Chapter 95
Celestina’s footsteps were light as she moved down the dimly lit hallway, keeping a careful distance from her father. He hadn’t seen her shadowing him as he left his office earlier, his movements hurried and secretive. Her instincts screamed that something was wrong.
The sound of voices led her to a small, rarely used conference room at the far end of the palace. She peeked through the slightly ajar door, her heart racing as she saw President Alvada seated at the head of the table. Around him sat a group of stern-looking men, their faces drawn with tension.
“Gentlemen,” Alvada began, his voice steady but cold, “we have a problem that needs immediate resolution.”
Celestina leaned closer, her breath shallow.
“The chaos caused by Kael Veridan’s arrest has left us exposed,” Alvada continued. “The public is asking questions, and we need a scapegoat. Someone to take the fall for everything—the bombings, the conspiracies, all of it.”
One of the men nodded. “Dimitri Reznov, then?”
Celestina’s stomach dropped.
“Yes,” Alvada said without hesitation. “He’s the perfect target. A fugitive with a checkered past and known connections to Kael. The narrative writes itself. Once the public believes he orchestrated this chaos, their attention will shift, and we can rebuild from the shadows.”
Her hands trembled as she stepped back, the weight of her father’s words crashing down on her.
Later that evening, Celestina sat in the palace garden, her thoughts swirling. She couldn’t believe what she had heard. Her father—the man she had looked up to all her life—was planning to destroy Dimitri to save himself.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Celestina flinched and turned to see Liora approaching. Her face was still bruised, but her eyes carried their usual sharpness.
“What do you want?” Celestina asked, her voice colder than she intended.
Liora held up her hands. “Relax. I’m not here to fight. I just thought you could use some company.”
Celestina eyed her warily. “Why would you care?”
“Because,” Liora said, sitting down beside her, “I know what it feels like to be betrayed by someone you trust.”
Celestina scoffed. “That’s rich coming from you.”
Liora sighed, her voice softening. “Look, I’m not proud of the things I’ve done. But Kael… he used me, just like he used you. And your father? He’s no better. You know that now.”
Celestina’s throat tightened. “You don’t know anything about my father.”
Liora’s lips curved into a bitter smile. “Don’t I? Let me guess. You’ve finally seen the side of him he’s been hiding from you—the cold, calculating man who’ll do whatever it takes to protect his power.”
Celestina looked away, her silence speaking volumes.
“I want to help you,” Liora said after a pause.
Celestina turned back, her brow furrowed. “Why would you want to help me?”
Liora’s jaw tightened. “Because I want revenge. Not just against Kael, but against your father too. He ruined my family, just like he’s trying to ruin yours.”
As the hours passed, Celestina found herself torn. On one hand, she couldn’t ignore what her father had done—his lies, his manipulation, his willingness to frame Dimitri. But on the other, the thought of exposing him, of tearing down the man who had raised her, filled her with guilt and dread.
Dimitri found her sitting in the library, staring blankly at a pile of documents.
“You’ve been quiet,” he said, sitting across from her. “What’s going on?”
She hesitated, then finally told him everything—her father’s plan, Liora’s offer to help, and her own confusion about what to do next.
When she finished, Dimitri’s face was grim. “If you expose your father, it won’t just be him who pays the price. The entire country will feel the impact. Are you ready for that?”
Celestina’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I don’t know. But how can I stay silent? How can I let him ruin you just to save himself?”
Dimitri reached across the table, taking her hand in his. “I’m not afraid of what happens to me. But you… you’ve already been through so much. Don’t let this destroy you too.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I don’t know who to trust anymore, Dimitri. I don’t even know if I can trust you.”
“You can,” he said softly. “I know I’ve made mistakes, but I’m on your side. Always.”
The next morning, Celestina made her decision. She would expose the truth—not just about Kael, but about her father too.
She met with Liora in secret, explaining her plan. Together, they prepared for a press conference where Celestina would reveal the contents of the encrypted drive. It would be the ultimate test of her courage and resolve.
But when she went to retrieve the drive from its hiding place in her room, her heart stopped. The drive was gone.
In its place was a folded piece of paper. With trembling hands, she unfolded it, her breath catching as she read the words:
“You can’t win this, my daughter.”
