"Should I bring you to the emergency room?" Ceres whispered, leaning closer to Zeus so only he could hear her.
Zeus tilted his head slightly, his lips brushing against her ear as he whispered back, "Why?"
"Because someone has been throwing daggers your way all night. I'm worried you might be bleeding already."
Zeus smirked at her words and discreetly glanced to the side. His gaze landed on Ryzel, who was sitting directly across the table with Ciena beside him.
And just as Ceres had said... Ryzel was glaring at him with an intensity that could probably set something on fire.
Zeus hummed in amusement before whispering back, "Honestly, I think he's the one who needs the hospital. His mouth is practically foaming with rage... looks like he's about to have a stroke."
Ceres couldn't stop the soft giggle that escaped her lips, earning a suspicious glance from her father, Romos.
"Looks like you two are having fun over there, sweetheart," Romos said, raising an eyebrow. "Care to share the joke with the rest of us?"
Ceres smiled, straightening up. "Oh, it's nothing important, Daddy."
Romos hummed, his sharp gaze shifting between her and Zeus, his lips curling into a knowing smirk. "No need to share, huh?"
"If it's not important," Ryza suddenly snapped, her voice sharp and irritated. "Then why don't you focus on the actual topic at hand instead of whispering like a child? We're talking about Ciena and Ryzel's honeymoon, so maybe, for once, don't make everything about you!"
The room fell silent.
Zeus's golden eyes darkened, his brows arching ever so slightly at Ryza's sudden hostility. Mr. and Mrs. Clark immediately tensed and exchanged anxious glances.
But Zeus didn't say anything.
Because he knew one thing... Ceres could handle Ryza on her own.
And she would shut her up in the most spectacular way.
Ceres turned her head, slowly raising an eyebrow at Ryza, her expression a mix of confusion and amusement.
"How exactly am I making everything about me?" she asked, her tone deceptively calm. "Zeus and I were just whispering something funny. Did I ask for everyone's attention? No, right?"
Zeus let out a low chuckle at her effortlessly sassy response.
Ceres tilted her head slightly, her smirk widening. "Besides, why would I care about their honeymoon? It's not like I'm coming with them."
A soft snort escaped Zeus.
Across the table, Ciena bit her lip, clearly uncomfortable. Ryzel, on the other hand, had his jaw clenched so tight it looked like he was seconds away from snapping.
But Ceres wasn't done.
She rested her chin on her hand, feigning curiosity. "Or..." she dragged out, "are you just looking for another excuse to pick a fight with me? Is your life so boring now that I stopped entertaining your tantrums?"
Ryza opened her mouth, but before she could even say a word, Ceres grinned.
"I get it now." Ceres let out a dramatic gasp, clutching her chest. "You just want my attention! You must be feeling neglected. That's why you keep looking for reasons to fight with me!"
Zeus covered his mouth, shaking with laughter.
Ryza's face turned an alarming shade of red.
"How dare you!" she shrieked, completely forgetting that she was a guest in the Monteverde mansion.
But to be fair, Romos didn't even bat an eye.
Just as he had told Ryza before, he didn't care if she threw verbal insults at Ceres. As long as she didn't physically harm his daughter, he had no reason to intervene.
"Oh, I dare," Ceres shot back mockingly. "Don't worry, if Zeus is ever busy and I happen to have free time, I'll make sure to entertain you. You must be so bored. It's kind of sad."
Zeus burst out laughing.
"So this is my fault now?" Zeus turned to Ceres with a teasing smirk. "But between your coffee dates and shopping sprees with Diana, you barely give me any time. Maybe you should cut back on your coffee dates and make time for your little fights with Ryza instead."
"No! Not my shopping and coffee time!" Ceres gasped in exaggerated horror. "Are you trying to make me sick?"
Zeus chuckled, clearly amused.
"Then maybe…" he trailed off, stroking his chin like he was in deep thought. "You could just bring Ryza along. That way, she won't get bored, and your time with me won't be affected."
"Not my coffee! I like my coffee sweet. But if she's there, I'd probably need to dump ten sugar cubes in it, and it would still taste bitter because we'd have a bitter person sitting with us."
Zeus coughed to cover his laughter.
Ceres placed a finger on her chin, pretending to think.
"You know what? I'll fit you into my shopping schedule instead, Ryza. You could use some fashion tips. Your outfit is so last season."
Ryza opened her mouth, but no words came out.
She was stunned speechless.
But Ceres wasn't done yet. Since Ryza started this fight, she might as well finish it.
