Liliana still had her full makeup on, the dramatic contouring and bold eye shadow indicating she’d just finished a photoshoot. Her gold hair was pulled back in an elaborate updo, and her expression shifted from professional neutrality to genuine curiosity when she recognized the caller.

"Is something wrong?"

"L-lily," Catalina said, her voice stuttering despite her best efforts to keep it steady. "Are you alone?"

Liliana’s eyes narrowed, hearing this. She glanced around the room she was in. It was some kind of dressing room or makeup studio, based on the lights and mirrors visible in the background.

Without a word, she turned and made a sharp gesture.

Through the display, Catalina watched as staff members and a harried-looking manager scrambled to exit the room. Liliana’s authority as Maxwell Corporation’s exclusive model was absolute in these spaces, and no one dared question her silent command.

Within moments, the room was empty save for Liliana herself.

"What is it, Mom?" Liliana asked, her voice dropping to match the gravity she clearly sensed in her mother’s demeanor.

Catalina took a deep breath. The AI robot returned with her blue wine, and she took a long sip before answering. The alcohol burned pleasantly down her throat, steadying her nerves.

"I just got some news," she said finally. "About Grayson."

Liliana stilled her expression, becoming blank as she processed what she heard.

"What about him?"

"He’s... in a relationship."

Silence.

Liliana stared at the display, her eyes betraying nothing. Then she scoffed, a sharp sound that carried more hope than dismissal.

"That’s impossible. There’s no way."

She opened another holographic screen using her light brain, her fingers flying across the interface. Catalina watched as her daughter navigated to what she assumed was some kind of private group chat.

It was the BFF group that Grayson shared with his closest comrades from his military days. Bryan mainly monitored it.

"Nothing," Liliana said after a moment, her voice tight. "He hasn’t posted anything in the chat. Not a single word there. Not even Bryan said anything."

She looked up at her mother, desperation flickering behind her carefully maintained mask. "If Grayson were really dating someone, he would have told us. He wouldn’t just... spring this on everyone all of a sudden."

"I thought so too," Catalina nodded and agreed, but her concern was still there. "But Lily... I heard it directly from Gloria."

Liliana’s composure visibly cracked after hearing the name, revealing the raw emotion underneath.

"Auntie Gloria? She told you herself?"

"Introduced him as her daughter-in-law. Right there in your Auntie Heilin’s tea shop."

Liliana’s hands curled into fists on the tabletop. Her jaw tightened.

For a moment, what Catalina saw was not her daughter, who was the poised supermodel or the disciplined former military officer. But rather, a heartbroken little girl who had fallen in love with a man he couldn’t reach decades ago.

"It’s... it must be another blind date," Liliana said finally, her voice rough. "You know how Auntie Gloria is. She’s always trying to set Grayson up with someone. She probably found another candidate and got ahead of herself."

Catalina nodded slowly since the explanation was also plausible. Gloria had been trying to marry off her workaholic son for years, parading an endless stream of eligible omegas and betas in front of him with zero success.

This wouldn’t be the first time she would introduce a potential partner with premature enthusiasm. But something about the way Gloria had looked at that young man seemed different.

There had been genuine affection there, not the polite interest she showed toward mere candidates.

And the young man himself...

Catalina frowned, recalling Neville’s appearance.

Hazel-brown hair, ocean-blue eyes hidden behind practical glasses, and a small red mole under the corner of his right eye. He was certainly pretty, but not in the flashy way that typically caught Gloria’s attention.

He had some aura and quiet confidence that seemed almost out of place for someone his age.

"You might be right," Catalina said, choosing to offer her daughter comfort rather than her own uncertain observations. "I didn’t get many details. The shock of it all... I couldn’t bring myself to ask more questions."

"Of course you couldn’t." Liliana didn’t blame her mother and expressed her understanding.

She knew how her mother worried about her and Sarah, how carefully Catalina had tried her best for her since she expressed her intention to date Grayson years ago.

"So, for now, let’s be patient and wait for further news," Catalina advised.

Liliana exhaled slowly, some of the tension leaving her shoulders. "You’re right. We should wait. If this is another one of Auntie Gloria’s schemes, it won’t last long. Grayson always refuses her matchmaking attempts."

"Exactly." Catalina forced a smile. "No need to worry until we have more information. I just... I wanted you to hear it from me first, rather than through gossip."

"Thank you, Mom." Liliana’s voice softened.

"Always, dear."

They exchanged a few more words before ending the call.

Catalina sat alone in the booth, staring at the remnants of her wine. She finished her wine in one gulp and ordered another glass.

She had a feeling she was going to need it.

○●○●

In a private dressing room across the city, Liliana Gringer stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Her makeup was still perfect, her hairstyle was still intact, and her expression was still composed. No one looking at her would guess that her heart was slowly breaking all over again.

Another candidate, she told herself. It’s just another candidate. Grayson will refuse her like he refuses everyone else.

But even as she repeated the words, a small voice in the back of her mind whispered doubts.

Gloria had never introduced a mere candidate as her daughter-in-law before. She had introduced people normally, like their name and which house they belonged to, or what their occupation wa,s but never claimed someone as family before Grayson had made his own choice.

Something was different this time.

Liliana closed her eyes and breathed deeply, reaching for the discipline that had carried her through military service and an unforgiving modeling industry alike.

She had loved Grayson since she was ten years old. She had been there through his rise to General, through his retirement. She had waited, exercised patience, and constantly believed that someday he would see her as more than a friend, more than a subordinate, more than his mother’s best friend’s daughter.

Twenty years of waiting.

Twenty years of hope.

And now, a stranger had appeared from nowhere, claiming the position she had dreamed of her entire life.

Liliana opened her eyes and met her own gaze in the mirror.

She wouldn’t give up.

Not yet.

Not until she had met this mysterious "daughter-in-law" for herself had she determined whether he was truly a threat or just another temporary obstacle.

But first, she needed information.

Her fingers moved across her light brain, composing a message to the one person she was close with who would know everything there was to know inside the Maxwell Corporation without hiding anything from her.

The message was sent with a soft chime.

Liliana sighed and leaned back.

I’ll wait a little bit more.