Chapter 2

Chapter 2

The Boss Returns

Eliesse’s POV

The entire ballroom of the five-star hotel was brightly illuminated, where the university’s graduation ball was being held. The sound of the live band filled the air, while the crystal chandeliers hanging from the ceiling cast shimmering reflections across the expensive gowns and suits worn by students like me. Everyone seemed happy, laughing, drinking, and celebrating the final night before our official college graduation. However, this was not the end of my academic journey. I would still be continuing to law school after this.

While everyone had someone to accompany them or a group of friends to talk to, I sat alone at a table in the farthest corner of the ballroom. I was completely alone. I never expected this to happen. Not a single person seemed interested in approaching me, not even the classmates I used to be somewhat close with. I was beginning to regret attending this event in the first place. I wore a royal blue gown that Manang Celia had sent to my room a few days ago. It had a simple design, but the fabric was clearly expensive, shimmering beautifully whenever the light touched it. Although the security personnel had allowed me to attend this event so I could spend one final evening with my classmates, I could still feel the distance everyone was deliberately keeping between us. It was as if an invisible wall had been built around me, preventing anyone from getting close.

It had been a month since the Castellano Group officially announced my engagement to Zavier Castellano. Because of that announcement, the bullying had finally stopped, and the humiliating video had been taken down from the internet. However, the fear people had of me had simply replaced the cruelty I used to experience. Only now was I beginning to understand the reality of my new situation. Nobody wanted to approach me because they knew I was being protected by the most powerful family in Manila. I looked down at the glass of apple juice in my hand, wondering whether attending this celebration had been a mistake. I felt out of place anyway, and no amount of expensive clothing or security could change that feeling.

I was slowly turning my glass when I noticed the atmosphere around my table suddenly changing. The students sitting nearby immediately fell silent and hurriedly moved away. I felt the sudden chill against my skin, but before I could even stand up and leave, a group of men completely blocked my path.

I raised my head and immediately froze.

It was Romano Castellano. He was accompanied by four of his friends, the same group of men who had destroyed my reputation and humiliated me a month ago. Romano looked drop-dead gorgeous in his black tuxedo. He possessed the kind of dangerous, breathtaking appearance that could make any girl forget her own name. His sharp, aristocratic jawline was covered with a rough layer of stubble, making him look less like a college student and more like a rugged, commanding man. His messy dark hair fell perfectly across his forehead, drawing attention to his mesmerizing eyes. However, beneath that impossibly attractive exterior was the same arrogant, crooked smile I had come to despise. I thought he was supposed to be in Europe, or at least that was what I had heard from the mansion’s staff. Yet here he was, standing right in front of me, looking completely unbothered by everything he had done to me.

“Look who we have here, boys,” Romano said, his voice dripping with mockery. He stepped closer, casually slipping his hands into his pockets. “The campus sweetheart turned into a ghost. Long time no see, Eliesse.”

“Bro, is she even allowed to talk to commoners like us now?” Chad, one of Romano’s closest friends, teased before bursting into laughter. “I heard she’s a big-time lady now.”

I glared at them. They knew perfectly well that I disliked them, and that was precisely why they had made it their mission to ruin my life in the first place. I forced myself to maintain a steady voice so they wouldn’t notice the slight trembling of my hands.

“What do you need?”

Romano chuckled, crossing his arms over his chest. His posture only emphasized his broad shoulders and towering height. He leaned slightly forward, the rough texture of his stubble becoming more visible beneath the chandelier lights, while his dark eyes disrespectfully examined my face.

“Nothing much. We just wanted to congratulate you on your graduation… and, of course, your upcoming marriage. The whole university is talking about it, you know?”

“Yeah, everyone is so curious, Eliesse,” Marcus, another one of his companions, added. “We all saw the official announcement from the Castellano main branch. But let’s be real here. It’s funny how the video leaked, and then suddenly, you’re getting married to a billionaire?”

Was he stupid? My jaw nearly dropped at his ridiculous accusation. Did he seriously think I had fabricated the entire marriage arrangement? Didn’t he believe that I was engaged to his own father?

“Don’t flatter yourself, Eliesse,” Romano sneered, lowering his voice into a harsh whisper that only those around our table could hear. “We all know the truth. You found yourself an old, wealthy sugar daddy just to save your family’s precious legal reputation, and now you’re using the Castellano name? Come on. If my father ever found out about something like that, you’d be dead. What kind of normal person would willingly get involved with a woman whose dirty secrets have already spread across the internet? No one. You probably begged some old man from the syndicate to lock you into a marriage contract so people would stop laughing at you.”

The disrespect in every word felt like a knife stabbing into my chest, but the anger burning inside me was far stronger than the humiliation I had experienced before and the insults he was throwing at me now. He still thought I was the same weak woman who would cry and beg whenever they decided to torment me. Despite how incredibly handsome and attractive he looked, I knew exactly how rotten his character was. What they didn’t know was that the supposedly old and wealthy man they were talking about was far more powerful than Romano could ever imagine. Everyone at the university knew the name Zavier Castellano as that of an influential business tycoon, but Romano’s relationship with his own father was so distant that it had never even crossed his mind that the very man he feared was the one who had personally announced our engagement to punish him. He still had no idea that the announcement was real, and that I hadn’t invented any of it.

