"Gosh! Are you not ready yet?" Ry exclaimed for the hundredth time, barging into the room. His tone was impatient, but his expression was softened by a faint smile.
"Give me five more minutes!" Lia yelled from behind the closet door, her voice muffled but firm.
Ry rolled his eyes, leaning against the doorframe. "You said that half an hour ago. At this rate, the year will end before you're ready."
Lia peeked out, her hair half-done, her dress still draped over a chair. "Why don't you go ahead? I'll catch up."
"No way," he retorted, crossing his arms. "You know everyone will ask me where you are, and I'll have to come up with some lame excuse. Hurry up!"
As Lia retreated to finish getting ready, her mind wandered back to the chaos of the past week. The tension, the schemes, the bitterness—all of it still fresh in her memory now.
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ONE WEEK AGO
Lia had been late submitting her essay, and the professor had mentioned time and time again that he would dock thirty points for tardiness. Her frustration had simmered all day, and by evening, it had boiled over into anger. She couldn't face returning to the mansion that night—not with Jasmine still there.
Instead, she checked into a hotel, craving solitude. Something told her that if she went back, her fury might spiral into something she couldn't control. The thought of Jasmine's smug face only fueled her decision.
The next evening, however, Jasmine had returned to the mansion with Rose in tow. The older woman seemed rejuvenated, her expression seemed more relaxed than before.
"Wow, Jasmine, you are such a precious treasure," Rose said as they stepped into the house. "I feel so loose and light. Those built-up tensions are all gone."
Jasmine smiled sweetly, her tone syrupy. "I'm glad you enjoyed it, Gammy. You deserve the best."
"And to think," Rose chuckled, "I was skeptical when you insisted on that spa retreat. I thought you were trying to get me out of the house for some reason."
Jasmine pouted playfully, resting her head on Rose's shoulder. "How could I, Gammy? I'd never do that to you."
"Of course not," Rose said warmly, taking Jasmine's hand. "You've been so thoughtful. Things must not have been easy for you with everything going on."
Jasmine led Rose upstairs, her expression a perfect mask of innocence. "Nancy," she called over her shoulder, "please prepare lunch while we freshen up."
Nancy nodded, heading toward the kitchen as the two women disappeared up the stairs. Once Jasmine was alone in her room, however, her demeanor changed entirely.
Her face darkened, her lips curling into a sinister smile. She paced the room, her laughter bubbling up like a witch stirring her cauldron.
"That'll teach her," she muttered, venom dripping from her voice. "Calling me a squatter, in this house"
She relished the thought of Lia locked away, hungry and helpless. Jasmine had orchestrated everything perfectly: giving the staff an extended break, arranging the spa trip to get Rose out of the house, and locking Lia in her room with the master key. Even the motion sensors on the gate had been disabled.
"She'll learn her place," Jasmine whispered coldly, her eyes glinting with malice.
By the time Rose and Jasmine returned from their trip, the house was bustling again. The staff had resumed their duties, and Nancy had prepared a lavish meal of white rice and stew.
As they sat down to eat, Rose glanced toward the stairs. "That little girl—what's her name again?—is she still not in?"
Jasmine feigned concern, her voice tinged with worry. "Gammy, I'm starting to get really worried about her. Nancy's been making meals, but she never eats at home. She's barely here, and I have no idea what she's up to."
Rose frowned. "You've always been too kind, Jasmine. That girl doesn't deserve your concern. She's rude, stubborn, and cares nothing for anyone but herself. I still don't understand how she managed to seduce my grandson."
Jasmine sighed dramatically, playing her part perfectly. "I've been thinking of calling Rhys to talk to her. I don't want people saying I'm not treating her well. Maybe he can convince her to be more… cooperative."
Rose patted Jasmine's hand. "You're a treasure, my dear. Too good for this family sometimes. Let's go check her room. I'll come with you."
Jasmine hid her satisfaction, quickly leading Rose upstairs.
At Lia's door, Jasmine knocked lightly at first, then harder when there was no response. "Lia?" she called, her voice tinged with panic.
Rose's brow furrowed. "Try again."
Jasmine knocked furiously, her heart pounding—not with fear, but with excitement. She imagined Lia weak and shriveled, perhaps unconscious from hunger.
When there was still no answer, Jasmine turned to Nancy. "Bring the master key. Quickly!"
Nancy returned within minutes, unlocking the door. All three women rushed inside, Jasmine's anticipation mounting. But the room was empty.
