“Wait… did you just call me mother-in-law?” Olivia asked, her finger trembling as she pointed toward Celestia.
“Hmm? Did I?” Celestia feigned innocence, blinking her eyes wide as if genuinely confused.
Rose’s mouth fell open in disbelief. How can someone be this shameless? Her eyes burned with barely concealed fire as she glared daggers at Celestia, peering over Lucian’s shoulder as if she could will the other woman out of existence.
This woman… she’s dangerous, Rose thought, her fists clenching in silent frustration.
Olivia, however, took a deep breath, deciding it wasn’t worth pursuing. “Sigh… forget it.”
Switching her attention to Lucian, Olivia softened her expression, her tone gentler now. “Did you read the letter, Lucy?” she asked, her eyes searching his face, filled with quiet hope.
Lucian scratched the back of his head awkwardly, avoiding her gaze. “Uh… yeah, I did.”
“And…?” Olivia started, her words faltering as she glanced briefly toward Celestia, then back to Lucian. For a moment, she hesitated, uncertain of what to say. Finally, she smiled gently and said, “Don’t worry. Take your time. That letter was just for you to understand how I feel. There’s no pressure. Just… know this: I won’t disappoint you again. You can trust your mother with your eyes closed.”
Her voice was steady, but there was a vulnerability in her words a quiet plea for him to believe in her once more.
Lucian nodded, forcing a small smile. “I see. Thanks.”
From the corner of her eye, Celestia watched the exchange with curiosity, her thoughts swirling. Letter? What letter? What are they talking about? But she held her tongue, deciding not to interrupt.
As if remembering something, Olivia’s face brightened. “Oh! I almost forgot,” she said, turning back to Lucian. “We received an invitation from the Starline family. They’ve invited us to a special event today.” Her smile grew wider, hope flickering in her eyes.
She knew the old Lucian would’ve been overjoyed by such news. Even if he was trying to create distance between himself and Avey, surely this would excite him a chance to visit Avey’s home. Perhaps this was her opportunity to spend more time with her son, to bridge the growing gap.
Rose chimed in eagerly. “Yes! Let’s go together. I’ll get ready right now,” she said, her voice unusually bright.
Celestia’s eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze sharpening as she observed the exchange. She said nothing, choosing instead to wait and see what Lucian’s response would be.
Lucian hesitated, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. “I think… I’ll pass,” he said, his smile strained.
Olivia’s heart sank momentarily. “But why?” she asked, her tone carrying a hint of desperation.
Lucian exhaled softly. So it’s starting, huh? he thought.
The Starline family’s invitation wasn’t just any gathering. He knew better it was likely the announcement of Avey’s marriage proposal. Arthur’s involvement had made that much clear. The thought of facing it, of standing there as a bystander while the woman he once loved moved on, left a bitter taste in his mouth.
Still, a part of him was curious. Would Avey truly accept this? Had she really changed?
“Let’s go,” Olivia urged, her voice gentle but insistent. “We haven’t attended a function together in such a long time, Lucy. It would mean so much to me.”
Lucian glanced at her, seeing the genuine hope in her eyes. He sighed inwardly, torn between his reluctance and the quiet yearning to see for himself how much had changed.
Fine, he thought. Let’s see if she’s truly moved on. Let’s see if the Avey I knew is still the same… or if she’s become someone else entirely.
Finally, Lucian nodded. “Alright,” he said, his voice low. “Let’s go.”
A faint, bittersweet smile tugged at his lips, masking the storm brewing within.
—
Avey’s POV
“Hm, this dress looks good. Lucy loves sky blue on me, doesn’t he?” Avey murmured to herself, turning side to side in front of the mirror, adjusting the hem of her dress.
She wasn’t dressing up for college not really. These days, going to college had become more of an excuse to see Lucian, though she barely admitted it to herself. Her hands smoothed the fabric over her hips, her brow furrowed in concentration.
“Maybe I should just go straight to his house…” she mused, tilting her head. The idea lingered for a moment, her fingers brushing over her necklace absentmindedly. Enjoy exclusive content from empire
Her reflection stared back at her, the faint shadows under her eyes betraying how poorly she’d slept. Last night had been particularly difficult. The conversation with Jimmy echoed in her mind, his words cutting sharper than she’d expected.
Why do you even care, Avey? What are you really trying to fix?
She hadn’t answered him then, and truthfully, she wasn’t sure she could answer now. The questions stung not because they came from Jimmy but because she couldn’t escape the weight of them herself.
Sighing heavily, she tried to shake off the melancholy. Her focus was supposed to be on Lucian, not this mess of emotions that had been haunting her for days.
Knock, knock.
The sound jolted her from her thoughts. Avey frowned, turning toward the door. “Who could it be?” she muttered. “Mother? No, she never comes to my room. Maybe one of the maids?”
She crossed the room, pulling the door open without much thought, but froze when she saw her parents standing there.
“Father? Mother?” Avey’s confusion deepened. “What’s going on?”
Antonio and Melody stepped inside without a word.
Melody’s face was soft, but there was something deeply sad in her eyes that immediately unsettled Avey. Antonio, ever the composed head of the family, looked conflicted in a way she rarely saw.
“Is… is something the matter?” Avey asked hesitantly, stepping aside to let them in. Her gaze darted between them as she tried to read their expressions.
Her father stayed quiet, his usual stoic demeanor giving little away. Melody glanced at him briefly before turning to Avey, patting the edge of the bed.
“Come here, sweetheart,” Melody said gently, her voice warm but carrying a weight that made Avey’s chest tighten.
