Merry Christmas everyone! May you have a blissful and wonderful day. Love yah!
DONOVAN I watched Sevastian leave, his arrogant strides and the mocking edge to his smile still grating against my nerves. "She was a virgin when I took her last night."It shouldn’t have mattered. I shouldn’t have cared. But the sheer confidence in his tone, the way he claimed her like she was some prize… it grated against my every nerve.I let out a sharp breath, running a hand through my hair. Damn it. Why did it bother me so much? Was it jealousy? Rage? Or just the bitter taste of failure knowing I had been close to finding her all these years, only for Sevastian to claim her before I could?My hand moved to my pocket, retrieving my phone. I dialed a familiar number, my thumb pressing hard against the screen as though it could ease my frustration.“Winston,” I barked as soon as he picked up.“Donovan,” he drawled, his tone both amused and cautious. “What’s got your temper flaring this time?”“It’s Celestina Valeztina-Ortega,” I said, cutting straight to the point. “What’s wit
CELESTINAI sat behind my desk, the quiet hum of my office filling the air as Bianca, my loyal personal assistant, walked in. Her heels clicked sharply against the marble floor, each step a reminder of the world I now controlled, and the world I was still escaping from.“Ma’am,” she started, her voice steady but laced with concern, “Your husband, Sevastian Ortega is using every resource to find you.”I barely looked up from my laptop screen, instead bringing my wine glass to my lips, savoring the smooth burn as the red liquid slid down my throat. A smirk tugged at the corner of my mouth. I’d been expecting this.“I know,” I replied coolly, keeping my eyes on the screen. “But he won’t find me.”Bianca's expression tightened, though she remained silent. She knew I didn’t say things I didn’t mean. But I also knew she must have her doubts, because not everyone understood what I was capable of.Everyone seems to know I was just merely a flower to be displayed but that was a lie. That wa
CELESTINAThe weight of the world seemed to press down on my shoulders, and yet, the calm I carried in my chest was the most dangerous weapon I had. I couldn't afford to lose control, not now that Sevastian is looking for me and Donovan was so eager to dig my secret. He became more of a threat than I had expected, and I needed to handle this with precision. If I couldn’t play the game then I had to break it, to crush it beneath me.I turned my gaze to Bianca, still standing at the edge of my desk, waiting for my next command."Call Bryan Reynolds, Isaac River, and Vittoria Morgan. Have them come here immediately," I ordered, my voice clear and steady, despite the fury that burned within me.Bianca nodded without hesitation, the sense of urgency in her movements telling me she understood the gravity of the situation. Without a word, she turned and exited the office. The moment she left, I leaned back in my chair, allowing myself a single breath to center myself. The weight of Dono
SEVASTIANThe moment the call ended. I tightened my grip on my phone, I grinded my teeth tightly until my jaw ached. Celestina was so good at peaking my anger by toying my emotions. She dared to call me knowing full well the kind of chaos she left in her wake. “Enjoy while you can, my wife. When I catch you, you’ll beg for mercy you won’t get.” I muttered under my breath as my lips curled into a snarl of mockery. I couldn’t shake the frustration that had been eating at me for hours. I’d thrown every resource I had, every connection, every tool in my arsenal to track her down, yet she had slipped through all of it like smoke. How the hell was it possible?My blood boiled as I reached for the intercom on my desk. “Get Travis in here. Now,” I barked, my voice was cold and sharp. Minutes later, the door to my office opened, and Travis stepped inside, his expression calm but wary. Smart. He knew better than to test my temper when it was this volatile.“She called me,” I said flatly,
CELESTINAI couldn’t help the laughter that bubbled out of me as I leaned back in my chair. My eyes were glued to the live feed on my laptop screen, where Sevastian sat in his office, a storm of rage and frustration swirling around him. Every movement he made, every tight grip on his desk, and the murderous look on his face, it was all deliciously entertaining.I sent him my cropped photo, a body on full display, marked and claimed by him. His reaction didn’t surprise me, but the raw intensity of his anger was almost exhilarating. I leaned forward, resting my chin on my hand as I studied his face. “Oh, my dear husband,” I murmured with a sly grin. “You entertained me today.”I couldn’t imagine what he must be thinking right now. Was he cursing my name? Was he doubting everything about me? Or was he thinking of killing me? I couldn’t help but be thrilled on what consequences I will face to provoke someone like Sevastian Ortega. The idea of him unraveling, piece by piece, mad
SEVASTIAN After Travis informed me that the CCTV in my office had been infiltrated by BlackEagle, a surge of rage coursed through me. My jaw tightened, and I gritted my teeth, barely containing the fury bubbling inside me. Suddenly, Travis' voice echoed in my head. ‘Sir, the CCTV feed in your office was hacked. We’re tracking the breach, but whoever it is, they’re good.’A mocking smirk curled my lips.Good? No, they weren’t good. They were fucking provoking me. My lips twisted into a sinister smirk. I leaned back in my chair, staring directly into the CCTV lens. If they were watching, I wanted them to know that I already knew that they were watching me, and I refused to let them win. Suddenly, a notification popped up on my laptop. Clicking it open, my smirk froze, replaced by a murderous glare. The screen filled with Celestina’s image. She was sitting on a plush couch, ropes binding her wrists and ankles. Her wide, frightened eyes stared straight at the camera, and fuck! She
