"Mommy, Daddy? You called for me?" Evadne asked as she stepped into the living room where her parents waited.
It was already Sunday. After nearly a week of cold shoulders and icy silence, her sulking finally bore fruit. Friday night, her father had relented, he had allowed her to join the community immersion, though not without conditions. Casadin and Hades would be assigned to watch her, and she would have to surrender all immersion-related responsibilities to Hades to avoid unnecessary stress.
She wanted to argue. Badly. But even Evadne knew the limits of her manipulation. If she pushed further, her parents might just change their minds and revoke their permission altogether.
Romos's face was unreadable. That's when Evadne noticed, they weren't alone.
Cieryl, Ciena, and Ryzel were seated in the living room.
"Hon, come. You have guests," Cielo said gently.
Evadne's expression remained composed as she stepped closer.
"Vee!" Ciena stood up and rushed to her, hugging her tightly and kissing her on the cheek.
Ryzel followed, offering a bouquet of red roses and a boxed cake. Evadne hesitated, her skin crawling the moment she brushed against his thoughts. He wasn't seeing her, he was seeing Ceres.
"What is this for? It's not my birthday," Evadne said, accepting the gifts out of courtesy before stepping away from him. She walked toward her father, perching herself on the armrest of his single-seater chair, the flowers and cake now resting on the coffee table in front of them.
Romos instinctively placed his hand on her waist as she sat, a protective gesture Ryzel clearly noticed, his gaze sharpened.
"Peace offering," Ryzel explained casually.
"For what?" Evadne's voice was light but her eyes were sharp, shifting between the visitors and her father, silently questioning Ryzel's intentions.
"We just wanted to apologize for Cieryl's behavior, Vee," Ciena offered. She had already returned to her seat beside Ryzel. Cieryl, however, sat in silence, visibly uncomfortable.
Evadne could hear everything. Cieryl didn't even want to be there. She was being dragged through the motions, nothing more.
"I'm sorry, sis. But I can't accept your apology," Evadne said, her tone polite but unyielding. Ciena visibly paled.
And Evadne heard it, Ciena was only here because Ryzel insisted. How pathetic. Her entire existence now revolved around him. Evadne smiled sweetly.
"Why should I accept your apology when you didn't do anything to me? You committed no sin against me, so there's nothing to forgive," she said smoothly. "But if you really insist, fine. I forgive you for any mistakes you may have made against me that I'm not aware of. However, I won't accept your apology on behalf of Cieryl. You're not responsible for her actions, sis. Neither is Brother Ryzel."
Her gaze flicked to both of them.
"Even if you raised her, even if she's your daughter, not once did I ever blame either of you for the bullying Cieryl and her little group pulled on me at school. If I wanted to, I would've told Dad everything when they accused me of making her cry on the first day of school."
"First day of school?" Romos echoed, stunned.
Cielo's expression darkened as she turned to Cieryl, eyes filled with quiet disappointment.
"And why didn't you tell us anything?" Romos asked, voice cold now, clipped.
Evadne rolled her eyes.
"Because there was nothing to tell, Daddy. I already got even, I started a fight with Hades that same day. So we're even."
She smiled innocently.
"Cieryl, don't you have something to say?" Ryzel prompted, voice calm but laced with warning.
Cieryl's hands clenched tightly into fists at her sides before she forced the sweetest, most innocent smile she could muster.
But before she could utter a word, Evadne spoke up, cutting her off.
"Brother, can you not do that?" Evadne's tone was quiet, yet firm. "It's obvious Cieryl didn't come here willingly. And if she's going to say sorry just because she's being forced to, then I'll have no choice but to accept an apology that isn't even sincere. I don't want that."
She looked toward her parents, her voice softening.
"Can we just move on? Let's not dwell on what happened. Hades already handled it. I don't want to forgive someone who isn't truly sorry. I don't want to be a hypocrite. Daddy… Mommy… please."
Romos met her gaze with steady calm.
"It's okay, hon," he said gently. "You don't have to accept an apology you don't believe in."
Evadne glanced at her mother, and Cielo returned a knowing, gentle smile, completely understanding.
Then Cielo's expression shifted as she turned to Ciena, and finally to Cieryl.
"Cieryl, you don't have to apologize if it's not from the heart," Cielo said, voice still warm, but with a hint of coolness. "But I need to tell you, I was deeply disappointed in you. We had to return to New York for Vee's therapy. She lost friends in France, and I had hoped that you, being of the same age, would get along. I never expected you to harbor such… hatred toward your own blood."
Her voice dropped slightly.
"Your Aunt Ryza and Aunt Ceres fought often. They were rivals, everyone knew that. But Ryza never stooped to what you've done. So now, I won't ask you to be friends, but I am asking that you never repeat what you did again."
Cieryl stayed silent, jaw tight, eyes lowered.
Romos's voice followed, stronger, firmer.
"Just as Vee said, let's forget what happened. But I'm warning you, Ryzel. Ciena. If you don't want someone else to discipline your daughter, then do it yourselves. Because no one is obligated to accept a forced apology, especially when the intention was to hurt."
He turned to Cieryl, gaze sharp as steel.
