Beneath The Bloodline

Volume six: ❝BENEATH THE BLOODLINE❞

𝐀 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐋 𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒 : "𝐈𝐓 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐒 𝐆𝐔𝐓𝐙 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐄 𝐀 𝐇𝐎𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐙" 𝐕𝐎𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐄 6—BENEATH THE BLOODLINE

**Chapter 34: The Heart's Betrayal**

Karla stood at the edge of the gathering, her eyes scanning the glamorous crowd beneath the sparkling lights of the Duomo di Milano. The night was electric, filled with laughter, clinking glasses, and whispered conversations. The grand event was finally underway, and she should have been ecstatic. Her family was here, the designers had praised her work, and her project with Colani was about to be unveiled. But something gnawed at her, a sense of unease that she couldn't shake.

Then she saw them. Celeste was standing near the bar, laughing, her hand resting casually on the arm of a man. A man who made Karla's heart drop to the pit of her stomach.

Giovanni.

Karla froze. *How do they know each other?* Her mind raced, and a sickening wave of jealousy hit her like a ton of bricks. Giovanni and Celeste were talking, laughing even, as if they had known each other for ages. Her head spun with possibilities. Did they just meet? Did Celeste see them dancing together at the previous event and decide to make Karla jealous as some kind of twisted revenge? Or... had Giovanni been playing her all along?

Her chest tightened, and she felt a bitter sting behind her eyes. No. This wasn't happening.

Karla quickly made her way to the bar, trying to steady her emotions. She ordered a cocktail, needing something to take the edge off the whirlwind of emotions threatening to consume her. She was hurt, confused, and angry all at once.

As she sipped her drink, she sensed Colani approach, her vibrant energy a stark contrast to Karla's simmering frustration. "Karla, you won't believe what I just saw!" Colani said breathlessly, excitement flickering in her eyes. "I just saw Celeste talking to that guy... you know, the one you danced with at the event before."

Karla's fingers tightened around her glass. She could feel Colani's gaze on her, and the concern in her friend's eyes didn't go unnoticed.

"Karla," Colani said softly, "you're nervous. What's going on?"

Karla hesitated. She couldn't tell Colani everything—not about her family, not about the darker world she was tied to—but she needed to say something. "That guy... Giovanni," she whispered, her voice tight with emotion. "I was... I don't know. I thought I was in love with him. But he hurt me. And now he's here, with *her*."

Colani's face softened in understanding. "You need to talk to him, Karla. Find out what's going on. Don't let them play with your head like this."

Karla looked at her friend, doubt gnawing at her insides. "You really think I should confront him?"

"Absolutely," Colani said, her voice firm. "You deserve answers. Don't let Celeste or Giovanni mess with your mind. You're stronger than that."

With Colani's words ringing in her ears, Karla straightened her shoulders, determination taking hold of her. She wasn't going to let Celeste ruin this night for her. She had to know the truth.

Gathering her courage, Karla marched toward them, her heart pounding in her chest. As she approached, Giovanni turned to her, his expression unreadable. Celeste, however, smirked, clearly enjoying the tension.

"Well, look who's here," Celeste said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "What brings you over, Karla? Jealous?"

Karla clenched her jaw, keeping her focus on Giovanni. "What are you doing with her?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.