The moment they're gone—
Rina turns on Rhea, eyes blazing.
"Are you insane?" she hisses. "Do you have any idea what would've happened if they called this in?"
Rhea exhales shakily. "I didn't plan to fall."
Rina looks down and notices the blood.
"…You're hurt."
"It's nothing," Rhea snaps automatically.
Rina grabs her wrist. "You're bleeding."
Rhea tries to pull away. "Rina—"
"No," Rina says sharply. "You don't get to sneak into my house, nearly get arrested, and bleed on my property without listening to me."
Rhea looks up at her, frustration and guilt mixing dangerously. "I needed to see her."
Rina's expression softens just a fraction.
"I know," she says quietly. "That's why I came."
She glances toward the mansion. "But Ling doesn't know you're here."
Rhea swallows. "She doesn't need to. Not yet."
Rina studies her—mud on her hands, scraped knee, eyes too bright.
"You're really doing this," Rina murmurs.
Rhea nods once. "Yes."
Rina exhales slowly. "Fine."
She jerks her head toward the guest wing shadows. "Follow me. And if you fall again—"
"I won't," Rhea says.
Rina shoots her a look. "Don't lie to me tonight."
They move together into the darker cover of the trees—
one stubborn, one complicit—
both knowing this has already crossed a line that can't be uncrossed.
Rina slows her pace deliberately, straightening her shoulders as the iron gate comes into view.
"We'll go by the gate," she says under her breath. "No threat here."
Rhea blinks. "You said—"
"I said no security threat," Rina cuts in, walking ahead. "Not no threat at all."
Rhea follows, limping slightly despite herself. "You literally said there's no danger."
Rina glances back, eyes sharp. "Don't move with attitude. You're still sneaking into a trillionaire's house at midnight."
Rhea scoffs quietly. "I'm walking like a normal person."
Rina stops short, turning fully now. "Normal people don't bleed on marble steps."
Rhea looks down, annoyed. "It's nothing."
Rina exhales through her nose. "Uh-huh. And for the record—no threats, yes. Except your future mother-in-law."
Rhea freezes. "What?"
Rina resumes walking, far too calm. "She can wake at any moment."
Rhea's spine straightens instantly. "You said everyone was asleep."
"They were," Rina replies lightly. "Sleep is a suggestion in this house."
Rhea mutters, "I hate this mansion."
"You love this mansion," Rina says. "You just hate who lives in it."
They reach the inner steps—soft light spilling from the corridor ahead. Rina lifts a hand abruptly.
"Stop."
Rhea halts, breath catching. "What now?"
Rina's breathing goes uneven for a second. "Footsteps."
Rhea's heart slams. "You said—"
"I know what I said," Rina whispers. "Quiet."
They both turn—
Expecting guards.
Or worse.
Instead—
"Eliza?" Rina breathes out.
Dadi.
Standing perfectly still, shawl draped elegantly, eyes bright with amusement.
Dadi raises an eyebrow slowly, gaze flicking from Rina… to Rhea… to Rhea's scraped knee.
"Well," Dadi says calmly, "this is unexpected."
Rina exhales so hard it's almost dramatic. "Thank God."
Dadi chuckles softly. "That's not usually what people say when they see me, Rina."
Rina presses a hand to her chest. "Dadi, you have no idea how close I was to a heart attack."
Rhea stiffens, then straightens her back. "I wasn't sneaking."
Dadi smiles wider. "Of course not, child. You were… visiting the night air?"
Rhea opens her mouth—
Rina jumps in fast. "She tripped."
Rhea shoots her a look. "I did not—"
Dadi gestures toward her knee. "The ground attacked you?"
Rhea sighs. "Yes."
Dadi laughs, warm and unapologetic. "Oh, I like you already."
Rina groans. "Please don't encourage her."
Rhea's voice comes out low. "I didn't come to cause trouble."
Dadi hums. "Trouble has a way of finding people who love fiercely."
Rina mutters, "Or stupidly."
Rhea shoots her a glare. "You helped me."
Rina sighs. "I know. That's the problem."
Rhea hesitates. "Ling—"
Dadi smiles knowingly. "She's awake."
Rhea's breath catches.
Dadi adds gently, teasing but sincere, "And pretending she isn't."
Rina smirks. "Told you. Threats."
Dadi clears her throat softly. "I see many things," she says gently. "But I don't speak unless needed."
Rhea bows her head slightly. "Thank you."
Dadi steps back, giving them space. "Go. Before courage leaves."
Rina nods and immediately pulls Rhea down the corridor toward Ling's room.
They stop in front of the door.
Rhea's heart is loud now. Too loud.
Rina raises her hand and knocks.
Once.
Twice.
Nothing.
Rhea swallows. "She's not going to open??"
Rina smirks. "Oh, she's awake."
She knocks again—harder.
"Ling," Rina calls. "Open the door."
Silence.
Rina leans closer to Rhea and mutters, "Stubborn since birth."
She knocks again.
Still nothing.
Rhea's shoulders drop slightly. "It's fine. I'll just—"
Rina cuts her off, louder now. "Ling, don't make me break the door."
From inside, Ling's muffled voice finally comes, lazy and annoyed.
"I'm sleepy. Don't disturb."
Rhea stiffens.
Rina rolls her eyes dramatically. "You've been 'sleepy' for two hours."
Ling snaps back, "Some people like sleeping."
Rina scoffs. "You like sulking."
Ling doesn't respond.
Rhea steps closer to the door, voice low but steady. "Ling."
There's a pause.
Inside, Ling's breathing changes.
She answers coldly, "You're lying."
Rina blinks. "Wow."
Ling continues from behind the door, voice flat. "I know this trick. Don't disturb me."
Rhea closes her eyes briefly, then speaks again—softer this time.
"I fell."
Silence.
Rina's brows lift.
Rhea adds quietly, "Scraped my knee. Not badly. But… I fell."
Still nothing.
Rina leans in, whispering urgently, "Ling, open the damn door."
Ling snaps, sharp now, emotion leaking through. "Stop acting. I said go."
Rhea presses her palm lightly against the door. "I'm not acting."
Another pause.
Then Ling's voice, lower, guarded. "If you're here… say something only you would say."
Rhea exhales shakily.
"…You hate when people knock twice. You said it feels impatient."
Inside, there's movement.
A chair scrapes softly.
Rina smiles faintly. "Got her."
Ling speaks again, slower now. "Rina."
"Yeah?"
"If you're lying—"
"I'm not," Rina says immediately. "She's right here. Bleeding on my shoes."
"Hey," Rhea mutters.
There's a soft curse from inside.
Footsteps.
The lock turns—but the door doesn't open fully. Just a crack.
Ling's face appears—eyes tired, jaw tight, clearly trying not to look hopeful.
Her gaze flicks to Rina first. "You swear?"
Rina steps aside.
Rhea is standing there.
Hair messy. Knee wrapped poorly. Eyes red but determined.
Ling's breath catches before she can stop it.
"…You actually came," she says quietly.
Rhea nods once. "You left."
Ling swallows, opening the door fully now. "You shouldn't be here."
Rhea meets her eyes. "I know."
Rina clears her throat loudly. "I'll be outside. If anyone asks, I kidnapped her."
Ling doesn't even look at Rina. "Lock the corridor."
Rina grins. "Already did."
She walks off, muttering, "Idiots. Both of you."
The door closes softly behind Rhea.
The room falls into silence—
thick, heavy, unresolved.
Ling turns her back slightly. "You shouldn't have come like this."
Rhea's voice trembles despite herself. "You shouldn't have walked away."
Ling closes her eyes.
And for the first time that night—
she doesn't tell her to leave.