"And you, if this happens again, if you try to ruin Vee's name or reputation one more time, I'll take you to court. You're not a child anymore. You're an adult. Start acting like one."
Cieryl turned pale. Her lips parted in panic.
"I… I'm sorry, Grand…"
"Dad?" Hades's voice cut through the tension from outside the room.
All eyes turned toward the entrance as Hades stepped in. "Oh, sorry, I didn't know you had company."
"Babe…" Cieryl said in a soft, almost desperate voice.
But Hades didn't look at her. Not even once.
"Sorry to interrupt something important," he said instead, walking toward Romos. He held up a black medicine bag. "Just wanted to confirm, are these the right ones?"
Romos nodded, taking a quick look.
"Yes. Make sure they're packed and ready in case Vee needs them immediately. What about the documentation? We don't want any issues at immigration."
"All good, Dad. I also forwarded copies to the physician and the nurses traveling with us." Hades replied confidently.
Romos gave him an approving nod.
Evadne, meanwhile, didn't miss the flicker of pure venom in Cieryl's eyes as Hades casually draped his arm over her shoulders while continuing his conversation with her father. It was casual… but intimate. Natural.
Too natural for Cieryl's liking.
Which, of course, made it impossible for Evadne to resist.
Her fingers subtly brushed Hades's hand, shifting his arm just slightly, just enough so that his hand grazed the side of her breast. A movement so small, so calculated, no one could have noticed it.
Except Hades. And Cieryl.
The brief contact sent a jolt through him, his jaw tensing slightly, but he didn't pull away.
And Cieryl's expression was murder.
Evadne smiled sweetly, completely innocent.
Of course, Hades was thinking of something entirely different.
His fingers gave Evadne's breast the slightest, deliberate squeeze, so subtle yet enough to make her jolt in surprise.
She immediately glanced toward her mother, checking if Cielo had noticed. Thankfully, she hadn't. She was still speaking to Ciena, or more accurately, scolding her.
Evadne looked up at Hades and shot him a sharp glare.
He just winked at her.
"Aghhh," she hissed and bit his arm in retaliation.
"Baby, you're going to hurt your jaw," Hades muttered, smirking.
Before she could retort, Casadin suddenly entered the living room, rolling a luggage bag behind him like a storm arriving mid-chaos.
"Hello, everyone!" he called out cheerfully, giving Ryzel and the others a polite nod before looking straight at Evadne. "Hi, Princess. I'm sleeping over tonight so we can head to the airport together tomorrow."
"What?" Hades snapped, blinking in disbelief.
"What, what?" Casadin shot back with a grin. "I said it clearly. What part didn't you understand?" He turned to Evadne. "I'm helping Vee pack for immersion."
"I already packed everything for her this morning," Hades said curtly, eyes narrowing.
The two locked eyes, the tension rising between them like a match about to be struck.
"No problem!" Evadne chirped with a grin. "I just had a brilliant idea." She walked up to Casadin and promptly climbed onto his luggage bag. "Let's unpack everything again!"
"Baby?!" Hades said in disbelief, looking betrayed.
Evadne turned away, ignoring him.
"Mommy, Daddy? Can I go now? I don't think I'm needed here anymore."
Cielo chuckled softly. "Okay, hon. Go ahead and start packing, " then added playfully, "... or unpacking?"
"Let's go!! Bye everyone!" Evadne called out with a wave, as Casadin pulled the luggage with her riding it like a queen on her throne.
"Excuse me," Hades muttered, already stalking after them with a scowl.
The rest of the room, Romos, Cielo, and the Clarks, watched the trio ascend the stairs.
"Can you not do that?" Hades growled at Casadin as they reached the staircase, eyeing him tugging the luggage with Evadne still riding on top. "What if you lose your grip?"
"What if you lose your mind?" Casadin shot back. "Chill, man. You're such a party pooper."
"Faster!!!" Evadne shouted gleefully, shaking the luggage side to side like an excited child.
Casadin, with mischief gleaming in his eyes, pretended to let go with one hand.
"What the fuck?!" Hades shouted, immediately rushing to support Evadne's back.
Casadin and Evadne burst into laughter.
"Don't be so dramatic. I obviously had it with the other hand," Casadin said with a grin.
"Baby, please get off that thing," Hades begged, his voice tight with concern. "This game isn't safe."
"Nope!" Evadne rolled her eyes and clung tighter. "Faster!" she urged Casadin again.
"Aghhh, shit! My blood pressure!" Hades groaned, clutching his neck in exasperation.
Laughter rang out from those watching at the bottom of the stairs, everyone except the Clarks, especially Cieryl, who sat fuming silently, her knuckles white with fury.
The wild trio's chaos had become part of the household's rhythm. More often than not, Casadin and Evadne ganged up on Hades, who was far too uptight for their antics.
But when Casadin wasn't around, Evadne transformed. Sweet, clingy, affectionate, she let Hades baby her like she was made of glass.
Everyone believed Casadin and Evadne were just best friends.
That's what they allowed the world to believe.
It was an unspoken agreement between the three, especially when their parents were around. They kept things tame. No kissing. No overt intimacy. But the rest? The little touches, the private smiles, the shared glances? That was fair game.
So, the house carried on… unaware that beneath the laughter and games, darker desires simmered quietly.