Chapter 98 — Reunion After Six Months
The sun was just beginning to dip over Sydney, painting Care's mansion in gold, as the group began arriving one by one. After six months, the mansion felt alive again with familiar chaos—the perfect mix of laughter, teasing, and comfortable chaos that only this group could create.
Care stood on the balcony, watching the arrival of each car. Beside her, Cole leaned casually, arms crossed, though the faint curve of a smile betrayed him. She nudged him.
"You're way too calm for someone who's going to be teased all week," she said.
Cole raised an eyebrow. "Please. I've survived freezing trucks, hypothermia, and twenty people's sarcasm. Teasing doesn't scare me."
"Yet somehow you look nervous," Care murmured, smirking.
Downstairs, Percy and Honey were the first to break the ice, literally. Honey's laugh carried across the garden. "Percy, don't trip over the welcome mat this year, okay?"
"I'll try," Percy replied, mock-saluting, "but no promises if someone steals my sunglasses again."
Ella and Aries arrived next, carrying casual luggage. Ella smiled warmly at the group. "We've been waiting for this. No work, no hospitals, just… us."
Rakhi, glowing with her recent modeling campaign successes, appeared with Cin, her husband, teasing Freya and Endrix who had just walked in. "Try not to outshine me, okay?" she joked.
Freya tossed her hair back, laughing. "Oh please, Rakhi, I have paparazzi-trained charm. You can't compete."
In the guest wing, Aarav slept soundly in his cradle, while baby Anya twitched her tiny hand as if sensing the excitement around her. Kiefer peeked in, adjusting his tie while JJ followed with her usual commanding grace.
Kiefer whispered, "They're peaceful for now. Don't jinx it."
JJ smiled. "It's funny… how quiet they are while the adults behave like toddlers."
Care glanced at Cole, eyes sparkling. "Look at them. Chaos everywhere and somehow I love it."
Cole chuckled. "You mean our chaos. Don't forget that."
Meanwhile, Ash had arrived, radiant as ever, exuding confidence. Lyra and Alex followed, holding hands, whispering inside jokes. Nova and Ben appeared together, checking if the hospital notifications were silenced. Daisy and Joong arrived, still a bit flustered after recent events but holding each other comfortably.
Percy grabbed Kiefer as soon as he entered the garden. "Kiefer, remember last reunion? You got roasted so hard you almost cried."
Kiefer glared, mock-seriously. "Percy, I have matured since then. You're in for a shock this time."
JJ leaned in, whispering to Care, "Watch Cole. He's going to try to outsmart the teasing, but we both know how that ends."
Care smirked. "Oh, I plan to participate in his suffering, don't worry."
By evening, everyone had settled into the mansion. The air was filled with chatter, laughter, and the occasional playful argument. Honey laughed at Percy trying to assemble a makeshift bar in the terrace, while Freya and Rakhi were arguing over who would get the best view for sunset photos.
Cole and Care found themselves alone briefly on the balcony again, watching the sun dip below the horizon. Care leaned her head slightly on Cole's shoulder.
"You ever think about how much freedom this group gives us?" she asked quietly.
Cole smiled softly. "Yeah… it's nice to escape for a while. And to tease each other without consequences."
Care laughed. "I plan on making sure you regret every smirk you pull tonight."
Cole grinned. "Challenge accepted."
Meanwhile, JJ and Kiefer stood nearby, observing the other couples. JJ whispered, "Look at them. You and Care, always hiding those glances."
Kiefer smirked. "We're subtle. Unlike Percy and Honey, or Freya and Endrix. But subtle can be fun too."
The night progressed with everyone lounging by the pool, music playing softly. Honey fed Aarav a tiny bottle while Percy attempted a failed magic trick, eliciting laughter. Freya danced around, dragging Rakhi along. Nova teased Ben about his inability to swim properly in the pool while Ash and Lyra sipped tea on the terrace, whispering about architecture projects they could tackle together someday.
As the group gathered for dinner in the grand hall, Care whispered to Cole again. "This week… it's our little paradise. Just us, everyone together, free from work."
Cole nodded, squeezing her hand lightly. "And a week full of chaos, teasing, and probably one of us losing our dignity in front of the group."
Care laughed softly. "That's the point, isn't it?"
The camera lights from Honey's makeshift wedding-style documentary caught Kiefer giving JJ a playful glare after she whispered something into his ear. "You think you can beat me at teasing?" he mouthed.
JJ smirked. "I don't compete… I dominate."
In the corner, Ash smiled watching Care and Cole exchange quiet teasing, the only ones who seemed untouchable in their private bubble amidst all the chaos.
As the night deepened, laughter, stories, and playful banter filled the mansion. Aarav and Anya slept peacefully, while the adults enjoyed a rare moment of freedom.
Care leaned against Cole again, whispering, "This… this is perfect."
Cole smiled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Perfectly chaotic, you mean."
Care laughed, and in the warmth of the reunion, surrounded by their unusual, unbreakable family, they finally allowed themselves to breathe, relax, and simply exist—together again.
The week had just begun.
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Spoiler:
-Hanamitchi clan entry as a villian
- Keifer's lost step sister mentioned in his mother's diary.
Excited ?
Will upload next chapters tomorrow...
20-25 more chapters and this book will end ...
You want a happy or a sad ending?
Pls comment your thoughts...