SEVASTIANIt was 5:30 in the evening when I returned to Natasha’s mansion, my pulse a steady roar in my ears. The moment I received the call from Aunt Priscilla—that Celestina had left, leaving Leo and her friends under Ortega’s care—I felt something inside me snap.I barely remembered the drive. I only remembered pressing my foot down on the gas, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles turned white, and replaying every single thing she had said, every moment leading up to this.But none of it prepared me for the sight of her empty room.I stood there, breathing heavily, my eyes sweeping over the vacant space that once carried her presence. The scent of her perfume still lingered in the air—a soft, delicate trace of jasmine and something uniquely hers. The bed was made, the closet doors slightly ajar, but stripped bare of her clothes.Gone.The realization settled like a blade to my gut, twisting cruelly.I stormed out, my strides heavy with barely restrained fury as I made my way to N
VALERIAThe moment I saw her, my heart nearly stopped.Celestina.She wasn’t supposed to be here.Panic clawed up my throat as I stormed down the stairs, my pulse a relentless drum against my ribs. I barely registered the sharp sting of cold air when I shoved open the heavy doors and grabbed her arm, yanking her away from the mansion.“What the hell are you doing here?” My voice was a low, harsh whisper, but the fear bleeding into my words made it shake.She didn’t flinch. Didn’t hesitate. Her gaze met mine—empty, detached. A stark contrast to the sister I used to know.“Why?” she asked flatly, her tone devoid of warmth. “Am I not welcome in my own home?”Home.That word felt wrong. Home hadn’t existed for a long time, not for either of us.I tightened my grip on her biceps, fingers digging in. “You—you didn’t see my email?” My voice rose, but I forced it back down, wary of prying ears. “I told you, Celestina. I fucking warned you. No matter what happens, you cannot come back here!”S
PRISCILLAThe moment Mateo and Kai escorted Valeria to the guest room, I turned to Natasha, my expression unreadable."It seems those three know more than they’re letting on." My voice was low, but there was no mistaking the edge in my tone.Natasha exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "They’ve seen what’s happening inside Valeztina. That much is clear."I narrowed my eyes. Valeria’s reaction earlier—it wasn’t just grief. It was knowledge. She had felt something, and now I was sure. The BlackEagle protégé—Celestina’s own people—were hiding something."Let’s start with that woman. Lilia." I made my decision quickly. If there was anyone who would crack first, it would be her.Natasha gave me a curt nod before we both turned and left the drawing room, our steps swift and deliberate as we headed toward the secluded chamber where I had given them sanctuary.The door creaked slightly as Natasha pushed it open with more force than necessary.Lilia jumped.The second she saw us, she panicked,
VALERIAOne year and twelve months of silence. Three hundred and sixty-five days of not knowing whether my twin sister was alive or buried in some unmarked grave.A full year since Celestina disappeared.The last memory I had of her was burned into my mind like a scar that refused to fade — her voice, calm, and firm as she proved that Valeztina wasn’t responsible for Amara’s murder. It should have been a moment of clarity, a revelation that set everything right.Instead, it was the spark that ignited chaos.Priscilla Ortega had spiraled into madness, dragging the rest of the Ortega’s into her personal warpath. Alliances shifted. Blood was spilled. Loyalties fractured. And through it all, we searched, we waited and we hope that one day she would return. But Celestina never came back.And now, a year later, I stood at an event that felt meaningless, my fingers wrapped around the stem of a champagne flute I had no intention of drinking. The air buzzed with the low hum of conversa
CELESTINAA smirk tugged at my lips as I scanned the room, my gaze drifting over familiar faces frozen in shock. It had been a year since I meticulously planned this moment. After a year of suffering, bleeding, and fighting myself to survive from that wrath, I was able to reclaim my freedom. Now, standing in front of them, feeling the weight of all their stunned gazes on me, it was all worth it.I could see the how and why in their faces. In my peripheral vision, I caught sight of Valeria, my twin sister.Her wide eyes, the slight parting of her lips, the way her fingers tightened around the delicate stem of her glass. Shock, disbelief, questions that she dared not voice aloud. She wasn’t the only one. The Ortega’s, too, sat in varying degrees of surprise, their expressions wavering between confusion and wariness.Good. It’s working under my plan. But then, just as I basked in the silent triumph of my return, my gaze shifted and I felt the floor tilt beneath me.Sevastian, my e
NATASHAAfter Sevastian and Leah left, my attention was directly focused on the woman in front me. She’s happily having a chat with the man beside her. A smirk painted on my lips. The world had a cruel way of playing tricks on us, making the dead walk among the living as if they had never vanished in the first place.She vanished in thin air and afterwards, we didn't hear anything from her. As if she was utterly gone. Celestina...I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her.She was standing there, effortlessly gaining everyone’s attention in the room, with her crimson dress that clung to her making her curves more transparent. She looks like a woman who came to dominate this room, no. I would rather say that she came today to devour everyone and to show the power she holds. By watching her from afar, I could tell that she’s untouchable. Huh! So this is what grand entrance she made? What a clever thing. It had been a year since we all thought she was dead, a year since she disappeare
