"How do I look?" Evadne asked Casadin after putting on the white-gold chain headpiece he had given her as a gift.
She had already changed from her diamond-studded royal blue ball gown into a silver-and-blue ombré cocktail dress with thin straps that shimmered under the light. Her tiara was replaced with the headpiece... its delicate chains cascading like liquid light, some strands reaching her waist while others stopped at the middle of her long, dark hair, in an alternate order.
She looked like a siren who had stepped out of the sea to walk among mortals... glittering and graceful.
"You look perfect, as always, Princess," Casadin said, his eyes soft as he hugged her from behind, their reflections meeting in the mirror.
Evadne smiled sweetly, but then her brow furrowed slightly as she remembered something.
"Do you know what Hades is planning?" she asked, turning her head a little.
"Yup," Casadin said, rocking them gently side to side in front of the mirror.
"What is it?" she pressed.
"I can't tell you," he said with a grin. "But it'll happen later, so just be patient."
Evadne turned fully to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Give me a clue," she begged, pouting dramatically. "I'm dying from suspense already. Please, pretty please, my very handsome, very charming Prince Charming."
Casadin leaned in and kissed her pout away.
"It involves thousands of drones. That's the only clue I'll give you," he said with a playful smile.
"That only makes me more curious," Evadne groaned.
"Let's go downstairs," Casadin said. "I'm sure there are still plenty of people waiting to greet you."
"Agh, don't remind me," Evadne sighed.
When they returned to the ballroom, they headed straight toward their group of friends, who were laughing loudly and talking over one another as usual... completely carefree despite the formal event around them.
"So what's the topic?" Casadin asked Delvin as they approached.
"Bro, Hailey here was just telling us all of Flynn's embarrassing moments back in California," Delvin said, grinning and pointing toward an unfamiliar girl.
"Oh right, before I forget... let me introduce you guys," Flynn said, gesturing between them. "This is Hailey Carter, my childhood friend. We belong to the same clan under the Heavensblade family in California. Hail, this is my other brother-from-another-mother, Casadin Sinclair... and of course, the birthday girl herself, the Monteverde-Falcon Princess, Evadne Monteverde."
"Happy birthday, Evadne," Hailey greeted warmly. "Honestly, I just gate-crashed. Flynn said his connections were strong enough to sneak me in, so here I am."
"Thank you," Evadne said with a grin. "And don't worry about that. I'd rather have a hundred gate-crashers who are friends of these rebels than half the girls who were actually invited tonight."
Hailey laughed. "My gosh, I love your headpiece. It's so beautiful... and unique."
"Thank you," Evadne said proudly. "Casadin gave it to me." She tilted her head slightly, letting the white-gold chains sway and catch the light.
"Where did you buy it? I love collecting jewelry," Hailey asked, looking between Evadne and Casadin with genuine admiration.
"It's one of a kind," Casadin said, gently brushing his fingers through Evadne's hair. "My mother designed and made it for her."
"Casadin's mom... Aunt Dee... is Diana Ethos," Flynn whispered to Hailey.
Hailey's eyes widened. "The Diana Ethos? The famous jewelry designer... the one who's always commissioned to make the Ceres Jewelry?"
"Yup," Bea chimed in with a grin. "The one and only. The Ceres Collection was actually a tribute from the Falcon family to Vee's elder sister, Ceres."
"I can't believe it. I'm absolutely obsessed with the Ceres Collection!" Hailey said, her voice full of awe.
Evadne couldn't help but smile at her reaction. The girl's surprise was genuine, and her admiration sincere.
Out of curiosity, Evadne brushed gently into Hailey's surface thoughts... just a light mental touch. What she heard made her smile even more. Hailey was genuine, if a little vain, but overall kind-hearted. Definitely a goody two-shoes, but harmless.
They talked for a while longer, the laughter in their group growing louder as more people approached. It didn't take long before a small crowd formed around them... friends, classmates, guests... all eager to speak with the radiant birthday girl.
Then, suddenly...
"What the fuck is he doing here?" Flynn muttered under his breath, his tone dark and sharp.
Everyone turned to where he was looking... the grand entrance of the ballroom.
Evadne followed his gaze, and her smile faltered.
Michael Heavensblade had just entered.
He walked in with his usual stoic, unreadable expression... utterly unbothered by the attention he drew. Behind him was his butler, François, and flanking them on both sides were four bodyguards, each keeping a careful, precise distance as they moved.
He looked like he owned the room.
They all saw Caspian approach Michael, which immediately made both Evadne and Casadin frown.
