Nior Mansion
Rhea lies on her side, phone glowing in the dark, eyes sharp despite the hour.
She hasn't slept.
She won't.
Her thumb hovers over Rina's chat again.
"…Idiot," she mutters to herself. "Absolute idiot."
She types anyway.
Text — Rhea:
Random question.
Three dots appear almost instantly.
Text — Rina:
Nothing about you is random. Go on.
Rhea exhales slowly, choosing her words with care.
Text — Rhea:
Your mansion. Security shifts. Who's usually awake late. Who sleeps early.
Across the city—
Kwong Mansion — Rina's Room
Rina sits up in bed, blanket sliding to her waist, smile slow and sharp.
"Oh," she murmurs. "Interesting."
She doesn't reply immediately.
Instead, she screenshots the message.
Walks barefoot down the corridor.
Kwong Mansion — Dadi's Room
Dadi is awake, reading, glasses low on her nose.
Rina holds up her phone silently.
Dadi reads.
Then smiles. Not amused. Knowing.
"She's planning something foolish," Dadi says gently.
Rina grins. "Like family."
Dadi nods. "Does she know Ling is awake."
Rina shakes her head. "No."
"Then answer her," Dadi says. "But not everything."
Rina's smile widens. "Selective honesty. My favorite."
Back to Rina's Room
Rina types leisurely.
Text — Rina:
Why do you need to know?
Rhea bites her lip, irritated.
Text — Rhea:
Just tell me.
A pause.
Then—
Text — Rina:
Fine. General info only.
Rhea sits up, heart beating faster.
Text — Rina:
Security patrols the outer boundary till 2 a.m. After that it's cameras + motion sensors only.
Rhea's eyes narrow. She absorbs every word.
Text — Rina:
Victor sleeps early. Like clockwork. 10:30.
Text — Rina:
Dadi pretends to sleep. She never actually does.
Rhea swallows.
Text — Rina:
Eliza is unpredictable. Sometimes awake till 3. Sometimes asleep by midnight.
That one makes Rhea curse softly under her breath.
"…Great."
Text — Rhea:
And Ling.
There's a longer pause this time.
Rina stares at the screen before replying.
Text — Rina:
Ling hasn't slept.
Rhea's chest tightens.
Text — Rhea:
How do you know.
Text — Rina:
Because she never does when she's angry.
Rhea closes her eyes briefly.
"…Of course."
She types again, careful, casual on the surface.
Text — Rhea:
Which side of the mansion has less patrol.
Rina lets out a soft laugh, alone in her room.
"Caught you."
She replies anyway.
Text — Rina:
North side. Old trees. Blind spots near the guest wing windows.
Rhea's grip tightens on the phone.
Her mind is already mapping walls, heights, distances.
She forces herself to slow down.
Text — Rhea:
Thanks. That's all.
Rina raises an eyebrow.
Text — Rina:
You sure?
Rhea stares at the words.
Types.
Deletes.
Types again.
Text — Rhea:
Yes.
Rina doesn't buy it.
But she lets it go—for now.
Text — Rina:
Goodnight, Rhea.
Rhea locks the screen.
Drops the phone onto the bed.
She stands, walks to the window, pulls the curtain aside just enough to let moonlight spill in.
Her reflection stares back at her—eyes bright, jaw set, guilt and resolve tangled tight.
"…I'm not doing this," she tells herself.
Then, quieter:
"…But if I don't, I won't survive two days."
She exhales sharply, stepping back from the window.
Not yet.
But the thought doesn't leave her.
Not even for a second.
She stood and went out of room.
Shyra is half-buried under blankets, one arm flung over Amaya's crib rail, breathing slow and even.
The door creaks.
"Shyra."
Nothing.
"Shyra—wake up."
Shyra groans, turning her face into the pillow. "If this is about snacks, I swear—"
Rhea shakes her shoulder. "I'm going out."
That does it.
Shyra's eyes open instantly, sharp despite the hour. She pushes herself up on one elbow, hair messy, expression alert.
"Out where."
"To Zifa," Rhea says quickly. "I'll stay there tonight. If mom asks in the morning, tell her that."
Shyra stares at her.
Long.
Silent.
Then her eyes narrow.
"You don't stay nights at friends' places," Shyra says calmly. "You hate it. So tell me the truth—or I wake Mom."
Rhea groans loudly, dragging a hand down her face.
"Ughhhhh," she hisses. "Why are you like this."
Shyra doesn't blink. "Try me."
Rhea paces once, then stops in front of the bed, jaw tight.
"I'm going to—" she cuts herself off, glaring. "I'm going to someone you already know."
Shyra tilts her head. "Use words, Rhea."
Rhea exhales hard. "…I'm going to your miss damn hot."
There's a beat.
Then Shyra blinks.
Once.
Twice.
And then—she smirks.
"Oh," Shyra says slowly. "Her."
Rhea rolls her eyes. "Don't smile like that."
Shyra's smile only widens. "You said it like you were confessing a crime."
"I am confessing a crime," Rhea snaps. "Just not to Mom."
Shyra glances toward the door instinctively, then back at Rhea. "So you're sneaking out."
Rhea crosses her arms. "I'm leaving responsibly."
Shyra laughs quietly. "You're impossible."
Rhea mutters, "Runs in the family."
Shyra studies her sister properly now—dark circles under her eyes, tension in her shoulders, phone clenched like a lifeline.
"This isn't about fun," Shyra says. "This is about panic."
Rhea looks away. "Don't analyze me."
Shyra sighs, rubbing her face. "You do realize the car has a tracker."
Rhea nods immediately. "I know."
"And Mom checks it."
"I know."
"So?"
"So the location will show Zifa's mansion," Rhea says flatly. "That's my problem."
Shyra's brows lift. "You've thought this through."
Rhea's lips press together. "Too much."
Shyra swings her legs off the bed and stands, crossing her arms in front of Rhea.
"You're going to her," Shyra says quietly. "Because you're scared she won't come back on her own."
Rhea's throat tightens.
"I'm scared," she admits. "That I broke something I don't know how to fix."
Shyra exhales, then reaches out and straightens Rhea's collar unconsciously—older sister habit.
"She's not weak," Shyra says. "But she is proud. Just like you."
Rhea scoffs. "That's not comforting."
Shyra smiles faintly. "It's honest."
She steps back, raising a finger. "Rules."
Rhea groans. "You're joking."
"I'm not," Shyra says. "One: you don't let her climb anything."
Rhea mutters, "Too late for that."
Shyra shoots her a look. "Two: if Mom calls, you answer. Don't make me lie badly."
Rhea nods. "Fine."
"And three," Shyra adds, softer now. "You come back safe. Both of you."
Rhea hesitates, then nods again. "I will."
Shyra smirks. "Good. Because if you ruin your life for revenge, I'll haunt you."
Rhea snorts despite herself. "Deal."
She turns toward the door, then pauses.
"…Shyra."
Shyra hums.
"Don't tell her anything," Rhea says quietly.
Shyra meets her eyes. "I won't. Not unless I have to."
Rhea nods once, then slips out.
Shyra watches the door close, shaking her head with a fond, worried smile.
"Damn hot indeed," she murmurs.
She glances at Amaya, asleep and unaware, and whispers:
"Your aunt is in deep trouble."
And lets her go anyway.