It was the prenuptial shoot.
The wedding entourage gathered in one of the most scenic parts of Aurora Vineyard, posing for the official photographs before tomorrow's grand event, Ciena and Ryzel's wedding.
The atmosphere was awkward at first, thick with unspoken tensions from the drama of the past weeks. Everyone walked on eggshells, careful not to bring up the lingering tension hanging over the event like a storm cloud.
But the moment Ceres arrived, everything shifted.
As usual, she effortlessly stole the spotlight instead of the bride-to-be.
From the moment she stepped onto the vineyard, it was as if all eyes were drawn to her.
Her presence alone commanded attention. The way she carried herself, unapologetically confident, breathtakingly elegant, made it impossible to ignore her.
Even Ryzel, who had been there since early morning, couldn't look away.
He had been trying to talk to her, desperate to talk to her, ever since their last conversation.
But every time he called, the one answering the phone was Zeus.
Every. Single. Time.
It didn't matter what time of day he tried, whether it was in the middle of the night or at dawn, Zeus was always the one picking up.
And the bastard made sure to rub it in.
"She's sleeping, Ryzel."
"You called too late. I exhausted her."
"She's in the shower. Want me to hand her the phone?"
The insinuations weren't even subtle.
If Ryzel hadn't heard the way Ceres cried that night, he would have thought she still had Zeus wrapped around her finger.
But now…
Now, he saw it for what it was.
To others, Zeus looked devoted. The ever-dedicated fiancé, never straying from Ceres's side.
But to Ryzel?
He saw the truth.
Zeus wasn't just devoted, he was watching her.
Like a predator watching his prey.
His movements were calculated. His vigilance over her was absolute.
Everywhere Ceres went, Zeus was right there. Never more than a step away.
It was him who adjusted the strands of her hair when they fell over her face in the middle of a shot, not the photographer. Him who made sure she had everything she needed before she could even ask. Him who lingered with an almost obsessive presence.
Zeus Falcon wasn't protecting his fiancée.
He was ensuring she never had a chance to escape him.
And every time Ceres met Ryzel's gaze, there was something there, a flicker of sadness.
It was barely there. Gone in a second.
Replaced instantly with irritation when she realized Zeus was looking at her.
"Ms. Ceres is so lucky," one of the crew whispered excitedly.
"It's like she's the bride instead. Mr. Falcon is so attentive to her."
"Right? It's so unfair. She already has everything, rich, beautiful, sexy, and now she has a fiancé who treats her like a queen."
Another crew member scoffed. "Yeah, but she's a spoiled brat. Look at her. She's the center of attention again, and she's only the maid of honor."
Someone snickered. "Friend, if I had her life, I'd be a spoiled brat too. Especially if I had a man who actually spoils me."
The group laughed, though there was jealousy beneath their amusement.
If only they knew.
Ryzel clenched his fists. His jaw tightened.
His gaze never left Ceres.
He didn't care about Ciena. Not even a little.
He had already told her that the only reason he was going through with the wedding was because she was pregnant.
But the truth?
This was his only way to keep Zeus from severing his connection to Ceres.
No matter how much Ceres and Ciena despised each other, they were still sisters. And as family, there would always be moments where their paths crossed, family gatherings, celebrations, and special events.
For Ryzel, marrying Ciena wasn't about duty. It wasn't about love.
It was about strategy.
It meant that Zeus couldn't cut him out completely.
It meant he had an excuse, a reason to stay close to Ceres. To watch over her.
Across the vineyard, he watched as Ceres leaned in close to Zeus, whispering something against his ear. She caressed his jaw lovingly, her fingers feather-light against his skin.
She was acting.
She was forcing herself to look affectionate, like a devoted fiancée.
Ceres Monteverde was not the type to put on a show.
She never cared about what people thought of her. If she was angry, she showed it. If she was unbothered, she let it be known. But now, for the sake of her parents, she had to tolerate Zeus's presence. She had to play along.
Ryzel felt a violent urge to march over and smash his fist into Zeus's face.
But he couldn't.
Not yet.
Years ago, he had promised Ceres that he would always be by her side. That he would protect her. But now, he was powerless. For now.
But soon, soon, he would fulfill his promise.
