Chapter 41
Confession 3.0
The mansion had finally started to feel alive again.
Not the tense, quiet kind of alive it had been over the past weeks — where every laugh was forced and every smile hid guilt.
But real.
Warm.
Safe.
Lyra was sitting on the large couch in the living room with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders while Alex hovered beside her like a paranoid guard.
"You're not going anywhere," Alex muttered.
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"Alex, I fainted. I didn't die."
"Same difference."
Daisy laughed from the armchair.
"Honestly Lyra, just accept your fate. You now have a personal bodyguard boyfriend."
Alex didn't even deny it.
Cole smirked from across the room.
"Boyfriend of the year already."
Lyra threw a pillow at him.
"Shut up."
The whole group burst into laughter.
For the first time in weeks, the mansion echoed with real happiness.
Care was sitting near Nova on the floor, leaning against the couch. Nova was braiding her hair lazily.
"You know," Nova said casually, "this mansion used to be peaceful before you people started dating each other."
Joong laughed.
"Peaceful? We almost killed each other three times."
"Exactly my point."
Care smiled softly.
Watching everyone like this… felt surreal.
Just weeks ago everything had been falling apart.
Now they were healing.
Together.
Meanwhile—
Kevin was pacing in the hallway like a man walking to his execution.
Cole leaned against the wall watching him.
"You're going to wear out the floor."
Kevin ran a hand through his hair.
"Bro I can't do this."
"You literally planned this for two days."
"I know."
"And forced me to help."
"I know."
"And made me rearrange the entire living room."
"I KNOW."
Kevin groaned.
"What if she says no?"
Cole stared at him.
"Kevin."
"What?"
"Ash has been in love with you for like… a century."
Kevin blinked.
"...what?"
Cole sighed.
"You two are the dumbest people in the mansion."
Kevin looked horrified.
"Wait seriously?"
Cole pushed him toward the living room.
"Go before I confess for you."
Kevin took a deep breath.
Then walked inside.
The group was still laughing when Daisy suddenly noticed something.
"Why are the lights dim?"
Everyone looked up.
The chandelier lights had lowered slightly.
Then soft fairy lights around the room switched on.
Joong blinked.
"Okay… who did that?"
Cole casually walked in behind Kevin and leaned on the wall like nothing was happening.
Kevin stood awkwardly in the center of the room.
Everyone stared at him.
Ben frowned.
"...Kevin?"
Daisy gasped dramatically.
"OH MY GOD."
Ash looked confused.
"What?"
Daisy grabbed Care's arm.
"He's proposing."
Ash choked.
"WHAT?!"
Kevin nearly died on the spot.
Care clapped her hands excitedly.
"WAIT WAIT WAIT THIS IS HAPPENING."
Ash looked between everyone.
"Why does everyone know except me?!"
Alex leaned back with a grin.
"Because Kevin is terrible at secrets."
Kevin shot him a death glare.
Then he turned to Ash.
Suddenly the room felt quiet.
Ash stood frozen.
Her heartbeat was loud in her ears.
Kevin rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"For the record… I planned a speech."
Cole muttered,
"You forgot it."
Kevin nodded.
"Completely."
Everyone laughed.
But Kevin didn't look away from Ash.
His voice softened.
"Ash…"
She swallowed.
Kevin took a step closer.
"I know we joke a lot. Fight a lot. Annoy each other constantly."
Joong whispered loudly,
"Mostly Kevin annoying her."
Kevin ignored him.
"But through everything…"
He looked around at the group.
"...this crazy family we built."
Then back at Ash.
"You were always the person I trusted the most."
Ash's eyes softened.
Kevin continued,
"You were there when everything broke."
"When we lost people."
"When we almost lost each other."
His voice grew quieter.
"And every time I looked beside me…"
"You were there."
Ash felt her throat tighten.
Kevin smiled nervously.
"I think somewhere along the way…"
"I stopped seeing you as just my best friend."
The room went completely silent.
Kevin took another step toward her.
"Ash… I don't want you beside me as just a teammate anymore."
"I want you beside me… in everything."
His voice shook slightly.
"So…"
He held out his hand.
"Ash… will you be my girlfriend?"
The room froze.
Ash stared at him.
For three seconds.
Five seconds.
Ten seconds.
Then suddenly—
Daisy screamed.
"ASH SAY YES BEFORE I FAINT."
The whole room burst into laughter.
Ash covered her face, laughing and crying at the same time.
"You idiot."
Kevin panicked.
"Is that a yes or—"
Before he could finish—
Ash stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
Kevin froze.
Then slowly hugged her back.
Ash laughed into his shoulder.
"Of course it's a yes."
The entire room exploded.
Daisy jumped off the couch screaming.
"I KNEW IT."
Joong started clapping like a proud father.
Ben whistled.
Alex shouted,
"ABOUT TIME."
Care tackled them both into a hug.
"FINALLY."
Nova shook her head smiling.
"We officially have three couples now."
Cole raised his hands.
"I deserve credit."
Kevin laughed.
"You absolutely do."
Ash looked around the room at everyone.
Her family.
Her chaotic, ridiculous, loyal family.
Her voice softened.
"You guys knew?"
Lyra nodded.
"For months."
Ash glared at Alex.
"You too?"
Alex shrugged.
"I placed bets."
Ash threw a pillow at him.
Everyone laughed again.
Kevin looked around the room.
Then dramatically announced,
"Ladies and gentlemen—"
"The mansion now officially has three couples."
Joong nodded.
"Correct."
Cole added,
"And zero peace."
Daisy grinned.
"Oh this is just the beginning."
Ash looked at Kevin.
"So… what now?"
Kevin smirked.
"Now?"
He looked around the room.
"We survive the teasing."
Care immediately spoke.
"Oh no."
Nova nodded.
"This will last months."
Lyra smirked.
"Minimum."
Kevin groaned.
Ash laughed.
Then suddenly—
Lyra stood up.
Alex immediately panicked.
"Where are you going?"
Lyra rolled her eyes.
"I'm fine."
Then she raised her hands dramatically.
"Attention everyone."
The room quieted.
Lyra looked at Kevin and Ash.
Her smile softened.
"You two deserve this."
She stepped forward and hugged them both.
Alex joined the hug.
Then Care.
Nova.
Ben.
Joong.
Daisy.
Cole.
The ten of them ended up in one giant chaotic hug in the middle of the living room.
Joong groaned.
"I can't breathe."
Daisy laughed.
"No one can."
Kevin looked around at all of them.
And quietly said,
"You guys are the best thing that ever happened to me."
Ash nodded.
"Same."
Care whispered softly,
"We survived everything… together."
And for the first time in a long time—
Everyone believed the worst was behind them.
For now.