Chapter 13

"Tell me!" Celeste's nails dug into his hand as she stared into his eyes filled with desperation. "What did they do to my parents?! To my brother?!" Anger flared in her eyes. "They already took Anna away from me!! I will never forgive them for that!! But why, what did they do to my family?!"

Though surprised by the anger emanating from the usually timid and gentle woman, Semion didn't show it on his face. He remained serious.

"From the beginning, your marriage to Darson Allegra was a trap," Semion stated, recounting the truth based on all the information he had gathered and his personal investigation. "You probably know there's a long history of conflict between the Costas and the Allegras. But your family made a wrong decision by forming an alliance with them. Your family fell into their trap the moment they agreed to marry you off to their heir."

He saw tears welling up in Celeste's eyes, but he continued speaking.

"For them, that marriage and business merger were just the first ste