Jasmine froze, her expression flickering between confusion and disappointment. She checked the closet, the bathroom—nothing.
"Guess you were worrying for nothing," Nancy said, gesturing to the neatly made bed and empty laundry basket. "Looks like she hasn't been home in days."
Jasmine's heart sank. Her perfect plan had been ruined by that little minx.
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Andy stared at his phone, his fingers twitching nervously as he mulled over his next move. Should he tell Rhys about Lia spending two nights at a hotel instead of staying at the mansion? His instincts screamed no, but the weight of keeping secrets from his padrino gnawed at him.
He ran a hand through his hair and began pacing the room, his mind a chaotic storm of thoughts.
"Dammit," he muttered under his breath. "This is a powder keg waiting to blow."
Andy had already buried one secret deep: Lia's entanglement with that student. What was his name again? Sandy. A harmless enough boy, but Rhys had a way of latching onto details especially when it involves someone he wanted. He could turn them into battles no one saw coming. Andy knew Rhys well—better than most. His padrino's mind was a labyrinth, unpredictable and enigmatic.
Andy sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Lia was no ordinary woman in Rhys's life, and Andy had seen the signs. The same subtle temperament Rhys had once shown toward Jasmine, though this time, there was something sharper, something raw.
"History repeats itself," Andy whispered to himself, his tone bitter. "But will it end the same way?"
His pacing quickened, boots thudding against the polished floor. He wasn't against Rhys having a relationship—God knows the man deserved some happiness—but this was a bad time. A dangerous time. Not just for Rhys, but for everyone under his protection. The other branches of the family were circling like sharks, waiting for the slightest misstep. And then there was the Donna.
Andy stopped, staring out the window as if the answers might be etched into the horizon. "Lia is a weakness," he said aloud, his voice firm, as if saying it would solidify the thought. "A weakness he can't afford right now."
The stakes were too high. Lia had already seen something she wasn't supposed to—a fact that sent shivers down Andy's spine whenever he thought about it. The less she was involved, the safer they all would be.
But how do you tell a man like Rhys that his feelings are a liability?
His phone buzzed on the desk, pulling Andy out of his thoughts. The screen lit up with a familiar name.
Andy hesitated before picking up. "What's up?" he asked, his voice cautious.
"You sound tense," the person on the other side of the phone remarked, his tone light but probing. "Anything I should know about?"
Andy bit back a sigh. "Just the usual chaos. What do you want?"
"Word is, Lia's been spending nights at a hotel. That true?"
Andy's grip on the phone tightened. "Where'd you hear that?"
"Does it matter?" The voice was almost teasing. "I'm asking because the Donna's been sniffing around. If she gets wind of this, it won't end well."
Andy closed his eyes, willing himself to stay calm. "Lia's fine. She needed space, that's all."
"Space?" the voice let out a low chuckle. "You know as well as I do, Andy, space is the last thing she'll get. Not with everything going on."
Andy didn't respond, his jaw clenched.
"You're not gonna tell him, are you?" the voice pressed.
"No," Andy snapped. "And neither will you."
the person on the other side of the line was silent for a moment before speaking again. "You're walking a tightrope, Andy. If this blows up—"
"I'll handle it," Andy interrupted, his tone final. "Stay out of it."
After the call ended, Andy sat down, burying his face in his hands. He couldn't shake the feeling that this situation was spiralling out of control.
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BACK TO THE PRESENT - TWO HOURS BEFORE THE YEAR-END PARTY
The bell above the shop door jingled as a man stepped inside. He was tall, probably in his late twenties, with strikingly handsome features and a gentle yet commanding presence. His heart-stopping smile immediately caught Ranye's attention.
Ry quickly stepped out from behind the counter, his professional demeanor tinged with curiosity. "Welcome! How may I help you?"
The man nodded politely, his gaze sweeping over the shop. "Excuse me," he began, his deep voice resonating through the air.
"Yes?" Ry asked, trying to suppress the flutter of nerves in his chest.
"Do you do deliveries?"
Ry hesitated, licking his lips before responding. "We don't usually, but we make exceptions for large orders."
The man nodded thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the shop as if making mental calculations. "In that case, I'd like to place an order."
Ry's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Of course! What would you like?"
The man's gaze lingered on the flower arrangements before he started listing, his voice steady. "One hundred and fifty sweetheart roses—fifty each in red, pink, and white. Then…" He paused, walking around the shop. "Add fifty red and yellow tulips."
