The music blasting from Evadne's headset drowned out the world.
They had been on a nonstop eight-hour flight from Paris to New York aboard the Monteverde family's private jet.
She didn't know what kind of environment awaited her now that they were finally returning to New York. Her memories of the place were faint, she was only six years old when she, her mother, and father left for France.
She could only hope things would be better this time.
Though now, at least, she had a significant advantage.
Her secret.
The ability to hear thoughts.
She still had no idea how it happened, no idea how to turn it off. The only thing she had figured out was how to dull it, through music, and books. Loud playlists and deep stories helped hush the constant noise in her head.
Back in France, she was considered the Queen Bee at her previous school. But not the cruel kind. She never bullied anyone. Never belittled. That wasn't her nature.
But it didn't mean she didn't know how to fight.
Her mother, Cielo, often told her stories about her older sister, Ceres, the legendary woman who, even long after her death, was still regarded by New York's elite with equal parts awe and fear. Some called her a villainess, a woman too powerful to cross.
But the videos, played every year on Ceres's birthday, told a different story.
Ceres had a sharp tongue and unmatched wit, but she had an even bigger heart. She played with children, rescued animals, and helped anyone in need without ever asking for anything in return. She never let anyone walk over her, but she was never heartless.
Evadne didn't grow up trying to become Ceres.
Her mother made sure of that.
"You are not your sister," Cielo once said with warmth and conviction. "Ceres is Ceres. You are Evadne. And you deserve to live your life the way you want it."
So Evadne did.
She lived with music in her ears, books in her hands, and her own rules in her heart. She was always ready to lend a hand, to listen, to smile. But she was never afraid to cut people off if they tried to hurt her. Her boundaries were clear. Her peace was sacred.
That's why, when her ability revealed the truth about her so-called friends, that they secretly hated her, that they resented her, she had been crushed.
It took her days to process it. Nights of overthinking. But eventually, the pain settled.
And when it did… she let them go.
She hadn't done anything to deserve their hate.
And her father had been right all along, her peace of mind came first.
She didn't regret the days she spent with them. Even if now she knew they were likely pretending all along, those moments still made her happy. She was genuine. That mattered.
But she'd never force herself into the lives of people who didn't want her.
Not anymore.
She just hoped, deep down, that here in New York… she might find people who truly saw her.
Friends. Real ones.
She actually had a niece around her age here. Cieryl Clark, daughter of her half-sister, Ciena. Evadne couldn't remember her much, but there were few photos, until they were six.
But when the Monteverdes moved to France, all connections stopped.
Her parents never visited New York again.
And Ciena's family… never once came to France.
"Hon."
A gentle shake pulled her out of her thoughts.
She opened her eyes, slipping off her headset as her father, Romos, gave her a warm smile.
"We'll be landing in thirty minutes," he said. "Your godparents will be picking us up."
She nodded. "Okay, Daddy."
Jupiter and Angelina Falcon.
The parents of Ceres's late fiancé, Zeus Falcon. He died in a fire while trying to rescue animals from an animal shelter Ceres had secretly sponsored, another legacy Evadne had learned to admire.
Jupiter and Angelina had always treated her with kindness.
Like family.
They often visited her in France, especially on her birthday. And when they couldn't come, gifts would still arrive, carefully wrapped, thoughtfully chosen. Sometimes, even without an occasion, surprise packages would appear with notes that simply said,
"From us, to our favorite girl."
Evadne didn't know what awaited her in New York.
But at least, she wasn't walking into it completely alone.
She had known for a while now, though her parents hadn't told her outright. She'd overheard enough video calls, hushed conversations, and lingering glances to understand the unspoken plan.
Her parents, and her godparents, wanted her to marry their adopted son.
Hades.
She barely remembered him.
Evadne was five when Hades was adopted. The same year her ADHD and bipolar tendencies had begun to manifest. Her memories from that time were fragmented, blurry at best.
When the Falcon couple visited France, they never brought Hades with them. They always said he was too busy with school. But they spoke of him constantly, with glowing pride and rehearsed admiration.
Hades was the golden boy. Always top of his class. Talented in sports. Mature beyond his years. A future gentleman. A perfect husband.
Not that she cared.
Plenty of boys had tried to court her in France, and she had ignored every single one of them. Not because she was picky. But because none of them moved her. She didn't want a boyfriend just for the sake of having one. And certainly not because of peer pressure.
She knew the odds were low that young love would last. But if she were to give her time, her energy, her heart, it would have to mean something.
And now that she was back in New York, she had no doubt her parents, and the Falcons, would start pushing her and Hades together. A rekindling of something that never had the chance to begin. A living tribute to Ceres and Zeus.
It wasn't hard to understand.