"Casey invited him?" Evadne asked, confused, glancing up at Casadin.
"I'm not sure. I wasn't told. And I didn't see his name on the guest list," Casadin replied. Then as if something occurred to him, he turned to Flynn. "Bro, I meant to ask you yesterday... do you know why your family head came to New York?"
Evadne's brows arched slightly when she noticed Michael looking in her direction. He was now surrounded by several of the older guests, a quiet but undeniable center of attention. She shrugged it off and turned back to Flynn.
"I have no idea, bro," Flynn said. "I didn't even know he was in New York... hell, I'm shocked he's here at your birthday party, Vee. He's supposed to be in California right now, with the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Heavensblade subfamilies. It's actually his birthday today, too."
He looked between Casadin and Evadne before adding, "But Hailey might know. Michael's her fiancé."
Evadne and Casadin both stared at Hailey in unison.
"Michael is your fiancé?" they asked at the same time, exchanging equally stunned looks.
"Wow! You're so lucky, girl," Amanda exclaimed, bumping Hailey's shoulder playfully with a grin. "That man is a very fine, yummy specimen."
"Right?" Bea agreed, her eyes still fixed on Michael. "Sorry, boys, but credit where credit is due... he might just be the most handsome man I've ever seen. Even more than you guys." She gestured toward Casadin, Delvin, and Flynn.
"None taken," Delvin said with a laugh.
"B," Flynn warned, smirking, "make sure you keep it to just looking."
"Oh, relax," Bea said with a playful pout. "Hailey, don't get me wrong... I have no plans of stealing your fiancé, okay? I just appreciate beauty when I see it. Strictly look, no touch... promise!" She even raised a hand in mock solemnity.
"B, it's not because Hailey would get jealous," Flynn replied with a grin. "It's because, honestly, once you meet Michael and see his personality, you might stop noticing how handsome he is. He's got the worst personality ever. If you thought Hades used to be difficult, imagine him... ten times worse."
"You've got to be kidding," Amanda said, looking appalled. "A man that gorgeous with a terrible personality? That's just wrong."
"Excuse me, people... are you seriously badmouthing my fiancé right in front of me?" Evadne asked, feigning outrage.
"Oops. Sorry, Vee," Delvin said, chuckling. "We forgot we're not allowed to badmouth Hades unless you're the one who starts it. Go ahead, you have the honors."
Evadne glared daggers at Flynn instead.
"And you, Flynn, owe me an apology," she said firmly. "Because honestly, I don't think there's anyone in this room with a worse attitude than Hades."
"Princess," Casadin burst into laughter. "Are you defending Hades or insulting him?"
Evadne turned to him with mock offense.
"What? I'm the only one allowed to insult my fiancé when he's not around. Since he's not here to defend himself, no one else can badmouth him. You can do that when he's actually present," she said seriously, earning another round of laughter from the group.
"Then you'll take his side," Casadin said, matter-of-factly.
"Of course. Because I'm his loving, perfect fiancée," Evadne declared proudly, making everyone laugh even harder... everyone except Hailey, who was now staring toward Michael again.
Her smile had faded completely, and her brows drew together slightly as she saw him walking toward their group.
"Michael," Hailey said quickly, stepping forward to meet him halfway. "Evadne is Flynn's friend. He invited me here tonight."
The laughter among their group died instantly. All eyes turned toward Michael, who was now standing beside Hailey... close enough that Evadne could feel his presence before she even looked up.
He didn't acknowledge Hailey. Nor did he spare a glance at the women whose admiring gazes openly followed him.
His eyes were fixed on Evadne.
There was a faint glint of disapproval in them as he noticed her hand resting lightly on Casadin's arm.
"Good evening, Ms. Monteverde," Michael said, his voice calm and cold. "I have a gift for you."
On cue, François stepped forward, carrying a medium-sized velvet box. He opened it carefully to reveal a necklace... simple, elegant, with a striking red diamond pendant that gleamed under the chandelier light.
Evadne's breath caught for a moment. She had to admit... it was her style. Beautifully understated, unique in its simplicity.
"Michael," Hailey said in disbelief, her voice almost breaking. "Is that the rare red diamond from Cavendish? Evadne's Boredom?"
It couldn't be.
Hailey remembered vividly... Michael had been with her the day she tried to buy that very diamond, only to be told it wasn't for sale. He knew how much she had wanted it.
And yet, here it was now.
The man she called her fiancé… giving it to another girl.
Evadne was trying to think of a way to decline the gift without offending Michael... or embarrassing her parents... especially after seeing the heartbreak in Hailey's eyes.
