SCARLET VOWS

Scarlet Vows

A Romance of Love, Betrayal, and Revenge

1. A Night of Illusions

The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfume, the hum of violin strings weaving through the grand ballroom like a spell. Celeste Moreau stepped through the towering doors of the De Luca Estate, her crimson gown pooling around her feet like freshly spilled blood.

It was her first step into the world of the man she had sworn to destroy.

A masquerade ball—how fitting. A night where secrets danced beneath golden masks. The irony was almost poetic. Celeste's fingers curled around the glass of champagne handed to her by a passing waiter. Poisoning him tonight would be too easy. But easy wasn't satisfying. No, she wanted him to suffer. To watch his empire crumble before she drove the dagger into his heart.

Her heart pounded beneath the delicate lace of her dress as her eyes scanned the sea of people. And then, she saw him.

Rafael De Luca.

The man responsible for the massacre of her family.

He stood at the top of the grand staircase, a god among men—dark suit, sharp jaw, the air of a ruler surveying his kingdom. His piercing gaze swept over the crowd, his presence commanding and untouchable.

Then, as if fate had chosen this moment to laugh in her face, his gaze locked onto hers.

A slow, almost amused smirk tugged at his lips. He had noticed her. And just like that, the game had begun.

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2. A Dangerous First Encounter

Celeste felt the weight of his stare pressing into her, unraveling her carefully crafted mask. Had he recognized her? No, it wasn't possible. She had buried the girl she once was years ago.

But Rafael was moving now, descending the stairs with a predatory grace, his eyes never leaving hers. The crowd parted for him like the Red Sea, and within moments, he was standing before her.

"I don't believe we've met before," he murmured, his voice smooth like aged whiskey.

Celeste tilted her head, letting a playful smile curve her lips. "Perhaps in another life."

Rafael chuckled, his fingers ghosting over the rim of his glass. "Then let's make up for lost time."

She had prepared for this. Every response, every calculated smile, every flirtatious glance designed to pull him deeper into her web.

But as his fingers brushed against hers, a shiver ran through her spine. Not from fear—but from something far more dangerous.

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3. The Warning

"Be careful, bella," Rafael whispered, leaning in close, his breath warm against her ear. "This world is full of wolves in disguise."

Celeste's pulse spiked. Did he suspect her already?

Feigning innocence, she laughed softly. "And which one are you, Mr. De Luca?"

His smirk deepened. "The kind that bites."

Their dance was beginning—a slow, dangerous waltz of deception and desire.

And Celeste wasn't sure who would bleed first.

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4. The Ghosts of the Past

As the night wore on, Celeste wandered through the De Luca estate, her fingers brushing against the marble pillars, the paintings lining the hallways.

Then, she saw it.

A portrait, framed in gold.

A family—Rafael as a boy, his father standing behind him. The man she once knew.

Her stomach clenched. The same man who had ordered the deaths of her family.

Rafael's voice echoed behind her. "You seem lost."

Celeste turned, her smile unwavering. "Just admiring the art."

But deep inside, she was drowning in memories she had spent a lifetime trying to forget.

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5. The First Crack

As the night drew to an end, Rafael caught her wrist before she could slip away.

"Let's play a game, Celeste," he murmured, his grip firm but not forceful. "One truth for one lie."

Her heart hammered. He was testing her.

So she leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered—"I came here tonight just to meet you."

A truth wrapped in a lie.

Rafael chuckled, his dark eyes gleaming. "I look forward to unraveling you."

And as she walked away, Celeste realized with a sickening thrill—so did she.

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End of Chapter One