A night with a mafia

PROLUGUE

It was an extravagant party-one of those events where everyone looked like they had stepped straight out of a luxury magazine. The guests were dressed in expensive, elegant clothes, their jewelry sparkling beneath the warm golden lights as laughter and music filled the grand ballroom.

"Woahhh!"

The crowd erupted into cheers as the DJ changed the music, blasting an upbeat party song that instantly made everyone move to the beat.

People were dancing. Laughing. Drinking.

Everyone seemed to be having the time of their lives.

Everyone-except her.

Sa isang sulok ng napakalaking ballroom, malayo sa ingay at saya ng mga tao, naroon si Celeste Amara Bellini.

She sat alone, a glass of wine loosely held in her hand.

Her tears, however, refused to stop.

Isa-isang bumabagsak ang mga iyon sa kaniyang pisngi, kahit paulit-ulit niya pa itong pinupunasan. She looked heartbreakingly beautiful in her elegant, fitted dress that hugged her figure perfectly, making her look sophisticated and graceful despite the sadness written all over her face.

Her face had a soft, balanced oval contour, framed by a gently rounded jawline and subtly defined cheekbones. There was nothing harsh about her features. Everything about her looked delicate, elegant, and effortlessly beautiful.

Her warm, sun-kissed olive complexion glowed beneath the soft golden lights of the ballroom. The gentle lighting cast delicate shadows across her face, highlighting her almond-shaped eyes with their slightly upturned corners.

Her deep, rich brown irises looked luminous beneath the bright catchlights, though tonight, they were clouded with tears.

Long, dark lashes framed her expressive eyes, while her naturally arched, soft dark-brown brows complemented her thick, wavy hair. Her slender nose had a refined bridge and a gently rounded tip, perfectly proportioned to her face.

Her full lips, with a soft cupid's bow and a slightly plumper lower lip, carried a warm rose-brown tint.

Rich dark-brown hair fell in soft waves around her face, framing her delicate features beautifully. A small pearl stud earring rested against her ear, adding a subtle touch of elegance to her already breathtaking appearance.

But tonight, Celeste didn't care about any of that.

Because tonight, her heart was broken.

"He cheated on me," she whispered.

She then took another sip of her wine.

The alcohol was beginning to take effect.

Her vision had started to blur. Her head felt light, and her body felt strangely warm. When she finally tried to stand up, her knees almost gave out.

"Whoa..."

Napahawak siya sa gilid ng table upang hindi tuluyang matumba.

"Okay... I'm fine," she mumbled to herself.

She was definitely not fine.

With a shaky breath, Celeste tried to walk.

One step.

Two steps.

Then she nearly bumped into someone.

"Sorry..."

She continued walking, though her steps were far from steady. Halos hindi na niya maayos na maihakbang ang kaniyang mga paa. Every few seconds, she would stumble slightly, forcing herself to hold onto anything nearby just to keep her balance.