"Now I finally understand why the bridal entourage gowns look so tacky. You helped Ciena pick them, didn't you?" Ceres smirked.
Ryza visibly clenched her fists. "Don't bring Ciena into this."
"I'm not," Ceres shot back with a fake innocent look. "We were talking about her wedding, right? Since you're so eager to hear my opinion, let me give you one... the gowns are ugly, the flowers are boring, and the food is basic."
Ciena inhaled sharply.
Ceres hadn't even looked at her.
"And most importantly... " Ceres' voice dripping with condescension. "The guest list is full of high-society elites, and you're dressing them in pink? Tacky. No class. Absolutely cheap. What is this? A Barbie-themed tea party? Do you think you're Barbie?"
Even Cielo gasped at her daughter's words.
"I know it's Ciena's wedding, and she should have what she wants," Ceres continued. "But did any of you stop to think about your guests? You didn't even consider their backgrounds, their taste in food, or whether the color scheme would suit them.
But hey, who am I to say anything?" she shrugged. "When I tried fixing your tacky choices for the sake of your guests, you accused me of sabotaging the wedding. Said I was making it all about myself.
And now that I'm staying out of it and minding my own business, suddenly, I'm still making it all about myself?"
Ceres tilted her head and gave Ryza a mocking smile.
"Are you sure you don't have a brain disease?"
Ciena felt her face burn with shame.
Because deep down, she knew Ceres was right.
Until now, she hadn't even considered the preferences of their guests. The truth was, she barely knew any of them. Eighty percent of the guest list? That was all Ryzel's decision.
Ceres wasn't done.
"And I get it, Ciena wouldn't have understood, and that's acceptable. She didn't grow up in our society. But you and Ryzel should have known better." Ceres's golden eyes gleamed as she turned to them. "This wedding is not just a wedding. It's a high-society event where influential people come together. These people aren't just going to talk about how 'perfect' the bride and groom look together.
They'll be talking about business.
They'll be discussing partnerships, deals, future collaborations."
Ryza's face paled. Even Ciena was gripping the hem of her dress.
"That's why when Zeus blacklisted the event coordinators, you panicked. Because if this were just a simple wedding, you could've settled for a civil ceremony. Just the two of them. No guests. No spectacle."
Ceres leaned back against her chair, her posture screaming confidence and power.
"Even if she isn't using the Monteverde name, Ciena is still living under my daddy's roof. So tell me, what do you think our high-society guests will say about this wedding?"
She tilted her head, voice dripping with mock curiosity.
"Oh, I know, 'Romos Monteverde and Rozel Clark hosted a tacky, cheap wedding event.'"
Zeus couldn't stop himself from smirking.
He watched as realization sank into the expressions of Ryzel, Ryza, Ciena, and even the Clark couple.
For so long, they thought Ceres was interfering in the wedding preparations out of selfishness.
They assumed she was doing it for attention or control.
But they failed to understand who Ceres Monteverde truly was.
She was one of the few people at the very center of high society.
She knew exactly what was acceptable and what wasn't.
And watching her put them all in their place?
It was doing things to him.
Things he knew were very inappropriate right now.
'God, I think I'm falling in love all over again with this woman.'
His thoughts were interrupted when Romos suddenly called his name.
"Zeus."
He turned his head, meeting Romos' knowing gaze.
No words were spoken.
But Zeus understood perfectly.
It was a silent command.
Calm her down.
Zeus let out a small exhale before turning to his woman.
"Love," he called softly, his voice a gentle contrast to the sharpness in Ceres' golden eyes as she glared at Ryza.
She barely spared him a glance. "What?" she snapped.
Zeus simply smiled, unbothered by her mood. "Why don't we go outside and take a breather?"
Ceres turned to him, brows furrowing.
Zeus raised a brow in return, waiting.
She rolled her eyes dramatically before sighing, but she didn't argue. That was enough of a win.
Standing up, Zeus moved to her side, his hand naturally resting on the small of her back.
"We'll be enjoying the flowers in your garden, Cielo," Zeus announced smoothly.
For a brief second, Cielo looked confused.
Then, understanding dawned.
Zeus was taking Ceres away to calm her down.
Cielo nodded. "Go ahead, Zeus."
Zeus gave a polite smile before grabbing two crystal wine glasses and taking the bottle of champagne from the butler.
"Then, if you'll excuse us."
Without another glance at the people in the dining room, Zeus led Ceres toward the garden, his fingers grazing her waist.
Ceres walked ahead of him, still rolling her shoulders in annoyance.