The Kwong mansion was loud in a way money could never silence.
Ling had barely stepped inside when chaos greeted her.
"Ah—there she is," Dadi announced from her throne-like chair, eyes sharp, lips already curved with mischief. "Miss Universe herself."
Before Ling could even drop her bag, Rina leaned against the railing, grinning like a menace.
"Late again," she sang. "Must be exhausting being feared by an entire university."
Ling scoffed. "Jealousy doesn't suit you, cousin."
"Oh I'm not jealous," Rina replied sweetly. "I'm entertained."
Eliza Kwong adjusted her silk shawl, chin lifted, pride woven into every movement.
"She looks fine," she said coolly. "Strong posture. Confident walk. That's my daughter."
Victor cleared his throat—once. Then twice.
"Eliza," he said, voice firm, fatherly. "Confidence is good. But controlling oth—"
Before he could finish, Dadi's cane tapped sharply against the marble floor.
"Controlling and Manners?" she snapped. "From you?"
She turned her glare on her son. "You raised her to survive sharks, not sip tea. Don't pretend now."
Rina burst out laughing.
Ling, who had been pretending to check her phone, laughed too—soft, unguarded, real.
Victor saw it.
And for a split second, his stern face cracked.
He loved that sound laughter of her pride her daughter. Loved it more than success reports, more than headlines with their last name printed in gold.
But he straightened instantly.
"Why are you smiling?" he asked, forcing seriousness back into his voice.
Ling blinked. "No. No, I'm not."
Dadi leaned forward, eyes gleaming.
"Oh, you are smiling," she said triumphantly. "And don't worry—I'll deal with this rude Father of yours for making you laugh."
Rina clutched her stomach. "Deal with Uncle? Dadi, please—"
"Silence," Dadi said grandly, lifting her cane again. "I raised warriors, not clowns."
That did it.
Rina exploded into laughter, Eliza smirked behind her composure, and even Victor failed—his lips twitching despite his effort to remain the patriarch.
Dadi leaned back, satisfied, like a queen who had just won a small war. Then her eyes slid to Victor.
"Oh, Victor," she said sweetly, far too sweet. "Remember when you were sixteen and tried to run away because I told you to study economics instead of poetry?"
Ling's head snapped up. "Poetry?"
Rina gasped dramatically. "Father? Romantic?"
Victor stiffened. "That is ancient history."
Dadi waved her hand. "Ancient but unforgettable. He packed a bag, climbed the gate, and fell straight into the neighbor's rose bushes."
Ling burst out laughing. "So that's where my clumsiness comes from."
Victor shot her a warning look. "Careful."
Ling crossed her arms, smirk playing on her lips. "What? You started it."
Victor straightened, eyes narrowing with mock threat. "If we're sharing stories, I have plenty about you."
Dadi hummed. "Oh, this I want to hear."
Victor turned to Ling. "Should I tell them how you cried for three hours because your shoes didn't 'respect you'?"
Ling rolled her eyes hard. "I was five."
Rina clapped. "Iconic behavior, honestly."
"And," Victor continued calmly, "how you refused to eat unless the spoon was silver."
"That was taste," Ling shot back. "Inherited."
Eliza hid a smile behind her cup.
Rina leaned forward suddenly, eyes glittering with mischief. "Speaking of people who don't respect you…"
Ling froze. Just a fraction. Enough.
Rina noticed.
"…that girl," Rina said lightly. "The one who makes your heart do gymnastics."
Ling turned slowly. "Choose your next words carefully."
Dadi raised a brow. "Oh? Heart gymnastics?"
Victor laughed, completely oblivious, amused. "Is someone finally brave enough to challenge you?"
Ling scoffed. "Don't be ridiculous."
Rina tilted her head. "Then why did you nearly break a chair today?"
Silence. Brief. Sharp.
Ling shrugged. "Annoyance."
Dadi watched her closely now. Too closely.
Victor chuckled. "Whoever she is, she must be interesting."
Ling looked away.
Her jaw tightened.
Her fingers curled.
And for the first time that evening, her smile didn't come easily.
Rina noticed.
Dadi noticed more.
But no one—absolutely no one—said her name.
And far away, in another mansion, Kane Nior's daughter remained a truth the Kwong house was laughing straight past…
unaware that two worlds were already leaning toward collision.
And Victor, watching her smile again despite herself, realized something dangerous:
Whatever storm was coming for his daughter…
it had already started changing her.