Chapter 87
The imposing gates of the presidential palace loomed before Celestina as the car pulled to a stop. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap, though her knuckles betrayed her tension. She had returned to the very place she had escaped from, not because she wanted to, but because she had to.
“Are you sure about this?” Dimitri had asked her before she left the Montenegro villa.
“No,” she had admitted, her voice trembling. “But it’s the only way to get the evidence we need to bring Kael down. He’s never going to let me go unless I take back control.”
Now, as she stepped out of the car and into the shadow of the palace, Celestina forced herself to play the part she’d rehearsed. Her face was a mask of calm, her movements deliberate. To Kael, she would appear as the dutiful wife returning home to reconcile. Beneath the surface, every step she took was calculated.
Kael greeted her at the main entrance, his expression warm, his arms outstretched. “Celestina,” he said, his voice soft but rehearsed.
“Kael,” she replied, allowing him to envelop her in an embrace. She stiffened slightly but quickly forced herself to relax.
“I’m so glad you’ve come back,” Kael murmured. “I’ve missed you.”
She pulled back just enough to meet his gaze. “I missed you too,” she lied, her stomach twisting.
Kael’s eyes searched hers, and for a moment, she felt as though he could see through the facade. But then he smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
“Come inside,” he said. “We have so much to talk about.”
Once inside, Celestina couldn’t ignore the subtle changes in the palace. Security had doubled, and the staff avoided meeting her gaze. Every corner felt colder, more controlled.
Kael escorted her to their private quarters, where a lavish meal had been prepared. He poured her a glass of wine, his charm thick as he asked about her time away.
“I just needed time to think,” she said, keeping her voice steady. “I felt overwhelmed, but I realized I belong here—with you.”
Kael’s smile faltered for the briefest moment, but he recovered quickly. “You made the right choice, my love. This is where you’re meant to be.”
But his eyes lingered on her a second too long, and she could feel his wariness. He didn’t trust her, and she knew it.
That night, while Kael was occupied with a call, Celestina slipped out of their quarters and made her way to her father’s office. Her heart raced as she entered the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
On the desk, hidden beneath a stack of reports, was a small envelope. Dimitri had promised her that the drive would be there, left by one of his trusted contacts. She tore it open and found a small, sleek USB drive.
Her fingers trembled as she examined it. This drive could expose Kael’s crimes—his plans, his network, and the proof she needed to take him down.
Footsteps in the hallway made her freeze. She quickly slid the drive into an inconspicuous spot on the bookshelf, hiding it among old binders.
The door creaked open, and her father stepped inside.
“Celestina?” he said, surprised. “What are you doing here?”
She turned, forcing a smile. “I wanted to see you,” she said quickly. “I thought we could talk.”
President Alvada looked at her with a mixture of warmth and suspicion. “It’s late,” he said, stepping closer. “Is everything alright?”
“It is now,” she said, hugging him tightly. But as she held onto him, she wondered how long she could keep him safe from Kael’s web.
The next day, Celestina found herself face to face with Liora. The meeting wasn’t planned; Liora had appeared in one of the palace corridors, her expression tight and anxious.
“Celestina,” Liora called out, her voice unusually soft.
Celestina stopped, her eyes narrowing. “Liora. What do you want?”
“I need to talk to you,” Liora said, glancing around nervously. “Privately.”
Celestina hesitated. “Why?”
Liora stepped closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Because I’m not sure how much longer I can do this. Kael is losing control, and I don’t want to go down with him. I can help you.”
Celestina folded her arms. “Why should I believe you? For all I know, this could be another one of Kael’s games.”
“It’s not,” Liora said, her tone desperate. “You know I’m ambitious, but I’m not stupid. Kael’s playing a dangerous game, and if he goes down, he’ll take everyone with him—including me.”
Celestina studied her carefully, unsure if Liora’s desperation was real or calculated. “I’ll think about it,” she said finally, stepping around her.
Liora’s voice followed her. “Don’t take too long, Celestina. Time isn’t on your side.”
That night, unable to sleep, Celestina wandered into Kael’s office. She knew it was a risk, but her instincts told her to dig deeper.
As she scanned the room, her eyes landed on the corner of his desk, where a small stack of tapes was neatly arranged. One tape in particular caught her attention—it was labeled with the date of her escape.
Her hands trembled as she slid the tape into the player. The grainy footage showed the docks where she had boarded Dimitri’s yacht. Her breath caught as Dimitri appeared on the screen, his face clear as day.
Kael’s voice sounded behind her, low and calm. “You didn’t think I didn’t know, did you?”
Celestina spun around, her heart pounding. Kael stood in the doorway, his expression cold and unreadable.