“What’s going on?” Avey asked again, her brows knitting together. “I’m running late. I was about to head to college, and I still need to call Cassandra…” Her words tumbled out hurriedly, almost as if trying to avoid the seriousness in the room.
Melody gave her a small smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “This is important, Avey,” she said firmly, patting the bed again. “Please, sit.”
Reluctantly, Avey sighed and walked over, sitting beside her mother. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something heavy was about to drop.
Melody reached out, resting a hand on Avey’s shoulder in a half-embrace. Her touch was warm, comforting even, but it only made Avey more anxious.
“Avey,” her mother began softly, “you’ve always been such a smart and capable girl. I know you’ll understand this because you’re mature enough now…”
Her words trailed off for a moment as she glanced at Antonio again. His jaw tightened, but he gave her a small nod to continue.
“What is it, Mother?” Avey asked, her voice quieter now, the tension in the air making her stomach twist.
Melody exhaled slowly, her hand squeezing Avey’s shoulder gently. “It’s time we talked about something… something important for your future.”
The weight of her words sent a chill down Avey’s spine.
“My future?” she echoed, her voice tinged with unease. “What do you mean? Is something wrong?”
“No, nothing’s wrong,” Melody said quickly, trying to ease her daughter’s nerves. “But we’ve received a proposal, Avey. A very important one. One that involves you.”
The room felt like it had tilted. Avey stared at her mother, her heart pounding in her chest.
“A proposal? What are you talking about?” she asked, though a sinking feeling in her gut told her she already knew.
Melody’s smile faltered, replaced by an expression of quiet resolve. “From the Royal Family. They’ve requested an alliance through marriage, Avey. A proposal for you to marry Prince Arthur.”
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Avey felt her breath catch, her mind racing as the reality of what her mother had just said began to sink in.
Her heart clenched. Not just at the proposal itself, but at the thought of Lucian. Of what this would mean for everything she had been trying to rebuild.
“But…” Avey’s voice trembled as she whispered, “What about what I want?”
Melody sighed deeply, reaching for her daughter’s hand. “Sweetheart, you’re at an age now where these decisions are crucial. Arthur is a good man a respectable man from an impeccable background. This is a rare opportunity, not just for you, but for our family.”
Avey’s jaw tightened as she pulled her hand away. Her voice rose, steady and defiant. “No, Mother. I’m not marrying someone I don’t love. I don’t even know him, let alone love him.” She took a deep breath, her voice carrying an unmistakable edge. “And you know exactly who I love, so why are you even bringing this up?”
Melody opened her mouth to respond but hesitated. Before she could speak, Antonio stepped forward, his expression calm yet firm.
“Avey,” he began, his deep voice commanding her attention, “we’ve never stopped you from pursuing what you want. You’ve always had our support even when it came to Lucian.”
Avey blinked, her resolve faltering for a moment as she looked at her father.
Antonio continued, his tone steady but pointed. “Do you remember how things were? You rejected that boy for years. You came to me, upset, saying he was bothering you disturbing you, even forcing his feelings on you. I stood by you, didn’t I? I defended your choice, no questions asked.”
He paused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he leaned forward. “But now, you expect us to ignore everything that’s happened? These recent changes in your feelings, this sudden shift… Do you think it’s that simple?”
Avey’s lips parted, but no words came out. Her father’s words struck a nerve.
“You say you love Lucian,” Antonio continued, his gaze unwavering. “But do you think love is enough after everything that’s happened? You rejected him publicly, privately, and repeatedly. Do you think those wounds have healed? Do you think he’s in a place to accept what you’re offering now?”
“I…” Avey began, her voice cracking, but Antonio held up a hand to stop her.
Antonio’s expression hardened, his voice dipping into a tone that carried both disappointment and frustration. “Avey, I’m not saying this to hurt you,” he began, his words measured yet firm. “But you need to consider the bigger picture. This isn’t just about what you want it’s about what’s best for everyone, including Lucian. You’ve had years to show him how you felt, years to stand by him. And now, when he’s finally trying to move forward, you’re trying to pull him back?”
He paused, his gaze sharp as he leaned slightly closer. “Do you even realize how irresponsible this all seems? I supported you when you said you didn’t like him. I stood by your decision, no questions asked. But now? Now you’re not only embarrassing yourself, but you’re tarnishing our family’s name.”
Avey flinched at his words but said nothing, her hands gripping the fabric of her dress tightly.
“Publicly proposing to him,” Antonio continued, his tone laced with disapproval, “only to be rejected. And then crying? Begging? Do you have any idea how this looks? Do you know what people are saying? If we hadn’t stepped in to control the media and suppress the fallout, your image would have been in ruins. You would’ve become the laughingstock of every influential circle. Is that what you want?”
He stopped himself, his jaw tightening. There was more he wanted to say, but even he recognized the line he didn’t want to cross.
Avey’s lips trembled, but her voice remained steady as she responded, her eyes filled with determination. “Lucian sacrificed his image for me. He endured humiliation because of how much he cared. So, yes, I’ll sacrifice mine for him.” Her voice wavered slightly, but her resolve was evident. “I don’t care what anyone thinks of me, Father. I don’t care if I fall, if I’m judged, or if I become a laughingstock. I’ll take it all because he’ll know. He’ll see that I understand him now.”
Antonio’s shoulders sagged slightly as he exhaled deeply, his frustration replaced by a flicker of sadness. “And what if it’s too late, Avey? What if no matter how much you fight, he’s already moved on?”
—
merry Christmas to you all my pumpkins may u all have happy lifes