CELESTINAI watched the screen with an amused smirk as Sevastian’s men scrambled, their faces a mixture of frustration and fleeting hope. They thought they’d found me, that their relentless search had paid off.Fools.The false location I planted was enough to send them into a frenzy, like dogs chasing their tails. Their celebration was pitiful. When I leaned back in my chair, crossing one leg over the other, and chuckled to myself. They didn’t know I’d been watching them this whole time. Travis, Sevastian’s underlings, had his monitor wide open, giving me an unfiltered view of their entire operation. Their mistake? They underestimated me. Their arrogance was a delicious weakness, ripe for exploitation.“Bunch of Idiots.” Lilith Brooks’ voice came from behind me, laced with dry humor. She held a cigarette between her fingers, taking a long drag before exhaling a plume of smoke. “They’re trying to hunt down one of the most notorious hackers in the world,” Lilith continued, her
SEVASTIANThe cold wind from the ocean hit my face as I stood at the edge of the El Magnu Port. The night was silent, the kind of silence that could speak danger instead of peace. My men surrounded the warehouse, their movements precise, their weapons ready. This operation today is to capture the BlackEagle emperor and also to save my wife.If Celestina was inside and he dared to touch her, I would burn this place and would send him to hell. Suddenly, Adrian’s voice broke the silence. “Are you sure this is the right location? It feels... off.”Travis shot him a glare. “Of course, it’s right. My team cracked BlackEagle’s firewall. This is where he’s been operating from. I wouldn’t have reported it if I wasn’t sure.”Adrian crossed his arms, unconvinced. “It’s too quiet. Too close to the city. Doesn’t feel right.”I stepped forward, my boots crunching against the gravel. “Enough,” I said, making no room for argument. “The man we’re hunting isn’t just any hacker, remember that he’s
JACK I sat in the backseat of my car, fingers tapping against the armrest, my patience thinning with every second that passed. The air inside was thick with the scent of tobacco and leather, the slow-burning cigarette in my hand smoldering between my fingers.The night was calm, deceptively so, but my instincts had been sharpened by years of this game. I knew better than to trust stillness.Then the call came.I answered without a word."Boss! Two women came and rescued Victoria! They're heading toward the shore!"I inhaled deeply, the cherry of my cigarette glowing red-hot in the dim light.Two women.I already knew who they were.A slow smirk curled on my lips."Then let them run," I said smoothly, flicking the ash off my cigarette out the window. "There are plenty of ways to get my muse."Victoria…My muse.My obsession.My fucking addiction.I could still hear her moans, the way they used to tremble between gasps, half pleasure, half defiance. She was the only woman who had ever
CELESTINAThe wheel twisted beneath my grip as I swerved the boat around, the engine roaring in protest. The waves crashed against the hull, spraying saltwater across my face, but I barely registered it.We were going back.We were going to save her.But before I could focus on the plan forming in my mind, Valeria’s voice cut through the wind.“Before I leave to save Victoria, there’s something you need to know.”Something in her tone made my stomach drop.I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. “What?”She exhaled sharply, as if bracing herself. “Victoria… she’s our biological mother.”My hands tightened around the wheel so suddenly that my knuckles ached.No.That wasn’t possible.It couldn’t be possible.The coldness spread through me, seeping into my bones. I thought—no, I assumed—that when Valeria called her “Mom,” it was just desperation, a slip of the tongue in the heat of the moment. But now…I felt my chest constrict.“Liar,” I whispered, my voice barely audible over the
VALERIA‘I already knew that you already know that I was your biological mother. Please don’t tell Celestina about it—not until I finally leave.’Her words kept replaying in my mind, digging into my skull like an old, rusted knife. So she knew. She knew I had figured it out long ago, yet she still played along with her lies, pretending as if she was nothing more than our ruthless mentor, our manipulative leader.And now, she was leaving us?“Valeria! Don’t space out—keep moving! We have no time!” Victoria’s sharp voice cut through my haze as she yanked me forward, dragging me out of the house and into the night.Gunfire erupted behind us, bullets ripping through the air like vengeful spirits. The enemy was closing in, their relentless footsteps echoing against the rocky terrain.We ran.Through the dense trees, down the slope, and into the hidden cave.Inside, a speedboat sat waiting at the water’s edge, its sleek frame rocking gently against the tide. Celestina jumped in first, immed
