Some Shine Bright, Some Shine NOT Bright Enough

Celeste was deep in her thoughts when the seamstress snapped her back into reality.

The woman, who was in her late sixties, asked Celeste once again if she liked what she saw in the mirror, and Celeste quickly nodded after a brief look. 

Truth be told, she had never seen herself dressed so beautifully. The pink silk was embroidered in a shade darker than the dress itself, so intricately beautiful that she felt it did not match the plainness of her features and the pallor of her skin. 

Celeste would have felt more comfortable in the sundresses she owned. But her stepmother had looked at them with disgust and reminded Celeste that her soon-to-be fiancé was a man of great wealth. He would probably walk past her if she dressed in those rags. 

"Put this over your elbows, miss," the seamstress said, taking a transparent silk scarf and wrapping it around her figure, completing the dress. 

Celeste shyly admired how the pink diamonds around her neck shimmered over her bare chest. The glittery powder sparkled on her shoulders, and the redness painted on her lips—if only they were put on Orion, she would have made everything perfect. 

Thank you, Celeste mouthed while slightly bowing to the older woman. She smiled and then left the room, leaving the door open for Mina to enter. 

With a disapproving look, Mina sighed. "I suppose we can only go as far as what we have," she said. 

Celeste's gaze fell, unconsciously biting her bottom lip. 

"Try to at least smile, Celeste. Do you have any idea how lucky you are?" Mina asked, walking past her and then falling onto the sofa in defeat.

"Even though it's only right for my eldest to marry first and to a wealthy man no less, I still have to make sure you're going to have a good, comfortable life as well. Orion is bright and has a good future ahead of her, so she can do well on her own. But you need this opportunity, Celeste, as much as we do." Mina stood up, putting both hands on each of her lower arms. 

Celeste looked up into her stepmother's round eyes, the way they seemed to smile when her lips did not. Mina hugged her from behind, something she had never done before. 

"Everything I do, I do out of love. I know I was not a perfect mother figure to you, but believe me when I tell you this, Celeste… he is a good man. Any better than this, you'll never get," Mina said, finally smiling. 

Celeste smiled as well, feeling that her stepmother was genuinely happy for her, which was something she tried to feel too. But as much as Celeste tried to believe it was good for her, she still felt she was being given away. 

How else could she explain their unnatural kindness towards her over the past week?

Ever since Mina came to explain the situation to her, exclaiming the good news and how amazing it was that she was going to have a guaranteed life, Mina had been extremely kind.

Only her father had remained the same—indifferent and cold. 

Even if she didn't want to marry Tiel Brightwell, what choice did she have?

Despite how she felt about her family, they were still her family and all that she had. The thought of them living in horrible conditions broke her heart. 

"If you don't want to, I can understand, Celeste. We won't force you. But then we'll have to see what we can do once we don't have a home anymore. Ah, I can't even imagine it." Mina's words rang in Celeste's ears as she was led out of the house and into the long black car waiting for them outside the mansion.

Despite the heaviness lingering in her chest, Celeste couldn't bring herself to tell Mina she had changed her mind. 

Not when her father was sitting across from her, already ready with his suit and golden watch.

Her sister was next to her, as beautiful as a rare orchid, and her stepmother smiled at her as if she held the sun in her hands.

No.

It wasn't possible when she was the one who agreed to it. It would shatter their world. It would mean she doomed them to a life of hard labor.

Instead of dreading the fact that she might soon have to leave the comfort of her home, Celeste tried to think about what kind of man Tiel was. 

She had met him years ago during one of Orion's birthday parties and remembered he ran into her, knocking her over. His hair was a tangled mess, his nose runny, and he had some chocolate stain on his upper lip. It was Avond, his older brother, who had helped her up.

Unfortunately, Celeste had paid more attention to Avond afterward. Just the thought of him released butterflies in her stomach.

Was it just her, or was Avond so handsome? Was it normal for someone so young to fall for a man ten years older? But he was so cool. 

Celeste shook the thought away just as they arrived at Gecko, one of the top five private restaurants the Brightwells owned. Only those who were referred could eat there, and it showed. 

All four of them walked silently after leaving their vehicle among luxury cars, walking on white as pearl pebbles, and surrounded by large thick trees.

Celeste felt trapped between her parents as they were greeted by a grand set of double doors, framed by intricate wrought iron, embellished with gold accents—a fitting gateway to the entrance.

As they entered, they were greeted by a corridor flanked by elegant black columns, holding beautiful lanterns draped in lush greenery. The yellow light cast a warm glow on the polished wooden floor. 

For a moment, Celeste forgot it was a restaurant. 

"Mr. and Mrs. Everhart?" A man in a full black uniform asked from behind a reservation podium. Jordan nodded, showing him his identity card, which was enough. The man picked up the phone and called for someone, who arrived within a few seconds after the call. 

