"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
"Wait, w-wait!" Veron blinked repeatedly, scanning the woman standing before them. She whispered to Rania and Anetta on either side of her, "Come to think of it, girls. She's pregnant. I think she’s the one we saw at the mall with Darson Allegra.""Oh my god." Rania whispered in disbelief. "What is the mistress doing here, at the bridal shower of the woman she ruined?""I can't believe this. The audacity," Anetta whispered back, equally shocked.Veron paused, as if a light bulb had gone off in her head. "No, wait. You know what, girls? This might be a good opportunity for all of us.""What do you mean?"Meanwhile, Chiarra remained smiling as she listened to the three women’s whispers. She showed no signs of discomfort despite what she overheard, knowing that they were her way to locate Celeste later and to avoid looking lost at the party.She was startled when the woman in gray suddenly grabbed her hand. "I'm Veron, and these are Rania and Anetta," she said, pointing to the two women o
“I’m also hanging around your ex’s mistress, Cestie. She hasn’t left the party at all. Does she really have such a thick skin, or does she just not know where to put herself?” Jett asked Celeste with annoyance.“Jettie,” Celeste said, patting his hand and smiling. “Just let her be.”He sighed dramatically. “Yeah, I know. But still! It really boils my blood with these mistresses. Urgh! Even though they know someone is married, they just go on being mistresses because their kiffy is itching!”Celeste laughed. “What’s a kiffy?”“It’s a woman’s genitalia. Haven’t you updated your vocabulary with today’s slang?” he laughed too.“Sorry, I’m getting old,” she said.He gave her a playful smack on the arm. “Cestie, you only look like part of today’s generation because of how young you look! Not gonna lie, the last time I saw you, you shocked me because you looked like a depressed widow.” He smiled sincerely and took her hand in his. “I’m so happy you’re no longer with Darson. Did you know I ne
“Why is he invited here again? Are we missing something?” Damiano asked Semion, along with the curious glances of his two other friends.Semion set his glass down on the table before standing up. He even smiled at them. “Why not ask him why he even came?” He then walked toward where Darson was standing, waiting for him.In reality, Semion had invited Darson just to insult him, but he hadn’t really expected him to show up. After all, the Allegra family is known for its pride. It would be a slap in the face for him to attend the bridal shower of his ex-wife, especially since the Allegra and Costa families were in the midst of a land war.Currently, Darson’s father, Demetrio, was still facing court proceedings, so why would Darson want to come tonight? What could be going through this bastard’s mind?“So why are you here, Mister Allegra?” Semion asked with a grin, standing tall in front of Darson.The man’s arrogance diminished, and he squinted as he stared back at Semion. “Of course I c
“I’m leaving,” Darson declared to Semion before the tension between them could escalate any further.Semion’s face was twisted with irritation as he watched the man, who had barely entered, promptly exit the room.It seemed Darson had come here just to taunt him. Now, Darson had succeeded in upsetting him. Even though he had returned to his friends, the echoes of Darson’s words lingered in his mind.Closure? Does he really want closure? Damn it, Darson Allegra must have a thicker face than concrete.“Oh? Why do you look so defeated? Did you lose to that guy?” Damiano asked, laughing.“Tsk!” Semion couldn't hide his frustration, especially as he realized how much he was fuming over that man.He kept wondering whether Darson was genuinely trying to talk to Celeste and how she hadn’t responded to him. He felt annoyed that Celeste hadn’t mentioned anything about this.Was it because they weren’t really married, so he didn’t need to know? But aren’t they supposed to be allies in this? He s
"Let me go, Darson! What the hell?!" Chiarra struggled against Darson's tight grip on her elbow as he dragged her out of the place.She had trouble keeping up with his fast, long strides. She had tripped several times in her high heels, but she didn’t fall because Darson was practically carrying her."It hurts!!" she protested angrily. "Could you slow down?!""Damn it, Chiarra!!" Darson threw her into the car. Her back hit the side mirror, which she immediately complained about."Ouch! W-What the hell, Darson?!" She clutched her stomach, her face filled with pain as she looked up. "Are you planning to hurt our child?!""Are you kidding? Isn’t that what you wanted to do to the baby in your womb?!" Darson threatened to slap her, which shocked her, but he didn’t follow through. His frustration was barely contained. "With what you did to Celeste, you didn’t even care about your own situation, did you?! How did you get here?!"She shouted back through her tears. "That woman invited me, wha
