Chapter 80 — The Night I Shouldn't Have Gone
Dante's POV
The weight of the past week sat heavy on my chest. Every minute with Auri had been haunted by my own guilt—Celestine's lingering presence in my mind, the memory of that impulsive kiss, the craving I had fought so hard to suppress.
I needed air. I needed to escape myself, even if just for a few hours.
I found myself in a dimly lit bar downtown, the kind of place where no one asked questions and the drinks were stiff enough to numb thought. I ordered a glass after glass, trying to quiet the roaring storm inside me.
The first few drinks were fine—calculated, measured. By the fourth, the control slipped. My pulse raced. My thoughts blurred.
I reached for my phone, intending to call my driver to take me home. My fingers shook. My vision swam. In the haze, I misdialed.
And it connected.
"Dante…"
The voice was sultry, soft, teasing.
"Celestine?" I slurred slightly, mind fuzzy. "I… I need…"
"Of course, Mr. Moretti. I can come get you," she purred.
The hotel
I don't remember the drive. Don't remember how we ended up in the hotel. I remember only the warmth of her presence, the subtle perfume, the teasing smile. Every ounce of restraint I had fought crumbled as the alcohol numbed the edges of guilt, and I allowed her to guide me into the suite.
The world tilted. Lights, shadows, laughter of some bartender in the background—it all blurred into nothing.
And then… sleep.
The morning aftermath
I woke with a start. The first thing I noticed was the heat of the bed beside me. My heart slammed as my eyes adjusted to the room. The second thing I noticed was Celestine—smirking, propped on one elbow, hair messy but perfect, eyes bright with amusement.
I froze.
Naked.
No memory of how we got here.
"Celestine…" My voice cracked. "What… what happened?"
She stretched lazily, yawned, and smiled wickedly. "You were… aggressive last night, Dante. Quite the fighter," she teased, brushing imaginary hair from her face.
My stomach dropped. Panic clawed up my throat. I scrambled for my phone—and froze again when it buzzed violently.
Missed calls. Multiple texts.
From Auri.
My chest tightened, sweat prickling my skin. My mind spun. My heart pounded.
I jumped from the bed, scrambling for clothes, muttering curses under my breath. Rage, guilt, fear—all mixed into a storm of panic.
I had to get home.
Had to face her. Had to… make it right. Somehow.
Celestine's POV
The moment Dante rushed out, panic etched into every movement, I let out a long, satisfied laugh—soft, low, and dangerous.
He really thought…
He thought last night had been something else.
The truth? He passed out the moment we arrived. Completely out.
I had done nothing.
Nothing.
But he would never know.
I gathered the clothes we had removed, arranged them carelessly across the bed. A shirt here, a jacket there. Just enough to suggest a night he would never remember… a night he would assume happened.
I ran my fingers along the edge of the pillow he had slept on, my grin widening.
Oh, Dante…
You think you're strong. You think you can resist me.
But you are weak. Weak and reckless. And now… you've already lost.
And I couldn't wait to see how he would scramble to fix what he thought he had broken.
Because, in truth, he hadn't broken me. He had just fallen right into my game.
And the thought made me laugh again. Soft, cruel, and victorious.
Dante races home
By the time I arrived at the mansion, my hands shook, my chest ached, my mind raced. Every step toward the front door was a battle between reason and panic.
I couldn't think about Celestine.
I couldn't think about the hotel.
I couldn't think about myself.
All I could think about was Auri. Her trusting eyes, her laugh, her warmth.
And how badly I had betrayed her.
I needed to see her. Needed to make sure she was safe. Needed… to punish myself for the storm I had nearly unleashed.