CELESTINAThe cold edge of my knife rested against Sevastian Ortega’s throat, hanging like a sharp edge enough to draw blood. His dark, soulless eyes stared down at me with the kind of contempt that made my skin crawl. But I didn’t flinch, I couldn’t, not in front of a man like him. He’s a tyrant wrapped in charm, a devil in diguised. If I showed even the slightest hint of weakness, I knew he would shatter me into pieces. “What the hell are you plotting?” I demanded, my voice sharp and steady despite the knot tightening in my gut. Sevastian didn’t answer right away. He just stood in front of me calmly, as if the knife at his neck was nothing more than a toy that cannot threaten his life. I hate it. I hate how composed he is while I am infuriating with rage. His dark brown eyes bore through me, making a hole in the depths of my soul.I saw his tongue poke his cheek before he spoke. “Marriage.” His deep baritone voice suddenly echoed to my ears. I blinked. For a second, I t
CELESTINA It’s my wedding day and everyone was looking forward to the union between the two families who used to be enemies. The two families which were divided by hatred and bloodshed, is now to be sealed in the most ironic way, a marriage. They say I’m the fortunate one, the golden child of Carson, the girl destined for grandeur. But behind closed doors, the truth is ugly. My father sees me as nothing more than a pawn—a perfectly sculpted vase to be placed on display, traded for his insatiable thirst for power.Not long ago, I was married into the Savelli family, standing at the altar with Hector, a man I once believed would protect me. But promises turn hollow when betrayal strikes. Hector’s deception cut through me like a blade, and as quickly as I became his wife, I was cast aside. After my father knew what happened, he immediately came to the Savelli and annulled our marriage, leaving behind whispers of scandal and eyes full of judgment.When our marriage dissolved as qu
NATASHAAfter Sevastian and Leah left, my attention was directly focused on the woman in front me. She’s happily having a chat with the man beside her. A smirk painted on my lips. The world had a cruel way of playing tricks on us, making the dead walk among the living as if they had never vanished in the first place.She vanished in thin air and afterwards, we didn't hear anything from her. As if she was utterly gone. Celestina...I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her.She was standing there, effortlessly gaining everyone’s attention in the room, with her crimson dress that clung to her making her curves more transparent. She looks like a woman who came to dominate this room, no. I would rather say that she came today to devour everyone and to show the power she holds. By watching her from afar, I could tell that she’s untouchable. Huh! So this is what grand entrance she made? What a clever thing. It had been a year since we all thought she was dead, a year since she disappeare
CELESTINAA smirk tugged at my lips as I scanned the room, my gaze drifting over familiar faces frozen in shock. It had been a year since I meticulously planned this moment. After a year of suffering, bleeding, and fighting myself to survive from that wrath, I was able to reclaim my freedom. Now, standing in front of them, feeling the weight of all their stunned gazes on me, it was all worth it.I could see the how and why in their faces. In my peripheral vision, I caught sight of Valeria, my twin sister.Her wide eyes, the slight parting of her lips, the way her fingers tightened around the delicate stem of her glass. Shock, disbelief, questions that she dared not voice aloud. She wasn’t the only one. The Ortega’s, too, sat in varying degrees of surprise, their expressions wavering between confusion and wariness.Good. It’s working under my plan. But then, just as I basked in the silent triumph of my return, my gaze shifted and I felt the floor tilt beneath me.Sevastian, my e
VALERIAOne year and twelve months of silence. Three hundred and sixty-five days of not knowing whether my twin sister was alive or buried in some unmarked grave.A full year since Celestina disappeared.The last memory I had of her was burned into my mind like a scar that refused to fade — her voice, calm, and firm as she proved that Valeztina wasn’t responsible for Amara’s murder. It should have been a moment of clarity, a revelation that set everything right.Instead, it was the spark that ignited chaos.Priscilla Ortega had spiraled into madness, dragging the rest of the Ortega’s into her personal warpath. Alliances shifted. Blood was spilled. Loyalties fractured. And through it all, we searched, we waited and we hope that one day she would return. But Celestina never came back.And now, a year later, I stood at an event that felt meaningless, my fingers wrapped around the stem of a champagne flute I had no intention of drinking. The air buzzed with the low hum of conversa
