Cielo let out a deep sigh as she watched her eldest daughter, her gaze soft yet filled with contemplation.
They were in the garden, where Cielo was tending to her beloved roses. The flowers bloomed in various shapes and sizes, their vibrant colors brightening the space... except for pink. There were no pink roses in sight because her youngest daughter despised that color.
"Why can't you and your sister get along?" Cielo finally asked, breaking the silence between them.
It was still early in the day, but she had already learned from her husband's secretary that another argument had occurred... this time between Ryza and Ceres, and it was once again because of Ciena.
According to the report, Ceres introduced Ciena to Gideon Mercer, a highly influential figure in the art world. Mercer was known for discovering and supporting talented artists and helping them gain global recognition. Every aspiring artist would give anything for a chance to meet him.
Yet, Ceres had effortlessly given that opportunity to Ciena... an act that was met with hostility from her so-called friends.
"And why must you always assume the worst about Ceres' actions?" Cielo pressed further, her tone neither harsh nor accusing but rather weary.
She placed the freshly cut roses onto the table where Ciena sat and began arranging them in a glass vase with graceful precision.
Ciena remained silent, unable to find the right words. Because no matter how she looked at it, she would come out as the one in the wrong. She couldn't exactly tell her mother that she thought Ceres was merely setting her up for embarrassment in front of her influential friends. If she did, it would mean admitting that she didn't believe in her own talent, even in the one thing she loved most... painting.
"I'm sorry, Ma," was all Ciena could manage, her voice barely above a whisper.
Cielo sighed again.
She knew her eldest daughter often thought she was always taking Ceres' side.
But the truth was, Ciena never really made an effort to understand her sister.
Ceres had always been straightforward. She had been that way since she was a child. Many saw her as a spoiled brat, a bully even... but Cielo knew better.
Ceres simply knew what she wanted, and she never pretended otherwise. She wasn't the type to feign politeness for the sake of appearances, nor was she someone who would tolerate things she disliked. But at the same time, her dislikes weren't always set in stone.
Most people who judged her only saw the surface: her sharp tongue, intimidating presence, and effortless command of attention. But those who truly got to know her, those who earned her respect and trust, would find that Ceres was fiercely loyal.
Even Ceres herself didn't realize this about her own nature.
They say that a person is often blind to certain qualities about themselves, but those around them can see it clearly.
That was why, despite the many people who resented and envied Ceres, there were also those who genuinely adored her. The people who did... who gravitated toward her instead of away... were often the kind of individuals who had nothing to prove.
They were strong enough to stand beside her without feeling overshadowed. Confident enough to face her without fear of comparison.
Cielo decided to change the subject, hoping it would lighten the mood, even just a little.
"How's the wedding preparation going? Have you made any progress?" she asked gently.
But instead of lifting Ciena's spirits, the question only seemed to weigh her down further.
Her expression darkened, and her shoulders slumped as she let out a deep sigh.
"We still haven't found a wedding coordinator willing to take on the job," she admitted, her voice laced with disappointment.
Cielo frowned.
"But I thought you spoke to Zeus about it last night? Wasn't that part of the reason Ceres invited you to dinner with them?"
Ciena hesitated. She had gone to that dinner intending to talk to Zeus, but the opportunity never came.
The night had been a disaster the moment Ryzel and Ryza arrived at the club. Then there was Ceres, getting drunk, dancing with Zeus, staking her claim on him in ways Ciena never imagined she would. With all the tension, drama, and distractions, she hadn't even had a chance to bring up the wedding coordinator issue.
"I… I didn't get the chance to talk to him about it," Ciena admitted, lowering her gaze.
Cielo sighed once more, setting down the roses she had been arranging.
"Why don't you just give in to your sister's request?" she suggested, her tone careful. "It's just the color of her dress, Ciena, not the entire entourage. You know how much she hates pink. And besides, isn't the maid of honor's dress usually different from the bridesmaids' anyway?"
Ciena bit her lip, hesitating.
Truthfully, she had already considered giving in. She wanted to. They were running out of time. The dresses for the entourage hadn't even been made yet, not even her own wedding gown, because of the mess with the wedding coordinators. If things dragged on any longer, she might have no choice but to buy a ready-made gown.
That wasn't even the worst part.
The real problem wasn't just the dresses. The venue, the catering, everything had been canceled... because no one wanted to cross Zeus Falcon.
Ryza had promised to help. She said she had connections, people who could coordinate the wedding. But even her friends, despite their best efforts, had failed.
Everyone in high society knew about Zeus's blacklist threat, and no one was willing to risk their careers and businesses... even for Ryza.
It had been nearly a month since their original wedding coordinator backed out, and still, they hadn't found a replacement.
And the wedding date was fast approaching.
If it were up to Ciena, she would have settled for a simple civil wedding. Just her, Ryzel, and two witnesses. It didn't have to be grand.
But Ryzel refused.
He said a civil wedding would be humiliating. That people would talk. That his family would be disgraced in high society.
He was more worried about appearances than the marriage itself.