Ry quickly grabbed a notepad, jotting down the order, his heart racing at the sheer size of it.
The man's eyes landed on another display. "And two hundred black roses." He reached for his wallet but then stopped, his attention snagged by something else. Walking toward a small arrangement of orange roses, he gently touched a petal.
"I'd like one hundred of these, please," he said, turning back to Ry with a calm, expectant look.
Ry stood frozen for a moment, his mouth slightly agape. The sheer magnitude of the order had rendered him speechless. The man raised an eyebrow, amused, and snapped his fingers.
"Are you alright?"
Ry jolted, clearing his throat. "Sorry! It's just… this is the biggest order I've ever received!"
The man chuckled at Ry's visible excitement. "Not to worry. I'm confident you'll handle it perfectly."
"Absolutely!" Ry exclaimed, his enthusiasm bubbling over. "As you've made such a large order, I'll make sure it's packed delicately and beautifully."
The man's smile widened. "I appreciate that. Let's proceed."
Ry led him to the counter, gesturing for him to sit. "As our esteemed customer of the day, you'll receive a twenty-percent discount."
The man nodded, his expression warm. "Thank you."
"For such a large order, you can pay via bank transfer or card—whichever is more convenient."
"Card," the man replied, pulling out a sleek black card.
Ry began inputting the order into the system. The original price came to #4,304,608. After applying the discount, it dropped to #3,443,686.40.
"Alright," Ry said, looking up. "Are you sending the flowers anonymously?"
"No," the man replied smoothly. "Put my name on it."
"Your name, please?"
"Fado."
Ry paused, pen hovering above the notepad. "Just… Fado?"
"Yes," the man said with a small smile.
"Alright then. And where should we deliver the flowers?"
The man recited an address, which Ry typed into the system.
"Any special instructions? A note, perhaps?"
The man thought for a moment, his gaze distant. "No need. She'll understand when she sees them."
"Understood. And do you have a specific date and time for the delivery?"
"A week from now, on the 18th, at precisely nine in the morning," Fado said, his voice smooth but laced with a fleeting mischievous glint.
For a split second, Ry felt a strange unease but quickly shook it off. "Got it. Your flowers will be delivered as requested."
Satisfied, Fado inserted his card into the POS machine, punched in his digits, and waited. When the transaction went through, Ry handed him the receipt.
"Thank you so much for shopping with us!" Ry said brightly.
The man gave a polite nod and left, the bell jingling softly as the door shut behind him. The moment he was gone, Ry slumped into the chair behind the counter, exhaling deeply. He hadn't realized he'd been holding his breath.
The bell jingled again, and Lia strode in. "Hey, Ry, something's happ—" She stopped mid-sentence, noticing his dazed expression. "What happened?"
Ry slowly turned to face her, still processing. "You won't believe what just happened."
"Okay, drama queen, spill it," Lia teased, leaning against the counter.
"I just got the biggest order of my life!"
Her skeptical look said it all.
"I'm serious!" Ry protested. "He literally just left—didn't you see him?"
Lia thought back. She had caught a glimpse of someone leaving—a tall man with broad shoulders. "What, did he spend 200, 300k?"
Ry shook his head slowly. "Try millions."
Lia's eyes widened. "Millions?!"
"3.4 million," Ry whispered, his voice still tinged with disbelief.
Lia let out a low whistle. "Damn. Is it for a wedding or something?"
Ry shook his head. "No, it seemed personal. He wanted the flowers delivered next week Saturday."
"Wow," Lia said, leaning back. "Lucky girl."
"Unlike you," Ry teased with a wink.
Lia rolled her eyes. "Why waste money on flowers that'll die when you can spend it on something worthwhile?" Lia rolled her eyes. "Flowers aren't my thing. If someone's spending that kind of money on me, I'd rather it be for something useful. Like a memorable getaway or... you know."
Ranye smirked, winking at her. "Ah, yes. Lia, the queen of unforgettable encounters. Flowers die, but your passion burns eternal."
She chuckled, shaking her head. "Exactly." But her expression grew serious as she remembered something. "Speaking of unforgettable... did you hear about Sandy?"
Ranye's smile faltered. "Yeah. A couple of weeks ago."
Lia frowned. "Why didn't you tell me? I had to overhear it from Tandi and her plastic crew!"