They had been waiting for almost an hour, yet Ceres still hadn't come down.
Zeus sat calmly, engaged in a conversation with Romos about business. His demeanor was relaxed, but his sharp, unreadable eyes would occasionally flick toward Ciena.
Ciena, on the other hand, sat in utter silence, her back stiff against the plush one-seater sofa across from them.
The air-conditioning made the room comfortably cool, yet she felt herself sweating under Zeus's gaze.
Whenever his gaze drifted toward her, his eyes would narrow just slightly...a subtle, silent warning that spoke volumes.
A warning that said she was not welcome.
A warning that said she was ruining his night with Ceres.
But just like him, she had no choice.
Because Ceres had personally told Zeus that she would be joining them.
And when Ceres made a decision, no one questioned it.
Still, Ciena couldn't shake off the discomfort of being an obvious third wheel.
Zeus was wearing simple yet elegant attire...a black long-sleeved knitted shirt and tailored black slacks. Even without a visible brand label, it was obvious that his outfit alone cost more than most people made in a year.
He looked effortlessly handsome.
Even Ciena, who had long since buried her first childhood crush on him, couldn't deny that Zeus was in a league of his own.
Far more than Ryzel.
Back when she had first entered the Monteverde mansion, she had admired Zeus from a distance.
But he was too intimidating.
Even back then, looking at him for too long had felt like a crime in itself.
And now, years later, he hadn't changed.
If anything, he had only become more powerful.
More dangerous.
And Ciena wasn't sure how she had ended up in a situation where she had to accompany Ceres on a date with him.
"I apologize for the wait, Zeus," Romos said, offering a small sigh of exasperation. "But you know how my daughter is...she takes her time with everything."
Zeus turned his attention back to Romos, his lips twitching into a small, knowing smirk.
"Don't worry about it, Romos," he said, his tone completely genuine. "Even if I have to wait until tomorrow, I wouldn't mind."
Romos approved.
This was one of the many reasons why he had never been too angry when Ryzel broke off his engagement with Ceres.
Because in Romos's eyes, Ryzel was never worthy of his daughter in the first place.
He had only supported the engagement because Ceres had insisted...because from childhood, she had wanted Ryzel.
But if it had been up to him?
Zeus Falcon was the man he had always deemed most suitable for his daughter.
Because, unlike Ryzel, Zeus knew how to treat Ceres.
Like the princess that she was.
"Yes, let's meet up later. I'll text you when we arrive."
A smooth, melodic voice interrupted the conversation.
Both men instinctively turned their heads.
Ceres was walking down the grand staircase, a phone pressed to her ear, her tone casual and indifferent.
Zeus immediately stood, his posture shifting from relaxed to attentive.
The moment he saw her, his serious expression melted into a wide smile...a rare sight that completely contrasted his usual cold demeanor.
Without hesitation, he moved toward the base of the staircase, waiting for her like a knight waiting for his queen.
"Did you wait long?" Ceres asked playfully, her voice light and teasing as she looked up at Zeus.
But she already knew the answer.
Of course, he had waited.
He always did.
And it never mattered...because no matter how long it took, Zeus would wait for her for a lifetime if she asked him to.
"Not long enough," he replied smoothly, his lips curving into a smirk before he leaned down and placed a soft kiss on the corner of her lips.
The action was so natural, so intimate, yet so effortlessly dominant...like a silent claim.
Without a second thought, he took her handbag from her, sliding it over his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
A powerful man like Zeus Falcon holding a woman's bag?
Some would call it laughable.
Some would say it made him look weak.
But Zeus?
He didn't care.
Because no one would dare laugh at him.
And because he would never let the love of his life carry anything heavy when he was around.
Behind Ceres, Cielo watched the interaction with an amused smirk.
"Alright, alright. Go now. It's almost eight," she said, shooing them away.
Ceres giggled, leaning forward to kiss her mother's cheek before slipping her hand into Zeus's arm.
With a final nod of acknowledgment to Romos, Zeus led her out of the mansion, his grip on her gentle yet possessive.
Everything about his body language screamed, 'She belongs to me.'
Just as they reached the entrance, Ceres turned her head and noticed Ciena still sitting stiffly on the sofa, unmoving.
Her golden eyes glinted with mischief.
"Ciena, let's go," she called out sweetly.
Ciena inwardly groaned, but she forced herself to breathe, smile, and stand up.
