Chapter 3

Both sets of parents had corporate matters to attend to, spending little time at the resort.

Julian was too busy fighting Damian over Celeste.

I barely left my suite, adopting an 'out of sight, out of mind' policy.

Until one stormy night.

The rain poured in relentless sheets.

I was getting ready for bed when the resort manager called.

His voice came through the receiver, cautious and hesitant:

"I tried calling Mr. Vance, but he didn't pick up. Miss Vance, are you available?"

"What is it?" I asked.

The manager gave an uneasy chuckle. "There's a guy out here, demanding that we release a girl named Celeste or something. But the resort is booked for a private buyout. We can't just let anyone wander in, so I was wondering..."

...

I switched the call to FaceTime.

The manager flipped the camera.

A young man stood in the torrential downpour. Drenched to the bone and battered by the wind, he held himself with an unyielding, stubborn resilience.

Through the storm and the screen, his eyes locked onto mine.

Cold, sharp, and fiercely determined.

Wait.

He looked familiar.

"Bring him up," I ordered.

"Actually," I corrected myself, "have him take a shower and change into clean clothes first. Bring him here spotless."

I didn't want a dripping stray ruining my suite.

Just as drowsiness started to pull at my eyelids, the doorbell rang.

I opened the door.

The young man stood there, our eyes meeting, revealing his strikingly sculpted features.

Now I remembered where I'd seen him before.

Celeste's phone wallpaper.

Back then, Celeste and Julian fought constantly. During one violent argument, Julian had smashed her phone onto the floor, cracking the screen.

I had sighed and picked it up.

The screen lit up, showing a photo of Celeste with a boy.

No wonder Julian had lost his mind with rage.

It was the guy standing right in front of me.

I stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in.

"Still think you can take her away? If it weren't for me, you could have frozen out there all night for nothing."

If Julian or Damian found out he was here, I doubted he'd make it out in one piece.

Let alone rescue Celeste.

He didn't flinch at my mocking words. His voice was completely flat:

"Yet you let me in."

I paused for a second. "Don't flatter yourself. I was just bored."

"Besides," I turned and leaned back against the sofa cushions, "coming to me won't..."

Before I could finish, the tall, lean young man dropped straight onto his knees before me. Lowering his eyes, he said, "Please. Make them let Celeste go."

I froze.

Surprise washed over me, mixed with a faint jolt of awe.

This was the first time anyone had ever knelt before me like this.

I studied his face carefully.

He was stunning. Breathtaking, even.

His features were sharp yet refined, the slight downturn at the corners of his eyes giving him an aloof, untouchable aura.

No wonder Celeste couldn't forget him.

I watched him for a beat, then slowly placed my heel onto his thigh, smiling faintly.

"Then that depends on your sincerity."