CELESTINAA heavy silence filled the room as I stared at Victoria.I had made a promise—one that I wasn’t sure I wanted to keep. But there was something clawing at my mind, something I needed to confirm.Victoria had always been a mystery, a woman wrapped in shadows and deception. But the way she hesitated, the way her body tensed at my question—there was something more she was hiding.And I intended to find out.I took a deep breath, locking my gaze onto hers."But on one condition," I said firmly. "I will promise to take care of Valeztina if you take off your mask right now."A sharp intake of breath came from beside me."No!" Valeria’s voice cracked with something close to panic. She took a step forward, her grip tightening on her gun. "She shouldn't there must be a reason why she""Aren’t you curious what she looks like?" I interrupted, cutting her off with a quiet, piercing question.She froze.I knew Valeria. Knew how her mind worked. Knew that despite everything, she was curiou
VALERIAI kept my fist clenched so tightly my nails dug into my palm. The sting was nothing compared to the weight pressing against my chest.I hadn’t lied.But I hadn’t told the whole truth, either.I had known for a long time why the elders sold our information. I had overheard it in whispers behind closed doors, in meetings I was never meant to witness. It wasn’t just because we were dangerous, not just because Celestina could break into any system and I could take out a target without leaving a trace.No, it was because one of them—one of those power-hungry bastards—wanted control of Valeztina. And to do that, they had to remove us first.So they sold us.To him.To the man Victoria despised more than anyone.I knew who it was, knew the name that would send a chill down Celestina’s spine if I ever uttered it. But I didn’t. Because if I did, everything would change.And right now, my biggest concern wasn’t Victoria’s past.It was Celestina.She didn’t know the full extent of what w
CELESTINA Everything was too much to take in.Victoria’s sudden shift, the way she acted, the fragments of her past she was revealing, the way she seemed to know the exact taste of the lasagna I used to love none of it made sense.Lasagna had been my comfort, a reminder of warmth and safety. But when our mother, Clara, died, I stopped eating it. The mere thought of it left an ache in my chest. Yet, here it was again, tasting just the way I remembered.How?How did Victoria know?The familiarity in her touch unsettled me even more. The way her fingers combed gently through my hair, it felt like a distant memory I couldn’t place, a ghost of something I had lost long ago.And now, she was talking about leaving?It was absurd.“That…” Valeria’s voice broke through the thick silence, raw with emotion. “The one you’re protecting… is your child?”Victoria turned away from us, her arms crossing over her chest as she stared out at the endless waves of the ocean. “Yes,” she said at last, her
VALERIASo, that’s it?She’s just going to walk away?She’s going to leave everything behind? The empire, the legacy, the chaos she created and handed it over to us?My grip on the fork tightened as I glared at her, but Victoria remained infuriatingly calm, as if she had already accepted this fate long before she even spoke the words.Her mask, her composed demeanor, her gentle facade it was all too much for me to bear. “You already know, don’t you?” she said suddenly, her voice breaking through my spiraling thoughts.My breath hitched.Cold dread curled in my stomach, seeping into my veins.Did she already know?Did she know that I had been keeping this secret all along? That I knew she was our biological mother?She tilted her head, her lips curving into a smirk, eyes gleaming with something unreadable.“Do you think I wouldn’t?” she mused, her tone light, almost amused.My entire body tensed.Beside me, Celestina frowned, and confused.“What are you talking about?” she asked.Pan
CELESTINAMy teeth clenched as I forced down the surge of frustration rising inside me.Valeria was coming here.The moment Victoria had said it, a deep, unsettling feeling settled in my gut.Something was off.From the second she arrived, there was something different about her — a shift in her usual demeanor. She had never been the type to open up so easily, never one to share her past, let alone speak of death as if it were already decided.My fists curled at my sides as I glared at her back, my pulse thrumming with barely contained suspicion.Was that what she wanted? To drag us into her madness? To entangle us so deeply in her vendetta that we could never crawl our way out?The ocean breeze rustled through my hair, cool against my heated skin, but it did nothing to soothe the upsetting feeling that I felt inside me.We continued walking in silence until we reached a small, modern house nestled between the trees. It stood in contrast to the vast, untamed beauty of the coastline
VALERIA I covered my mouth with trembling fingers as tears spilled down my cheeks, my breath hitching in my throat.I didn’t know what to say and I didn’t know how I should react. Hearing those words from the very woman I had spent my entire life trying to understand why she so hated us, but suddenly telling us now that she want us to kill her? Is she fucking insane?Celestina probably still didn’t know the truth. That woman she’s talking with is our real mother.But I do, I do fucking know the truth. Before mom’s Clara's tragic death, she told me that she isn’t our biological mother but it was the woman who’s living like a ghost in Valeztina. And I certainly know who she’s talking to, because there is one woman who’s living that kind of life and earning the title of the Phantom Heiress. At first I found it absurd and I refuse to believe it. Until the day I almost thought I would die and that’s the first time the Phantom came to save me from the brink of death. She usually hides