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
CELESTINAI stormed into the bathroom, slamming the door behind me with enough force to rattle the frame. My breaths came in sharp, shallow bursts, and my hands trembled as I gripped the edge of the sink. The cool porcelain steadied me, but only slightly.Sevastian was insane. Truly, utterly insane. No man in his right mind would behave the way he did. Teasing, taunting, and pushing me to the brink of losing control. And yet, somehow, I couldn’t shake him. The memory of his lips on mine, the intensity in his eyes, and the way he took what he wanted without apology clung to me like a brand.I glanced up at the mirror and froze. My reflection stared back at me, a mess of disheveled hair, flushed cheeks, and smudged lipstick. The sight should’ve angered me more. However, it made something twist deep inside me, something I didn’t want to acknowledge and I refuse to name this damn feeling. My fingers brushed against my lips, the faint stain of his kiss still lingering. It was maddening.
SEVASTIANUnder the disguise of teasing her, Celestina has no idea how many times I fuck her in my mind. Standing so close to her, I could see her enormous buns rising and fall and fuck it. I fucking want to feel it and squeeze it with my own hands. As I continued to feast my eyes on her, I felt my crotch tighten up. Her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, dampened slightly by the humidity, framing a face that was almost too perfect to be real.Her skin glowed, flushed pink, whether from anger or embarrassment, I couldn’t tell. But it was her body curves sculpted by the Gods themselves that held me captive. She stood there in front of me, wearing nothing but two pieces of fabric that did absolutely nothing to hide the sin beneath.I leaned casually against her, my bare chest exposed, and watched her with a mix of fascination and hunger. My gaze traveled lower, shamelessly taking in the delicate slope of her shoulders, the arch of her waist, and the way her thighs pressed toge
SEVASTIAN“You allow me to fuck you but refuse to submission?” I asked, my voice low and laced with challenge, my eyes locked on hers. “Isn’t it the same thing, mia cara? Giving yourself to me is like admitting you’ll be under me.”Her lips curled into a sharp, mocking smile as she leaned in closer, her intoxicating scent clouding my senses. “Honey,” she said, her tone sweet yet cutting, “Fucking is different from submitting. We fuck because we desire each other and slaves to our lust. But submitting?” She scoffed like a dagger meant to wound. “That will never happen.”Her hand reached up, encircling around my neck, her fingers brushing lightly at the back of my hair before she tugged me closer to her. Her breath, warm and inviting, clashed with mine as our faces were only inches apart. She didn’t say a word, she just stared at my eyes. I couldn’t help but to tease her. “So,” I murmured, my lips curving into a grin, “Are you admitting you also desire me?”Her smirk deepened, a dan
CELESTINASevastian was beneath me, his dark eyes fixed on mine with an intensity that made my breath catch. His bare chest was a masterpiece of sculpted muscle and smooth skin, glistening faintly under the soft light. His broad shoulders seemed carved from stone, his defined abs a stark reminder of his raw strength. He wasn’t wearing anything on top, just his black pants that hung low on his hips, teasing me with the barest glimpse of the V-cut that disappeared beneath the waistband.Damn him.He smirked like he could read my thoughts, like he knew exactly how much of a distraction he was. I hated it. I fucking hated him. Hated how maddeningly perfect he looked, sprawled there beneath me with that devil may care attitude, as though he owned me.“You look like you’ve got something to say, sweetheart,” he drawled, his voice a deep rumble that sent a shiver down my spine.I rolled my eyes, forcing myself to focus on his infuriating smirk instead of the heat radiating off his body or
CELESTINAI woke up alone. The sunlight streaming through the curtains stung my eyes, and the stillness of the room left an unpleasant hollow in my chest. I bolted upright, my heart thudding, and scanned the space. No sign of Sevastian. Not even the faintest trace of his scent or warmth.The absence of his presence shouldn’t have bothered me, it didn’t, I told myself. But the tightening in my chest betrayed the lie. I shoved the covers away and swung my legs off the bed, frustration already prickling under my skin, That’s when I saw it.A Louis Vuitton bag, neatly perched at the foot of the bed, taunting me with its designer logo. I was about to reach it when suddenly I came to a halt when I saw my reflection on the mirror full of red marks. A bitter laugh escaped my lips as I ran a hand through my tangled hair. Of course Sevastian Ortega always had to leave his mark, even in his absence.“Huh. What am I to him? A possession? A bed warmer?” I hissed to the empty room.Anger boile
