The next day, after the meeting with the elders, Rhea and Raza were strolling through the gardens of the Phenex estate. Rhea was gathering flowers, her hands moving delicately among the blossoms, while Raza followed close behind, carrying a casket in which she placed each flower she picked.
Breaking the gentle silence, Rhea spoke. “Your father talked to me yesterday about the meeting.”
Raza glanced at her, curiosity in his eyes. “What was the outcome?”
She explained, “Regulus managed to work out a deal. The elders agreed to give you a chance to prove yourself.”
Raza arched an eyebrow. The outcome seemed too good to be true. “So, they want to see if I can prove myself—or just watch me fail against Riser?”
Rhea sighed. “Honestly, the second option is more likely.”
A wry smile crossed Raza’s lips. “In that case, I can help Gremory with no consequences.”
“Yes, but it would be foolish to simply barge in and demand Riser cancel the wedding. Your older brother is far too arrogant for that.”
Raza nodded. “Then we play the long game.”
Rhea’s eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. “The engagement party would be the perfect opportunity, don’t you think? A public challenge, out of nowhere, would pressure Riser to accept. If he refuses—which he won’t—he’d look like a coward in front of the entire underworld.
He’ll have no choice but to accept.”
Raza chuckled. “You know, most people don’t plot against their children.”
Rhea gave him a sidelong glance. “Well, you’re my son too. And honestly, I think Riser needs this loss—this humiliation. Otherwise, he’ll never let go of his ways and he’ll keep hurting others, like the Gremory girl. Let’s call it a humbling experience for him.”
Raza’s expression softened. “You still think Riser can change, after everything he’s done?”
Rhea nodded. “I care for all my children, including Riser. This past decade, our family has been divided, always bickering. More than anything, I wish for us to be whole again.”
Raza looked away. “Well, I still have a bone to pick with him.”
“And you should,” Rhea replied gently. “Siblings fight with each other all the time. Once you beat Riser, he’ll have time to reflect on his actions—and on your positions. I think it’s necessary for him to come around.”
“And Ravel?”
“Same cause, same effect. I want you to trust me with them, Raza. I’ll have a long talk with them once this is over.”
“You expect me to get along with them?”
Rhea smiled wistfully. “I expect us to act like a family again. I don’t know how things will end, but I want to try to put us all back together.”
A thoughtful silence lingered, then Raza said, “You’ve been talking to Father lately.”
“Yes, I have,” she admitted, turning towards him. “I know what you’ve been through, my boy—the suffering they caused, the injustice you endured. But I don’t want you to walk a path you can’t return from. I want you to be happy, and at peace.”
Raza nodded. “I understand, Mother.”
Rhea’s smile grew. “Good. Now, come. Let’s find the roses.”
Mother and son spent the afternoon together in the garden. There was a lot for Raza to process. He wasn’t sure if his relationship with his siblings would ever change. His father remained a complicated, unpredictable presence. But his parents were speaking again. Maybe that was a start. Either way, one thing was certain: he was going to deal with his older brother first.
That night, Rhea made a call—to Venelana Gremory. Over the years, these late-night conversations had brought them closer as friends. Rhea explained the new situation she had talked about in the garden. When Rhea shared the detail she had left out—that if
Raza won, he would become Rias’s new fiancé— to Raza, both women laughed in amusement. Venelana admitted it would have been better if things had been this way from the beginning, and Rhea agreed. They both hoped everything would turn out well in the end, and Venelana assured her it would.
They talked for a while longer about their children and other things. Rhea always found her conversations with Venelana refreshing and was grateful for her friendship from the very beginning.