Chapter 78
The night air was heavy with tension as Celestina slipped out of the palace, her heart pounding with every step. The streets were eerily quiet, the soft glow of streetlights casting long shadows. She pulled her hood tighter around her face, hoping to blend into the darkness. The message on her phone had been brief, but its urgency left her no choice.
The meeting point was a secluded park on the edge of the city, a place where trees stood like silent sentinels. As she approached, her breath quickened. A hooded figure stood beneath an old oak tree, their posture rigid.
“Who are you?” Celestina demanded, stopping a few feet away. Her voice wavered, a mix of fear and determination.
The figure turned slowly, pulling back his hood. Her breath caught in her throat.
“Dimitri?” she whispered, her knees weakening.
“It’s me, Celestina,” he said, his voice low but steady. “I’m alive.”
Her hand flew to her mouth as tears welled in her eyes. “But… how? I saw the crash. I thought you were dead.”
Dimitri stepped closer, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and sorrow. “It was staged, Celestina. Everything you saw that day was part of a larger plan. Kael and Liora orchestrated it all.”
She shook her head, struggling to process his words. “Kael… and Liora? Why? Why would they do this?”
“They wanted to consolidate power,” Dimitri explained, his voice tinged with anger. “The bombing at your wedding, the threats, the chaos—it was all meant to destabilize your father’s regime and put Kael in a position of ultimate control. Anyone who stood in their way had to be eliminated.”
Celestina’s chest tightened as she absorbed the weight of his revelation. “The bombing… it wasn’t just an attack. It was personal.”
Dimitri nodded. “They wanted to destroy everything connected to your father’s legacy, and that included you. But they needed to make sure you trusted Kael completely first. He’s been playing a long game, Celestina.”
She looked at him, her voice trembling. “How did you survive, Dimitri? I saw the wreckage. They told me you were gone.”
Dimitri’s jaw clenched. “The car crash was no accident. Kael tried to have me killed, but I survived—barely. I’ve been in hiding ever since, gathering evidence to expose him. It wasn’t safe for me to come back until now.”
Her tears spilled over as she reached for him, gripping his arm. “Why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you let me know you were alive?”
Dimitri’s eyes softened. “I wanted to. But if Kael suspected for even a moment that I was still alive, he would’ve come after you. I couldn’t risk your safety.”
Celestina’s voice broke. “All this time… I thought I’d lost you.”
He touched her hand gently. “I never stopped thinking about you, Celestina. But now isn’t the time for that. You need to understand what you’re up against. Kael isn’t just dangerous—he’s ruthless. If you stay with him, you’re putting your life in jeopardy.”
Celestina pulled back, her mind racing. “But what am I supposed to do? He’s always watching me. Controlling me. I don’t even know who to trust anymore.”
“You can trust me,” Dimitri said firmly. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I’ve spent months uncovering Kael’s network. He’s more deeply connected than you realize. And Liora? She’s not just his ally—she’s his co-conspirator. Together, they’ve been manipulating everything from behind the scenes.”
Celestina’s hands balled into fists. “I need proof. My father won’t act without evidence, and Kael will just deny everything.”
Dimitri hesitated, then nodded. “I have proof. Documents, recordings—everything you need. But you have to be careful. Kael’s watching your every move. If he suspects you’re onto him, he won’t hesitate to act.”
“What about my father?” she asked, her voice laced with desperation. “He has resources. He can help us.”
Dimitri’s expression darkened. “Your father’s position makes him a target. Kael knows that if he takes you out of the picture, your father’s influence crumbles. You need to stay away from both of them until we can make our move.”
The gravity of Dimitri’s words settled over her like a heavy weight. She looked at him, tears streaming down her face. “What if it’s already too late?”
“It’s not,” Dimitri said, gripping her shoulders. “But you have to trust me, Celestina. Promise me you won’t go back to Kael. Not until we figure out our next step.”
She hesitated, her heart torn in a thousand directions. “I don’t know if I can do this alone.”
“You’re not alone,” he said softly. “You have me now. And we’ll take Kael down—together.”
As Celestina turned to leave, her mind still reeling, she caught a glimpse of movement in the distance. Her blood ran cold as she spotted a sleek black car parked near the edge of the park.
Leaning against the car, arms crossed, was Kael.
Even from a distance, she could see his face, calm and unreadable, as he watched her.
Her heart seized, panic surging through her veins. How long had he been there? Had he seen Dimitri?
