Left to Burn: The Bride Who Came Back for Blood
Agatha Christie · Completed · 5.4k Words
Introduction
His first love. The girl he'd never let go of.
Eight years I spent being the understanding fiancée. The one who smiled through her endless crises. The one who died alone because he chose her panic over my screams.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing at the altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Julian was leaning in, voice low—we needed to pause the ceremony. Emma was having a panic attack at the airport.
Last time, I'd said yes.
Not this time.
I looked at the man I'd died for and smiled.
Then I threw my bouquet at his face.
I turned and walked straight to the man who made Wall Street sweat. Julian's worst enemy.
Victor Kane.
"Go save her," I said. "I need a new groom."
Chapter 1
I screamed as I burned to death while Julian ran past me to save Emma.
His first love. The girl he'd never let go of.
Eight years I spent being the understanding fiancée. The one who smiled through her endless crises. The one who died alone because he chose her panic over my screams.
When I opened my eyes again, I was standing at the altar of St. Patrick's Cathedral. Julian was leaning in, voice low—we needed to pause the ceremony. Emma was having a panic attack at the airport.
Last time, I'd said yes.
Not this time.
I looked at the man I'd died for and smiled.
Then I threw my bouquet at his face.
I turned and walked straight to the man who made Wall Street sweat. Julian's worst enemy.
Victor Kane.
"Go save her," I said. "I need a new groom."
Serena's POV
I smelled smoke.
That feeling—lungs choked with it, skin burning inch by fucking inch—still lived in every cell of my body.
I jerked awake, gasping like I was drowning, cold sweat soaking straight through my back.
No flames.
No Emma's screaming.
No Julian's back walking away from me.
Instead, I stared up at St. Patrick's Cathedral's soaring dome. Sunlight poured through stained glass onto a red carpet lined with white Bulgarian roses.
"Serena, are you even LISTENING to me?"
Julian's voice snapped me back.
I turned to look at him in his custom tux. That face I'd once loved beyond reason now showed nothing but impatience and that look—like I was being unreasonable just by existing.
I glanced down at my wedding gown.
Shit.
I was back.
Early fall 2024. My and Julian's "wedding of the century."
Last time, right here at the altar, right before the vows, Julian got Emma's call. Panic attack at JFK. Life or death, apparently.
He'd walked out without a second thought, turning the Astors into New York's punchline.
And I'd begged. Actually begged, clutching his sleeve like some desperate fool.
What did he say?
"Serena, stop being so damn SELFISH. Emma will literally die without me. You're just losing a ceremony."
And what happened after?
After, in that warehouse at the docks, when those bastards lit the gasoline, Julian crashed through. He could've grabbed me first. Instead, he scooped up Emma—who had maybe a scratch—and ran, leaving me to burn alive.
"SERENA!" Julian's jaw tightened. "Look, Emma's alone at the airport, scared out of her mind. Her depression's bad again, she's been sobbing on the phone. I need to go check on her. We'll push the ceremony back two hours. Just—have the priest wait, tell the guests something came up, okay?"
Not asking.
Telling.
Like making me stand here in white while all of New York watched me get abandoned was just... fine.
I looked at him, and I actually laughed.
"Julian, I'm serious right now." His anger flashed. "Emma's my mother's best friend's daughter. I can't just let something happen to her!"
I bit back the urge to claw his eyes out and smiled instead. Cold as ice.
I reached up and straightened his crooked bow tie, soft and gentle. It made him pause.
"Oh, I know you're serious, Julian." My voice carried through the cathedral mic, crystal clear. "That's exactly why I think you should go to her. Not just today. Every. Single. Day. For the rest of your life."
Julian's face drained of color.
His hand shot out for my wrist. "Serena, don't—not here, not in front of everyone—"
"I'm not doing anything." I yanked free and stepped back.
Then I turned to face the crowd. Hundreds of Manhattan's most powerful people. Wall Street sharks. Society royalty. And those reporters in the back with their cameras already rolling.
I raised the microphone.