He would find a way to break Zeus's hold over the Monteverdes.
Zeus pressed a kiss against Ceres's lips, right there in front of everyone, solidifying his claim.
Then, as if nothing had happened, he left, heading toward the guest house where the wedding attendees would be staying the night.
Ceres, on the other hand, excused herself from the group, making her way toward the powder room.
Ryzel didn't hesitate.
He followed.
He made sure no one saw.
The powder room was tucked away behind rows of lavishly landscaped plants, hidden from view.
Just as Ceres reached the doorway, Ryzel grabbed her.
"Ah!"
She gasped in surprise as he pulled her into the shadows, his arm wrapping around her waist as he guided her behind the powder room, where no one could see them.
"Ryzel," she breathed, recognizing him immediately.
Her wide golden eyes darted around, checking their surroundings.
"What are you doing? Someone might see us," she whispered, voice laced with urgency.
He didn't answer.
Instead, he hugged her.
His arms caged around her tightly, pressing her against him, his body remembering the way she fit so perfectly against his.
He buried his face into her hair.
"I missed you, babe," he murmured, inhaling the familiar scent of her. His lips brushed against her temple, his voice aching with longing.
For a second, just a second, Ceres melted into his embrace.
But then, she pushed against his chest, shaking her head.
"Don't do this, Ryz," she whispered.
Her hands stayed flat against his chest as if keeping a distance between them would stop the way her body betrayed her.
"You're getting married tomorrow."
Ryzel exhaled sharply, frustration evident in his voice.
"I don't love Ciena. You know that," he said, his voice low, urgent. "The only reason I'm marrying her is so Zeus won't cut me off from you. This way, I can still see you."
A sad smile crossed Ceres's lips, and she shook her head.
"It doesn't matter," she murmured, her voice laced with defeat.
"They already won."
Her breath hitched, but she forced herself to meet his gaze.
"No matter how much I hate Ciena, no matter how much I despise Zeus, there's nothing I can do, Ryz," she whispered.
Her voice trembled as she confessed, "I can't afford to make Zeus angry."
Ryzel stilled.
Ceres squeezed her eyes shut.
"He won't hurt me. Not directly. That much, I know," she admitted.
"But the people around me?"
Her voice wavered.
"He would destroy them. He would make me watch. And he would do it just to break me."
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
Her forehead fell against Ryzel's chest, her hands clenching his suit tightly.
"I won't let him hurt Mommy and Daddy," she whispered, her voice cracking.
Her shoulders shook with quiet devastation.
"I would rather burn. I would rather suffer in hell," her next words were a whisper of surrender, "than let them pay for my mistakes."
She had already accepted her fate.
She had already made peace with the fact that she had no way out.
"No, babe," Ryzel whispered, gently lifting Ceres's chin so he could look into her tear-filled golden eyes. He wiped away the tears that streaked down her cheeks, his touch soft, reverent.
"I promise, I will find a way to get you away from Zeus," he vowed, his voice firm with conviction. "Just give me time. But please, don't give up. Don't give up on us."
He cupped her face, forcing her to look at him, to see the sincerity in his eyes.
"I swear, I will take you back without letting him hurt your mom and dad. I will do everything to make them pay for what they did to us, Zeus and Ciena."
Ceres stared at him, eyes searching his face.
"Promise?" she asked, doubt evident in her tone.
Ryzel's heart clenched at her uncertainty.
'Of course, she doubts me.'
He had broken so many promises before. It was only natural for her to question his words now.
But this time, he wouldn't fail her.
"I promise," he swore, pressing a firm kiss against her forehead.
A small smile broke through her sadness.
Despite the tear stains on her cheeks, she was still the most beautiful thing Ryzel had ever seen.
"Then I will assist you as much as I can," she murmured, stepping even closer. She smoothed the lapels of his suit, her fingers grazing against the fabric teasingly.
"But," she continued, tilting her head up to look at him, "you have to promise me, no matter what I do or say, you will always forgive me."
"Of course, babe." His thumb brushed against her cheek. Ceres leaned into his touch, closing her eyes for a brief moment as if savoring the warmth of his palm.
"I will never make the same mistake again," Ryzel assured her.