The original budget for Ryzel and Ceres's supposed wedding had been twenty million dollars.
Meanwhile, for her and Ryzel? A mere one million.
Not that she cared about the money.
In her old life, before she became part of the Monteverde family, even dreaming of a ten-thousand-dollar wedding was a luxury.
Cielo sighed softly before reaching for Ciena's hand, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear with a motherly touch.
"I know how much this wedding means to you," she said gently, offering a small, reassuring smile. "And as much as I want to assist you, there's not much I can do. Your Uncle Romos has already made up his mind not to intervene, and you know exactly why."
Of course, Ciena knew why.
Everything came down to one simple, childish demand... Ceres didn't want to attend the wedding unless she was the maid of honor. And she wouldn't agree to be the maid of honor unless she could wear a color other than pink.
So now, the entire wedding was at risk... all because of one dress.
"Just give in to your sister's request," Cielo urged. "Rather than let this problem drag on and complicate things even more as your wedding day approaches."
Ceres' reasoning may have been petty, but it didn't change the fact that Ciena's entire wedding was on the line.
Before she could respond, a housekeeper approached them, bowing slightly before speaking.
"Ma'am Cielo, Mr. and Mrs. Clark are here. Sir Romos asked for you... he's just finishing a call. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are waiting in the living room with Sir Ryzel and Miss Ryza."
At the mention of her fiancé's name, Ciena's expression brightened just a little.
"Okay, take this vase to Ceres' room," Cielo instructed before turning to her daughter. "Let's go, Ciena. They probably want to discuss the wedding."
Cielo walked ahead, and Ciena followed behind, quickly smoothing out her simple dress as they made their way to the living room.
The moment they stepped in, Mrs. Clark's face lit up.
"Cielo!" she greeted warmly, rising from the sofa to embrace her.
"Penelope," Cielo greeted back, returning the hug.
"Mrs. Clark," Ciena said politely, offering a small smile. But the smile faltered slightly when she noticed the brief, dismissive look the older woman gave her.
She knew her future in-laws didn't approve of her. She had known for a long time.
They had always wanted Ceres for Ryzel.
But there was nothing they could do about it now... because Ryzel had chosen her.
"Rozel," Cielo acknowledged Mr. Clark with a polite nod. "Romos is still on a call, but he'll be with us shortly."
"No problem, Cielo. We can wait," Mr. Clark assured her.
Ryza and Ryzel greeted Cielo as well before Ryzel turned his attention to Ciena.
She immediately walked toward him, hoping... expecting him to greet her the same way he had at the club last night.
She waited for him to pull her close. To kiss her.
But he didn't.
Instead, he merely acknowledged her with a brief greeting before sitting back down on the sofa, his attention shifting away as though he were looking for something... or someone.
Ciena followed his gaze and felt her heart sink slightly.
He was looking for Ceres.
"So, what brings you here?" Cielo asked, gracefully taking a seat. "Is it about the wedding?"
Mrs. Clark nodded. "Yes, but not entirely," she said smoothly. "We also wanted to discuss what happened between Ryza and Ceres. We're here because Ryza wants to apologize."
But the moment Cielo and Ciena turned their attention to Ryza, it was clear that apologizing was the last thing she wanted to do.
Her posture was stiff, her lips pressed together in a hard line, and her eyes held the same hostility they always did whenever Ceres was mentioned.
"Where is she, by the way?" Mr. Clark inquired, looking around the living room.
"I told you we should've come later," Ryzel muttered. "Ceres is probably still asleep. She drank too much last night... she's likely dealing with a hangover right now."
He said it so casually, as if he knew everything about her habits, as if he still had that right.
Ciena noted the way his voice carried a touch of familiarity... a hint of possessiveness... as if he still saw Ceres as someone who belonged to him.
She clenched her fists, but Cielo's next words stole everyone's attention.
"She hasn't come home yet," Cielo said simply.
Ryzel's reaction was immediate.
His body stiffened, his eyes slightly widening before he quickly controlled his expression.
But it was too late.
That brief flash of emotion had already betrayed his thoughts.
It was already past noon.
If Ceres wasn't home yet, then…
Where did she spend the night?
Did Zeus not take her home?
Ryzel knew Ceres hated staying anywhere other than her own bed.
She was meticulous... picky about her surroundings. She refused to sleep in unfamiliar places unless the room was perfectly arranged to her liking.
Even during vacations abroad, she demanded her accommodations be prepared in advance, down to the smallest details.
So why didn't she come home?
He tried to keep his voice steady. "Did she leave early this morning?"
But it wasn't just a question.
It was him desperately trying to convince himself that Ceres hadn't spent the night with another man.
But Cielo's next words shattered that delusion.
"No. Zeus actually called last night," she said. "He informed Romos that Ceres was drunk and that she would be spending the night with him at his penthouse."
Silence.
The words hung in the air like a heavy weight, pressing down on everyone in the room.
Ciena stole a glance at Ryzel, and she saw something she wished she had never seen.
Jealousy.
Possessiveness.
And... most painfully of all... regret.