Meanwhile, Fran and Mia walked through the forest on their way back. Silence surrounded them, broken only by the soft rustling of leaves beneath their feet.
They had been walking without saying a word for some time when Fran finally spoke gently.
"And there we are, my beautiful lady. We're almost home."
Mia looked up at the house. A deep weariness clouded her eyes. She turned toward Fran.
"Could you stay with me for a little while?" she asked weakly. "I don't think I can be alone right now… But I don't want you to neglect your responsibilities because of me."
She lowered her head, looking troubled.
Fran sighed and gazed at her tenderly before answering.
"After a fight like that, a little rest won't hurt me. Otherwise, I might end up completely worn out."
Mia lifted her head, a shy smile appearing on her lips. Those simple words were enough to warm her heart.
"Great!" she exclaimed suddenly, her excitement returning. "Come on! I'll make us some cake and juice."
She grabbed Fran by the sleeve and pulled him toward the house. Amused, Fran let out a soft laugh.
"Easy, Mia! You'd think I'd just asked you out or something."
Mia blushed, embarrassed… then burst out laughing.
A few hours later, she returned to her bedroom carrying a tray with two slices of cake and two glasses of juice. She sat down beside the bed, placed the tray between them, and invited Fran to help himself.
They ate quietly, surrounded by a warm and intimate atmosphere. Then, in a curious tone, Fran asked:
"So… what were you doing out there in the forest?"
Mia sighed. Her expression darkened for a moment. She told him, without going into too much detail, what had driven her to isolate herself out there, alone and far from everything. It was a painful story she still preferred to keep buried inside.
"And all of this… because of Lara," she murmured. "I don't even know her that well, but… she managed to drive Cid and me apart."
Fran nodded sympathetically.
"Don't let it weigh too heavily on your heart. Cid came to apologize, you know? For his behavior, and for his friend's as well."
"Yeah… but I still wonder how he could ever get close to a bitch like her."
Fran smiled and gently pulled her closer to him.
"Sometimes things are more complicated than they seem. But whatever you're going through, Mia, keep your head held high."
She nodded, touched by his words. They continued talking for a while, until Fran eventually decided it was time to leave.
Although Mia was still troubled, she felt a little lighter.
Meanwhile, Cid had endured an exhausting day. Guilt gnawed at him. Mia's words and the coldness in her eyes still echoed in his mind.
Lara… Everything she had caused…
He blamed himself.
When he returned home, silence greeted him. He took off his shoes, set down his jacket, and walked into the living room.
That was when he saw her.
Mia was asleep on the couch, curled up on herself, looking completely peaceful.
Cid froze.
His heart tightened.
She was so beautiful. So fragile.
He approached silently, his gaze settling on her lips. A faint desire stirred within him—not a desire to possess her, but something deeper. Something born from affection and love.
He felt strangely unsettled by it.
But his contemplation was suddenly interrupted when Mia stirred and opened her eyes.
She saw him.
"Have you been here long?" she asked softly.
"Yes… but I didn't know what to say."
"About what?"
Cid lowered his gaze.
"About what happened… with Lara."
Mia sat up, took a deep breath, and looked directly at Cid.
"Who is she? I mean… what exactly is the relationship between you two?"
He hesitated.
Then he finally said:
"She's the niece of my adoptive father."
A pause.
"And also… my fiancée."
A heavy silence fell over the room.
Mia remained silent, arms crossed, still processing Cid's words. After a moment, she breathed,
"Ohh... So that's it? Is she the future Madame Dante?" she said ironically, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "That explains her behavior... arrogant, self-assured, as if the world belonged to her. I didn't know you liked that kind of girl, Cid."
Cid, stung, replied calmly,
"Actually, if I'm marrying her, it's not for love. It was... my adoptive father's will. He wrote in his will that in order to inherit his estate, I had to marry Lara."
Mia looked at him incredulously.
"So basically... you're marrying her for the inheritance?"
"No, of course not," he said, coming to sit beside her, his voice deep. "If I do this, it's simply to honor his last wishes. You have no idea how good he was to me. He gave me everything. I owe him everything. So… this is my way of thanking him."
A silence fell. Then Mia asked, her eyes fixed on his:
"But… do you love him?"
Cid looked away. No words came out.
"Your father… was he a hateful man?"
"No," he replied almost immediately. "Far from it. He was a man with a huge heart. Generous, honest, always smiling. You say that because you don't know him, Mia. But if you had known him… you would have adored him, I'm sure of it."
He finished his sentence with a sad smile, his eyes lost in a distant memory. Mia, softening, leaned slightly towards him.
"You know... if he were really as good as you say... then he would never want you to be unhappy. What loving father would want to see his son trapped in a loveless marriage? Huh? Tell me."
Mia's words hit Cid hard. He slowly raised his head to look at her.
"Maybe he simply thought you loved each other... Given your closeness. What if, from where he is, he realizes he was wrong? But he can't change anything anymore. Cid... I just ask you to think calmly. Make the right decision."
She stood up, her eyes filled with tenderness mixed with worry.
"Good evening."
And she disappeared into his room, leaving Cid alone, pensive, his heart in conflict.