Cecilia’s pov
For three days straight, I’d kept Sebastian at arm’s length with all the grace of soone who’d been through this kind of emotional back-and-forth before.
If my life wasn’t basically under threat right now, I’d already be back at my own place.
The last thing I needed was another pop-in from his grandmother and her Oscar-worthy display of polite disdain.
After dinner, I went downstairs to grab so tampons. My period was about to start, and all my stuff was still in my apartnt.
I returned with the bag to find Luna Regina and Cassian leaned in, talking as if they were redrawing the map of the entire territory. Zaria was sprawled on the couch next to them, looking like she owned the place.
I paused just inside the entryway, catching Luna Regina’s voice mid-rant.
"She’s completely unhinged! That woman has no soul left. Maggie should rot in hell for what she’s done."
Cassian didn’t flinch. His smile was lazy, borderline amused.
"You get all fiery when you’re pissed, Aunt Regina. It’s borderline charming."
Luna Regina gave him a sharp glare.
"This isn’t a joke, Cassian. You really need to be careful. She’s dangerous and completely out of touch with reality. If she gets desperate, she won’t think twice. Who knows what she’s planning next?"
Zaria clutched a throw pillow to her chest.
"Honestly, you should hire a SEAL team or get a body double. Otherwise, you’ll wake up one day missing your favorite parts."
I had to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing. The whole thing sounded like a bad soap opera.
When I finally stepped into view, I cleared my throat.
"Hi. Didn’t an to intrude."
Zaria tossed the pillow aside and hopped up like a jack-in-the-box.
"Cece! Where have you been hiding?"
Her eyes flicked to the bag in my hand.
"Ooh, is that chocolate? Please say it’s chocolate."
I didn’t answer.
"I’ve got work to finish. You all carry on."
I gave them a polite smile and turned to leave.
Luna Regina stood up suddenly, her voice softer.
"Cece, wait..."
I frozed mid-step.
Cece? Since when did we get on a nickna basis?
This was the sa woman who’d treated like a temporary inconvenience.
Now suddenly I was "Cece"-- as if we were confidantes from way back.
Yeah, that caught off guard.
"Luna Regina, did you need sothing from ?" I asked, keeping my voice polite but neutral.
"Actually, I ca to speak with you. Would you mind sitting for a mont?" She gestured to the empty seat beside her.
Refusing outright would’ve been too obvious, so I walked over and sat with the kind of poise you learn after years of faking patience.
I stayed quiet. If she wanted to talk, she could go first.
"Cece, about that dinner the other night... Sebastian’s grandmother showing up was a surprise to all of us. Please don’t take her words too seriously. She’s been like that with everyone in the family at one point or another. It’s... best not to dwell."
Her tone was soft, her wording careful.
I gave her a paper-thin smile.
"I haven’t thought twice about it. We t for the first ti, and if she doesn’t like , that’s her problem. Honestly, I’m not really into that whole ’gracious elder with a superiority complex’ vibe. So yeah, we’re even."
I kept my tone light, even casual. But the edge was there, clear as day.
Luna Regina blinked, clearly caught off guard.
Guess she wasn’t used to people talking about the family matriarch like she was just another grumpy old woman.
Zaria let out a laugh, breaking the tension.
"Okay, fair enough. Equal-opportunity shade. Respect."
Then she grinned at .
"But Cece, you don’t hate us too, right? That’d be kind of heartbreaking. We actually really like you."
Her smile was bright, practiced. The girl knew how to play peacemaker.
I let my smile soften. Flattery, when done well, was hard to resist.
"Zaria, you’re gorgeous and sharp, and yeah, I like you too. But sotis liking soone just isn’t enough. If it doesn’t click, it doesn’t click. I’m not the kind of guy who forces sothing that doesn’t feel right, whether it’s for or for soone else."
I said it gently, but the ssage hung in the silence that followed. I wasn’t talking about Zaria. We all knew it.
Luna Regina’s face changed. She looked at differently now, like she finally got that I wasn’t so clingy human chasing after her son.
"It can work, though," she said slowly, sliding onto the seat beside . "If both sides are willing. I’m heading back to Colorado Springs next month. I’d like you and Sebastian to co with ."
I tried to keep it respectful.
"I don’t know what my schedule looks like. I probably shouldn’t..."
"If I have ti, you have ti," a familiar voice cut in.
Sebastian had returned. Judging from the look on his face, he’d heard enough.
He dropped into the seat across from like he owned the room.
"When next month? And how many days? I’ll handle the arrangents."
"Fourteenth to the eighteenth. Four days," Luna Regina said promptly.
"Done," Sebastian answered without missing a beat.
I stared at him like he’d just rewritten my calendar with a Sharpie.
DONE? Who exactly made him the boss of my ti?
"Excuse ," I said, half-raising my hand like we were in so kind of board eting.
"If Sebastian’s taking ti off on the fourteenth, does that an I..."
"No one said anything about ti off," Sebastian interrupted, his tone firm. "This is business. There’s a deal to close in Colorado Springs, and a family visit on the side."
"Perfect timing," Cassian added with a grin. "You definitely can’t go without your assistant-slash-wrangler."
I resisted the urge to throw sothing.
Luna Regina bead like she’d just won bingo night.
"Wonderful. Then it’s settled."
Settled? Like hell it was.
But before I could object, she glanced at her watch and stood.
"Look at the ti. Zaria, let’s head out."
And just like that, Luna Regina and Zaria made their exit.
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