HIS WAR, MY NAME

FEMALE AND MALE LEAD CHARACTER

SHAWN SPEARS - later known as Viggo

Now let the thrill really begin!

🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀🥀

~Before I was a don's obsession. I was a boy's downfall.~

Today is one of the biggest days of my life.

I'm standing in front of the most prominent figures in this country. Glamorous celebrities. Flashing cameras. All eyes on me again.

Like I haven't been called on stage twice today, making this the third.

I'm still stunned.

The first award was Best Female Actress for an Action Series. I didn't see that coming.

The second was Best Female Lead of the Year. I wasn't expecting that either.

But I am grateful.

I stepped out of darkness into light. I channeled every ounce of strength I had into my career. I left my past behind. Or at least, I thought I did.

Now I'm receiving the final award. Best Actress of the Year.

I receive it with a smile and bow slightly before taking the microphone.

"Thank you so much, everyone, for your support. And to my fans out there, I don't even know if I deserve all the love you show me. Your love and support have kept me afloat. I promise to never let you down. You guys are my strength. I wouldn't be here without you. Thank you so much. I love you all."

I end with a huge smile, looking out at the crowd.

And then my smile vanishes.

Because I see them.

A pair of unmistakable, familiar blue eyes, dimmer now than I remember. And that same sandy blonde hair.

I get trapped in them and my entire body goes still.

My breath turns erratic. My heart picks up a dangerous, thundering pace. My hands shake. Everything sounds distant.

Everyone disappears.

Except him.

The one person who turned my whole life upside down.

"Nova! Nova!"

I hear my name, but it sounds far away.

"Nova! Can you hear me? Get a hold of yourself." The voice is right beside my ear and I finally snap out of it. Stasia. My manager.

"We're supposed to be back at our seats now. Let's go," she whispers.

What is he doing here? Why did he suddenly appear? To ruin what's left of me?

Hell no. I will not allow that. Never.

A destructive rage stirs within me.

"Let's go," I say to Stasia.

We get into my black SUV and my driver pulls away, while rage boils inside me.

As we walk into my sitting room, she places two of the awards on the table.

"Go home, Stasia. Jack will drive you home."

"I'm staying," she replies.

"Not today. I need to be alone."

"I'm worried..."

"I'm fine," I cut in.

"I'm afraid you're not, Nova. You look the opposite of okay."

"Go home, Stasia," I say calmly.

"Okay, but I think—"

"Go home!" I bark, throwing whatever is in my hands at the wall.

A shattering sound follows.

She looks back at me in shock, a gasp of terror leaving her mouth.

I follow her line of sight.

The award.

I worked so hard for that.

And I... I shattered it.

I burst into my room. Strip down to my bra and panties. Walk into my walk-in closet and turn the decor statue.

The floor-to-ceiling mirror slides to the side, revealing my boxing room.

I walk in and the door closes behind me.

I don't bother with gloves.

I start throwing punches at the bag. Rapid. Relentless.

It doesn't dull the anger like it used to.

The fast punches turn slow. Blind. Sloppy.

My eyes blur with unshed tears. Sweat drips from my body. My heart races like I've run a thousand miles.

My knuckles are bruised and bloody. My wrists feel broken.

But all this pain is nothing compared to what I feel in my heart.

My legs give out and the tears I've been holding back finally pour out.

I dared to play with fire, and it burned my heart to ashes.

I smiled through these years while my heart bled.

*YEARS BACK*

_~Before I was a Don's obsession, I was a boy's downfall~_

They say I hate men.

No. Hate is too soft.

I study them. Memorize the way they lie with a smile. The way they touch you like they own you.

I memorize their game so I can burn it down.

My professor called it trauma.

I call it preparation.

"Christ! Emmy, you are unbelievable," I say into the phone. "I don't even know how I ended up with you."

"I'm on my way to class already. If I didn't leave your late ass, I would have been late too."

I quicken my steps.

"Hey, hi."

A masculine voice behind me. I couldn't care less.

I have zero tolerance for men this morning.

A hand suddenly grabs my arm as I turn.

I might actually murder someone today.

I stare at the hand with a murderous glare and he lets go instantly.

Then I looked at him. And my anger stuttered.

This man can't be human. Annoyingly breathtaking. Dazzling bright blue eyes. Perfectly defined features, sharp jawline. And sandy blonde hair that should be illegal.

I've never seen a man this beautiful. But it doesn't make him different. Just a wolf doused in nice cologne and wrapped in million-dollar clothing.

"You dropped this," he says, holding out my notebook.

I look at his hand, then at his face.

"If you wanted my attention, you should have tried being less predictable."

A flicker in his jaw. He isn't used to that tone.

Good.

He has the nerve to lean closer. And I smell danger and expensive cologne.

"What's your name?" he asks.

"Your worst decision." I reply dryly.

And for the first time, the boy who probably has everything looks at me like I am the only thing he can't buy.

He smiles.

That infuriates me even more.

--------

The class finally ends and I shove my notepad into my bag.

Emmy wouldn't shut her mouth.

"Nova, look behind you, that guy over there," she says.

I roll my eyes.

"Just look back."

"Which guy?"

Our eyes lock and his lips lift into a stupid smirk I want to wipe off with a slap.

"What about him?" My voice comes out harsher than I intended.

"Chill. You know him, right? Shawn Spears. He's been staring at you."

"Am I supposed to?"

"Oh my God! You don't know him? That guy is the wealthiest and most eligible bachelor in this country. He literally rules the school. His father is Mike Spears, richest business tycoon in this country. His mother is Cecilia Spears, founder of Glamour Fashion."

"He himself owns like 55 percent of hotels, clubs, and pubs in this city. Anywhere you see 'Grand Éclat' hotels, clubs, pubs, it's his."

"Emmy, I've heard enough. I'm not interested."

"He might be your Mr. Right."

"I can say for a fact that you are crazy."

---------

I walk away from the rowdy dancing crowd, finding my way to the restroom.

Emmy had succeeded in dragging me to a Grand Éclat club. I had a little alcohol and I'm starting to get tipsy.

I walk into the restroom, into a cubicle, and come out after. I splash water on my face.

I'm about to leave when a guy suddenly steps in.

"Hey, pretty. Let's make a wonderful moment in here, huh?"

"No. I'm not interested."

I walk past him to twist the doorknob when he suddenly grabs my wrist and squeezes.

Immediately, my clutch comes into contact with his face hard. He screams, holding his groin after my kick.

"That's for touching me, you crazy sod!" I yell, hitting him with my clutch until I see a flash of red.

As I step back with a satisfied grin, the door suddenly flies open.

Surprise is an understatement for what I feel.

The door bursts open, revealing the guy from school, with a worried look etched on his face.

His expression shifts to shock as he spots the guy on the floor, then his eyes snap back to me.

He saw the blood on my clutch.