Anna quickly turned around, pulling Danica away from the dangerous scene. They ran as fast as they could, her desperate need to escape the forest pushing her forward. The faint light ahead told her they were nearly out—the low clouds overhead slowly beginning to disperse.But even as they moved, her mind swirled with confusion. Killian’s words kept echoing in her thoughts, and she couldn’t make sense of them. How could he be willing to kill to save her life? Tears welled up in her eyes. She had been wrong. She had misjudged him. Killian wasn’t like Primo Alessandro. Just because he was a Lombardi didn’t mean he was an enemy. Her thoughts were interrupted by a sudden, blood-curdling scream: "UNCLE, NO!!"Without thinking, Anna stopped running and turned. She knew exactly who the voice belonged to.But before she could even react, a loud gunshot echoed through the air. A searing pain ripped through her shoulder, and she stumbled, feeling the blood begin to trickle down her arm. She ba
"No! No, no, no!!" Danica’s voice broke with desperation as she dropped to her knees in front of her. "No, Anna, I won’t do it! I—I can't!" Her gaze shifted to Primo Alessandro, filled with defiance, as she stood up. "Who the hell are you to do this?! Do you really think I’ll play your disgusting game?!""Danica," Anna called out firmly, standing up beside her. Her voice was steady, but the uncertainty that gripped her heart was clear in her eyes.Primo Alessandro stood up abruptly, his sudden movement sending a chill through the air as he swiftly pulled out a gun, aiming it directly at her. Anna’s eyes widened as she instinctively took a step back."Primo," KIllian’s voice rang out, his grip firm as he seized his uncle’s arm, halting him mid-action."What!" Alessandro snapped, grabbing Killian’s arm in turn, but Killian didn’t even flinch.Their actions drew the attention of everyone in the room. Killian's gaze, full of intensity, was locked on his uncle. He gripped Primo Alessandro’
"Déjà vu." Primo Alessandro's smile was maddening.Anna could hear every beat of her heart, so loud it felt deafening. The wind’s chill brushed over her hands and feet, sending a strange shiver through her body. Her skin prickled, refusing to settle, as she stood frozen, her eyes wide open and fixed on him. Her breath was heavy as she stared into his eyes, and memories of seventeen years ago came rushing back.The pounding in her chest screamed with fury, a fury born from his murder of her parents. The memory of his men beating her mother was still fresh in her mind. The sound of the gunshot that ended her mother’s life echoed in her ears."We've met again," Primo Alessandro said, his smile dripping with the promise of death.Anna couldn’t speak. Her tears had dried up, but the sharpness of her glare remained, piercing through him. If her glare were made of knives, his head would have been severed from his neck by now.He hadn't changed at all in appearance or posture. But the gray in
The loud commotion pulled her out of a restless sleep. Anna's eyes snapped open, her head pounding and her vision blurry. It took her a moment to realize she had fallen asleep on the cold, hard floor of her room the previous night.Her sluggish thoughts were quickly jolted into clarity by an ear-splitting explosion that shook the entire mansion. The tremor was so violent it felt as though the earth itself had shifted beneath her.What’s happening?She bolted upright, twisting the doorknob and stepping out into the hallway. Her ears rang with the deafening sound of gunfire, and her breath hitched as she peered down the staircase. Smoke engulfed the mansion like a suffocating shroud.Her eyes widened in horror. Men clad in all-black tactical gear swarmed the premises—uncannily similar to the Lombardi’s men. She froze on the spot, watching as the Costas guards exchanged relentless gunfire with the intruders.“A-are those…?” She covered her mouth, a trembling hand betraying her growing p
