SCARLET VOWS

Scarlet Vows

A Romance of Love, Betrayal, and Revenge

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1. The Fire Starts

Celeste barely had time to process the encounter with Dante before everything began falling apart.

It started with a phone call.

Her assistant, Lillian, was frantic. "Celeste, the office—there's been a fire!"

Her heart stopped. "What?"

"It's gone, Celeste. Everything. The entire building is in flames."

The world spun.

This was Dante's doing.

She could still hear his voice. "I'll burn down everything you love."

And he had.

Rafael caught her just before she collapsed, his grip steady. "What happened?"

She could barely get the words out. "The company… it's gone."

His face darkened. "Dante."

A storm was coming.

And Dante had just fired the first shot.

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2. Broken Pieces

Smoke still lingered in the air when they arrived.

Celeste stood frozen, staring at the ruins of what had once been her life's work.

Her employees stood outside, faces pale with shock. Firefighters were still dousing the last of the flames, the heat still thick in the air.

Her dream… reduced to ash.

A sob clawed its way up her throat, but she swallowed it down. She couldn't break now.

A sleek black car pulled up across the street.

And there he was.

Dante.

Watching.

A slow smile curved his lips as he raised a hand—a mocking wave.

Rage exploded inside her.

Before Rafael could stop her, she was already storming across the street.

"You son of a—"

Dante caught her wrist before she could strike him. His grip was bruising, his voice dangerously soft. "Careful, my love. You're making a scene."

She ripped her hand away, eyes burning with fury. "You did this."

Dante's smirk never wavered. "You walked away from me, Celeste. Did you think there wouldn't be consequences?"

Her hands trembled. "You're a monster."

His expression darkened. "And yet, you once loved me."

Her breath hitched.

Dante leaned in, voice a whisper against her ear. "If you want to keep what little you have left, you'll listen to me. This isn't over, Celeste."

Then, as if he hadn't just destroyed everything, he walked away.

Leaving her standing in the wreckage of her life.

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3. The Breaking Point

That night, Celeste sat in silence, staring at the untouched glass of wine in front of her.

Rafael paced the room. "He's gone too far. We need to hit back."

She barely heard him.

Her hands curled into fists.

Dante had taken everything from her.

Her freedom. Her company. Her peace.

And if she didn't stop him…

He would take even more.

A slow breath filled her lungs. "No more running."

Rafael turned, eyes narrowing. "What are you saying?"

She lifted her gaze, steel in her voice.

"I'm going to destroy Dante Romero."

And for the first time in years…

She wasn't afraid.

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End of Chapter Twenty-Three