Scarred Seductress

The Perfect Lie

Selene tucked her face away quickly, her breaths already unstable as Matteo brushed past her, the entourage of his guards shoving her into a corner as they walked in—like he hadn’t even noticed her presence.

“What’s all the commotion about?” she heard his voice growl, her heart crashing violently into her stomach.

She needed to leave—quickly too.

She had heard of Matteo for the longest time, and even though she was finally ready to get her lick back on those who hurt her, she was smart enough to know he wasn’t an easy pill to swallow.

She pushed her suddenly heavy legs forward, shaking, just about to slip her way to her car when a voice froze her in place.

“Lock the gates… no one leaves and no one comes in…” Matteo ordered.

Her eyes snapped wide. She turned sharply and flinched when she realized his eyes had been on her.

Selene forced a smile, chuckling dryly as one of the men at his side suddenly started approaching her.

“Uhmm… don’t, don’t mind me. I… I should just take my leave now.” She held her breath and turned, hoping he’d let her continue when he cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry, ma’am… you can’t leave,” the guard said.

Selene bit down on her lower lip, her damp palms clenching at her sides as her pulse spiked. She would be completely screwed today if it got to Matteo’s knowledge that she was the reason for the fire. She might not even live past the day to get her revenge.

She drew in a deep breath to calm herself, turned with a wide smile, and followed behind the guard back into the house, her heart skipping the second her eyes settled on Matteo—now seated on an expansive ivory leather sectional at the center of the living room, its gold-trimmed edges screaming obscene wealth and control.

She looked away too fast, her eyes catching a glimpse of a trembling Ava and a fuming Marina striking and questioning the kneeling maids.

“I’m getting all of you arrested for neglecting your jobs….”

Matteo cleared his throat, cutting her off.

She turned and flinched to see him settled on the couch, like she was only just noticing his presence for the first time.

“Father…” Marina stuttered and bowed quickly. “You’re home.”

Matteo said nothing. He dug a hand into his pocket, pulled out a pack of cigarettes, and gestured to the guard beside him for a lighter.

“You have absolutely nothing to worry about, Father… I was just teaching them a lesson—”

“What started the fire?” Matteo asked calmly as the guard lit his cigarette.

“Nothing really much, Father… it was just a mistake—”

“A fire does not start out of nowhere, ma’am,” the guard cut her off.

Marina pressed a nod and lowered her gaze, saying nothing more.

Matteo’s eyes drifted to Selene as he drew from the cigarette, smoke curling slowly from his lips as he took her in with deliberate slowness—like he was trying to put his finger on the one thing about her that intrigued him.

“Who is she?” he suddenly asked.

Selene, lost deep in thought, flinched and managed to look up, forcing a smile.

“I am—”

“He’s not asking you,” the guard cut in.

Selene swallowed, nodded quietly, and looked away.

“She’s my… she’s my friend, Father,” Marina stuttered, chuckling dryly.

Matteo scoffed.

“From what family?” the guard pressed, his gaze sharp as it searched Selene.

“She… she… she—”

“My name is Selene Voss, and I just moved to—”

“You weren’t asked, Miss,” the guard snapped.

Marina shot Selene a hard glare, irritated, then chuckled and was just about to lie when a guard rushed into the living room holding what remained of a burning towel—the source of the fire.

“s**t,” Selene cursed under her breath, biting down hard on her lower lip. The fear inside her sharpened into panic. It was only a matter of time before everything traced back to her—and she wasn’t going to allow that. Not after everything she’d endured to come this far.

She had to improvise. Fast.

“We found this towel burning in one of the restrooms,” the guard reported.

Marina gasped and lunged forward, snatching it from his hand.

“How is that even possible—”

“We checked the cameras and—”

“It’s my fault!” Selene cried, dropping to her knees in a sobbing heap.

Every eye in the living room panned to her, silence falling instantly.

Matteo scoffed.

“I’m sorry, Marina… but I think it was me who… who started the fire…” she cried.

Ava swallowed hard, stiff, watching her boss grovel before the same people she had vowed to burn. What was she doing?

“What are you talking about—”

“I… I had excused myself from lunch a while ago… only to have a smoke in the restroom. I’m sorry, I should never have done that in your house… it’s just that I’m addicted and… and I can’t help it,” she bawled, lowering her eyes to the floor in shame, her sobs shaking her violently.

