Fated To The Mafia King

III

Celia held her breath as she crept down the stairs, each step feeling louder than it was. The house was silent, the kind of quiet that made every small sound echo back at her.

Viviana was already at the bottom, a smirk on her face. “Relax,” she whispered. “No one’s going to hear us.”

Celia glanced around, her pulse quickening. “If anyone finds out, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

“Then don’t think about it,” Viviana replied, tugging her along toward the side door. “This is a night to just enjoy.”

They slipped outside, the cool air hitting them as they walked quickly across the garden. Celia took a shaky breath, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. She glanced at her sister, who handed her a small mask.

“Just in case,” Viviana said with a grin. “Now let’s go.”

With one last look over her shoulder, Celia followed her, the thrill of doing something on her own—for herself—starting to push aside her worry.

Outside the mansion, a sleek black limo waited by the curb. The night was quiet, the air cool against their skin as they approached the car. Viviana, with a grin, walked confidently toward the vehicle. Celia hesitated for a moment, but Viviana didn’t look back, eager to reach their destination.

When they neared the car, Celia saw a man standing beside it. Viviana immediately broke into a smile and hurried toward him.

“David!” she called, her voice full of warmth as she wrapped her arms around him in an enthusiastic hug. The man, who looked to be in his forties, embraced her back with ease, his smile genuine and inviting. He was dressed casually yet with an air of sophistication, wearing a dark suit that suited him well.

“Viviana! I’m glad you made it,” David said, stepping back from the hug. His gaze shifted to Celia, and he gave her a curious look. “And I see you brought a friend.” His tone was easy, though there was a hint of curiosity in his voice. “I don’t think I’ve met her before.”

Viviana smiled, effortlessly covering her tracks. “Oh, she’s just a cousin visiting for the summer,” she said, her words flowing with casual ease. “I thought I’d bring her along for the night.”

Celia offered a soft smile, feeling slightly out of place but trying to keep her composure. “Hi, David. It’s nice to meet you.”

David extended his hand, giving hers a firm, friendly shake. “The pleasure’s mine,” he said, his tone warm. He then raised her hand to his lips, brushing a light kiss to the back of it. “Beautiful name, Celia.”

Viviana, already impatient to get inside, gestured toward the limo. “Come on, we don’t have much time,” she said, stepping inside with ease. Without skipping a beat, she began pulling a dress from her bag and started to change. Celia stood frozen for a moment, wide-eyed.

“You’re changing here?” Celia asked, her voice low, both surprised and a little nervous.

Viviana shot her a playful look, already halfway into her dress. “Where else would we change? At the ball?” she teased, rolling her eyes. “Come on, no time to waste. Hurry up.”

Celia hesitated, but Viviana was right. There was no going back now. Slowly, she began to take off her clothes, a little self-conscious but determined. She pulled the dress from her bag and slipped it on, the fabric settling over her curves like it had been made just for her. She glanced at herself in the mirror, her fingers trailing over the smooth material. For the first time that night, she felt a small rush of confidence.

Viviana looked over from her makeup bag, smiling. “It looks perfect on you,” she said as she worked on her own hair.

“Thank you,” Celia said, smiling shyly. “You look beautiful, too.”