Chapter 17 -CELINE'S POV- The kitchen was chaos . Pots clanged . Footsteps pounded against the tile . Orders were barked across the room , sharp and urgent . The air was thick with heat and stress , and everyone scrambling to prepare for Hunter's guests . +38 I moved quickly , arms full of fresh linens , weaving through the frenzy . My back ached . My legs burned . But stopping wasn't an option . Hunter had made it clear - tonight had to be perfect . I dropped the linens onto the counter and wiped the sweat from my forehead , barely catching my breath before- " Celine ! " I knew that voice . I closed my eyes for a second before turning . Bianca stood with her arms crossed , a smug tilt to her lips . Two other maids hovered behind her , hanging onto her every word like she was the queen of this damn castle. " The dining room floor still looks dirty , " she said , inspecting her nails like the floor was my problem and not hers . " Go clean it again . " I gritted my teeth . " I already cleaned it . " She raised an eyebrow . " Well , clearly not good enough . Unless you'd rather explain to the head maid why you can't do a simple job ? " I knew exactly what this was . Bianca loved making me jump through hoops . She made sure I had twice the workload of everyone else , always piling on extra tasks while she barely lifted a finger . She was testing me , waiting for me to crack . I wouldn't give her the satisfaction . I grabbed a cloth and nodded . " I'll take care of it . " Her smirk deepened like she had won some imaginary battle before she turned back to her gossiping . I clenched my jaw and walked away . By the time I made it to the dining room , I wanted to scream . The floor was already spotless , but I scrubbed at it anyway , my fingers aching from hours of work . This wasn't about cleaning . It was about control . A quiet giggle pulled me from my thoughts . I turned , finding Caesar in the corner of the kitchen , rolling his toy car over the surface of the table . 1/4 +38 9:09 pm Chapter 17 He was behaving , just like I had asked . But still - he shouldn't have to be here . I had to get through this shift as quickly as possible . Finish the work . Take him home . Get out . But Bianca wasn't done with me yet . " The silverware needs polishing ," she called from behind me , her nails tapping against the counter . " Make sure you do it properly . " I swallowed the irritation crawling up my throat . I had spent all day biting my tongue . What was one more task ? I reached for the silverware , but before I could start , Bianca sighed dramatically . " Actually , " she said , tilting her head , " Mr. Hunter requested a specific bottle of wine for tonight . Go down to the cellar and bring it up . " Something about the way she said it made my stomach twist . I hesitated . " Which bottle ? " She smiled . Too sweet . Too fake . " You'll find it . I'm sure Mr. Hunter would be very upset if you brought the wrong one ." I wiped my hands on my apron , glancing at Caesar . " Stay here , okay ? " He frowned , his small fingers curling around my sleeve . " Can I come with you ? " ated . The wine cellar . Bianca's smirk . The way my gut told me don't go . ad , nodding . " Fine . But stay close . " noved down the narrow hallway , the air growing colder with each step . The scent of aged wood and expensive wine ung to the walls , wrapping around me like a warning . The wine cellar was massive . Rows of shelves stretched from floor to ceiling , each bottle lined up like it belonged to some kind of sacred collection . I scanned the labels , my pulse steady - until I spotted it . The bottle Bianca had sent me . Top shelf . Of course . I clenched my jaw , my fingers curling into fists . She had known . She had known . I glanced around , spotting a wooden stool tucked near the corner . Dragging it over , I positioned it beneath the shelf and stepped up , balancing carefully as I stretched my fingers toward the bottle . Even on my toes , it was barely within reach . " Caesar , stand back , " I warned , shifting slightly , trying to get just a little closer . The tips of my fingers brushed against the glass . Almost . I stretched further- The stool wobbled beneath me . 2/4 9:09 pm GGGG . Chapter 17 And suddenly , everything happened too fast . A sharp gasp tore from my throat as I lost my balance . The bottle slipped . Then another . And another . The sound of shattering glass filled the cellar , sharp and violent . Wine splattered across the floor , dark red spreading like blood . For a second , everything was silent . Then- " Mommy ! " Caesar's wail ripped through the quiet . My breath came out in shudders as I stared at the mess . The wine had soaked into my dress , my hands trembling as I lifted them , careful not to touch the jagged glass around me . I swallowed hard . I was so screwed . Hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway . A shadow appeared in the doorway . The head maid . Her sharp eyes landed on the disaster in front of her , her expression morphing into pure horror . Then - her voice , like a blade slicing through my panic . " What have you done ? " I opened my mouth , ready to explain - ready to beg if I had to . But before I could get a single word out , Bianca let out a dramatic gasp , her hand flying to her chest like she'd just witnessed a murder . " Oh no , " she breathed , shaking her head with pure , practiced disappointment . " That was the last bottle of Mr. Hunter's favorite wine . " My stomach dropped . 38 me . nter . anged looks , their whispers hissing through the space , quiet but sharp . They all knew what this meant . meant . Then - footsteps . Heavy . Measured . A presence filled the doorway , thick and suffocating . ve to look up . I already knew . His energy wrapped around the room like a vice , squeezing the oxygen straight from my lungs . Every tiny hair on my body stood on end as I felt his gaze land on me - on the wine staining my dress , on the glass scattered around me , on Caesar still hiccupping in the doorway . The silence was unbearable . my head . Then - his voice . Low . Controlled . Lethal . " What the hell is going on here ? " I forced myself to lift Hunter's expression was unreadable , his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine like a loaded weapon . I opened my mouth- " She broke it , " Bianca said quickly , turning to him with a perfectly rehearsed frown . " The last bottle ." 3/4 9:09 pm GGG G Chapter 17 My hands curled into fists . Hunter didn't blink . He took a step forward . One slow , deliberate step that sent my pulse into a tailspin . " You have five seconds ," he said , voice smooth but laced with a quiet , simmering fury , " to explain yourself before I decide what to do with you ." I inhaled sharply , my hands trembling . " I - I was trying to reach the bottle . It was too high , and I slipped- " His expression didn't change . 38 " That doesn't explain why Caesar is down here . " His eyes flicked toward my son , who was still sniffling , clutching his toy car to his chest . " Why was he even near the cellar ? " I hesitated , scrambling for words , but Bianca got there first . " She brought him with her , " she said , her voice dripping with false concern . " Even when she knew how important this was . And now look at this mess . " The way she said it - like I had done this on purpose like I had wanted to fail - made something inside me snap . " I told him to stay back ! " My voice shook , but I didn't care . " I didn't plan for this to happen , I- " " Enough . " Hunter's voice cut through mine like a blade . Silence slammed back into the room . His stare was heavier now . Colder . More dangerous . And as I sat there , covered in spilled wine and humiliation , I realized one terrifying truth . I had no idea what he was going to do next . 4/4 Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!