Chapter 5

“Wait a minute, why can’t I leave?” Celeste asked in confusion after being confined in the mansion of the stranger she had saved for a week.

“That’s what Diego instructed before he left, so I’m sorry, but we can’t let you out until he returns. If you need anything, you can let us know, and we’ll take care of it.”

Despite the guard’s respectful tone at the mansion’s gate, his voice was firm, showing that he wasn’t going to let her leave.

“I don’t understand.” Celeste furrowed her brows. “At least give me a decent reason why I can’t go out.”

The burly man nodded. “It’s because Boss is still unconscious. Until our investigation into what happened is complete, we can’t release you.”

“Sir, I’ve already explained everything that happened. Why am I still involved?”

“I’m really sorry. Is there a specific reason you need to leave?”

“Yes! I need to go home, please! Someone’s waiting for me there. I have a lot to take care of at home. Don’t you realize that keeping me locked up here is wrong?” Her voice was rising with frustration.

She had been here for over a week now. In the earlier days, it was bearable since they treated her well. But thinking about what might be happening to Anna at the Allegra mansion, she couldn’t help but worry.

She knew Anna would be looking for her. It was unlikely that her loyal maid would stay at Darson’s mansion without her. Anna might even have been kicked out by now.

“I’m really sorry, Miss Celeste. Why don’t you wait for Diego to come back? From what I understand, he’ll be back tonight.”

Celeste glared at the man and then closed her eyes, trying to suppress her anger. She turned away and marched back to the mansion and her room.

She was worried about Anna and missed her. What would Anna think if she woke up and found out she’d been kicked out of the Allegra mansion?

“Anna…” She sighed heavily, feeling a deep sense of anxiety.

***

‘Everything will be alright...’

In a dark room of the mansion, a swarm of nurses and a few expert doctors emerged. The room, now filled with various hospital equipment, was where a frightening man lay, staring blankly at the expensive ceiling.

"B-Boss... forgive me! I’m the one to blame for what happened to you! I deserve to be shot in the head, Boss! I’m not worthy of being your right-hand man because I’m useless! I did nothing! I—”

“Shut the fuck up, Diego.” Semion’s deep, chilling voice cut through Diego’s self-reproach as he knelt on the floor, banging his head in denial over what had happened to his boss.

Meanwhile, Semion slowly rose from the bed. Despite the pain from his bandaged, stitched, and medicated body, his face betrayed no sign of complaint or suffering.

He had woken up two days ago, but he could hardly move or speak. Now that he had gathered a bit of strength, he felt he was finally able to move and speak.

“My left eye…” He covered his right eye with his palm. “My left eye can’t see anymore, huh?”

“Boss, forgive me! It’s my fault and I didn’t predict you’d end up in the hands of the enemies—”

“Shut up.” He dropped his hand.

His left eye was indeed blind as a result of the events from that fateful night.

The night of his near-death. A betrayal by what they thought was a friend, who had secretly sold them out to the enemy.

By the time he realized the tension around him, some of his men had sacrificed their lives just to ensure his escape. The brutality of that night had been unimaginable, even to him.

In the end, he had crawled bloodied through the grass out of the forest, reaching the road, and then lost all strength.

He had thought his end had finally come after a long battle. He couldn’t accept it because he knew he still had the strength to fight.

If only someone could save him...

‘Everything will be alright...’

And he would never forget the face he saw with his remaining eye before darkness took over his vision, the reason he was still breathing now.

“A woman.” Semion’s right eye, finally focusing, turned toward Diego, who was still kneeling and looking up at him.

“B-Boss...” Diego’s face was filled with guilt.

“Where’s the woman?” Semion asked hoarsely. “The woman. Did you find her? Tell me you did.”

“Yes, Boss!” Diego responded quickly. “If you’re talking about the woman who saved you, yes, she’s here in the mansion.”

Semion’s breath hitched. He threw off the black blanket wrapped around him and quickly got out of bed.

“E-Eh, Boss?! Boss, you’re still not well! Get back to bed before something happens to you!” Diego rushed to stop Semion.

“Don’t follow me. Kneel in the corner until I come back.” Semion ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

Wearing only a black bathrobe and trousers, with his upper body wrapped in white bandages, Semion hurried out of his room.

ON THE OTHER SIDE, Celeste was led by her feet down a dark corridor of the mansion, where portraits of familiar people lined the walls.

Her contemplation was interrupted by what she saw.

“Primo Alessandro Lombardi.” The portrait was of an elderly man, followed by an elderly woman. “Isabella Lombardi.”

She read the engraved names below the portraits. “Valentina Lombardi… Primo Luca Lombardi…”

Her gaze fixed on the largest portrait, the face strikingly familiar to her. “Primo Semion Lombardi…”

“Semion Lombardi?” she muttered to herself as the name rang a bell. “Lombardi? Semion… Lombardi.”

She gasped, covering her mouth with her hand. The Lombardi family!!

This mansion belonged to the Lombardi family! How could she not recognize the famous Primo Semion Lombardi, the eldest son of the family, always the center of attention at high-class events!?

She was inside one of the most influential families! She felt a wave of fear because she had no face to show them as a Costa and Allegra.

She had no dignity or reputation to present to them!

“I need to leave!” she said in panic, and she took off running.

But as she turned a corner, her head collided with a large body.

“AH!” They both yelped from the impact.

“S-Sorry! My apologies!” She was the first to recover from the pain. She looked up at the large figure. “I didn’t mean to—”

She swallowed her words, her mouth closing and her eyes widening. She swallowed repeatedly.

The man she had just seen in the portrait was standing right in front of her, staring at her.

“You…” She stiffened as he grabbed her by the arm and leaned closer, trying to see her face in the dim light. “You’re the woman.”