Episode 2 : The Game Begins

Zafira sat on the edge of the bed, her heart still racing from the realization that she had been sent back in time. Five years. Five whole years before Cypher Veyron would betray her. Before she would bleed out in that alley, abandoned by the man she had once loved.

She clenched her hands into fists, her nails biting into her palms.

This time, she wouldn’t be the naive fool who believed in love. This time, she would be the one in control.

But first, she needed to remember exactly where she was in this timeline.

Zafira stood, forcing her legs to steady beneath her as she walked toward the vanity mirror. Her reflection stared back—smooth skin, untouched by scars or pain, eyes wide with something between determination and fear.

She was in Cypher’s penthouse, that much was clear. The bedroom was spacious, decorated in cool grays and deep blues, luxurious yet strangely impersonal. It had once felt like home, but now it felt like a cage.

She took a deep breath and racked her brain. If this was five years before her death, then… this was the beginning.

The beginning of everything.

This was the time when she was first introduced to Cypher’s world. The time when she was still on the outside, unaware of the depths of the criminal empire she was about to become entangled in.

And today, if she remembered correctly, was the day Cypher would take her to meet his associates for the first time.

Which meant Kairo Valenciaga would be there.

Her stomach twisted at the thought of seeing him again. In her past life, she had ignored his warnings, dismissing him as nothing more than Cypher’s cold and ruthless right-hand man. But now, she understood the truth. He had tried to warn her. He had known all along that Cypher would betray her.

Would he recognize something was different about her? Would he sense that she wasn’t the same naive woman who had once trusted so blindly?

She shook her head. It didn’t matter. She had to act normal—at least until she figured out her next move.

Zafira stepped out of the bedroom and into the expansive open-concept living space. The smell of freshly brewed coffee lingered in the air, blending with the faint aroma of expensive cologne.

And there he was.

Cypher stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, dressed in an all-black suit, his presence commanding as ever. The morning light cast sharp shadows over his chiseled features, making him look both angelic and utterly dangerous.

For a brief moment, she allowed herself to look at him—not as the man who would one day betray her, but as the man he was now. He was still the same Cypher she had fallen for. Still the man who made her heart race with a single glance.

But she would not be fooled again.

He turned at the sound of her footsteps, his silver eyes locking onto her with quiet intensity. "You’re finally up."

His voice was smooth, familiar. A voice that had once whispered promises in the dark. Promises that had been nothing but lies.

She forced a small smile. "Didn’t sleep well."

Cypher studied her for a long moment before gesturing toward the table, where a simple breakfast was set—croissants, coffee, and fruit. "Eat. We have a long day ahead of us."

She hesitated, but knew better than to refuse. Keeping up appearances was crucial. She took a seat across from him, her fingers wrapping around the warm coffee cup.

He leaned back in his chair, watching her with a calculating gaze. "You seem different this morning."

Her breath hitched.

Did he already suspect something?

She forced a light laugh, masking her nerves. "Must be the lack of sleep."

He didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t push further.

For now.

The drive to the meeting was quiet. Cypher sat beside her in the backseat of a sleek black car, his posture relaxed but his presence overwhelming. He had always been like this—an enigma of control and danger, never revealing more than he wanted others to see.

Zafira kept her gaze on the passing cityscape, her mind racing. She needed to play her part carefully. If she wanted to change her fate, she couldn’t afford to act recklessly.

When the car finally pulled up to the discreet yet extravagant underground club—one of Cypher’s many secret meeting spots—her heart pounded against her ribs.

The moment she stepped inside, she felt it.

The presence of predators.

The room was filled with men who wielded power like a weapon, their gazes sharp, their smiles edged with danger. And among them, leaning casually against the bar with a glass of whiskey in hand, was Kairo Valenciaga.

He looked exactly as she remembered—sharp jawline, piercing dark eyes, an air of detached amusement.

And the moment his gaze met hers, something flickered in his expression.

Recognition?

Curiosity?

Suspicion?

She forced herself to keep her breathing steady as Cypher led her through the room, introducing her to the men who would shape her fate.

And then, they reached Kairo.

"Zafira," he drawled, his lips curving into a smirk. "I see you survived the night."

Her pulse spiked. He had always been good at reading people. Too good.

She met his gaze head-on. "Disappointed?"

His smirk deepened, but something unreadable flickered in his dark eyes. "Not at all. In fact, I’m intrigued."

Cypher placed a possessive hand on the small of her back, a silent reminder of the power he held over her. "Let’s get started."

The meeting was a blur of business talk, alliances, and carefully veiled threats. But Zafira was barely listening.

Her mind was focused on one thing.

Kairo was watching her.

Not in the way he used to—with amusement or mild interest—but with something more calculating. More intense.

He knew.

He didn’t know what exactly was different, but he sensed it.

And that meant she had to be even more careful.

As the meeting wrapped up and the men began to disperse, Zafira felt a firm grip on her wrist.

She turned sharply, only to find herself staring into Kairo’s dark, knowing gaze.

"Walk with me," he said, his voice low.

She glanced toward Cypher, who was engaged in conversation with another associate, before nodding reluctantly.

They stepped into the dimly lit hallway, away from prying eyes.

Kairo leaned against the wall, studying her like a puzzle he was trying to solve. "You’re different."

Her heart pounded.

She forced a smirk. "Is that your way of flirting, Valenciaga?"

He didn’t smile. "No. It’s my way of telling you that whatever game you’re playing—you better be prepared to finish it."

Her fingers clenched into fists.

She met his gaze, her voice steady. "I don’t know what you’re talking about."

Kairo tilted his head, his expression unreadable. Then, after a moment, he pushed off the wall and leaned in just enough to make her breath hitch.

"Whatever you’re planning," he murmured, "be careful, Zafira. In this world, second chances don’t exist."

Her blood ran cold.

Oh, but they did.

And she was going to use hers to destroy the man who had once destroyed her.

As Kairo walked away, Zafira exhaled slowly, her mind racing.

The game had begun.

And this time…

She would be the one pulling the strings.

TO BE CONTINUED...

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