But before she could speak, Casadin's phone chimed.
"Princess, it's time," Casadin said with a smile. He took Evadne's hand and gently pulled her away from the group and out of the ballroom.
Evadne's face immediately lit up. In an instant, she had forgotten all about Michael's gift and followed Casadin without resistance.
"Hon, where are you two going?" Romos asked, alarmed, breaking off from a conversation with Jupiter and a few of the other male guests when he noticed them leaving.
"Hades has a surprise, Daddy," Evadne said over her shoulder as Casadin continued to guide her toward the exit.
The adults exchanged curious glances. Intrigued, they followed... along with most of the guests.
Casadin led her out to the wide, open lawn of the Aurora Vineyard. The night air was cool, and the entire field was dark. Evadne blinked, her eyes searching. She didn't see Hades anywhere.
She turned to Casadin, about to ask where he was, when... suddenly... thousands of tiny lights flickered to life across the ground.
They began to rise in perfect synchronization, floating upward like stars breaking free from the earth. The crowd gasped as the glowing dots moved and twisted gracefully through the air, forming shapes.
First, two figures appeared... a man, eyes closed, as if submerged underwater… and a woman swimming toward him. The figures met and kissed before swimming together into a glowing current of light.
Then, the shapes shifted again. The drones realigned to form a long, illuminated path... like a runway leading into the night.
From the darkness at the far end, Hades appeared.
He was still dressed in his princely suit from earlier, walking slowly toward the center of the glowing path with a bouquet of red roses in his hands.
"Go, Princess," Casadin whispered, smiling as he gave Evadne a gentle push forward.
Despite her racing heart, Evadne's smile widened as she walked toward Hades. He reached out one hand to her, steady and sure, offering both his hand and the flowers.
She took them softly, and the audience fell completely silent.
Then, through the speakers hidden around the lawn, Hades' voice echoed... his lapel microphone capturing every word.
"We've been together long before we even knew each other," he began, holding Evadne's hand, his gaze tender and unwavering. "And I'll admit... with all the regrets in the world... that for half my life, I hated you."
A ripple of murmurs moved through the guests.
"I always thought I was raised the way I was, taught to live the way I should, only to please you," Hades continued, voice steady. "To become the perfect, worthy man who could stand beside you. And the first day we met…" He chuckled softly. "I even thought of you as a spoiled brat... a princess who never had to work for anything she wanted… And since then, we've clashed more times than I can count, because you never let me get away with my bullshit."
"Language, young man," Angelina called from the audience, earning laughter from everyone.
Hades smiled at his mother before turning his attention back to Evadne... who stood there half-smiling, half-glaring, her eyes misty.
"But I think everyone here will agree, especially Casadin," he continued, grinning, "that you are a spoiled brat... and a princess. But you're also the hardest-working one I know. You always make sure you get what you want… at my expense, of course."
The guests erupted into laughter again, and even Evadne couldn't help but laugh through the tears welling in her eyes.
"Truly knowing you," Hades went on, his voice softening, "and your mischievous heart of gold that somehow inspires people to be better versions of themselves... sometimes effortlessly, sometimes infuriatingly... has been the greatest change in my life.
"And I regret every moment I ever acted like a prick to you."
The crowd went quiet. Hades drew a breath.
"What I want to say, Ms. Evadne Persephone Monteverde," he said, his tone deepening, "is… not because my parents adopted me so that one day I could marry you and make you their daughter… not because our parents wanted to continue the love story of Ceres and Zeus that was tragically cut short… and not because society expects us to end up together."
He knelt on one knee and pulled out a small, thin ring from his pocket.
"But because... at the bottom of my heart... this is what I truly feel for you."
The crowd held its breath.
"I love you," he said simply. "With everything I have. And I'll love you with everything I can offer."
He looked up at her, eyes steady and vulnerable.
"So, will you accept this promise ring... and be my girlfriend?"
Behind them, the drones shifted again... forming glowing letters that read, "Baby, will you be my girlfriend?"
The audience gasped, some clapping, others already tearing up.
In the crowd, Angelina and Cielo could no longer hold back their tears.
They weren't crying out of pain but out of guilt.
Because for the first time, they realized how much they had hurt their children... forcing them into a bond neither had chosen, trying to resurrect a love story that belonged to Ceres and Zeus through Hades and Evadne.
In their longing to heal their own grief, they had forgotten to let their children find love on their own.
And now, standing under a sky filled with stars and drones, watching their children choose each other... not out of duty, but out of love... they finally understood…
Hades and Evadne weren't the echoes of the past.
They were a new beginning.