“You don’t know anything, Romano,” I said coldly as I slowly rose from my chair, holding my small clutch bag.

“Oh, really? Then enlighten us, Eliesse,” Romano challenged, stepping closer to block my way. “Tell us who this rich old man is. Is he seventy? Eighty? Does he even look at you like a woman, or does he just treat you like an expensive piece of decoration to clean his dirty money?”

“Stop it, Romano,” I said firmly, my voice growing sharper. “I have nothing to say to you or your friends. Get out of my way.”

“Wow, she’s got a spine now,” Chad mocked, laughing along with the others. “Fiancée privileges, I guess.”

Romano grinned, his perfect white teeth contrasting with the dark stubble around his lips, but his eyes were filled with nothing but malice.

“You think that title protects you from me, Eliesse? Whoever that old man is, he’s not here tonight. You’re still in my territory. If I want to make your life a living hell again, I can easily do it.”

I didn’t bother answering him anymore. Instead, I simply started walking away. I wanted to avoid causing a scene because I knew that if I created trouble here, it could affect the agreement I had signed with Attorney Marcelo. I quickly passed them, deliberately bumping my shoulder against Marcus, who was standing in my way. I could still hear their laughter behind me as I hurried toward the ballroom’s exit.

My footsteps grew faster as I walked through the hotel’s long and spacious hallway. The thick carpet beneath my heels muffled every step, leaving me alone with my increasingly frantic thoughts. I desperately wanted to leave. I wanted to return to the car where the security personnel who had accompanied me were waiting. I had no intention of spending another minute in that ballroom, especially after encountering those men again.

However, before I could reach the end of the hallway where the elevators were located, I heard the rapid footsteps of someone approaching from behind.

“Eliesse! Wait up!”

Romano caught up with me and blocked my way in the middle of the otherwise empty hallway. I stopped and tried to turn in the opposite direction, but he was faster. His hand immediately closed around my left arm, gripping it so tightly that his fingers dug painfully into my skin.

“Let go of me, Romano!” I hissed, trying to pull my arm free, but he only tightened his grip.

“We’re not done talking, Eliesse,” Romano said, his eyebrows drawing together in irritation. “You don’t just walk away from me like I’m nobody. Who exactly do you think is protecting you now? You think because some old businessman threw money at your parents, you’re suddenly untouchable? Well, maybe you’ve forgotten who the Castellanos really are, and I’m not talking about that fake Castellano you’re pretending to belong to.”

“I said let go!” I struggled to push his chest with my free hand, but he was much stronger than I was.

“Listen to me,” Romano growled, moving even closer to my face. I could smell the alcohol on his breath. “You think you can escape what happened? That video is still in everyone’s minds. You’re just a high-end mistress pretending to be a fiancée. The moment your old man gets tired of your body, you’ll be going straight back to the dirt where you belong. And when that happens, I’ll make sure no family will ever accept you again. I won’t want you either.”

My entire body trembled with anger as I stared directly into his eyes. I wanted to slap him, kick him, and do everything I could to wipe that disgusting expression off his face, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.

“You are disgusting, Romano. I would never fall in love with you, even if I were already dead. You and your entire family are nothing but criminals who think they can own people.”

Romano let out a bitter laugh.

“Criminals? Yeah, maybe. But we run this city. And no matter who you run to for protection, nobody will be able to save you when I decide to end our little game.”

Before he could say another word, or before I could even gather enough strength to kick him and free myself from his grip, a deep, baritone voice suddenly echoed from the far end of the hallway.

“Is that how I raised you to treat a lady, Romano?”

The voice wasn’t particularly loud, but every word carried an extraordinary authority that seemed to bring everything around us to a complete standstill. It was the kind of voice that didn’t need to be raised to command attention. Its presence alone was enough to make anyone think twice before daring to disobey.

That familiar voice struck like lightning, immediately forcing Romano to release my arm.

The arrogance vanished from his face in an instant. His eyes widened with shock and fear, and the color slowly drained from his cheeks. He turned his head toward the source of the voice, his entire body seemingly frozen in place.

From the shadows at the end of the hallway, a tall, broad-shouldered man slowly walked toward us. He was wearing a flawless, custom-tailored charcoal suit that perfectly complemented his impressive physique. His black hair was neatly slicked back, revealing his striking facial features and the cold expression that made him look even more intimidating. His dark eyes remained fixed on Romano, resembling those of a lion staring down a helpless, sickly puppy.

It was none other than him.

Zavier Castellano.

He was back.

He had been away from the country for quite some time, but now he was standing right in front of us, carrying the same overwhelming authority that had brought my parents to their knees a month ago.

“D-Dad…” Romano stammered.

His voice trembled, almost cracking as his face turned deathly pale.

For the first time since I had known him, Romano Castellano looked like a man who had completely forgotten how to breathe.