The car ride back to the mansion was heavy — not silent, but tight.
The Rolls glided smoothly, city lights sliding over the windows. Ling sat, jaw set. She drove, one hand on the wheel, the other relaxed, far too calm for someone sulking.
Rina sat at passenger seat.
After five minutes, Ling spoke abruptly.
"Is there any way," she said, tone casual in a way that was clearly forced, "I can get that ring back?"
Rina didn't look at her. "Oh?"
Ling glanced out the window. "Just asking."
Rina smiled to herself. "Why?"
Ling scoffed. "Why does it matter? It's mine."
Rina finally looked at her. "You don't care, right?"
Ling snapped back immediately. "I don't."
Rina hummed. "Of course you don't."
Ling leaned forward, irritated. "I just want to win, okay? That's it. She thinks she can keep something of mine and walk away like she proved a point."
Rina raised a brow. "So this is a competition now."
"Yes," Ling said quickly. "Exactly. A challenge."
Rina nodded slowly, exaggeratedly, like she was agreeing with a child. "Mm-hm. A challenge."
Ling frowned. "Don't do that."
"Do what?"
"That tone," Ling muttered. "That look. Like you think you know something."
Rina shrugged. "I do."
Ling snapped, "You don't."
Rina chuckled. "Sure I don't."
Ling exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair. "She smirked at me, Rin. Like she'd won."
Rina kept her eyes on the road. "And you hate losing."
"I don't lose," Ling corrected.
"Yet here we are," Rina said lightly.
Ling glared at her. "I said I don't care."
Rina nodded again, even more dramatically. "You don't care so much you're asking me how to get it back."
Ling groaned. "Ughhh— why don't you understand?"
Rina smiled, finally honest. "Oh, I understand perfectly."
Ling shot her a look. "Then stop acting like this is about feelings."
Rina's smile softened. "I didn't say feelings."
Ling went quiet.
Rina continued, gently but pointed, "I said control."
Ling's fingers curled slightly against steering.
"She took something," Rina added. "You want it back because you don't like things being taken from you."
Ling looked away. "Exactly."
Rina nodded. "If that helps you sleep."
Ling muttered, almost petulant, "It will."
Ling turned the wheel smoothly into the mansion gates.
As the car slowed, Rina glanced at her once more. "Just don't forget, Ling."
Ling's voice was sharp. "Forget what?"
Ling parked, engine humming low.
"That challenges don't usually make you this angry." said Rina.
Ling opened the door without answering.
And as she stepped out, jaw tight, pride intact, one thought burned under everything else — unspoken, unwanted, undeniable.
She didn't want to win.
She wanted it back.
Ling walked into the mansion still carrying that restless anger in her shoulders.
Her blazer was half off, steps sharp, controlled — the way she walked when she refused to admit anything had touched her.
The living room lights were warm.
Eliza was seated on the couch with her tablet aside, glasses lowered.
Dadi sat cross-legged on the armchair, tea forgotten, eyes sharp as ever.
Both looked up at the same time.
Rina entered behind Ling, closed the door, deliberately slow.
Eliza studied Ling's face for two seconds longer than necessary.
"Rough day?" she asked calmly.
Ling shrugged, already walking past. "Normal."
Dadi snorted. "Normal days don't make your jaw look like it's ready to snap."
Ling stopped. Turned slightly. "I'm fine."
Rina leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a smile playing on her lips.
"So," she said casually, "apparently there's a… jewelry-related war happening at the university."
Ling shot her a glare. "Rina."
Eliza's head lifted instantly. "Jewelry?"
Dadi's eyes lit with interest. "Ah. This is going to be good."
Rina nodded, pretending to think.
"Very serious matter. World-ending, actually. A ring."
Ling snapped, "It's not like that."
Rina tilted her head. "Oh? Because from where I was sitting, it looked like you and Rhea nearly declared a ceasefire agreement over a bent piece of metal."
Eliza's expression sharpened. "Rhea."
Ling exhaled through her nose. "It was nothing."
Dadi leaned forward, amused. "Nothing usually doesn't come home this angry."
Ling folded her arms. "She took something of mine. I want it back."
Rina smiled innocently. "See? Possession issue."
Ling glared. "It's about winning."
Dadi laughed outright. "Of course it is."
Eliza's voice cut through, controlled but cold.
"What exactly was taken?"
Ling hesitated — just a fraction too long.
Rina filled in smoothly.
"The navel ring. The one Ling… removed."
Dadi blinked. "Removed."
Rina nodded. "With enthusiasm."
Ling snapped, "I didn't mean to hurt her."
The room went quiet.
Eliza stood up slowly. "What??"
Ling stiffened. "She provoked me."
Rina raised a brow. "She existed. And Ling even asked about how to get ring back."
Ling turned sharply. "You're enjoying this too much."
"I am," Rina agreed. "Because you're arguing like a teenager, not a Kwong."
Dadi smiled softly, eyes never leaving Ling.
"Why does the ring matter?"
Ling answered too fast. "It doesn't."
Eliza stepped closer. "Then why did you ask Rina how to get it back?"
Ling's mouth opened — then closed.
Silence.
Rina exaggerated a nod. "She said she wants to win."
Dadi chuckled. "Win what, exactly?"
Ling's voice hardened. "Control."
Eliza studied her daughter carefully.
"And when did you start losing it?"
Ling's fingers curled. "I haven't."
Rina laughed quietly. "You're asking the family for strategies over jewelry. You've lost something."
Ling snapped back, "I haven't lost myself."
Dadi tilted his head. "Then why are you this loud?"
That landed.
Ling looked away, jaw tight. "She thinks she can keep something of mine."
Eliza's tone turned precise, dangerous.
"You don't fight this hard over objects. And ring is hers."
Ling finally exploded, frustration cracking through control.
"Why is everyone making this something else? It's a challenge. She challenged me."
Rina walked closer, voice soft but merciless.
"Then stop sounding like you care."
Ling's breath hitched once.
Dadi smiled sadly. "Ah. There it is."
Eliza stepped back, folding her arms.
"If you want the ring back," she said calmly, "you'll get it."
Ling looked up sharply.
"But," Eliza continued, "don't insult us by pretending this is about victory."
Ling swallowed. "It's not love."
Rina nodded enthusiastically. "Of course not."
Ling groaned. "Ughhh— why don't you understand?"
Dadi stood, walked to her, and gently tapped her forehead with two fingers.
"We understand perfectly."
Rina added lightly, "You just don't like what it says about you."
Ling turned away, shoulders tight, pride still intact — but thinner now.
She didn't say another word.
And no one stopped her.
Because everyone in that room already knew the truth Ling refused to name:
She wasn't fighting Rhea.
She was fighting the part of herself that still wanted what she claimed she didn't care about.