Then , A black car slowly stopped near the entrance.
Jade glanced in that direction.
The door opened and Riguel stepped out first, looking as confident as ever. He adjusted his jacket before scanning the area.
Sophia stepped out right after him.
When she noticed Jade and Daniel, she smiled slightly.
"Looks like we're not late," she said as they walked toward them.
Riguel smirked.
"I thought you two would arrive earlier."
Daniel shrugged calmly.
"We did."
Jade crossed her arms slightly.
"You're the one who's late."
Riguel chuckled.
Before he could reply, another car arrived behind them.
This time, the people stepping out were very familiar.
Daniel's parents.
Jade smiled politely when she saw them.
"Good morning," she greeted.
Daniel's mother smiled warmly at her.
"Jade, dear."
Daniel's father nodded calmly toward his son.
Soon after, another vehicle stopped.
Riguel's parents stepped out as well, greeting the others as they joined the gathering.
.
.
The murmurs in the garden slowly faded until the place became completely quiet.
The old man stepped forward, resting his hands lightly on his cane.
His gaze moved across the crowd of families gathered before him.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Welcome, everyone."
His deep voice carried easily through the garden.
"It is always a pleasure to see so many familiar faces gathered again."
Several people nodded respectfully.
Some of the older members even smiled warmly.
"As you all know," he continued calmly, "this gathering is a tradition that has existed for generations."
He slowly gestured toward the vast estate around them.
"The meeting will last for one week, as usual."
Jade blinked slightly.
One week?
The old man continued speaking.
"This estate has been prepared to host all the families. The three residences and their surrounding grounds will be open for everyone during the entire week."
He paused briefly.
"Use this time to reconnect, to rest, and to strengthen the bonds between the families under the protection of the Constellations."
A soft murmur of approval passed through the crowd.
Jade looked around again.
Now that she knew they would stay here for an entire week, the place made more sense.
The estate was enormous.
Three large residences stood across the vast land, surrounded by gardens, forests, and stone paths.
It almost felt like a small hidden town.
The old man smiled gently.
"As always, the first evening will begin with a welcoming dinner."
He slightly lifted his chin.
"Until then, you are all free to enjoy the estate."
The atmosphere immediately relaxed again.
Conversations slowly resumed.
Families began greeting each other once more.
Jade turned toward Daniel, slightly surprised.
"A whole week?"
Daniel nodded calmly.
.
.
.
Some people had not seen each other for an entire year, so the atmosphere was lively and full of laughter.
Not far away, a few young women were whispering among themselves while glancing toward two particular men.
Riguel… and Daniel.
Their gazes were anything but discreet.
Riguel noticed and smirked arrogantly.
Daniel, on the other hand, ignored them completely.
Jade crossed her arms slightly when she noticed it.
"Popular, aren't you?" she muttered under her breath.
Daniel glanced at her sideways.
"Jealous already?"
"Dream on."
He chuckled quietly.
Soon, the time for dinner arrived.
The dining room was nothing short of breathtaking.
It was enormous, with high ceilings decorated with golden moldings and old paintings that seemed to carry centuries of history.
Large crystal chandeliers hung above the long tables, their warm light reflecting softly against the polished marble floor.
Dozens of candles burned gently across the room, giving the place an almost magical atmosphere.
At the center stood a vast buffet.
It was extravagant.
Silver trays were filled with different dishes, fresh fruits, elegant desserts, and beautifully prepared meals from different regions.
The smell alone was enough to make anyone hungry.
Families gathered around the tables, talking, laughing, and enjoying the feast together.
Later that night…
The estate slowly became quiet again.
The lights of the gardens glowed softly outside the windows.
Inside their room, Jade stood near the bed, her heart beating faster than usual.
Daniel was watching her with that calm, teasing look she knew too well.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" she asked.
"Like what?"
"Like you're planning something."
Daniel stepped closer.
"You're the one who came to my room."
Jade scoffed.
"This is our room."
His lips curved into a faint smirk.
"Exactly."
What followed the next minute was intense, passionate, and impossible for Jade to forget.
.
.
.
The next morning…
Jade woke up slowly.
And then suddenly—
Her eyes widened.
Memories from the previous night flooded back into her mind.
Her face instantly turned red.
"Oh my God…"
She buried her face in the pillow.
"Everyone must have heard me…"
Daniel, who was sitting calmly near the window, glanced at her.
"Heard what?"
Jade lifted her head, horrified.
"Daniel! The whole house must have heard me!"
He raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
She stared at him in disbelief.
"And?!"
Daniel shrugged calmly.
"Then they heard."
Jade threw a pillow at him.
"You're unbelievable!"
He caught the pillow easily, clearly amused.
His smirk only grew wider.
"You weren't complaining last night."
Jade froze.
Her face turned even redder than before.
"Daniel!"
He chuckled quietly, enjoying every second of teasing her.
.
.
Jade stood in front of the mirror for a long moment.
Her face was still slightly red.
"Calm down… act normal," she muttered to herself.
But the moment she remembered the previous night, her ears turned red again.
"This is impossible…"
Taking a deep breath, she finally gathered enough courage and walked downstairs toward the dining hall.
The large dining room was already lively.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the long breakfast table filled with pastries, fresh fruits, coffee, and warm bread.
Several family members were already seated.
Riguel was leaning lazily in his chair, drinking coffee.
Sophia sat across from him, elegant as always.
Lucas and Meredith were also there.
And of course…
Daniel.
He was calmly sipping his coffee as if nothing had happened.
The moment Jade entered the room, several pairs of eyes turned toward her.Daniel glanced at her and a faint, knowing smile appeared on his lips.
Jade immediately looked away and sat down quietly.
Meredith observed the two of them for a moment… then smiled in amusement.
"Well," she said cheerfully, "seeing you two like this, I feel like I might have grandchildren very soon."
Jade almost choked on her tea.
Lucas laughed heartily beside his wife.
"My son has always been very capable," he added proudly.
Jade froze.
Daniel nearly coughed into his coffee, clearly trying not to laugh.
Sophia's smile stiffened.
Riguel slowly put his cup down and looked at Jade with a mischievous grin.
"Oh?" he said lazily. "So that's why our dear sister-in-law looks so exhausted this morning."
Jade's face turned completely red.
"I'm not exhausted!"
Riguel raised an eyebrow.
"Really? Because you look like someone who didn't sleep much."
Daniel finally leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying the situation.
Sophia suddenly stood up from her chair.
Her expression had darkened slightly.
"I'm done eating," she said coldly before leaving the room.
Riguel watched her leave, then looked back at Jade and Daniel.
"Well… looks like someone's mood is ruined this morning."
He leaned closer to Jade slightly and whispered teasingly,
"But seriously… you two should keep it down next time."
Jade froze.
Daniel slowly smirked.
And Jade seriously considered disappearing forever.