CHAPTER ONE: GILDED CAGE
Hello everyone! I hope you enjoy reading this story. This is my first time making this, so, maybe, a lot of modifications will apply here. Please bear with me guys 🙏 Thank you 🥹
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the photos used here. All credits go to the rightful owners.
Let me introduce you to the characters
MAIN CHARACTERS
Killian Hart
Age: 28
A cold, powerful billionaire CEO known for his ruthless business tactics and intimidating silence. He has no interest in love, but everything changes when a broken girl literally falls into his world. Behind his icy demeanor is a man capable of deep affection, protectiveness, and obsession—for the right person.
Serena Vale
Age: 25
A quiet but strong-willed woman with a hidden fire in her heart. Abandoned at a young age and adopted into the cruel Vale family, Serena grew up enduring emotional and physical abuse. Despite her suffering, she remains resilient and secretly dreams of freedom. She’s intelligent, observant, and more powerful than she knows—waiting for her moment to break free.
Supporting Characters
Nathan Vale
Serena’s adoptive father. An ambitious, emotionless man who only adopted Serena to appear charitable and maintain social status. He allows Olivia to discipline her as she pleases and treats Serena like a disposable object.
Olivia Vale
Serena’s cruel and manipulative adoptive mother. Obsessive about appearances and social standing, she physically abuses Serena under the guise of “discipline” and takes pleasure in controlling her life. Olivia sees Serena as inferior and a threat to her own daughter's status.
Hana Vale
The eldest of the Vale daughters. Beautiful and sharp-tongued, she mirrors Olivia’s cruelty and loves to humiliate Serena. She's spoiled and bitterly jealous of Serena’s natural grace, even though Serena lives like a prisoner.
Jane Vale
The second daughter. Quiet, calculating, and passive-aggressive. She rarely defends Serena but enjoys watching her suffer. She hides her malice behind a polite smile and subtle jabs.
Keith Lancaster
Killian Hart’s loyal right-hand man and chief of security. Stoic, alert, and sharp, Keith keeps Killian’s world in order. He becomes one of Serena’s early allies once she enters Killian’s life, silently protecting her when danger arises.
The chandelier glittered above them, casting golden halos over guests who wore diamonds like skin and drank vintage wine like water. Laughter and classical music danced in the air, but behind the double doors of the Vale estate, there was no warmth. Only perfection. And pain.
Serena Vale stood quietly in the corner of the grand staircase, her eyes hollow but her back straight, like a well-trained puppet. The red marks on her wrist were barely hidden by her lace gloves, and the bruise on her shoulder throbbed beneath the gown Olivia Vale insisted she wear—tight, suffocating, and too low.
Olivia Vale
You look decent enough
Her adoptive mother whispered earlier that evening as she clipped a sapphire necklace around her neck—too tightly, as always.
Olivia Vale
Try not to embarrass us tonight.
Serena had replied, voice barely above a breath.
Hana Vale floated past in a sleek black gown, her smirk sharp.
Hana Vale
Maybe if you smile a little, people won't think you're the help.
Jane followed, barely glancing at Serena.
Jane Vale
Don’t trip like last time.
And Nathan Vale? He simply nodded in her direction from across the room. Like she was a vase. Fragile. Decorative. Replaceable.
But tonight… was different.
Tonight, her heart beat louder than the violins. Tonight, her fingers trembled not from fear—but resolve.
She had found the spare key in Olivia’s drawer two weeks ago. She had mapped the hallway routes at night. She had learned the blind spots of the estate cameras. And she knew that if she didn’t leave now… she might never get another chance.
A sharp bell rang to signal dinner. Guests began making their way into the ballroom. Serena slipped away.
She ran barefoot down the side corridor, clutching the hem of her dress, her pulse wild in her ears. The chill of the early spring wind met her skin as she pushed through the servant door that led to the balcony.
No harness. No help. Just hope.
She climbed over the ledge, her breaths shallow. One second.
Pain. Searing pain. Her ribs screamed. Her leg twisted unnaturally. She gasped, her cheek pressing against the grass.
A voice. Deep. Steady. Cold.
She blinked through the tears, vision blurring—until a tall figure crouched beside her, sharp-jawed and silver-eyed. Killian Hart.
His black suit was unbuttoned, sleeves rolled, and a book sat forgotten on the garden bench behind him. He had come here to escape society’s noise. Not to find a girl half-conscious, bleeding into his peace.
But something in her eyes froze him in place.
She tried to push herself up. Failed.
Serena Vale
Please… don’t bring me back inside. Please…
He didn’t speak. Just stared.
And then, in a voice as smooth as ice, he asked
Killian Hart
Are you running from them?
She nodded, lips trembling.
Serena Vale
They’ll kill me… if I go back.
He looked at her for a long moment, then pulled off his coat and wrapped it around her trembling form. Without asking, he lifted her into his arms.
Killian Hart
Stay with me instead.
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