The disbelief was evident on their faces.
Ciena… is getting married?
She hadn't told them a thing. And worse... she was marrying the very man she had once claimed was merely her employer, Ryzel Clark.
They had already come to terms with the fact that Ciena had lied to them for two years. But what they couldn't accept was that she had played them for fools.
"I'm sorry," Narciso finally spoke, but there was no longer sadness in his voice... only growing anger and disappointment toward his eldest daughter. "But I cannot walk her down the aisle."
Ciena's head snapped toward her father.
"Why not, Uncle?" Ceres asked, feigning innocent curiosity. "You see, Ciena originally pleaded with my father to walk her down the aisle since she had no one to do it for her. But my daddy was firm... he said he would only walk her to the altar after he had done that for me. And although Zeus and I are engaged... just last night, actually... it'll be a while before my own wedding."
Narciso's fists clenched at the thought.
His daughter had asked, no, pleaded another man to give her away without even bothering to tell him she was getting married.
Despite how hard life had been, despite their poverty, Narciso had done his best to provide for his children's basic needs. He had worked tirelessly, saving up for their education, hoping they could break free from the life of hardship he himself had endured.
But Ciena's actions made one thing painfully clear.
She never wanted them in her life to begin with.
"I know Ciena wouldn't want me to walk her down the aisle," Narciso said bitterly. "She'd probably be ashamed. And looking at the way she's dressed now… at the house she's living in… I'm sure she's marrying into wealth. And people like that... people like her... would never want someone like me, or Ciera, or Nissan, at a high-society wedding."
He turned to Ciena before shifting his gaze back to Ceres.
"And even if they did allow us there, I wouldn't do it," he stated firmly. "If she never even thought to tell us something as important as this, it means she doesn't want us there. And I will never force myself on someone who clearly doesn't want us in their life."
With that, Narciso stood up and grabbed their overnight bags from where they sat on the polished marble floor beside the sofa.
"Let's go," he said to Ciera and Nissan.
Ciera immediately stood up. Nissan, however, hesitated for a moment before reluctantly rising as well.
Ceres was on her feet in an instant, catching Zeus off guard.
"Uncle, you can't leave," she said, grabbing Narciso's arm.
"Ceres, we don't want to cause trouble," the man sighed. His gaze softened as he looked at her, his earlier anger now replaced with quiet resignation. "And judging by Cielo's reaction earlier... and that of your father… I know they don't want us here, either. Believe it or not, I have no intention of ruining Cielo's life now that she's finally happy."
Ceres met his eyes, searching for any sign of deceit.
She found none.
He really means it.
And that was exactly why she couldn't let him leave.
"That is precisely why you cannot go," Ceres said firmly. "And I will not allow you to leave."
Narciso frowned in confusion.
"Your marriage to my mother is legal, isn't it?" she asked, her gaze never wavering.
Narciso nodded slowly.
"That means that, despite twenty years of zero contact, technically, you are still my mother's legal husband," Ceres continued.
She turned to Zeus.
"I'm right, aren't I?"
Zeus nodded. "Yes. Their marriage is still legally binding. And because of that, your mother's marriage to your father is considered null and void."
Ceres looked back at Narciso, her expression unreadable.
"If you truly want to let my mother live her life in peace," she said, her voice laced with unmistakable seriousness, "then stay. File for divorce. That way, my parents can finally have a real wedding. A legal one this time."
Silence stretched between them.
Then, Ceres shifted her attention to Ciera and Nissan. And with a knowing smile, she played the one card she knew Narciso wouldn't be able to resist.
Because if he truly cared about his daughters... if he really wanted to give Nissan a better life... he would swallow his pride.
"I will pay you four million dollars to file for divorce," Ceres said smoothly.
Narciso, Ciera, and Nissan's eyes widened in shock at the staggering amount.
But Ceres wasn't done.
"And twenty-one million more... one million for each of you for every year that Ciena has been living with us... once the divorce is finalized."
She smiled at them sweetly.
"I'm not trying to buy your worth," Ceres clarified. "But as you've said yourselves, life has been hard for you. And I'm sure that if you had the means, you would have left that place a long time ago. So, the money I'm offering will be more than enough for you to build a much better life in your city. Or, if you prefer, you can stay here in New York and start fresh.
"It will be enough to open a small business... something stable to support the three of you. And if Nissan wants to go back to school, she can enroll in a better university here without worrying about expenses."
Ceres wasn't just offering them money.
She was offering them an escape.
