Celeste Ortega stared out the window of her high-rise apartment, watching the city that never stopped. The lights of Manila shimmered like an endless sea of gold, painting the streets below in hues of yellow and amber. The world outside was fast, alive, and full of opportunities—opportunities she would never touch. Not in her life, not in her cage.Her gaze lingered on the distant skyline, her thoughts miles away from the glittering metropolis. In a life surrounded by luxury and privilege, Celeste was still trapped. Hidden. A pawn to be kept out of sight, out of mind, within the walls of the Ortega family's wealth. She had always wondered why. Why she was never allowed to step into the world her adopted family so proudly dominated. Why her name was kept in the shadows, her face obscured by the heavy veil of secrecy.Tonight, like every other night, her thoughts circled around the same questions.Who am I? Why was I adopted? Why can't I be like everyone else?She felt the familiar tug of frustration, the heat of anger rising within her chest. Celeste had lived under the roof of the Ortega family her entire life, but her existence was nothing more than a carefully crafted lie. A daughter no one truly knew. A face no one recognized. And that, in a world of corruption and blood-soaked power, was both a blessing and a curse.The Ortega family was a name synonymous with success. Their conglomerate controlled everything from real estate to banking, media to luxury goods. Their reach was endless, and their influence, absolute. But power came with a price—a price she had yet to fully understand. A price she didn't want to pay.Celeste's thoughts were interrupted by the soft chime of her phone, vibrating against the marble counter of the kitchen. She glanced at the screen, seeing a message from her trusted assistant, Maria.We have a problem. A very big one. The meeting with the Madrigals tomorrow—something feels off. You need to be there.Celeste's breath caught in her throat. The Madrigal Mafia. Another name whispered in the dark corners of the city, another family too dangerous to cross. The Ortega family had long been linked to them, but the relationship was always kept behind closed doors, hidden from the public eye.She knew about the Madrigals. Everyone did. They were a family built on power, violence, and control. At the top of their ranks was their consigliere—Gabriel Cruz.Her fingers hovered over the screen for a moment, hesitating. The Madrigals were more than just a mafia family; they were a force in the underground world of politics and business, manipulating events from the shadows. The fact that their paths would cross was inevitable. But tomorrow? Tomorrow was different. Tomorrow, Celeste would have to face a side of her family she had never seen.Be there.Her heart raced as she typed back, her mind a flurry of thoughts.I'll be ready.The next morning, Celeste stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the sleek black dress she had chosen for the meeting. She was supposed to look the part of the obedient daughter, the quiet heiress who was always kept in check. But underneath the surface, she was a different person. One who wanted to fight. One who wanted to take control of her life, even if it meant taking on the very family who had raised her.The clock on the wall ticked steadily, counting down to the moment when everything would change.Gabriel Cruz walked into the room, his presence commanding the attention of everyone in the high-end boardroom. He was dressed impeccably, his suit dark and sleek, his demeanor cold and calculating. Gabe had spent years learning how to control every situation, how to make people believe he was exactly who they wanted him to be. But the truth was, he had mastered the art of deception long ago.As the consigliere of the Madrigal Mafia, Gabe was used to high-stakes meetings like this—meetings where every word, every gesture, could mean the difference between life and death. But today was different. He knew that. The Ortega family was a powerful ally, but they were also dangerous. And with the recent rumors swirling about their ties to the mafia, Gabe had been tasked with investigating them. Getting close to their weakest link—their hidden daughter, Celeste.Celeste Ortega. The name alone was enough to send a shiver down his spine. She was rumored to be just as cunning as her family, just as dangerous. But there was something about her that intrigued him. Something he couldn't quite place.His eyes scanned the room, landing on her.She was sitting at the head of the table, her posture poised and perfect. A picture of grace and elegance. Her dark hair fell in loose waves around her shoulders, and her eyes, though veiled with a mask of calm, held a depth that Gabe had rarely seen.For a moment, their gazes locked, and something flickered between them.Celeste didn't smile, didn't even acknowledge him fully, but Gabe saw it—the spark of recognition. She knew who he was. She knew exactly who he was.And yet, she said nothing.The silence between them stretched on, the tension thick in the air. Gabe's mind raced, calculating the risks of everything. But despite his cold exterior, he felt an unfamiliar pull, an unease he couldn't shake.Tomorrow would be just another day, he told himself. Just another move in the game.But in that moment, he knew one thing for sure.Celeste Ortega was not like the others.And somehow, that would make all the difference.