Whisper in the Ashes of Us

Chapter 4: Search

Celestine POV

The ride home felt quieter than usual, despite the familiar comfort of my favorite playlist filling the car.

🎶 Playing IDGAF BY DUA LIPA

My mind wandered, replaying the events at the charity house. Azrael’s piercing gaze, his confident presence, and that unexplainable sense of familiarity consumed my thoughts.

Who is he? And why does it feel like I’ve known him forever?

I shook my head, trying to push away the ridiculous notion. This wasn’t me—I wasn’t the type to overthink or dwell on a man, especially one I’d just met. My life had always been about confidence, focus, and staying grounded. But today, something about Azrael Ziferano unraveled me in ways I couldn’t comprehend.

“Stop it, Celestine. You’re overthinking again,” I muttered, trying to clear my head.

When I arrived home, Manang greeted me at the door, concern etched on her face.

“Ija, okay ka lang ba? Mukhang pagod ka,” she asked gently.

I forced a smile. “Okay lang po, Manang. Medyo napagod lang po sa mga bata, pero masaya naman.”

After handing her the leftover donations I brought back, I went straight to my room, seeking solitude. I took a quick shower to wash away the exhaustion of the day, then sat by the window with a fresh cup of coffee.

The Manila skyline sparkled like a sea of stars, but I couldn’t enjoy it. My mind kept drifting back to Azrael.

“Why now? Why him?” I whispered into the stillness of the night.

Frustrated with my unanswered questions, I gave in to curiosity. Grabbing my phone, I searched for Azrael Ziferano on social media. His profile came up instantly, but to my surprise, it was nearly empty—no photos, no posts, just 6 million followers.

“Six million? Seriously?” I scoffed.

I turned to Google and found article after article about him: a billionaire CEO, a genius in business, and, apparently, a notorious heartbreaker. His reputation preceded him, but none of it explained why he seemed so familiar.

“Tsk. Kalimutan ko nalang siya,” I muttered to myself, tossing my phone aside.

But no matter how much I tried, his face lingered in my mind. The way he looked at me, almost as if he was just as confused as I was.

“Ugh, Celestine, tama na. Matulog ka na. Ayoko na ulit bangungutin,” I grumbled, forcing myself to lie down.

Azrael POV

As I drive back to my condo was quiet, but my thoughts were chaotic. My grip on the steering wheel tightened as I replayed every detail of the day—her face, her voice, the way she looked at me.

Celestine Devereux.

Once I got home, I poured myself a glass of whiskey, hoping it would calm my racing thoughts. Instead, it only fueled my curiosity.

I opened my MacBook and typed her name into the search bar. Within seconds, I was flooded with information.

Famous model based in Paris. Graduate of IFA Paris. Daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Devereux.

“s**t,” I muttered under my breath.

The realization hit me like a truck. She wasn’t just any woman; she was the daughter of my business partners. I remembered Mr. and Mrs. Devereux casually mentioning her during a meeting.

"Our daughter will be the face of our product."

So that’s why we’re meeting next month.

Curiosity got the better of me, and I scrolled through her social media. Unlike mine, hers was filled with photos elegant, confident, and undeniably stunning damn she's so hot and sexy that makes me wanna f**k her.Her latest magazine cover for Vogue Paris made me pause.

She wasn’t just beautiful. She was different. She had this aura that set her apart, a mix of strength and vulnerability that intrigued me.

“Damn it,” I muttered, closing the laptop abruptly.

I leaned back on my couch, staring at the ceiling. I didn’t need distractions right now. My schedule was packed with meetings and business deals, and the last thing I needed was a woman especially her taking up space in my mind.

But despite my best efforts, her face stayed with me as I fall sleep.