"Ladies and gentlemen, sorry you all had to witness this. Mr. Vance just informed me that his childhood sweetheart, Miss Emma Jenkins, is having a panic attack at the airport. She needs him. Right now. Apparently."
The room ERUPTED.
Gasps, whispers, shocked stares—all aimed at Julian like spotlights.
He looked at me like I'd grown a second head. Like obedient, understanding Serena had just pulled a knife.
"Serena, have you lost your MIND?!" He hissed, lunging for the mic.
"So here's what's happening." I sidestepped him smoothly. "Julian Vance, you're out. Done. This wedding? Consider yourself fired as the groom."
The murmurs turned into chaos.
Vance family elders shot to their feet. Julian's panic broke through his anger. "You think this—this tantrum—will make me stay? Jesus, Serena, you've ruined EVERYTHING. Not just the wedding. The Astor-Vance deal, the partnership—do you have ANY idea what you just did?!"
"Partnership?" I laughed in his face. "You think Vance Group landed that Lower Manhattan project on your own merit?"
Beat of silence.
"Julian, take your precious Emma and get out of my cathedral."
Before he could explode, the heavy cathedral doors slammed open.
A figure walked in, backlit and imposing.
Black suit, tailored perfectly. Sharp features that could cut glass. Cold gray-blue eyes that seemed to see straight through bullshit.
Victor Kane.
Wall Street's nightmare. The Kane empire's iron fist.
Technically, Julian should probably call him "sir."
Every conversation died. People barely breathed.
Victor walked down that red carpet like he owned it—which, let's be honest, he probably did—and came straight for me.
He didn't spare Julian a single glance. Those intense eyes locked on mine.
"Heard someone's giving you trouble." His voice was low, rough around the edges. Almost... protective.
He leaned in close enough that only I could hear. "How about you upgrade? New groom, better deal."
I looked up at him, and something in my chest cracked.
Last life, after I burned, I'd watched this ruthless bastard kneel at my grave and sob like his world had ended.
He'd destroyed Vance Group piece by piece for me. Then put a bullet in his own head at my tombstone.
I owed him everything.
I took a breath, and right there in front of Julian and every power player in New York, I slipped my hand into Victor's.
"Deal, Victor." I smiled up at him. "You're brave enough to marry me? I'm damn sure brave enough to say yes."
Last Chapters
You Might Like 😍
My Perverse: You're mine, you son of a bitch
Vincenzo Valentini is a man who sees the world as a business counter and human beings as merchandise.
The owner of an empire built upon corpses and submission, he is the reflection of pure perversity.
When fate places Andrew Thompson, the son of his greatest rival, into his hands, the plan was simple: use him, break him, and discard him like a toy that has lost its appeal.
What Vincenzo did not expect was that, beneath the youthful skin and the appearance of innocence, Andrew hid the same abyss as he did.
Vincenzo never wanted redemption. He never wanted someone to save him from his own darkness. He was seeking a mirror. And in Andrew, he found the partner who, upon seeing his blood-stained hands, does not recoil in terror, but trembles with desire.
In this perverse game, the "little toy" proves to be the perfect executioner. The mafia leader found someone who not only accepts his cruel side but cultivates it, feeding the monster Vincenzo has always been.
Where there should have been fear, lust emerged. Where there should have been hatred, a perverse loyalty was born. Andrew Thompson is the dark reflection of Vincenzo, the soldier the underworld did not see coming, and the man who proved that, for some, paradise only makes sense if it is in the middle of chaos.
Vincenzo opened the doors to his empire, but Andrew was the only one capable of invading his heart.
They are not heroes. They are hell on earth.
Invincible Upon Release: The Strongest Mage
Her family looked down on him, and even she herself said coldly: “You’re not worthy of being my husband.”
Everyone thought this newly released good-for-nothing was just a poor fool who’d taken the fall for his brother.
Thorne said nothing.
He merely raised his hand, gently pressing his bride’s forehead.
In an instant, the chaos in her eyes faded. Holy light surged from beneath the church, shooting into the sky.