Ceres's lips curved into a mischievous smile, one that sent both anticipation and warning down his spine.
"Then I will make sure to ruin your wedding tomorrow," she said sweetly.
Ryzel blinked.
"Babe, the wedding must happen," he started, but she silenced him with a single finger against his lips.
"Oh, don't misunderstand," Ceres hummed. "I'm not going to stop the wedding. After all, this is Ciena's dream wedding, right? She fooled everyone just to make it happen."
She smirked, that signature Ceres smirk, the one that could irritate anyone but still make you want to see it again.
"So," she continued, eyes glinting with mischief, "I will make sure that I'm the center of attention tomorrow. I will outshine her. I will make her regret ever going through with the wedding in the first place."
She trailed a finger along his collar, her lips forming a playful pout. "Would you be mad if I did that, Ryz?"
Ryzel's breath hitched.
He should be concerned.
But the truth was... he didn't care about the wedding at all.
He chuckled, shaking his head. "Can you at least tell me what you're planning?" He ran his fingers along her jawline, tracing her delicate features.
He was already accepting whatever chaos she was about to bring.
Whatever it was, he would support it.
Ceres leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear.
She whispered, "I'm going to wear the wedding gown I was supposed to wear for our wedding."
Her breath was warm against his skin, sending a shiver down his spine.
Then, she deliberately let her nose brush against his jaw before pulling away just enough to meet his eyes.
"I am the maid of honor, after all," she reminded him, smirking. "I will walk down the aisle before Ciena does."
Her golden eyes sparkled with challenge.
"And you, standing at the altar, will see me in that wedding gown," she purred, "and you can just pretend... that it's our wedding instead."
Ryzel inhaled sharply.
The image of Ceres walking down the aisle in a wedding dress meant for him, for them, hit Ryzel like a drug.
A slow smile stretched across his lips.
He liked that idea.
He liked it a lot.
Of course, the wedding would be a disaster once people realized what was happening.
The guests would whisper. The headlines would be brutal.
But the wedding wouldn't be remembered for Ciena and Ryzel.
It would be remembered for Ceres Monteverde.
And he didn't care.
This wedding meant nothing to him.
She was the only thing that mattered.
Their faces were inches apart now.
Their breaths mingled, warm and intoxicating.
Slowly, instinctively, their lips inched closer, drawn together like gravity itself was pulling them in.
And just as their lips were about to meet,
"Love?"
Ceres shoved Ryzel away so fast it knocked the air out of his lungs.
The voice had come from the front of the powder room.
Zeus.
Ryzel barely managed to stop himself from cursing. He clenched his fists so tight that his knuckles turned white.
Ceres immediately stepped away, her expression shifting into perfect indifference as she quickly composed herself.
"Love?!" Zeus called out again. His voice was closer now. "Are you inside?"
Ceres took a deep breath and walked out from behind the powder room, stepping into Zeus's view as if nothing had happened.
"Love," she greeted him sweetly.
Ryzel's jaw clenched. His fists tightened.
It took everything in him not to react.
Even hidden behind the powder room, he could still hear everything.
"What were you doing behind the powder room?" he asked, his tone edged with doubt. "Were you talking to someone?"
Ceres let out a light, mocking laugh.
"What?" she scoffed. "Of course not. I thought I heard a kitten crying, so I checked if one got lost back here."
Silence.
Zeus wasn't convinced.
"Did you cry?" he asked suddenly, his tone lower, sharper.
Ryzel felt his stomach twist in anger.
He heard Zeus take a step closer.
Ceres didn't hesitate.
"Of course not. Why would I?" she said smoothly.
Ryzel couldn't see her face, but he could imagine the look she was giving Zeus, the fake irritation, the dismissiveness, the subtle shift to something playful.
"There was a plant back there that made me sneeze so hard," she added casually. "Anyway, let's forget about it. Let's go back to the photo shoot."
A long pause.
Then, finally, Ryzel heard their footsteps retreating.
Ceres was walking away.
With Zeus.
Ryzel remained where he was, his fists clenched so tight they ached.
The only thing that comforted him was the knowledge that tomorrow, Ceres would walk down the aisle wearing the wedding dress meant for him.