Chapter 47
Liora’s words clung to Celestina like a shadow.
“Not everything is what it seems.”
The phrase looped in her mind as she sat at her vanity, brushing her hair absently. The warning felt pointed, deliberate. But Liora was a master of manipulation. This could be another one of her games, a ploy to unsettle her.
“Let it go,” Celestina muttered to herself, setting down the brush with a sigh.
Her musings were interrupted by a knock on her door. “Come in,” she called, straightening her posture.
Kael entered, dressed in a tailored charcoal suit that made his eyes seem sharper than usual. “Good evening, Celestina.”
“Kael,” she replied, arching a brow. “What’s the occasion?”
“You’ve been invited to dinner at the Veridan estate tonight,” he said, his tone casual but his expression unreadable.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. “And who decided that?”
“My mother,” Kael replied, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of his mouth. “She thought it would be good for you to get out of the palace. Something relaxed.”
Celestina crossed her arms. “Relaxed? At the Veridan estate?”
“Believe it or not, my family is capable of casual dining,” Kael said, his voice tinged with amusement.
She gave him a skeptical look but sighed. “Fine. Let me change.”
The Veridan estate loomed ahead, a sprawling testament to old-world elegance. As the sleek car rolled up the cobblestone drive, Celestina couldn’t help but feel a twinge of apprehension. Her history with the Veridans was complicated, to say the least. The memory of their cold indifference during her brief, disastrous marriage to Kael was still fresh, though it had faded somewhat with time.
She adjusted the soft cream shawl draped over her shoulders, smoothing the fabric of her dark green gown as the car came to a halt. The estate’s doors opened, and there they stood—Kaela Veridan and her mother, Lady Veridan.
The two women descended the steps with quiet grace, their faces carefully composed. But as Celestina stepped out of the car, she noticed the slight hesitation in their movements, a flicker of uncertainty in their eyes.
“Lady Celestina,” Kaela began, her voice soft and measured. “Thank you for accepting our invitation.”
Celestina inclined her head, her expression neutral. “Thank you for having me.”
Kaela hesitated, then took a step forward. “Before we go inside, I… there’s something I need to say.”
Celestina arched an eyebrow but said nothing, allowing Kaela to continue.
“When you were married to Kael,” Kaela said, her voice wavering slightly, “I wasn’t… kind to you. Neither was my mother.”
Lady Veridan, who had been silent until now, spoke up, her tone softer than Celestina had ever heard. “We didn’t treat you as you deserved, and for that, I am deeply sorry.”
Celestina crossed her arms, studying the two women. “Why now?” she asked, her tone calm but firm.
Kaela glanced at her mother before answering. “Because we’ve seen how strong you’ve become. How much you’ve endured. And… we realize now that we were wrong. We let our own biases blind us to the woman you are.”
Lady Veridan nodded, her eyes sincere. “You’ve always been worthy of respect, Celestina. We failed to show you that, and it’s a failure I regret deeply.”
The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. For a moment, Celestina said nothing, her gaze shifting between the two women. She thought back to the countless moments of quiet pain she had endured in this family—Kaela’s snide remarks, Lady Veridan’s cold dismissal. And yet, she found herself strangely unmoved.
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the past,” Celestina said finally, her voice steady. “And I’ve come to realize that holding on to resentment only hurts me.”
Kaela blinked, clearly surprised by her response. “Does that mean… you forgive us?”
“Yes,” Celestina said simply. “I forgive you. Not because you deserve it, necessarily, but because I refuse to carry the weight of a grudge any longer.”
Lady Veridan’s shoulders relaxed slightly, relief flickering across her face. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kaela stepped closer, her expression earnest. “I don’t expect us to ever be close, Celestina. But I hope we can start over—if you’re willing.”
Celestina nodded, a faint smile touching her lips. “Let’s see how tonight goes.”
As they entered the estate, the tension began to ease. The grand foyer, with its high ceilings and glittering chandelier, was as impressive as ever. But this time, Celestina noticed something different—an air of warmth that hadn’t been there before.
“Please, make yourself comfortable,” Lady Veridan said, gesturing toward the sitting room.
The room was beautifully decorated, with plush armchairs arranged around a crackling fireplace. A tray of tea and delicate pastries sat on the table, waiting for them.
Kaela poured Celestina a cup, handing it to her with a small smile. “I hope this is to your liking.”
“It’s perfect,” Celestina replied, taking a sip.