The world’s only candidate for the Saintess, blessed with holy power, slowly opened her clear eyes before him.
The First Female Alpha
The man I was meant to marry—the rising Alpha, the pride of the Pack—thrusting into another girl like I didn't exist.
But I didn't cry. I didn't scream. I didn't even flinch.
Because the pain had carved me hollow long before he ever touched her.
He thinks I'm weak. That I'll stand by his side in two days, smile for the ceremony, and hand him my loyalty with the Alpha title.
But he's wrong.
I'm not the broken little Luna they think I am. I'm the storm they never saw coming.
The Pack worships him, but only I know the truth buried beneath his perfect lies. So I'll take everything he wants most—the throne, the title, the crown he was born to wear—and win it out from under him, in front of everyone who ever called me unworthy.
Screw the Pack. Screw the respect. Screw being tame.
I'm fury dressed in skin, madness wearing heels, and heartbreak turned into a goddamn weapon.
They wanted a loyal Luna??
Instead...
They created a monster.
And when the throne is finally mine...
The Pack won't remember the name of the Alpha who betrayed me.
They'll remember the woman who took his crown...
and became the First Female Alpha.
Fated to the Lycan
Ashlyn Ambrosia, the daughter of Khalid Ambrosia is a weak hybrid vampire that doesn't act like one. Unable to draw blood from a living soul and unable to kill. She's been mocked for this by her own family too. Her world comes crashing down when she's taken away by her Clutch most hated adversary.....
Lucifer Saunron is a ruthless lycan male alpha of the Nightwing pack known for his bravery, skills in war and an unquenchable taste for women. In the long feud between the lycans and the vampires and the battle that ensued, to his greatest displeasure he's fated to the daughter of the Vampire king.
He takes her in as his mistress opposing what the moon goddess proposes.....
With a life that is filled with secrets and mysteries that Ashlyn would discover, would she be able to withstand his hell as he battles with his inner demon despite his cruelty?
Iron And Glamour Just Don't Mix
Well… Sometimes you just might turn out to be right.
It turns out, the fae stole my little brother. In his place? A pixie with boundary issues and a talent for home repairs.
I’ve spent my life taking care of everyone else. So when my baby brother is taken, I don’t hesitate. I walk straight into a faerie mansion and make a bargain with its infuriatingly charming master.
Kie is everything you’d expect from a dangerous fae, beautiful, political, and entirely too amused by me. Power wrapped in a smirk. Sensual, mischievous, and far too aware of the effect he has on people. He agrees to help me find my brother.
For a price.
Now I’m bound by a faerie bargain and navigating a world of glamour, manipulation, and ancient rules I definitely should have learned sooner, enchanted forests, political games, magical contracts, and a fae lord who treats seduction like a perfectly reasonable negotiation tactic.
Iron is how I keep people out.
Glamour is how he draws them in.
And apparently, they just don’t mix.
Bound by Vengeance
Then there is Xavier Romano. Cold and calculating, he revels in his dominance, finding satisfaction in the terror he instills and the power he wields. But his iron control shatters when he crosses paths with Eloisa. Her unpredictability, her unapologetic desire for vengeance, and her allure are irresistible—and dangerous. As they collide in a world where betrayal is constant and alliances are fragile, passion ignites between them, each step drawing them deeper into a forbidden obsession that neither can control. In a life defined by violence and survival, will their dangerous game be their undoing, or will it make them unstoppable?
Legacy Of Dragons, Royal Dragons Book 2
Ria and the Balaur brothers never imagined how far their family would come.
After surviving betrayal, loss, and the lies that nearly destroyed everything they loved, they dedicated themselves to building a future. What began as a training facility for dragons soon grew into something far greater—a place where dragons and other species from around the world could learn, train, and thrive together.
Now the facility is flourishing. Their children have grown, many finding their own mates among dragons, shifters, and other species from distant lands. The family Ria fought so hard to protect has expanded beyond anything she once dreamed possible, bringing new friendships, new adventures, and a growing legacy of grandchildren.