With heavy steps, she bid a quick farewell to Cielo and Romos before reluctantly following them out of the mansion.
Waiting outside was a sleek, black Rolls-Royce, its polished surface gleaming under the soft glow of the estate lights.
Zeus walked ahead without a word, smoothly opening the front passenger seat for Ceres.
He made sure to shield her head, guiding her inside like she was royalty, before gently shutting the door once she was comfortably seated.
His movements were effortless, practiced...like he had done this a hundred times before.
Then, without even masking his reluctance, he walked over to the backseat and opened the door for Ciena.
Unlike the careful attention he gave to Ceres, his actions were stiff, mechanical...forced.
He didn't even wait for her to fully enter before he turned on his heel and made his way to the driver's seat.
The message was clear. He had no interest in making her feel welcome.
Ciena tried not to let it bother her as she slid inside, pulling the door shut behind her.
The engine purred to life as Zeus fastened Ceres' seatbelt himself, his movements quick, fluid, and intimately familiar.
"Close your side door properly," Zeus said, his voice cool and disinterested.
Ciena blinked, then looked at the dashboard screen, where a small alert flashed.
The indicator showed that her door wasn't completely closed.
She sighed heavily, reaching out to pull the door tighter, making sure it clicked into place.
Only then did Zeus press down on the accelerator, smoothly guiding the car away from the Monteverde estate.
As the city lights blurred past the windows, Ciena felt even more out of place than before.
They arrived at Aurivale, one of Zeus' many high-end properties.
But this wasn't just any luxury establishment.
It had everything.
Private shopping lounges exclusive to the elite, world-class restaurants, and some of the most sought-after nightclubs in the city.
The moment they pulled up to the entrance, a valet swiftly took Zeus's car keys, handling the black Rolls-Royce with the level of care expected from someone who knew exactly who they were serving.
Without hesitation, Zeus led the way, his hand resting lightly on Ceres' lower back as they stepped inside.
They took a private elevator straight to the seventh floor...where their dinner awaited.
Zeus had reserved the entire place, ensuring that it would be just him and Ceres for the evening.
It was supposed to be a private, intimate dinner.
No interruptions. No outsiders.
But now...
He had an unwanted guest.
The moment they entered, a soft romantic tune played in the background, setting the mood perfectly.
Zeus had planned everything down to the finest detail.
And if Ceres hadn't taken her sweet time getting ready, he wouldn't have had the chance to inform the staff ahead of time about their extra guest.
Even so...
Anyone with eyes could see the difference between the way Zeus treated the two women.
With Ceres, he was attentive, thoughtful, and indulgent...pulling out her chair, pouring her wine, and ensuring that every dish served was her favorite.
With Ciena, it was as if she didn't exist.
The staff, trained to follow Zeus' lead, mirrored his actions.
They hardly acknowledged Ciena unless necessary, making her presence even more awkward.
And as she sat there, watching Zeus dote on Ceres, she felt something she hated to admit.
Jealousy.
Not because she wanted Zeus.
But because even after all this time, even after being engaged to Ryzel, she had never experienced anything close to this.
Ryzel had never looked at her the way Zeus looked at Ceres.
Never treated her like she was the center of his world.
Never made her feel like she was precious.
She felt the cruel, crushing weight of reality.
She had settled.
And she would never be loved the way Ceres was.
The moment Zeus and Ceres stood up, heading towards the open floor to dance, Ciena quickly reached for her phone.
She typed a message.
"Are you busy?"
She sent it to Ryza, hoping for a distraction.
A reply came almost instantly.
"Why?"
Ciena glanced up, her grip tightening on her phone as she watched Zeus and Ceres dance.
It was almost sickening how perfect they looked together.
They moved in sync, completely in their own world, as if no one else existed.
She exhaled sharply before typing back.
"I'm at Aurivale. Having dinner with Ceres and Zeus. I feel so out of place."
"Why did you even go? You know that slut is just messing with you."
Ciena frowned slightly.
"As if I had a choice?"
She sighed, feeling even more suffocated as she watched Zeus twirl Ceres effortlessly, their gazes locked.
Another message popped up.
"Are you leaving soon?"
Ciena hesitated, looking at Zeus' hand resting securely on Ceres' waist, the way he was whispering something in her ear, making her laugh.
She clenched her jaw and replied.
"I don't know. Ceres wants to go clubbing after."