After the incident with Billy, the party was back on. Soft music played, and decorative lights glittered throughout the room. In the center of it all, Nico and Ruby stood on a small stage decorated with white flowers and candles. Guests gathered around them, waiting for the moment they had been waiting for: the pinning of the engagement rings.

Celine stood in the corner of the room, watching from a distance with a heavy heart. Her eyes could not escape the couple who were celebrating love over the misery of the Basin.

"You're really bad, Nico! You're not the Nico I used to know," Celine whispered, her heart feeling like it had been pierced by thorns multiple times as she watched Nico and Ruby about to exchange rings.

Nico held Ruby's hand gently, then took the ring from the small box given by a waiter.

"I, Nicolas William Khiel, hereby pin this ring as a token of my love and loyalty to Ruby," Nico said in a firm yet gentle voice. He slipped the ring onto Ruby's ring finger, and instantly, Ruby smiled widely.

After that, it was Ruby's turn to put the ring on Nico's ring finger.

"Even Nico doesn't wear our wedding rings anymore," Celine whispered.

Nico then pulled Ruby close and kissed her on the lips in front of everyone. The kiss was long and passionate, as if Nico wanted to show the world how much Ruby belonged to him.

The guests clapped and cheered, but the sounds sounded hollow to Celine's ears.

With tears falling relentlessly, Celine turned around and walked towards the back terrace of the mansion. She wanted to get out of everyone's sight, seeking a quieter place to soothe her broken heart. As she reached the back terrace, a servant, a middle-aged woman who had always been kind to her, approached and touched Celine's shoulder gently.

"Mrs. Celine, don't cry. I understand how you feel," the maid said in a voice full of sympathy. "You don't have to stay here if it's too painful. Perhaps you should just go, leave all this behind."

Celine shook her head softly, trying to hold back the tears that kept flowing. "No, I can't leave. Even though Nico no longer loves me, I'm still his wife. I will stay, I will not give up on this marriage," she replied in a trembling voice.

The servant looked at Celine with pitying eyes. "Madam, you deserve better. You don't have to suffer like this. But if that's what you want, I can only pray that you are strong to face all this."

Celine smiled bitterly, looking up at the dark night sky. "I know it won't be easy, but I'm still hopeful. Maybe one day, Nico will realize that he was wrong. I just want to stay here, by his side, even though I know he no longer loves me."

The maid let out a long breath, then hugged Celine gently. "You are a very strong woman, Mrs. Celine. I hope you find your happiness one day."

After a while, the maid released the hug and went back into the house. Celine remained standing on the terrace, looking into the house where Nico and Ruby were still celebrating her engagement. She felt the cold night breeze, as if it enveloped her frozen heart. But underneath it all, Celine knew that she had to endure. She would not leave; she would stay here, living her life with all the pain. Because in her heart, even though Nico's love was gone, Celine's love was still there. And that was enough to keep her going, at least for now.

"I will survive as long as I can," Celine whispered, then she immediately wiped her tears. She tried to smile even though it was very painful.