As old secrets continue to surface, long-held beliefs about dragons and mixed-species bloodlines are being challenged. Truths buried for generations are finally coming to light, reshaping everything they thought they knew about their world.
Let Them Kneel
Cast out by her pack. Forgotten by the Lycans.
She lived among humans—quiet, invisible, tucked away in a town no one looked at twice.
But when her first heat comes without warning, everything changes.
Her body ignites. Her instincts scream. And something primal stirs beneath her skin—
summoning a big, bad Alpha who knows exactly how to quench her fire.
When he claims her, it’s ecstasy and ruin.
For the first time, she believes she’s been accepted.
Seen.
Chosen.
Until he leaves her the next morning—
like a secret never to be spoken.
But Kaelani is not what they thought.
Not wolfless. Not weak.
There is something ancient inside her. Something powerful. And it’s waking.
And when it does—
they’ll all remember the girl they tried to erase.
Especially him.
She’ll be the dream he keeps chasing… the one thing that ever made him feel alive.
Because secrets never stay buried.
And neither do dreams.
Tango with the Alpha's Heart
“He met her at the Alpha training camp,” he said. “She is a perfect suitor for him. It snowed last night, indicating that his wolf is happy with his choice.”
My heart sank, and tears made their way down my cheeks.
Alexander took my innocence last night, and now he is taking that thing in his office as his Luna.
Emily became the laughingstock of the pack on her 18th birthday and never expected the Alpha's son to be her mate.
After a night of passionate love, Emily finds out that her mate has taken a chosen mate. Heartbroken and humiliated, she disappears from the pack.
Now, five years later, Emily is a respected high-ranking warrior in King Alpha’s army.
When her best friend invites her to a night of music and laughter, she never expects to run into her mate.
Will her mate figure out it is her?
Will he chase after her, and most of all, will Emily be able to keep her secrets safe?
Chosen By The Lycan King
One Weekend with the Billionaire
I open my mouth to respond, but all that comes out is a staggered breath and a small sigh. He chuckles, a low, rough rumble and then leans down and kisses the middle of my back.
I feel the tip of him again at my entryway. He pushes in slightly, and my body comes to life again. My muscles react to his presence, contracting and loosening, as if my body is trying to suck him deep inside.
He's my husband's boss, so this is supposed to be wrong.
So why does it feel so right?
Braxton Merriweather always gets what he wants. Now, he wants her--Julia Thompson, the wife of one of his workers. From the moment he first laid eyes on her, he knew he had to possess her in every way.
When Jeff Thompson takes him up on the bargain he proposes, Braxton is shocked. He's even more surprised when Mrs. Thompson agrees.
But now that he's had a taste of her, he wants more. How can he possess a woman who's already married to someone else?
Julia feels trapped by her marriage to her high school sweetheart. In the two years since they've been married, he's changed, and not for the better. When billionaire Braxton Merriweather shows interest in her, she's flattered. And intrigued. Is it possible that one of the richest men in the world could really want her?
And if so... what does she do about her husband?
One Weekend with the Billionaire is a sexy story for mature readers.
Pregnant by My Husband's Rival Alpha
Those words should have destroyed me, but the truth was worse: I'd been used as a broodmare by the man who swore to love me, set up in a hotel room with a stranger because My husband Alexander Cross couldn't father children himself, and now I carried the secret babies of Damon Lester—the most powerful and dangerous Alpha in San Loris—while my own family replaced me with the daughter they'd always wanted. But when that same stranger's doctor appeared at my door, when twenty million dollars exchanged hands over a fake perfume bearing my secret identity, and when Damon's gray eyes locked onto mine with recognition I couldn't afford, I realized my carefully hidden life as the legendary perfumer Vera was colliding with a pregnancy that could cost me everything.
Could I protect my babies from the husband plotting my death, hide my true identity from the Alpha who's been hunting me for years, and reclaim the freedom I'd buried along with my dreams—even if it means standing alone against the wolves who see me as nothing more than a womb to be used and discarded?
