Chapter 7

Semion was stunned when Celeste wanted to go home without asking for anything in exchange for saving his life.

It was obvious he was wealthy, as seen just from his mansion. So why didn’t the woman take the opportunity to ask for material things?

“Are you sure that’s all you want?” he asked, his tone serious. “You’re asking for less than the bare minimum. My life is worth a mansion, nice cars, and money. Just name your reward.”

“I don’t need any of that. I just want to go home and get a ride because I don’t know where I am. I’ve been missing for a week, and someone is looking for me.”

What the heck? Semion wondered if the woman was also wealthy to refuse his offers. But if she were wealthy, she should be even more demanding, not less, than someone poor asking for a large sum or territory.

“Where exactly do you want to go home?” he asked, scrutinizing her. “To your husband? I thought you’d already been abandoned.”

Celeste hesitated briefly before responding. “I still need to go home.”

Where's the logic in that? Semion couldn’t understand Celeste’s thinking.

To him, if a husband leaves his wife in a dangerous place over a big argument, the wife should be more than willing to walk away from his life.

If it were his mother, his father would have been shattered by now. His mother was not someone you could mistreat.

What a stupid woman...

He sighed deeply, closing his eyes. “When do you want to go home then?”

“Tomorrow!” The excitement in her voice was palpable. “If possible, could you take me home as soon as tomorrow?”

“Sure.” He stood up, having lost interest in the married woman. “Go and rest. We’ll leave before sunset tomorrow.”

“Thank you so much!” Celeste’s face lit up, and a sincere smile appeared on her lips.

Semion stared at her for a moment before looking away.

She looks so fine, even in the dark. With her medium-sized brunette hair, a small face that could be covered by his palm, charming eyes, and thin, pinkish lips. Too bad she's stupid enough to go back to her husband, who abandoned her.

He had completely lost interest. What a shame.

When he returned to his own room, he saw Diego still kneeling in the corner of the room.

“Boss! How’s it going? Did you see Miss Celeste?”

“Yeah,” Semion relaxed back onto his bed and stared at the ceiling. “Go out. I need to rest.”

Diego furrowed his brow as he stood up. He wanted to ask what had been discussed between them but noticed that his boss seemed tired and decided to leave him alone.

---

Before dusk, Celeste was dressed in a new white dress provided by a maid at Semion’s mansion.

In truth, she wasn’t eager to return to the Allegra mansion but was anxious and fearful of what Darson might do to her.

Nevertheless, she needed to plead one last time. If they took her back, she’d be overjoyed, but if not, she’d have to accept it and leave with Anna.

“Miss Celeste,” the driver opened the black car door. “Please get in, and we’ll head out.”

“Thank you.” She quietly took her seat in the back.

The driver got in and started the engine, driving off.

“Rest for now, Miss Celeste. We have a long journey ahead.”

“Okay,” she responded politely to the elderly driver.

By the next morning, she had already given him her address. She didn’t realize it would be a three-hour drive from this place.

She estimated they’d arrive late, so she closed her eyes and comfortably leaned back in the car seat.

ON THE OTHER HAND, after the car Celeste was in had left, another black car discreetly followed, carrying Semion and Diego.

“Boss, why are we following her again?” Diego asked, puzzled.

“What? Do you really think I would just trust someone so easily?” Semion responded meaningfully. “That woman saved my life and acted as if it were nothing. We need to find out if her story about her ‘husband’ is true.”

“Then why didn’t you just send a team or even me to do that? Why do you need to investigate personally, even though you’re still recovering?” Diego asked, full of concern and curiosity.

Semion paused and sneered. “Just shut up. I’m the boss here. I do whatever I want.”

“...”

Diego thought. Celeste was beautiful. But she was married. Surely, his boss wouldn’t be interested in someone who was already married, right?

Primo Semion avoided scandals in the upper class to protect his reputation and keep the secrets of his clandestine organization hidden.

For a long time, the Lombardi family had been targeted by hot-headed families wanting to bring them down, so they avoided anything that could endanger them.

Even though people still gossiped about his personal life, it wasn’t severe enough to tarnish his carefully guarded name.

With Semion’s clean background, many families wanted to form alliances with him through marriage.

How many marriage proposals had he turned down? One wrong choice of family could lead to the downfall of their secret organization and legal businesses. In the worst-case scenario, it could mean their destruction by the family he married into.

“I think we’re here.” Semion spoke seriously as the car they were following came to a stop.

They watched Celeste get out of the car and stand in front of the large mansion.

Semion’s eyebrows furrowed in realization. “She comes from a rich family, Diego.”

“Huh?” Diego looked puzzled. “Of course. The Allegra family is rich. Didn’t you know that?”

“What?” Semion’s forehead creased further as he stared at his subordinate. “We’re in the Allegra’s territory? You’re saying she’s an Allegra?? That damn family?!”

The Allegra family was known for their arrogance, greed, and brazen demeanor.

The family had been blacklisted by the Lombardis since the time of his grandfather.

“Didn’t you know? I thought you talked to Miss Celeste last night. Didn’t she mention that she’s Costa and Allegra?” Diego asked.

Semion blinked several times. He had assumed the woman was of commoner status based on her behavior and demeanor.

She looks so timid and naive. She almost cried in front of him, which someone from a well-known family would never do to a stranger from the upper class.

“The Celeste Costa I know is arrogant.” Semion said seriously. “From what I remember, I’ve heard her name a thousand times. She’s someone dignified, arrogant, and elegant—every man’s dream wife. You’re telling me that fragile woman over there is her??”

“Tsk, tsk!” Diego shook his head. “You’re outdated! Celeste Costa has been married to Allegra for a long time. Since then, there’s been no news about her, especially after the Costa family fell.”

Semion had been busy expanding their organization into different countries, so he had forgotten basic details about people in the upper class.

“I didn’t know that.” He focused his attention back on Celeste, who was now ringing the doorbell at the large gate. “Let’s see what happens—”

His mouth dropped open as he saw a man come out of the gate and immediately slap Celeste, causing her to fall onto the pavement!

“What the hell?!” he exclaimed in shock.

“What…” Even Diego couldn’t believe what he saw.