Chapter 71
The photograph trembled in Celestina’s hands as she stared at Dimitri’s face and the scrawled message beneath it: “I’m coming for you.”
Her breath came in shallow gasps, her eyes darting around the room. Someone had been here. Someone had placed this on her pillow while she slept. The thought sent chills through her, and she clutched the photo tighter, her palms clammy.
“Who… who could’ve done this?” she whispered to the empty room.
The shadows seemed to press in closer as her gaze flitted to the corners of the chamber. Was someone still here, watching her? She bolted up, frantically checking the windows, the closet, even beneath the bed. But the room was empty, eerily silent.
Her heart pounded as she returned to the photograph. Dimitri’s eyes seemed to bore into hers, his expression a mix of intensity and warning. Was it really from him? Was he alive, or was this some cruel game?
She couldn’t risk Kael finding it. Quickly, she grabbed the nearest book on her shelf—a thick leather-bound novel she rarely touched—and tucked the photograph inside. Sliding it back into place, she exhaled shakily and pressed her hands to her temples.
Stay calm. Don’t let him see you unraveling, she told herself.
The next morning, Celestina sat stiffly at the breakfast table, her tea untouched as Kael entered the room. His presence was as composed as always, his sharp suit and confident stride perfectly in place.
“You didn’t sleep well,” he observed, his voice gentle but probing.
Celestina’s fingers tightened around her teacup. “I’m fine,” she said quickly. “Just… lingering stress from everything. The wedding, the bomb, the move to Russia—it’s been a lot to process.”
Kael raised an eyebrow, his gaze studying her for a moment longer than she was comfortable with. “I see,” he said, pouring himself coffee. “You’ve seemed distracted lately. If there’s something on your mind, you can always tell me. You know that, right?”
The words felt kind, but they carried a weight that made her chest tighten. She forced a small smile, hoping it didn’t look as strained as it felt. “Of course. I appreciate that.”
Kael sipped his coffee, watching her with a faint, unreadable expression. “Good,” he said finally, setting the cup down. “I just want us to be on the same page. Trust is important, Celestina.”
The way he said trust made her stomach churn, but she nodded anyway. “It is.”
As Kael prepared to leave for his office, he paused at the door and turned back to her.
“Celestina,” he said, his tone softer now, almost affectionate. He took her hand, pressing a kiss to the back of it.
“Hmm?” she murmured, looking up at him.
“Trust me. Always,” he said, his eyes holding hers for a moment too long.
The phrase sent a ripple of unease through her, and she forced a small laugh to mask it. “Of course, Kael. Always.”
He smiled faintly, brushing her cheek with his hand before turning and leaving the room. The sound of his footsteps echoing down the hall made her shoulders relax slightly, but her mind remained restless. The deliberate way he had said those words… it didn’t feel like reassurance. It felt like a warning.
That night, Celestina struggled to fall asleep, her thoughts circling endlessly around the photograph, Kael’s cryptic behavior, and the growing sense that everything around her was spiraling out of control. When sleep finally came, it brought no peace.
In her dream, she found herself standing in a dimly lit corridor. The air was cold, and her footsteps echoed as she walked. At the end of the hall, Dimitri stood waiting, his face shadowed but unmistakable.
“Dimitri,” she whispered, moving toward him.
He stepped forward, his expression angry this time. “You can’t keep ignoring the truth, Celestina,” he said, his voice sharp. “He’s playing you. Every word he says is a lie.”
Her chest tightened as she shook her head. “What are you talking about? What truth? Just tell me!”
“You know it,” Dimitri said firmly, his voice rising. “You’ve seen the signs. He’s using you, Celestina. Stop pretending you don’t see it!”
She reached for him, desperate for answers, but he stepped back into the shadows. “Dimitri, wait! Please!”
His voice echoed as he disappeared: “Wake up before it’s too late.”
Celestina woke with a start, her body covered in a cold sweat. She sat up, her heart racing, Dimitri’s words still ringing in her ears.
The next morning, Kael greeted her with a wide smile, his charm on full display.
“I have something special planned for us,” he said as they sat down for breakfast.
Celestina blinked, forcing herself to appear neutral. “What is it?”
“A honeymoon,” Kael announced. “I’ve booked a trip for us—a chance to reset, leave all the chaos behind, and focus on what really matters: us.”
Celestina felt her stomach drop. A honeymoon? Now?
“That’s… unexpected,” she said carefully, reaching for her tea to avoid his gaze.
Kael leaned forward, his smile warm. “You’ve been through so much, my love. I want us to have a fresh start. Just you and me, away from all the distractions.”
She forced a smile, though every instinct screamed at her to run. “That sounds… wonderful.”
