Chapter 72
The private island was everything Kael had promised—tranquil, secluded, and breathtakingly beautiful. The villa, perched on a hill overlooking the azure sea, was a masterpiece of luxury. Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, and the rhythmic sound of waves crashing against the shore seemed to whisper serenity.
But for Celestina, the peaceful setting only heightened her unease.
“Do you like it?” Kael asked, standing beside her on the villa’s wide balcony. His arm was draped casually around her waist, his tone as warm as the tropical sun.
“It’s beautiful,” she admitted, gazing out at the view. But even as the words left her mouth, her thoughts swirled with doubt.
Kael smiled and kissed her temple. “I thought this would be the perfect escape for us. No distractions, no worries. Just you and me.”
She nodded, forcing a smile, though a voice in the back of her mind whispered, Why now? What are you trying to hide?
Kael’s affection was undeniable—his thoughtful gestures, his laughter, the way he seemed so attuned to her—but it all felt like a mask. Beneath the charm, something darker lurked, and Celestina couldn’t ignore it.
Later that afternoon, as Kael went outside to take a swim, Celestina explored the villa. The expansive space was as lavish as it was private, with every room meticulously designed for comfort and beauty. But as she wandered, she came across a door at the far end of the hallway.
It was locked.
She tried the handle again, just to be sure, but it didn’t budge. Frowning, she called out to Kael, who was just coming back from the pool, water dripping from his hair.
“What’s this room?” she asked, gesturing to the door.
Kael glanced at it, then shrugged. “Storage, I think. Probably just supplies.”
“Why is it locked?”
“It’s probably nothing,” he said easily, brushing it off. “Don’t worry about it.”
Celestina nodded, though the casual way he dismissed her question left her with more doubts.
That night, as she sat reading in the living room, she heard Kael’s voice coming from the balcony.
“Yes… everything is under control,” he said quietly, though his tone carried a sharp edge.
Celestina set her book down and moved closer, careful to stay out of sight.
“No, she doesn’t suspect a thing,” Kael continued, his words slicing through her like ice.
Her breath caught. Who was he talking to?
She inched closer, but before she could hear more, Kael ended the call abruptly.
When he turned back inside and saw her standing there, his expression softened into a smile. “I didn’t know you were there. Everything okay?”
She nodded quickly, her mind racing. “I just came to see where you were.”
“Just handling some logistics back home,” he said smoothly, walking over and pulling her into a gentle embrace. “I didn’t mean to disturb you.”
Her heart pounded against his chest as she fought to maintain her composure. “No disturbance,” she murmured, though her thoughts were anything but calm.
The following day, Kael went out to check on something with the villa staff, leaving Celestina alone. Her curiosity gnawed at her, and she decided to search his belongings.
In his suitcase, tucked beneath neatly folded clothes, she found it: a second phone.
The screen was locked, but when she tapped it, the recent calls list appeared, showing one number labeled only as “H.” Her fingers trembled as she stared at it.
Who is H?
Her heart raced as she tried to think of what to do. She couldn’t unlock the phone, but the mere fact that Kael had it—and that he’d been so careful to keep it hidden—spoke volumes.
She quickly returned the phone to its hiding spot, her mind spinning with questions.
That evening, Kael surprised her with an intimate dinner on the villa’s terrace. The table was lit with candles, and the smell of grilled fish and fresh tropical fruit filled the air.
“You’ve been quiet today,” Kael said, his eyes scanning her face as he poured her a glass of wine. “Is something bothering you?”
“No,” she said quickly, forcing a smile. “I’m just… tired.”
Kael leaned forward, his tone soft but probing. “Are you sure? You seem distant. I want to make sure you’re happy, Celestina. You’re everything to me.”
“I’m fine,” she insisted, her voice tightening.
His eyes darkened slightly, though his smile remained. “You’d tell me if something was wrong, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course,” she said, though her heart raced under his piercing gaze.
The warmth in his voice shifted subtly, replaced with a quiet intensity. “I hope so. Because honesty is the foundation of trust, don’t you think?”
The question hung in the air like a warning, and Celestina nodded quickly, retreating emotionally even as she smiled. “Yes, I agree.”
Kael’s smile returned, but the moment left her rattled.
The next morning, as the sun streamed through their bedroom window, Celestina stirred awake to find something unusual.
A folded piece of paper had been slipped under their bedroom door.
Her breath caught as she bent down and picked it up, unfolding it with trembling hands.
The note was short, written in bold, blocky letters: “The truth is in the locked room. Don’t let him fool you.”