Marina let out a bitter laugh in disbelief. What was this w***e talking about? She had come to her house for the first time since the gala and was already causing another disaster.

“I’m sorry, Marina… I should be ashamed—”

“Oh, please shut the hell up, Selene. You put my life and that of my daughter in danger over some stupid addiction?”

“I’m sorry—”

“Do you even know where you are? How could you even—”

A number of guards came trooping into the living room, interrupting Marina. She looked up and froze when she saw Damien walk in, her eyes lighting up instantly.

“Honey!” she exclaimed, her anger dissolving as she pushed past Selene, throwing her arms wide to hug Damien—only for him to step away.

Selene bit down hard on her lower lip as even more tension coiled in her chest. Damien was here now—right in the middle of the chaos.

“Daddy!” Quinn’s voice echoed through the grand living room, her little footsteps sounding as she scurried down the stairs and into her father’s arms.

Something inside Selene broke.

She lifted her eyes and met Damien’s for the first time. He noticed her too—then snapped his gaze away quickly, shaking off the sudden ache pressing into his chest as he focused on his giggling daughter.

Matteo’s eyes remained on Selene. He watched her bite down repeatedly on her lip as the child’s happy voice echoed, tears gathering in her eyes, confirming his initial suspicion—she was not just an ordinary friend of Marina’s.

“You said you went to the bathroom for a smoke. Is that right?” his voice cut through the room.

Selene flinched, then pressed a slow nod.

“For how long did you stay in the restroom?”

“Not long, Father. The fire alarm went off almost immediately after she excused herself to use the restroom,” Marina chimed in.

Damien glanced at Selene and looked away again, a slight frown tugging at his brow.

“So where is the cigarette?” Matteo pressed.

Selene’s heart sank, a steady chill trailing down her spine. Her fingers trembled at her sides as she swallowed hard, blinking rapidly.

“I’m sorry, ma’am—” Ava tried to speak.

“I only came with the last cigarette,” Selene blurted quickly, cutting her off as she looked up.

Matteo smiled.

“But you came out almost immediately, so it’s impossible for the cigarette to have burned out,” Marina insisted, clearly determined not to let Selene escape this—whatever her motive was.

“It’s… it’s somewhere in the restroom. I tossed it,” Selene said weakly.

Matteo waved a hand, and a guard nodded, just about to move when Selene wobbled to her feet.

“If it nearly burned the towel and set off the fire alarm, then it’s no doubt already exhausted,” she rushed. “But I can get the pack… that should be enough proof, right?”

She darted a glance at Matteo, then quickly looked away, unable to meet his eyes. Marina rolled hers and looped an arm through Damien’s, shaking her head.

Selene’s gaze caught Damien’s briefly—he looked away again, turning toward the stairs. She moved at the same time.

A guard lunged to stop her, but Matteo gestured for him to stand down, his eyes fixed on her.

Selene walked up the stairs, her heart thundering in her ears, humiliation burning through her veins as she forced herself forward to keep her intentions hidden—for now.

“Are you sure about this, Boss?” she heard a guard murmur.

She inhaled deeply, steadying herself as she reached the last step—just as Damien was about to follow.

“I missed you, Daddy. Did you miss me too?” Quinn giggled.

Then a sharp gasp tore from Selene’s throat.

She tumbled down the stairs in a blink, crashing hard at the bottom, her body going still as blood pooled quickly beneath her.

Damien froze.

Ava let out a sharp scream, her knees giving out as she collapsed to the ground.

Matteo chuckled, shaking his head. She had just handed him the perfect confirmation—she had started the fire herself. From now on, she was a puzzle, and Matteo did not let puzzles walk away.

Damien carefully put his daughter down as the maids rushed forward, shielding Quinn from the sight of blood.

Marina’s stomach twisted, but before she could move, Damien had already reached Selene, gripping her by the shoulders.

Selene’s lashes fluttered open, her weak eyes settling on the man holding her—Damien.

His gaze traced her bloodied face, and something inside him recoiled.

Not her face—her fear.

He had seen that look once before.

On a girl who had begged him not to let her go.

“Keep the mansion locked,” Matteo said slowly as he rose.

“She stays.”