CELESTINA I woke up, groggy and confused, to find the space beside me cold and empty. The bed’s comforter was slightly crumpled where Sevastian had been, and my mind scrambled to piece together the events of last night. How did I manage to fall asleep in his arms? A shiver of irritation pricked my skin as I pushed the memory aside and sat up.The first thing that caught my eye was the black silk dress hanging on the armchair across the room. My brows knitted together. He had prepared clothes for me? Typical Sevastian, always trying to exert control over even the smallest details. I glanced around, but he was nowhere to be seen. Without dwelling on it further, I slipped out of bed and headed straight to the bathroom.The warm water cascading over my skin was a relief, washing away the remnants of last night’s turmoil. After drying off, I reached for the dress. The fabric was luxurious, hugging my curves snugly as I slipped it on. However, when I tried to fasten the tie at the back
SEVASTIAN As soon as Celestina stormed out of the room, I couldn’t stop the chuckle that escaped me. She was both like a fire who can burn me to death at the same time an ice Queen for treating me cold. However, her reactions were endlessly entertaining. “Afraid of getting penetrated, mia cara?” I muttered under my breath, the smirk on my lips refusing to fade.I was about to follow her when my phone buzzed in my pocket. Glancing at the screen, I saw Hector’s name flashing. “What is it?” I asked as I answered.“Boss,” Hector began, his tone sharp and efficient. “After the announcement about your wife, it’s not just our men who’ve shown interest. Every organization under Ortega’s influence is making moves to attend the meeting.”That wasn’t unexpected. Power plays like this stirred up attention. “Good,” I replied. “We’ll be there in a few minutes. Make sure everything is in place.” I ended the call without waiting for his response, already moving to track down Celestina.When I s
CELESTINAThe silence in the car was thick, almost suffocating, but I refused to break it first. My chest rose and fell with a quiet intensity as I kept the gun steady, the barrel still pointed at Sevastian’s most vulnerable spot. His bloodied thigh was a reminder of my resolve. He underestimated me, and that was his first mistake.The hint of a strained chuckle came from him, and I flicked my eyes to his face. That damn grin of his was still plastered there, as though he found the situation entertaining. “What a remarkable shot, mia cara,” he said, his voice deep and gravelly, tinged with the pain I’d caused. “I know you might enjoy this, but advise you not to damage the part that could bring you happiness.” He added, while emphasizing his “part.”My jaw clenched, and I couldn’t stop the scoff that escaped my lips. He had the audacity to flirt with me when he was bleeding and staring down the barrel of my gun. A very typical Sevastian, always confident, infuriating and pretty
SEVASTIAN As Celestina stepped out of the car, every movement was full of elegance and confidence, which I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The imprint of her red lipstick still burned on my cheek, a mocking reminder of her audacity. My hand brushed against the spot, and a smirk tugged at my lips. How amusing, she thought she could win this game. I adjusted my tie, still slightly disheveled from what she had done a while ago. It seems my wife has a bad habit of pulling my necktie. I wonder what she will look like if I use this to tie that slender wrist of her. My gaze suddenly shifted when I saw my men stationed around the entrance of Triton Club, turning their attention toward us. Their sharp eyes flickered to Celestina first, assessing her, then to me, scanning for any sign of problems.Their gaze lowered on my thighs, I could even see their thoughts as if I became weak after marrying Valeztina daughter. Weakness…That word was a curse in our world, and for a brief moment, I
CELESTINAThe moment Donovan left, Sevastian didn’t waste time. His grip on my waist loosened, but his authoritative presence lingered. He led me down a corridor to the club’s VIP room. As soon as the heavy doors swung open, my stomach churned. The room was large, lavish, and stifling.A massive rectangular table dominated the space, surrounded by men whose gazes immediately locked on Sevastian. The moment they saw him, they rose in unison, a show of respect that seemed almost ritualistic. Their eyes flickered to me briefly, confusion mingling with curiosity, but no one dared to speak just yet.I scanned the room, my gaze inevitably landing on Donovan. He was seated farther down the table, watching me silently, his expression unreadable. Something in his stare unsettled me, but I quickly buried the feeling beneath a mask of indifference. As I quickly ignored Donovan’s existence, I immediately notice Sevastian’s presence. He pulled me a chair. There's only one chair here and if i
CELESTINAMy hands faintly shake at the scene I just witnessed. No matter how much I tried to steady them, I couldn’t completely mask the way my fingers trembled against the edge of the table. I clasped them tightly together on my lap, hoping no one else would notice, though my heart thundered in my chest.I always knew that Sevastian’s cruelty is beyond imagination. But witnessing it firsthand, seeing the life drain from Norman’s body, was a stark reminder of the monster I had tied myself to.My throat felt dry as my gaze briefly shifted to Donovan. He was watching me intently, his eyes sharp, as if trying to decipher my every move. The piercing weight of his stare made me feel exposed, vulnerable, as though he could sense the slight flinch I’d tried so hard to suppress when Sevastian pulled the trigger.Was it possible he’d noticed? Could he see the crack in my mask? I forced myself to maintain composure, drawing a slow breath to steady my nerves. But even as I sat there, compose
SEVASTIAN I sat on the edge of the bed, the ripped fabric of Celestina’s dress clutched in my hands. Slowly and methodically, I tied it around my wounded leg, pulling it tight enough to stem the bleeding. The sting was sharp, but it barely registered. Suddenly, my attention was caught by Celestina’s confusion etched across her face.Her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at me, her brows furrowed. “Why haven’t you treated that yet?” She asked, her voice tinged with irritation. “You had plenty of time when I got out first in the car.”I smirked, leaning back slightly as I knotted the makeshift bandage. “Why?” I repeated, letting the word hang in the air for a moment before meeting her eyes. “Because darling, I wanted you to feel guilty.”Her reaction was priceless. A mixture of anger and disbelief flickered across her face, her lips parting as if to retort, but no words came immediately. “Guilty? For what?” Finally, she found her voice.“For this,” I replied smoothly, gestu
SEVASTIANThe room had gone quiet, but my gaze stayed locked on her. Celestina moved across the space with a kind of effortless grace that I couldn’t tear my eyes from. She wasn’t just beautiful… She was devastatingly captivating, the kind of woman who could bring men to their knees without lifting a finger. Every step she took, every sway of her hips, felt deliberate, calculated, yet maddeningly natural.She reached for the cabinet, her fingers brushing against the smooth wood as she searched for something, probably a robe. The faintest rustle of fabric followed as she moved, and I found myself caught in the rhythm of her. It wasn’t just the way she looked, God knows how stunning this woman is. It was the way she held herself, the confidence woven into every gesture, every turn of her head.Her hair cascaded down her back like ink, shimmering faintly under the soft lighting, and for a moment, I hated how easily she could undo me without even trying. My chest tightened, heat coil
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