The moment the car stopped, Rhea's shoulders straightened. The mask slid back into place—composed, obedient, untouchable.
Inside, the house smelled faintly of coffee and polish.
Amaya was on the floor with her toys.
The second Amaya saw her, she squealed, arms lifting.
"Ninna!"
Rhea dropped her bag and scooped her up instantly, pressing a kiss to Amaya's cheek. "Hey, my tiny menace," she murmured, burying her nose into the baby's hair. The tension in her spine loosened just a fraction.
Shyra watched from the couch.
Their eyes met.
Shyra didn't say anything—but her look did everything.
Did she find out?
Did you go there?
Are you okay?
Rhea shifted Amaya higher and gave Shyra the smallest shake of her head.
No.
She doesn't know.
I survived.
Shyra exhaled quietly, relief soft but not complete. She stood and walked closer, pretending to adjust Amaya's toy basket.
"Someone missing you," Shyra said lightly, but her eyes searched Rhea's face. "Did you… sleep?"
Rhea nodded. "At Zifa's."
Shyra raised a brow just enough to say I know you're lying, then glanced toward the hallway.
Kane's footsteps echoed faintly from her study.
Shyra leaned in, voice low. "She questioned you?"
Rhea kissed Amaya's temple. "She always does."
"And?" Shyra pressed.
"And she didn't catch me," Rhea replied quietly.
Amaya grabbed Rhea's chain with both hands and giggled. Rhea smiled automatically, but her eyes flicked again toward the corridor—toward Kane.
Shyra touched Rhea's arm briefly. "You're shaking."
Rhea stilled. "I'm fine."
Shyra didn't argue. She just nodded, understanding exactly how much that sentence cost.
From the hallway, Kane's voice cut in—cool, controlled.
"Rhea."
Rhea turned, still holding Amaya. "Yes?"
Kane stood there, eyes sharp, unreadable. "Put her down. Come here."
Rhea set Amaya back with Shyra, smoothing her hair once more before stepping forward.
Shyra met her eyes again.
Careful.
Rhea straightened her shoulders and walked toward her mother.
Behind her, Shyra scooped Amaya up and whispered into her hair, half to herself, half to the universe:
"Your Ninna has fallen badly, didn't she…"
Amaya babbled happily, unaware.
Rhea stopped in front of Kane, heart steady on the outside, bruised on the inside.
"Yes?" she asked again.
Kane looked at her for a long moment.
Kane nodded slowly. "Go change. Dinner is in an hour."
Rhea turned to leave.
Just before she crossed the threshold, Kane added—quiet, precise, lethal:
"Remember what you're here for."
Rhea didn't look back.
"I remember," she said.
But as she walked upstairs, Ling's voice echoed louder than Kane's ever could.
You won't leave me, right?
Rhea clenched her fists.
And kept walking.
Far Away - Kwong Mansion
Ling was sprawled across her bed, phone face-down on her chest, staring at the ceiling like it had personally offended her.
She hadn't moved in twenty minutes.
The room was unusually quiet—no music, no bike keys clinking, no restless pacing. Just Ling Kwong, still for once, which itself was alarming.
A knock didn't come.
The door opened anyway.
Dadi walked in first, hands clasped behind her back, eyes sharp and amused. Rina followed, already smiling like she'd found free entertainment.
Dadi took one look at Ling and hummed. "Oh."
Rina leaned against the doorframe. "Ohhh."
Ling didn't turn her head. "If you're here to lecture me, leave."
Dadi walked closer, peering down at her. "Lecture? No. I came to confirm something."
Rina crossed her arms. "Yeah. We were taking bets."
Ling groaned. "On what."
Dadi smiled sweetly. "On how long it would take before you started missing her like a stray limb."
Ling finally sat up, irritation flashing. "I'm not missing anyone."
Rina snorted. "You haven't blinked at your phone in half an hour. That's grief behavior."
Ling scowled. "She had to go."
Dadi raised a brow. "You say that like you let her go instead of watching her leave like someone stole oxygen from the room."
Ling opened her mouth. Closed it.
Rina walked over and plopped onto the bed beside her. "So," she said casually, "did she text?"
Ling's jaw tightened. "No."
Rina winced dramatically. "Ouch."
"I told you she would," Dadi said calmly. "The girl doesn't disappear. She retreats. Strategically."
Ling stared at the wall. "She kissed me before she left."
Rina's eyes lit up. "Details."
Ling shot her a glare. "No."
Dadi chuckled. "She left you wanting more on purpose."
Ling frowned. "Why would she do that."
Rina leaned closer. "Because she's evil. And because it works."
Ling exhaled, rubbing her face with both hands. "I hate this."
Dadi tilted her head. "No, you hate not being in control."
Ling looked up sharply. "I am in control."
Rina raised a finger. "You cry in her arms".
Ling froze. "How do you—"
Dadi waved it off. "Walls are thin. And you are loud when you break."
Ling looked away, embarrassed and irritated all at once. "She didn't mean to hurt me."
Dadi's voice softened just a fraction. "I know."
Rina smiled gently. "She stayed, though. Even when you were… like that."
Ling's throat tightened. "She held me."
Dadi sat on the edge of the bed now. "That's not nothing, Ling."
Ling swallowed. "She's conflicted."
Rina laughed. "Understatement of the year."
Ling frowned. "I don't want her conflicted. I just—" She stopped herself. "I just want her here."
Dadi studied her carefully. "And you didn't force her."
Ling shook her head immediately. "I never would."
"Good," Dadi said simply. "Because whatever this is—you don't win it by trapping."
Rina smirked. "You win it by being irresistible."
Ling shot her a look. "You're not helping."
Rina shrugged. "Am I wrong?"
Ling fell back against the pillows with a frustrated huff. "She said next weekend. At her place."
Rina's grin turned wicked. "See? That's hope."
Dadi stood. "That's a promise."
Ling stared at the ceiling again, quieter now. "What if it doesn't happen."
Rina and Dadi exchanged a look.
Then Rina said, confidently, "It will."
Dadi nodded. "People don't walk away from what makes them feel safe when they're breaking."
Ling turned her head slightly. "You think I make her feel safe?"
Dadi smiled—soft, knowing. "You wouldn't be like this if you didn't."
Rina stood and stretched. "Alright. We've teased enough. Come eat."
Ling didn't move.
Rina paused at the door. "Hey, tiger."
Ling glanced at her.
Rina grinned. "Text her."
Ling hesitated. "…No."
Dadi laughed as they left. "Stubborn like fire."
The door closed.
Ling picked up her phone again.
Still no message.
She didn't text.
She just held it tighter—
and waited.