As night fell, what was supposed to be a small gathering with Celeste and the farmers turned into a grand celebration, almost like a fiesta for an entire neighborhood. Loud music, strong drinks, and appetizers emerged, quickly leading to a lively dance party.“Is it cold?” Semion asked Celeste as he draped a large black jacket over her shoulders.The chill in Celeste’s arms, caused by the evening breeze, was replaced by the warm comfort of the jacket. Her attention shifted from the dancing people to Semion, who had seated himself next to her.“Thank you,” she said with a big smile. “Are you done talking to your staff?”“All done.” Semion adjusted the jacket on her. “Wear this properly, or you’ll catch a cold.”“Okay,” Celeste chuckled as she put on the oversized jacket. She could smell Semion’s pleasant cologne, which made her inhale deeply with a sigh of contentment.“W-What?” Semion looked away, puzzled. “Why are you sniffing like that?”“You smell so good,” she complimented.Semion
Felip was restless as he watched Celeste sitting next to Semion from a distance. He had been waiting for nearly an hour, looking for the right moment for the two of them to separate so he could talk to Celeste.His face brightened when he saw Semion stand up, holding his cellphone to his ear, and watched him walk away, distancing himself from Celeste. Semion's serious expression, as he spoke on the phone before disappearing from view, made Felip suspicious. "Tskk!" Wasn't that suspicious? Why would he leave just because of a phone call? Unless he was hiding something from Celeste and didn't want her to overhear!But now Felip saw his chance to approach Celeste."Celeste!" he called out, grabbing her attention and sitting down next to her in Semion's earlier spot."Oh, Felip!" Celeste greeted him warmly. "Where have you been? You’ve been missing for a while, huh?"Felip took a long look at Celeste's gentle face. He could barely recognize her now due to her remarkable beauty. She had c
Is Semion truly a bad person who kills like the Allegra family?Celeste couldn't accept that accusation. Even though she didn’t fully know Semion yet, she didn’t think he had any malicious intent towards her.When Semion offered her the contract, she saw his sincerity. In truth, Celeste had nothing back then, and even now, she still doesn’t have much. Even if she were to gain all her wealth, it would still be insignificant compared to Semion’s. So, what could she possibly do with it?Of course, Celeste isn’t naive enough not to see the complexities of her situation. That’s why she’s carefully building her own reputation and influence, with Semion’s help, which she can also use as leverage. For instance, by gathering her own staff who will be loyal to her. Additionally, once she regains the lands in the province, her name will become stronger among the people and reach the upper-class families—more people will believe in her capabilities, and there will be a greater chance of upcoming o
A flurry of articles about the relationship between the Costa and Allegra families dominated the news after Celeste’s interview and the documentary on the plight of the farmers.Governor Demetrio is now facing relentless criticism, which only deepens his troubles. He is repeatedly asked for his side on the issues, but only his spokesperson speaks on his behalf.“I believe that the oppressed farmers and residents on our hacienda will rise again. They will achieve the justice they’re fighting for because I will make sure that happens myself.”Darson has watched Celeste’s interview on the news several times from the large screen TV in his room. Despite replaying it over and over until he almost memorizes the lines, he still can’t shake the captivating beauty and bravery of his former wife.He can’t help but remember how Celeste looked back when they were newly married. This was the same vibrancy and brightness she had then.His desire to see and hold her again, face-to-face, is growing s
Due to the recent successes surrounding the ongoing issues, Celeste has been receiving gifts and messages almost daily from various upper-class families.Most of these families don’t really care about the situation; they just want to show their support for the Lombardi family and be involved. However, a few families seem to genuinely care about what’s happening.That’s what she’s currently working on at the mansion—figuring out which families truly have good intentions towards her and the Lombardis, and who she should befriend.On the other hand, she finds it amusing to see the letters and gifts from Veron, Anetta, and Rania. They’re so fake! They want to rekindle their friendship and just forget what happened in the past.“Hmmm…” She pondered what they might use her for in the future. It wouldn’t be so bad to have some lackeys. Besides, with their sharp tongues, she was sure she could gather a lot of useful information. She just needed to show them that she was superior to them at all
"Ahem," Diego faked a cough behind his boss and whispered, "Boss, you’re drooling. You look like an idiot," he said sarcastically.He saw Semion jerk back to reality, secretly wiping away the imaginary drool Diego mentioned before slowly moving back to Celeste.Diego felt a pang of disappointment that his boss didn't even glance his way after his comment. Instead, Semion's smile only grew as he continued to gaze at Celeste.Diego slumped his shoulders. ‘Oh well, I guess I’m out of luck.’The three maids seemed to notice Semion’s behavior as they had been squealing and nudging each other while watching the two.“Y-You’re, um, you’re gorgeous, Celeste,” his boss stammered. “Very, very gorgeous.”“...”Diego admitted that Celeste was indeed breathtakingly beautiful. For him, there were many types of beauty, but Celeste's was the kind that stood out—what everyone would aspire to.The maids’ praise was not an exaggeration. Even from every angle, there was nothing less than perfection in Ce
“Madam,” Tami said nervously as she approached Chiarra inside her room. “Madam, a letter has arrived addressed to you.”Chiarra stopped combing her long blonde hair in front of the mirror when Tami spoke. She turned with wide eyes.“A letter? For me?” Since arriving at the mansion, she hadn’t had any contact with the outside world. Who could possibly be sending her a letter? She had no friends other than the people involved in prostitution.The thought made her heart race with anxiety. Could it be that she’s being sought after? But that’s impossible since Priscilla bought her from there!So why?“Give it to me!” she demanded, forcibly taking the elegant envelope from Tami’s trembling hands. “Tsk!”Ignoring Tami, she quickly opened the small envelope. Immediately, she was greeted by a pleasant aroma emanating from the paper inside, lightening her mood.The paper was beautifully designed, and the letter was exquisitely printed. She read it quietly: “To Chiarra ‘soon-to-be’ Allegra. You’
WEEKS LATER…The room was filled with the lively laughter of women, the clinking of glasses, and the gentle strains of music from the orchestra.Valentina watched with pride and anticipation as the event unfolded in the space she had meticulously prepared and planned as Celeste’s bridesmaid. Her eyes traveled over the sparkling chandeliers and the elegantly dressed guests filling the grand hall.She could hardly believe the day had come, as Semion’s sister, and the joy she felt was palpable. On the opposite side of the venue, the groom’s shower was also in progress, hosted by Diego.Dressed in a sleek black dress that clung to her body, Valentina walked through the crowd with an air of authority. Her heels clicked rhythmically against the marble floor, a rhythmic echo announcing her presence.She approached the trio of guests who had just arrived—Rania, Anetta, and Veron—who had once bullied Celeste. Valentina also remembered how these women often spoke ill of her behind her back. Aft