Chapter 31
The presidential palace was alive with energy, its halls decorated in splendor for Celestina and Dimitri’s return. Chandeliers sparkled like a thousand stars, casting a golden glow over the marble floors. Guests dressed in their finest attire mingled in the vast reception hall, their conversations punctuated by bursts of laughter and clinking glasses.
Celestina stood at the top of the grand staircase, her hand resting lightly on Dimitri’s arm. She wore a flowing emerald gown, its intricate beading catching the light with every move. Her hair was styled in soft waves, adorned with a gold clip shaped like olive leaves, a nod to her family’s legacy.
Dimitri looked equally regal in a tailored black tuxedo with a velvet jacket, his dark eyes scanning the crowd with calm confidence. He leaned closer to her, his voice low and teasing. “You know, I think we’ve stolen the show.”
Celestina chuckled softly. “Let them talk. It’s not every day the president’s daughter returns with a new husband.”
Her father, President Alvada, stood near the entrance, greeting dignitaries and officials as they arrived. When his eyes met Celestina’s, his face lit up with pride.
“Come,” Dimitri said, guiding her down the staircase. “Your father’s waiting.”
As they descended, the crowd’s attention shifted to them, a hush falling over the room before polite applause broke out. Celestina smiled graciously, but her heart pounded in her chest.
President Alvada embraced his daughter tightly when they reached him. “Celestina,” he said warmly, his voice tinged with emotion. “You’ve been missed.”
“I’ve missed you too, Father,” she replied, her voice steady but soft.
The president turned to Dimitri, extending a hand. “Dimitri, welcome to our family. I’m grateful you’ve taken care of my daughter.”
“It’s been my greatest honor,” Dimitri said sincerely, shaking his hand.
The reception continued with speeches, toasts, and an elaborate feast. The ballroom was alive with the sounds of music and laughter as guests danced and celebrated. Celestina and Dimitri moved through the crowd, greeting old friends and new acquaintances alike.
“You’ve brought a calm to her,” an older diplomat remarked to Dimitri as they spoke. “She looks… happy.”
“She deserves nothing less,” Dimitri replied, glancing at Celestina with a soft smile.
The evening was in full swing when the grand double doors to the reception hall burst open with a sudden force. The chatter and music halted abruptly, heads turning toward the entrance.
There he stood—Kael Veridan. His suit was slightly disheveled, his hair tousled, and his eyes wild with emotion. The room seemed to hold its breath as he strode forward, his gaze locked on Celestina.
“Zorina!” he called, his voice echoing through the stunned silence.
Celestina froze, her body stiffening at the sound of her old name. She turned slowly, her heart pounding in her chest as she saw him.
“Kael?” she whispered, disbelief and dread mingling in her voice.
Kael stopped a few feet away, his chest heaving as though he had run miles to get there. “You belong to me,” he said, his voice loud and filled with desperation. “Zorina is my wife!”
Gasps rippled through the crowd, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.
Dimitri stepped forward, his calm demeanor replaced with a steely edge. “You’re mistaken,” he said evenly. “Celestina is my wife now.”
Kael’s eyes flicked to Dimitri, his expression darkening. “You don’t understand,” he said, his voice rising. “We were married first. She’s mine. She’s always been mine.”
Celestina stepped forward, her voice firm. “Stop this, Kael. You have no right to be here.”
“No right?” Kael snapped, his eyes locking onto hers. “You’re my wife! I remember our wedding, Zorina. I remember standing beside you, saying those vows. How can you stand there and pretend none of it mattered?”
“Because you made sure it didn’t!” Celestina shot back, her voice sharp. “You never treated me like a wife, Kael. You ignored me, dismissed me, and left me feeling invisible. You lost any claim you had on me long before this moment.”
Kael flinched as though she had struck him, but he didn’t back down. “I was a fool,” he admitted, his voice breaking. “But I remember now, Zorina. I remember you. And I won’t let you go.”
“She’s already gone,” Dimitri said, his voice firm but calm. “You need to leave, Veridan.”
Kael turned to Dimitri, his fists clenching. “You think you can just take her? Like she’s some prize you’ve won?”
Dimitri’s expression darkened. “I didn’t take her. She chose me. And you’d do well to respect her choice.”
Celestina stepped between them, her voice steady and cold. “Kael, listen to me. Whatever you think we had, it’s over. It’s been over for a long time. I’ve moved on, and so should you.”
Kael’s eyes filled with anguish as he looked at her. “I remember how nervous you were on our wedding day,” he said softly. “You smiled at me like I was the center of your world. How did we get here, Zorina?”
Celestina’s heart clenched, but she refused to let her resolve waver. “We got here because you never gave me a reason to stay.”
Kael stood there, his shoulders slumping as the weight of her words sank in. The guards approached cautiously, waiting for her signal.
“Escort him out,” Celestina said quietly.