And just to make sure they had no reason to refuse, she dangled something in front of them that even those in high society would kill to have.
"And I promise," she said smoothly, "as long as it's legal, the Monteverde will support and back you up."
With that, she turned to Nissan, smiling warmly as she approached.
"And I really think it would be wonderful to finally get to know Mommy's side of the family."
A long silence followed.
It was clear that Narciso was deep in thought, weighing her offer carefully.
Meanwhile, Nissan's expression betrayed her emotions. Hope.
This wasn't just about leaving Escobares anymore.
It was about starting over.
For the first time in her life, Nissan saw a future that wasn't defined by poverty... a future where she wouldn't have to worry about how they were going to survive each month.
A future where she could finally go to college.
"Won't your father be angry if we stay here?" Narciso finally asked.
"Of course not. Especially since your reason for staying is to file for divorce," Ceres replied easily. "And my Daddy? He's not an unreasonable man. Even though you were Mommy's first husband, he won't hold any grudges against you. The two of you were just caught in a situation that neither of you had control over. But now? You can both fix that."
Ceres then turned back to Nissan, taking both of her hands in hers.
And with a teasing smile, she suddenly said, "I hate to break it to you, but you don't stand a chance with Zeus."
Nissan's eyes widened in horror, her face instantly turning a deep shade of red.
Ceres laughed.
"But," she continued playfully, "I can introduce you to his single friends. They might not be as rich or as handsome as him, but trust me, they can hold their own. And I'm sure as hell that if you ever happen to like one of them... they'd be a far better catch than the men in your city."
Then, lowering her voice just enough for Ciena to still hear, she added with a smirk,
"And truth be told? Even the weakest link in their group is still better than Ryzel Clark by a mile."
She even wiggled her eyebrows for emphasis.
Ceres didn't even have to look at Ciena to know she had hit a nerve.
The humiliation on Ciena's face was priceless.
But she couldn't even deny it.
Because no matter how much she wanted to argue…
It was the truth.
Nissan glanced at her older sister, taking in the way Ciena's expression had stiffened.
They had grown up together, and for the longest time, Nissan had looked up to her. She had admired her, loved her, and missed her. When Ciena ran away, she had cried herself to sleep almost every night for an entire month.
She had even offered their father the money they had saved for her own education, just so they could use it to find Ciena. She hadn't cared about anything else... only that her sister was safe.
And when they finally reconnected with her after so many years, Nissan had been overwhelmed with emotions. She had been overjoyed to hear Ciena's voice again, yet devastated to learn that she was alone in New York, struggling to survive.
She had believed that her sister was suffering. That even though their own life in Escobares was hard, at least they had each other.
But to learn that everything... their fears, their worries, their heartbreak... had all been for nothing?
To find out that Ciena had deliberately erased them from her life?
That she had been thriving while they had spent years mourning the loss of her presence?
Nissan couldn't accept it.
If Ciena didn't want them, then they didn't need her either.
But even as bitterness started to creep into her heart, Nissan still couldn't shake her concern about one thing...
Ceres Monteverde.
Ciena had always been strong-willed. She was bold, stubborn, and never backed down from a fight.
But now?
Now, she looked like a cornered animal in the presence of one woman.
And Nissan could see it.
She could feel it.
The undeniable fact that Ceres was the Queen Bee of this world.
And no one... not even someone as headstrong as Ciena... could go against her and win.
"You don't have to do that," Nissan finally said, shaking her head. She wouldn't lie... she wanted to experience the kind of life Ceres was offering. But she also knew her place. "I don't want to embarrass you in front of your friends and acquaintances."
Ceres frowned as if the very thought offended her.
"That's nonsense," she said immediately.
And although she did want to spite Ciena... especially since she knew how badly Ciena had wanted this before, to be introduced to her circle, something Ceres had never allowed... she truly wanted to do this for Nissan.
"We're cousins," she continued. "And the divorce process might take six weeks... though I know I can get it done much sooner... but still, weeks. Do you really expect me to let you waste that time, cooped up inside this house?"
She scoffed. "Of course not. And I won't allow it.
"I will introduce you to my friends, whether you like it or not."
Then, her lips curled into a smirk.
"And just so you know… I always get what I want."
Her voice dropped slightly, taking on a dangerously sweet edge.
"So you better start saying yes to everything I say."
She leaned in just a fraction, her eyes gleaming with amusement.
"People have suffered for saying 'no' to me."
Then, she turned her gaze back to Ciena as if daring her to object.
"Right, sissy?" Ceres asked with a smirk.