Celeste held her breath when they were led to the inner part of the restaurant, which was designed in a "sukiya-zukuri" style home, with a courtyard hosting what looked like a large Koi fish pond and a small bridge connecting it to a white pavilion standing in the middle. 

Celeste looked around the long-covered walkway, noticing the restaurant was empty, except for an open sliding door guarded by multiple men at the other end. She eyed them as they approached the dining room, noticing even from afar the hilt of what looked like firearms.

She sucked in a breath. 

"Finally! You have arrived!" The booming voice of Erickson Brightwell greeted them from inside the dining room. Seated nicely next to Avond and behind a well-decorated table, Erick raised a small glass of sake. 

Jordan and Mina bowed respectfully, followed by Orion and herself. Seeing how intimidating these men were, Celeste was glad her stepmother had forced her to practice for hours.

It wasn't easy pretending to be a perfect woman for the Brightwells. 

"Jordan, Mina! Sit down, sit down. What a wonderful day to make the joining of our families official," Erick said, beckoning the waitresses to serve more glasses for them. There were small treats and sweets lined up on nicely decorated plates. 

"Official?" Mina asked sheepishly.

Erick laughed. "You didn't think you could back off from this now, did you? Not when I went out of my way to help you. Even without papers, it is decided."

Celeste felt goosebumps in her arms, trying not to break a sweat as she stared at the colorful Mochi in front of her. Now she knew that even if she wanted to change her mind before, she couldn't. 

After calming the sudden wave of panic inside her, Celeste looked up, meeting the tired gaze of a man with gray eyes. The bold shape of his eyes was shadowed by thick lashes, weighing on his lowered eyelids. She felt her heart skip a beat when he looked over to his father, replying to something he was saying. 

The sharp line of his jaw defined his masculine features, pulling at the muscles of his neck and down to his collarbone. Celeste glanced at Avond, who sat silently drinking his sake. Indeed, these men were handsome, but where Avond's face held a sense of rugged beauty and resilience, this man was a captivating mix of vulnerability and assertiveness. 

"Aha!" Celeste looked over to Erick, surprised by his sudden exclamation. "So it's not Orion we're getting, but Celeste!" Erick turned to Celeste, the gray of his eyes piercing. There was something cruel in them that made Celeste look down.

"We know you're more familiar with Orion, considering she's more of a social butterfly. But we think for the Brightwells, Celeste would be a better match," Jordan said as if he were explaining why a certain color would be a better choice for some curtains. 

Erick nodded at this; his face was unreadable. 

"Ah, I promised my son, Orion," he sighed. "But I suppose it was my fault for not making certain which daughter we are getting. We barely ever see Celeste; I nearly forgot she even existed at all." 

"Excuse me for speaking," Mina started, "We understand your disappointment. Orion has always been the star on the stage; it's all anyone ever sees. But Celeste!" Mina put both hands together. "She is just as bright and wonderful as Orion."

"Oh?" Erick asked, as if challenging Mina on

 her statement.

"Well, as you can see, she is very beautiful. She is kind, patient, and caring—perfect to be the mother of your grandchildren. She's also very smart! Celeste can read in three languages and is fluent. She plays the piano, a perfect way to entertain guests in small gatherings. She's not difficult. Her main hobby is reading, and sometimes she knits as well. You don't ever have to worry about her going anywhere you don't want her to. The only thing she cannot do is… speak." 

Erick raised an eyebrow. "She's mute? No wonder she hasn't said anything until now." 

Celeste lowered her head, offering him a piece of paper she had prepared beforehand.

Mina had told her to keep her head down and let them do all the speaking, but Celeste wanted to greet the man who was supposed to be her father-in-law. 

Erick took the paper and read it.

-----

Greetings, my name is Celeste Everhart. Forgive me for I am lacking, but I am honored to be a part of your family. Please take good care of me. 

----

Erick's face softened upon reading it; his furrowed brows smoothed. He sighed, "This is my fault. I should have made certain for myself." 

Celeste felt her heart sink when she heard that.

Mina's sales skills were so amazing that Celeste almost allowed herself to believe it. But Erick brought her back to reality with a snap.

What kind of wealthy family would let their son be with a disabled woman like her? Well, at least now she could stay home, but what did it mean for her family? 

"I know it must seem like an insult to you that we are offering you our mute daughter. But I must emphasize that our daughters are both equally cherished. The only reason one might seem to shine brighter is because of their respective characters," Jordan said when the silence dragged on for too long. 

Celeste had to look at her father at that. These were words she had never thought she would hear Jordan say.

She then glanced at the tired man in front of her; his gray eyes stared intensely. 

"Very well," Erickson said, breaking the tension. "I asked for a daughter, and a daughter I got. Celeste Everhart, here beside me is Tiel Brightwell, your future husband," he said. 

Celeste's lips parted in surprise. This… this is Tiel?