Decades ago, when she was only six years old, Anna vividly remembered the night her life changed forever.It was late evening when she arrived home from school, walking alone because she had assumed someone would pick her up. Innocent and unaware, she returned to find their house in chaos.Scattered belongings littered the floor, shards of broken glass crunched under her small shoes, and droplets of blood painted a chilling path across the ground. Still clad in her uniform, her bag slung over her shoulder, she froze in the doorway, her voice trembling as she called out.“Mama?”“Mama? Mama!” Her cries echoed as she searched the house, growing more desperate with each unanswered call. The sound of a baby’s wailing drew her to one of the rooms. There, she found her infant sister, Danica, locked inside a wardrobe.“Danica!” she gasped, her shock momentarily paralyzing her. Without hesitation, she scooped her into her arms. The baby babbled incoherently, managing only, “A... A!”—her attem
"Can you please just stop?!"After an hour of non-stop crying from the baby, Chiarra couldn't handle the frustration anymore. She clutched the infant in her arms even tighter, which only made the baby wail louder."Enough! Enough! Stop it!" Overwhelmed by the incessant noise, she nearly dug her fingers into the small, swaddled body of her child. Her eyes filled with tears, no longer sure what to do to make the crying stop.The exhaustion from sleepless nights spent caring for her baby, combined with the constant arguments with Darson, left her drained and on edge every day. Because of this, all her pent-up anger and frustration were taken out on the maids in the mansion—and on her own child."I told you to stop already! I can’t take this anymore! Please, just give me a break!" Chiarra pleaded tearfully, her voice shaking with both rage and desperation as she yelled at the baby."M-Madam… I'll take care of Chrystal for you. Please, just get some rest—""If I could, I already would have
Celeste woke up the next morning feeling like she had just competed in a championship sport the night before—her body was sore and battered.She rubbed her eyes, stretching and turning her gaze to the man beside her, who was holding her tightly.Sunlight was streaming onto his handsome face. It was no longer the early morning peek but rather noon.She lifted her weak arm to smooth out Semion's thick, disheveled hair. Her eyes traced his prominent brows and long eyelashes. She ran her fingertip down his high nose and over his thin lips.Then she realized Semion was awake, as he couldn’t suppress the corners of his mouth lifting into a smile. His cheeks also rose, trying to fight returning to their usual state.Unable to help herself, she smiled and closed her eyes. “S-Se…” She stopped, her voice hoarse, likely from all the shouting and cheering from the previous night’s joy. “Are… um, have you been awake for a while?”“No.” His eyes remained closed.She tried to remove Semion’s heavy a
Celeste leaned back against the wall as she sat on the low cabinet. The items that were neatly stacked there earlier were now scattered across the floor.Her heartbeat was as rapid as her breaths as she watched Semion’s head between her parted legs.This was the second time he had lowered himself like that in front of her. She was used to seeing Semion with his head held high, as if he never bowed to anyone. But now, the scene before her was the complete opposite.There was something in her feelings she couldn’t explain, despite the darkness enveloping the room and the single dim light providing scant illumination.He was torridly kissing her intimate parts, just like how he had kissed her lips earlier. Hungry and thirsty for her essence.“Ahhh… Ummm, ahhh!” The heat was overwhelming. She was leaking slick fluids that mingled with Semion’s lips and tongue. The addicting sound only ignited every muscle in her body.She gasped for air as Semion spread her long legs further apart. The on
“S-Semion…”Celeste gasped as Semion’s soft lips descended on her neck. Biting her lower lip, she dug her nails into the luxurious fabric of his black coat.“Mmhhmmp!” She couldn't help but moan at the sensations coursing through her.The room was dark, perhaps because as soon as they entered, Semion had seized her with a kiss, like a thirsty stranger.Her plan to shower and change into comfortable clothes was quickly forgotten due to what Semion was doing to her body.His large hand slid up her dress, moving toward her underwear. Semion’s fingers pressed down on her lower body with a mixture of intensity and possessiveness. Celeste felt it acutely when he suddenly bit her neck!“Ahh!” She cried out in pain, her throat dry as she gasped for breath.“My wife,” Semion’s warm breath invaded her ear, making her shiver and raising the hair on her arms. “I want to mark you as mine…” He kissed the spot he had bitten. “Just for me…” He licked the mark. “All mine.” His teeth brushed against he