PRISCILLAThe moment Mateo and Kai escorted Valeria to the guest room, I turned to Natasha, my expression unreadable."It seems those three know more than they’re letting on." My voice was low, but there was no mistaking the edge in my tone.Natasha exhaled sharply, crossing her arms. "They’ve seen what’s happening inside Valeztina. That much is clear."I narrowed my eyes. Valeria’s reaction earlier—it wasn’t just grief. It was knowledge. She had felt something, and now I was sure. The BlackEagle protégé—Celestina’s own people—were hiding something."Let’s start with that woman. Lilia." I made my decision quickly. If there was anyone who would crack first, it would be her.Natasha gave me a curt nod before we both turned and left the drawing room, our steps swift and deliberate as we headed toward the secluded chamber where I had given them sanctuary.The door creaked slightly as Natasha pushed it open with more force than necessary.Lilia jumped.The second she saw us, she panicked,
VALERIAThe moment I saw her, my heart nearly stopped.Celestina.She wasn’t supposed to be here.Panic clawed up my throat as I stormed down the stairs, my pulse a relentless drum against my ribs. I barely registered the sharp sting of cold air when I shoved open the heavy doors and grabbed her arm, yanking her away from the mansion.“What the hell are you doing here?” My voice was a low, harsh whisper, but the fear bleeding into my words made it shake.She didn’t flinch. Didn’t hesitate. Her gaze met mine—empty, detached. A stark contrast to the sister I used to know.“Why?” she asked flatly, her tone devoid of warmth. “Am I not welcome in my own home?”Home.That word felt wrong. Home hadn’t existed for a long time, not for either of us.I tightened my grip on her biceps, fingers digging in. “You—you didn’t see my email?” My voice rose, but I forced it back down, wary of prying ears. “I told you, Celestina. I fucking warned you. No matter what happens, you cannot come back here!”S
SEVASTIANIt was 5:30 in the evening when I returned to Natasha’s mansion, my pulse a steady roar in my ears. The moment I received the call from Aunt Priscilla—that Celestina had left, leaving Leo and her friends under Ortega’s care—I felt something inside me snap.I barely remembered the drive. I only remembered pressing my foot down on the gas, gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles turned white, and replaying every single thing she had said, every moment leading up to this.But none of it prepared me for the sight of her empty room.I stood there, breathing heavily, my eyes sweeping over the vacant space that once carried her presence. The scent of her perfume still lingered in the air—a soft, delicate trace of jasmine and something uniquely hers. The bed was made, the closet doors slightly ajar, but stripped bare of her clothes.Gone.The realization settled like a blade to my gut, twisting cruelly.I stormed out, my strides heavy with barely restrained fury as I made my way to N
CELESTINAThree days.It’s been three days since Sevastian left without looking back.Three days since I stood in that room, contemplating my choice with regret. I’d spent my entire hours crying and blaming myself for my reckless decision. Now, as I sat here inside of the drawing room, staring at the documents spread before me, I could feel the weight of my decision pressing against my chest like a slowly tightening noose.“Sis, are you okay?”Lilia’s voice snapped me from my daze, her soft eyes searching mine with concern.I forced a small, reassuring smile. “Yes.” My voice was steady, even if my heart wasn’t. “Have you prepared everything?”“Yes. All that’s left is your signature,” she confirmed, neatly stacking the papers in front of me.The pen felt heavy in my grip.I started signing our divorce paper, it was my last chance to hold the Ortega name. His name, the only way to confirm that I was his. Mateo, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly broke the silence. “Do you reall
CELESTINAClick!The sharp snap of the lock sent a thrill down my spine.Sevastian’s arms were still around me, his presence firm and tough, instead of pulling away, I held him tighter.Maybe it was because of the alcohol clouding my thoughts. The heat is still lingering in my veins from my recent conversation with Natasha. Or maybe it was simply because it was him.The moment my body touched his, heat coiled inside me, it was thick and unquenchable. The sensation grew worse, it became stronger when my fingers brushed over the coolness of his skin in his neck. A dangerous contrast between fire and ice. Or maybe, Natasha was right. I was a bitch in heat, that once I felt his touch I couldn’t help but to feel a tingle sensation between my thighs. And I was starting to lose my head, his strong perfume is like a temptress to my lustful desire towards him. Before I could even process what was happening, Sevastian moved.In one swift motion, he threw us onto the bed. His body above mi
SEVASTIANThe whole room was dimly lit, with the only glow coming from the path lights outside the window.Smoke curled from my cigarette, twisting in the air like a small cloud before dissolving into nothing. The night was too damn quiet. The kind of silence that didn’t soothe me but rather, it was suffocating. Every breath I took felt heavier, pressing against my ribs like a fucking weight I couldn’t shake off. I tilted my head and saw my own face reflected in the glass window.Tired eyes, clenched jaw, muscles too stiff from holding in everything I can’t let go of.‘Let’s get divorce,’ her words etched inside my head and made my blood boil. I grind my teeth, feeling the anger crawl up my throat. Every time she said those words, it felt like she was digging a hole inside me. I can't stop thinking about it and I can’t stop feeling that pit in my stomach.Why the hell does she have to do this to me? After everything I’ve done? I’ve sacrificed myself to keep her fucking safe, an