"I’ve never had a relationship where someone saw me. I’ve never looked into someone’s eyes and realised that this person cared about me. The real me. Not the exalted image of me that the world plants in their head. But things are different with Jason. Right from the first day I met him, I could see how much he saw me. He stared right through me, and he saw me for who I was without any filters. That man made me feel things I’ve never thought were possible. I won’t lie to you... I wanted to steal him from you. I wanted to possess him and have him look at me and only me. I wanted to remove every other woman from his life and spend the rest of my days with him. But that isn’t possible because he loves you!

"Every time I looked in his eyes, I could see how much he adored your very existence! He speaks about you like you are the oxygen he breathes! Like you’re the sun that shines on him! I saw that look in his eyes, and I was so jealous of you in that moment it nearly tore me apart! I knew in that moment that it wouldn’t be possible to make him look at me alone! So I thought that even if it was only a fraction. Even if I could have just a share of that adoration directed at me, it would be enough. W-When we were together this past week, I saw what it would be like to be with Jason. I saw how colourful and fun life would be. The smiles, the jokes, and the sheer happiness that I felt are beyond what I can describe! Jason didn’t even bed me, and yet I feel like I am more complete than I have ever been! I... I don’t want to lose this! I don’t want to lose him! So please, Gina. Please! If you have any space in your heart for me. I know you and I haven’t always seen eye-to-eye, but I’m willing to change. No, I know I can change. I’m letting go of my pride and ego, and I’m coming to you like a fellow woman! Please, just give me a chance." 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

Sometime in the middle of her monologue, Hesabeth felt a wetness gathering in her eyes, and Hesabeth couldn’t believe it when she started crying. Was this how much she really wanted this? Even Hesabeth was shocked. In truth, Hesabeth had never explored the true extent of her own emotions before! Hesabeth had always kept her cool and calm facade, and there was never any reason for her to dive deep into her own heart to figure out what she truly wanted! So no one was more shocked than Hesabeth to see just how much emotion came pouring out of her when she finally opened her heart! It felt like someone had tied a rope around her heart, and the more she talked, the tighter the rope squeezed her! Hesabeth sniffled as she struggled to clean her tears sometime in the middle of the monologue, and she grit her teeth and forced herself to finish what she had been saying! Hesabeth couldn’t stop! Not when she had finally started to open up her heart like this! This was the first time in Hesabeth’s life where she would be allowing herself to show so much emotion, and Hesabeth was shocked by how much Jason had changed her in that moment! Hesbaeth knew right then that if Gina refused to accept her, then there would be no more chances for her! This was Hesabeth’s one chance to be with someone that she truly loved with all her heart, and Hesabeth refused to let it go!

Hesbaeth’s head was bowed, and she was trying and failing to stop herself from crying, and Gina could literally feel the sincerity pouring out of Hesabeth. Gina never really knew how to think about Hesbaeth in the past. The first time Gina met Hesabeth, Hesabeth’s Bias had influenced Gina, and that made Gina like Hesabeth at first. But as time passed and Gina saw just how much interest Hesabeth was showing in Jason, the Bias had less and less of an effect on Gina, and Gina could feel a feeling of annoyance towards Hesbaeth. It wasn’t until the conversation that they had through the crystal ball that Gina finally felt her first surge of anger towards Hesabeth. But that conversation alone wasn’t enough to make Gina hate Hesabeth, since Gina knew that Hesabeth had only been trying to look out for Jason. Gina let out a small sigh as she saw Hesabeth struggling to clean her tears, and Gina walked over to Hesabeth and pulled her into a kind hug. Hesbaeth stiffened in shock as she felt the hug, but Hesabeth managed to prevent her Bias from flaring to life, and she hesitantly wrapped her arms around Gina and returned the hug.

The two women stayed like this for a few minutes, and Hesabeth pressed her teary face into Gina’s shoulder affectionately. Although Hesbaeth was the older one between them, and she also had far more experience in life, there was just something about Gina’s demeanor and personality that made it easy for people to put their trust in her. Talking to Gina was like talking to a friend, a mother, and a sister all at once, and Hesbaeth felt her walls breaking easily in front of her! After a while, Gina finally pulled back and allowed Hesabeth to stand on her own, and Hesabeth quickly took out a cloth to clean her eyes. Hesbaeth’s face was still as elegant and beautiful as ever, even though she had just finished crying, and Gina couldn’t believe Hesbaeth’s makeup wasn’t even smudged by her tears.

Hesabeth organised herself properly as she got rid of any evidence that she had even been crying, and Gina smiled as Hesabeth looked up at her and waited for an answer. Hesabeth put on a strong front, but Gina could see the desperation in her eyes, and Gina spoke in a calm voice:

"I’m glad you finally opened up to me, Hesabeth. I can tell you truly love Jason. You know, if you were this open with your emotions more often, I’m sure you’d be a lot more popular."

Hesabeth squeezed her mouth slightly, and she turned away with a frown. The only reason Hesabeth had been this open with Gina was because Hesabeth knew this was the only way she could make sure Gina understood her. Hesabeth couldn’t even think about being this open with the mere peasants that surround her on a daily basis! But even though Hesabeth looked like she was frowning, Gina could see a small redness on Hesbaeth’s cheeks that showed she was embarrassed by what she had done. Gina’s smile widened, and she finally sighed as she said.

"Fine... You know, I still don’t know if we’ll get along at all. Your ego and my short temper don’t really mix too well. But you said you’re willing to change, and I think I’m willing to be a little more tolerant to accommodate you as well. So, as long as Jason is okay with it, and you promise not to use your Bias to influence anyone in the family to do what you want, then I’m willing to accept you into the family, Hesbaeth."

Hesabeth’s eyes widened, and her head snapped to see Gina giving her a kind smile. It was like a new wave of emotions suddenly came over Hesabeth at that moment, and Hesbaeth felt her lips trembling open into an impossibly wide smile that she couldn’t control! Tears gathered in Hesabeth’s eyes once again, and Hesabeth immediately charged forward and grabbed Gina into another deep hug! Hesabeth pressed her face into Gina’s shoulder and spoke in a soft, emotional whisper.

"Thank you, Gina."

It was just three words, but those three words somehow managed to show the sheer depth of emotion Hesabeth was feeling at that moment, and Gina just hummed happily as she returned Hesabeth’s hug.