CELESTINA I didn’t breathe until Sevastian was gone.The weight of his glare still pressed against my skin like ash, clinging and suffocating. The echo of his footsteps retreating down the marble hallway felt louder than the music humming from the speakers. God, I wanted to scream and stop him from leaving. I wanted to run away from here and grab him yet I couldn’t. But instead, I stood still paralyzed in a silk dress and borrowed confidence, clutching a wine glass filled with poison I never intended to drink.“You didn’t have to defend me that hard,” Hector said casually, strolling to the bar as if my world hadn’t just cracked open in front of him. “Makes you look a little too convincing.”I didn’t answer. If I opened my mouth, I was afraid something would spill my rage, guilt, or maybe just my pride.Instead, I turned my back on him and walked to the window. The city below glimmered in artificial light, a thousand lies flickering in every window. How fitting.“You know…” he co
SEVASTIANI’ve been inside Hector’s penthouse for a couple of hours now, lurking inside of his disgusting small house, and every passing second with him breathing the same air as Celestina makes my blood boil. I was itching to put a bullet between his eyes the moment he stepped in with her like he owned the damn night.They probably didn’t know I was already here watching, waiting. But neither of them said a thing. I kept my eyes fixed on Celestina as she disappeared into one of the rooms, her figure slipping behind the door like a dream I couldn’t reach.Then I turned my attention back to the bastard who thought he could play God.“Celestina, do you want red or white?” he called out, smug and casual like this was some kind of date.“Red. Make it strong,” she replied from behind the door.“Got it!” he said, wearing a smirk that made my fists clench. Then I watched him, that smug little prick, slip something into her drink. A small white capsule, crushed into powder, stirred into th
CELESTINAAfter weeks of finalizing the plan, everything was finally set into motion. I'd started going out with Hector more frequently, attending every event he dragged me to, dressed to the nines and playing the perfect, obedient little lover.There’s a saying: keep your enemies close and strike them without realizing it. Right now, I sat beside Hector at some fancy, overpriced event filled with mafia rats dressed in tailored suits, each one pretending they weren’t covered in blood beneath their silk shirts. My arm curled around his, and I forced my lips to twitch into a coy smile as we made our way through the ballroom.Everyone seemed fooled. Everyone… except the man sitting across the room, lounging like a king in his fortress of shadows, his fingers wrapped lazily around a glass of whiskey, his eyes fixed on me.Jack Kostov.He was watching me — no, studying me. Like I was a riddle he already knew the answer to.I turned my head slightly, pretending to listen to Hector talk a
VALERIAThe air thickened as if the walls themselves were holding their breath. I couldn't stop staring at Victoria.So much of what I thought I knew about her shattered the moment she uttered those words. ‘And now… so are you.’Her voice didn’t rise. It didn’t need that quiet weight she carried sank deep, like stone tossed into still water, rippling all the way through me.I swallowed hard, trying to find something to say. Anything. But my throat felt dry, like ash was lodged in it.“You were… dragged,” I murmured finally, repeating the word like it would somehow make sense of all this. “And you didn’t fight it?”Victoria turned to me, eyes cool but not cold. “I did,” she said. “In every way I could. But when you’re young and someone like Jack sees something in you, it doesn’t matter how hard you kick. He doesn't pull you in. He lures you… until you think you’re stepping into light, only to realize it’s just fire dressed as gold.”Her words settled inside me like smoke.I looked
