“Señora, are you okay?” Leleng asked Celeste when she noticed she had been staring blankly into the kitchen for some time. Her employer had expressed a desire to help with lunch, but she was having trouble getting the eggs ready.It seemed like her employer didn’t hear her, so with a puzzled look, Leleng turned to Faith, who was also helping with the cooking, and saw that Faith was equally confused.“I think Señora has a problem,” Faith said to her.Leleng furrowed her brow. “It does look like it…” She approached her employer, positioning herself behind her at the counter to gently tap her. “Señora, is there a big problem—!”“Oh, it’s big!” Celeste suddenly snapped out of her deep thoughts, startled by Leleng’s touch. “O-Oh, Leleng?” She blinked several times, coming to her senses. It was only then she realized she was in the kitchen, trying to help with the cooking.“Oh, sorry!” she laughed, scratching the back of her neck. “I was just deep in thought, Señora, so it seemed like a big
“So you failed to kill them.” Diego’s boss said, his eyes devoid of emotion as he sat in his office, looking up at him.Diego looked down. “Boss, there were many responding police officers before we could ensure the woman was dead after they fell off the cliff. They were rushed to the hospital, and from what I’ve gathered, both are in critical condition.”“Well…” The boss shrugged. “Maybe it’s too early for them to die… How about the unborn child? Is there still hope for it?”“From what I know, boss, if complications arise, only one of the mother and child will be chosen to be kept alive.”“Good enough,” he said, smiling. “I’m in a good mood, so I won’t punish you for failing.”“Boss?” Diego looked at Semion in surprise. “Why are you in a good mood? Just last night you wanted them dead.”He comfortably propped his long legs on the desk and responded with a grin. “Something happened between me and Celeste.”“Huh? What happened between you two? Like what?”“I realized what I was feeling
"Semion?" Celeste stopped in her tracks as she was about to enter Semion's office when she saw Diego standing guard."Boss is busy, Miss Celeste, talking to Primo Alessandro. Do you need something?""Ah, I see. No, I just wanted to let him know that I'll be stepping out for a while to visit Anna. But please pass the message along." She gave a small, reserved smile and stepped back."Understood, Miss Celeste. Don't forget about Bentong, so Boss won't worry."She nodded. "Alright, thank you."She headed to the van she had arranged for herself, which she used personally whenever leaving the mansion. Accompanying her were five guards assigned by Semion. Only Bentong and Noah were close to her among the five. Initially, she wasn’t used to having followers, but eventually, she got used to it.The trip took less than half an hour. They quickly arrived at the cemetery where Anna was buried. She turned to the guards. “You stay here. I need some private time with Anna.”“Yes, Senyora!” The five
“Oh my God, son! You’re finally awake!” Priscilla’s face was the first thing Darson saw when he woke up in a hospital room. “Boni, call a nurse or doctor! Darson is awake!”“Argh!” Darson immediately felt the weight of his body as he tried to sit up.“Don’t move, son! Your body is fractured!” His mother quickly stopped him from moving.In pain and confusion, he looked up at her. “What happened?”With a worried and angry expression, Priscilla sat on the edge of his bed. “You survived what the Lombardis did to you! Thankfully, your father acted quickly, otherwise, you’d be lost to us like Chiarra!”The events of that tragic night came rushing back to Darson. The vehicle he and Chiarra were in went off the cliff due to a barrage of gunfire.He mentally cursed several times. When their vehicle rolled over, he lost consciousness. He thought it was the end for him!“Where is Chiarra?” he asked his mother with furrowed brows.Priscilla sighed heavily. “She’s in a coma right after giving birt
A MONTH LATER…Celeste gazed at herself in the mirror, dressed in her wedding gown. The makeup on her face was simple, and her flowing, chestnut-colored hair was braided and tied back with the white veil attached. She couldn’t help but smile with admiration at her reflection. This wasn’t her first wedding, but it was the first time she felt truly beautiful in a wedding dress.The luxurious design of the gown shimmered against her pale skin. She twirled in front of the large mirror, unable to get enough of admiring her own beauty on this day. The ceremony would start in less than an hour. They were just waiting for the guests and everything to be set up at the church before she could leave.“Are you happy, Celeste?” Valentina approached her with an unmistakable smile.Celeste's smile widened as she turned to face her. “Val, I’m so happy to be marrying Semion today. But I think I’m even happier that you chose the best fashion artist to prepare me today!” she joked, laughing.Valentina la
“A-Anna?”Celeste’s voice trembled as she stared in disbelief at the woman standing before her, alive and well—the very person she had mourned for so long.But if there was something even more shocking than seeing Anna alive, it was the way she was behaving. Celeste’s eyes widened in terror as Anna suddenly slapped her hard across the face, causing her to stumble and fall onto the cement floor.Her heart pounded with fear. How could such a thing happen in the blink of an eye?Anna’s voice rang out sharply. “Madam, come with me!” She roughly yanked Celeste to her feet and began dragging her down the hallway in a hurry.“What are you doing?! What the hell are you doing?!” Celeste screamed as she tried to break free, but Anna’s grip on her elbow was too strong. She could hardly move under the weight of her wedding gown. “Help!! Someone help!! Lyn!! Lisa!! Val!!”“Shut up!” Anna snapped, turning to face her again, slapping her so hard that Celeste was stunned into silence.Celeste’s heart
The wedding continued despite the earlier chaos, leaving Celeste questioning whether what had happened was real or just a nightmare.From the moment they arrived at the church, walked down the aisle, followed the ceremony, exchanged vows, and even said "I do," she felt like she was floating in mid-air. Everything happened before she could fully comprehend what had been on her mind—the encounter with Anna and the sound of gunfire.The speed at which everything unfolded made it difficult for her to process. No matter how much she tried to calm herself, she couldn’t shake the fear that those people might follow them to this location. If that happened, many innocent people could be caught in the crossfire.Yet, whenever Celeste glanced at Valentina, Luca, or even Lyn and Lisa, they all seemed normal, as if they hadn’t been traumatized by the earlier events. They could still smile, talk to others as usual, and carry on with their duties.“Am I the problem?” she wondered to herself, whisper
The lights glittered in the luxurious hall that night, with soft music echoing throughout the venue and delicious dishes on every guest's table. It seemed everyone was enjoying the party after the long wedding ceremony. Every corner of the room was filled with laughter and conversation, where the newlyweds were the stars of the night.Before long, Semion stood up from their table, took a wireless microphone handed to him by a host, and walked to the center of the stage. The guests gradually quieted down, their attention already focused on him, eager to hear what he had to say. Celeste remained seated, smiling at her husband, feeling reassured by Semion after what had happened.As always, Semion wore his usual aura when facing people, a beautiful smile gracing his lips, hiding any trace of his true nature. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for being here tonight,” he began. “Your presence on this important day means so much to my wife, Celeste, and me. However, our union isn’t the o
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