Ceres and Zeus were supposed to be married. Their story, tragically cut short, still lived in the hearts of those they left behind. And now, whether they realized it or not, their grief had molded her future.
But Evadne couldn't bring herself to hate them for it.
They had given her everything. Love. Freedom. A life most could only dream of.
And if saying yes to this engagement, this arrangement, could bring peace and happiness to the two couples who had lost so much?
She would say yes.
Even at the expense of choosing her own husband.
Because she trusted them.
She knew they loved her. She knew they'd never let her marry someone who would hurt her.
So if they believed Hades was the right man, then... so be it.
Hades it is, then.
She was easy to talk to. She could adapt. And even if there would never be love in their marriage, she would respect him, as long as he respected her. She would give back tenfold whatever he offered.
She didn't need grand romance.
Just kindness. Just peace.
Thirty minutes later, the plane touched down on New York soil.
And when the private jet door opened, she stood at the top of the stairway, the New York air brushing against her skin.
"Vee, sweetheart!" a delighted voice called out from below.
It was Angelina Falcon, standing beside a sleek black limousine parked right next to the jet.
Evadne's lips curled into a wide smile as her eyes found Angelina, and Jupiter, standing tall and regal beside her.
But then, without meaning to, she caught a whisper of their thoughts.
'She's so beautiful,' Angelina thought.
'Our sweet girl,' came Jupiter's silent echo.
Evadne's cheeks flushed with warmth.
"Mom! Dad!" she called out with a grin, and without thinking, she broke into a light run down the steps.
"Slowly, sweetheart," Jupiter warned gently, chuckling. "You might trip."
But Evadne didn't slow down.
And the moment her feet touched the ground, she launched herself into their waiting arms.
They caught her effortlessly, wrapping her in a tight, warm embrace, the kind only found in people who have loved you your whole life.
"Welcome back to New York, sweetheart," Angelina said, her voice filled with joy.
"See? I told you," Cielo teased from the top of the stairs, laughing as she glanced at Romos who was descending after her. "Only one of us is truly welcome back. They even forgot we existed."
Angelina and Jupiter laughed heartily, while Romos shook his head, smiling as he followed his wife down the steps.
The Falcons gently pulled away from their hug with Evadne to greet the Monteverde couple.
"Cielo, Romos, welcome back to New York," Angelina said warmly, kissing Cielo on the cheek. Romos and Jupiter exchanged a firm, respectful handshake.
"Thank you, Angelina. Jupiter," Romos replied sincerely. "And thank you for taking the time to personally welcome us."
"Oh, don't even mention it. We're family," Jupiter said firmly.
"And I'd definitely throw a tantrum if you came back and didn't let us pick you up," Angelina added with a wink.
As the conversation flowed, Cielo's gaze drifted to a young man standing quietly a short distance away, holding two bouquets of roses.
"Is that Hades?" she asked with a smile.
As if just remembering his presence, the Falcon couple turned slightly.
"Ah, yes, Hades," Jupiter said, tone softer than usual as he glanced at his son. "Come, meet your Uncle Romos and Aunt Cielo."
For the first time in a while, Hades heard his father speak to him with warmth.
He stepped forward, face composed in a polite smile, and offered a bouquet of white roses to Cielo with practiced grace.
"Welcome back to New York, ma'am. Sir." His tone was formal, respectful.
"Ma'am? Sir?" Cielo laughed gently as she took the roses. "Call us Aunt and Uncle. And maybe, in the future... Mom and Dad."
Hades smiled and nodded.
But in his mind, the thought made his stomach twist.
'If I had a choice, I'd never call them that.'
'Never.'
Unbeknownst to him, his thoughts were not private.
Evadne heard them, clearly.
She didn't flinch, didn't blink. But deep inside, something shifted.
She wasn't the type of girl who needed to be pleased or coddled. But this, this silent disrespect toward her parents, the two people she cherished most?
She didn't like it.
Not even a little.
Still, she didn't let it show. Not when Hades was smiling like a gentleman. Not when everyone was watching.
"Sweetheart," Angelina said, her tone sweet and coaxing, "you and Hades used to play together when you were five. But I'm sure you don't remember him anymore."
Following the silent command in Jupiter's sharp glance, Hades stepped forward again. He offered Evadne another bouquet, this one a deep red.
"Welcome back to New York, Evadne," he said with a soft smile and a gentle voice.
But his thoughts… were distant.
Detached.
Mechanical.
"Thank you," Evadne said with equal sweetness, accepting the bouquet with grace. Her smile was bright, eyes calm.
But in her mind?
Two can play this game.
"Look at you two," Angelina said, clasping her hands together. "You look so good together."
Cielo and Romos nodded in agreement, and even Jupiter hummed his approval.