CELESTINAIt’s been a week since the three of us took shelter in this mansion, our supposed sanctuary, though peace has always felt like a borrowed luxury in this life.Everything felt… normal again, at least on the surface. Victoria had returned to her usual poised, icy self mask on, spine straight, and words that are carefully calculated. Valeria still carried the weight of our shared trauma, but in her own way, she remained the same—sharp-eyed and remained skeptical.I lifted my teacup, sipping the warm liquid before placing it back on the porcelain saucer with a quiet clink. “I plan to return,” I said simply.Victoria didn’t even blink. She calmly placed her own cup down with that same elegance she always carried, as if nothing could ever rattle her. “Are you certain?” she asked, her voice was searching for certainty. “You think you can handle it now?”Her gaze pinned me, unwavering, the kind of stare that could strip you bare if you weren’t ready. But I was. “Yes,” I answere
SEVASTIAN“Sevastian, let him go!” Aunt Priscilla’s sharp voice echoed in the whole room. But I didn’t move nor follow her words. My hand was already fisted in Hector’s collar, dragging him up just enough for his feet to lift slightly off the floor. My jaw clenched so tightly I could feel the tendons stretching down my neck. My blood boiled, and my rage pounding in my ears louder than anyone’s voice.Yet this bastard dared to smirk. That smug fucking smirk like he hadn’t just signed his death certificate.“Didn’t you hear her?” Hector taunted, lips twitching in amusement, his voice thick with mockery.I wanted to crush his windpipe. Right there. Right now.I glared at him, as I tightened my grip. He chuckled like I was a goddamn joke to him. “It seems your godson doesn’t want to collaborate with the Savelli,” he said, glancing over his shoulder.My gaze followed.And there he was.Jack Kostov.Sitting comfortably on the leather couch like he owned the entire fucking city. One han
CELESTINAA gentle touch brushes against my face, it was light and careful.I felt the warmth spread through me, it was so familiar that I felt so hurt. Slowly, I opened my eyes and for a moment, everything was hazy and blurred. But I didn’t need a perfect vision to know who stood in front of me.“Found you,” she said softly, poking my cheek like she used to when I was little.I blinked as I adjusted my vision until the haze cleared. There she was, the same woman I used to see when I was a child. The woman who appeared in my fragments of memory and fading dreams. A phantom I once believed was just a trick my mind played to comfort me when no one else would.I shot upright, my breath catching in my throat, and without even thinking, I threw my arms around her.God… I clung to her like I was drowning and she was the last thing keeping me above water.I don’t understand. I didn’t understand why my eyes were suddenly burning, and why my shoulders trembled, or why I felt like something
VALERIAAfter Celestina found out the truth about our father, and his connection with the Ortega's, something inside her shifted. No, not just shifted. She changed completely.The weight of it was too much. Knowing that Jack Kostov, a notorious Russian mafia figure with his hands in nearly every syndicate imaginable, was not only our father but also tied to the Ortega family. Even I, who heard about it, makes me tremble. Because I also know how powerful that man is. No, he’s no longer human but a devil in disguise. His works, his business are all in-human. It is widely known how that man was haunted by the government yet they couldn’t even put him in prison because Jack was also protected by some governor, mayor, and even some personnel in police. That’s why he was known as the King of Mafia’s. Some of them admired him and other’s hated him, he had so many enemies yet he was still alive for some reason. And I knew, just like how I felt. Celestina also felt the same, we’re twins a
SEVASTIANIt’s been three months since I followed Hector all the way to Celestina’s apartment, and I still remember every second of that night like it’s carved under my skin.There are memories that blur over time, yet it’s still vividly reminding me that Celestina doesn't trust me or see me as her husband. I clench my jaw tight as I recall how her hand gently touches his face. I buried myself in alcohol hoping it could lessen but none of it eases the one I felt. Rather, I felt more resentful and hated everything that came into my mind. That night left a mark, and no amount of distraction or alcohol could scrub it clean.“You seem to be lost in thought,” Aunt Priscilla said, her voice slicing through the fog in my head. She sat beside me on the long velvet couch like we weren’t waiting for a goddamn lunatic to walk through the door.I barely turned my head. “Isn’t that normal these days?”She raised an eyebrow but said nothing.“He’s coming today,” Natasha chimed in from across the