn't looking at her directly, but the smirk on his lips told her everything she needed to know.
This was a game to him.
And she had just been chosen as his next plaything.
Title: Bound by the Badge Premise: Mia Carter is a struggling waitress working late-night shifts at a small diner in a rough part of town. She keeps her head down, avoiding trouble, until one night, trouble walks right through the door-Detective Cole Lawson. Cole is the kind of cop people fear-ruthless, intense, and fiercely territorial. He doesn't play by the rules, and in his world, loyalty means everything. When he first meets Mia, she's just another face in the crowd-until she unknowingly witnesses something she shouldn't. Now, Mia is in danger, and Cole makes it his responsibility to keep her safe. But Cole's protection comes with a price. He doesn't just want to keep Mia alive-he wants to keep her, period. She belongs to him now, whether she likes it or not. And as much as Mia tries to fight his dominance, there's something about the way he looks at her-like she's the only thing in the world that matters-that makes it impossible to resist. When Mia's past catches up with her and enemies close in, she realizes that the only thing more dangerous than the criminals hunting her... is the possessive cop who refuses to let her go. "You're mine, Mia. No one touches you. No one looks at you. You run, I'll find you. You fight, I'll break you. But I will never let you go." Themes: Possessive love, protector/obsession dynamic, crime and suspense, forced proximity, slow-burn romance with intense chemistry.
Cancelled due to circumstances but i wrote it as another book also bound by the badge
In her previous life, Kimberly endured the betrayal of her husband, the cruel machinations of an evil woman, and the endless tyranny of her in-laws. It culminated in the bankruptcy of her family, and ultimately, her death. After being reborn, she resolved to seek retribution against those who had wronged her, and ensure her family's prosperity. To her shock, the most unattainable man from her past suddenly set his sights on her. "You may have overlooked me before, but I shall capture your heart this time around."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
After three secretive years of marriage, Eliana never met her enigmatic husband until she was served with divorce papers and learned of his extravagant pursuit of another. She snapped back to reality and secured a divorce. Thereafter, Eliana unveiled her various personas: an esteemed doctor, legendary secret agent, master hacker, celebrated designer, adept race car driver, and distinguished scientist. As her diverse talents became known, her ex-husband was consumed by remorse. Desperately, he pleaded, "Eliana, give me another chance! All my properties, even my life, are yours."
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
For two years, Ashton had poured his heart into his marriage, yet Emalee's heart remained cold. Despite his dedication, Emalee presented him with divorce papers. She bluntly stated she could not remain married to a man whose net worth was less than a million dollars. Ashton signed the papers, closing one chapter of his life and stepping into a new beginning. Then, Ashton revealed his secret identities: a music mogul, a medical expert, and a martial arts master—each persona impressive enough to stun the world. As Ashton’s true capabilities came to light, Emalee was overwhelmed with deep regret.