Mia remained silent, arms crossed, still processing Cid's words. After a moment, she breathed,
"Ohh... So that's it? Is she the future Madame Dante?" she said ironically, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "That explains her behavior... arrogant, self-assured, as if the world belonged to her. I didn't know you liked that kind of girl, Cid."
Cid, stung, replied calmly,
"Actually, if I'm marrying her, it's not for love. It was... my adoptive father's will. He wrote in his will that in order to inherit his estate, I had to marry Lara."
Mia looked at him incredulously.
"So basically... you're marrying her for the inheritance?"
"No, of course not," he said, coming to sit beside her, his voice deep. "If I do this, it's simply to honor his last wishes. You have no idea how good he was to me. He gave me everything. I owe him everything. So… this is my way of thanking him."
A silence fell. Then Mia asked, her eyes fixed on his:
"But… do you love him?"
Cid looked away. No words came out.
"Your father… was he a hateful man?"
"No," he replied almost immediately. "Far from it. He was a man with a huge heart. Generous, honest, always smiling. You say that because you don't know him, Mia. But if you had known him… you would have adored him, I'm sure of it."
He finished his sentence with a sad smile, his eyes lost in a distant memory. Mia, softening, leaned slightly towards him.
"You know... if he were really as good as you say... then he would never want you to be unhappy. What loving father would want to see his son trapped in a loveless marriage? Huh? Tell me."
Mia's words hit Cid hard. He slowly raised his head to look at her.
"Maybe he simply thought you loved each other... Given your closeness. What if, from where he is, he realizes he was wrong? But he can't change anything anymore. Cid... I just ask you to think calmly. Make the right decision."
She stood up, her eyes filled with tenderness mixed with worry.
"Good evening."
And she disappeared into his room, leaving Cid alone, pensive, his heart in conflict.