Chapter 69
Celestina paced her study, her mind racing with questions she couldn’t answer. The empty safe confirmed what she had feared—Kael was hiding something, and he knew she was onto him. She couldn’t trust him anymore, but she needed proof to confront him.
When Kael returned to the palace that evening, she didn’t wait. She met him in their private sitting room, her arms crossed and her gaze steely.
“I need to know something, Kael,” she said, her voice sharp. “Where are the documents from your safe?”
Kael, who had just poured himself a drink, paused mid-sip. His expression remained calm as he set the glass down. “What documents?”
“The ones I saw. The ones that shouldn’t have been there,” she replied, her tone unwavering.
Kael walked toward her, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. “Celestina,” he began smoothly, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. If something’s missing, perhaps the staff misplaced it.”
Her frustration boiled over. “Stop lying to me, Kael! You knew I found them, didn’t you? You’re always one step ahead. What are you hiding?”
Kael sighed, his calm demeanor maddening. “You’re overthinking this. I’ve told you before—everything I do is to protect us. You’re letting your imagination run wild.”
“You’re avoiding the question,” she snapped. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Kael stepped closer, his gaze intense but still composed. “I’m not hiding anything from you,” he said softly. “You need to trust me, Celestina. I’ve given you no reason not to.”
She clenched her fists, biting back the retort on her tongue. His calmness made her feel small, like he was always in control while she stumbled through the dark.
“I just hope you’re being honest with me,” she said finally, her voice cold.
Kael smiled faintly, brushing past her on his way out of the room. “You’ll see, Celestina. Everything I’m doing is for us.”
Later that night, Celestina sat by her window, staring out into the moonlit gardens. Sleep had eluded her once again, her mind filled with unanswered questions.
As the wind rustled the trees, she heard something—soft whispers.
Her breath hitched, and she froze, straining to hear more. The whispers grew louder, coming from just outside her window. She stood, her heart pounding, and peered into the darkness.
There, in the shadows, she saw a figure.
“Who’s there?” she called out, her voice trembling but firm.
The figure didn’t respond. Instead, they turned and fled, disappearing into the thick bushes at the edge of the garden.
Celestina rushed to the door, shouting for the guards. “Someone was outside my window! Find them!”
The guards combed the grounds but found no one. When they reported back, she could see the doubt in their eyes, but she knew what she had seen—and heard.
The next morning, Commander Drennan, her father’s former head of security, paid her a visit. He looked more serious than usual, a file tucked under his arm.
“Madam President,” he said, bowing slightly. “I thought you’d want to see this.”
He handed her a USB drive, his expression grave.
“What is it?” she asked.
“A recording from Kael’s study. One of my men managed to retrieve it before the new security measures were put in place. It might explain some of his recent actions.”
Celestina hesitated for a moment before plugging the drive into her laptop. The audio crackled to life, and her blood ran cold as she heard Kael’s voice.
“Everything is in place,” Kael said, his tone calm but commanding. “The explosion will send a message, but it must be controlled. No casualties. We can’t afford to lose her trust yet.”
Her hands trembled as the recording continued. Another voice, unfamiliar and low, replied, “And if she finds out?”
“She won’t,” Kael said confidently. “She trusts me. By the time she realizes, it’ll be too late.”
Celestina’s heart raced as she turned off the recording. The truth was laid bare—Kael had been involved in the bombing.
She looked up at Drennan, her voice barely a whisper. “Keep investigating. I need more proof before I can act.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, his expression unreadable.
That evening, Kael made an announcement over dinner.
“I’ve decided to go on a political tour,” he said casually, pouring himself a glass of wine.
Celestina frowned. “A tour? For what purpose?”
“To reassure the public,” Kael replied. “With everything that’s happened, they need to see strong leadership. It’s crucial for our future.”
Her stomach churned. She didn’t trust him, not after everything she had learned. “And when were you planning to tell me this?”
Kael smiled faintly. “I’m telling you now. I’ll only be gone a few days, and I’ve already arranged for heightened security in my absence. You’ll be perfectly safe.”
Her suspicions deepened. This wasn’t about the public—it was about whatever plan he was orchestrating behind the scenes.
The next day, Celestina accompanied Kael to a public event in the city square, where a crowd had gathered to hear them speak. She felt uneasy as she stood on the raised platform, scanning the sea of faces.
As Kael spoke to the crowd, his voice confident and commanding, Celestina’s gaze lingered on a figure near the back.
Her breath caught.
It was Dimitri.
He was standing among the crowd, partially obscured by a group of onlookers. His face was calm, his eyes fixed on her.
She blinked, her heart pounding. It couldn’t be him. He was supposed to be dead.
But when she looked again, he was gone.
