CHAPTER 100 – The Realization
Dt. 15th November — Sydney Mansion
The living room of the mansion was unusually calm.
Too calm.
Most of them were scattered around the couches after dinner.
Alex and Aries were arguing about something on the TV.
Freya was scrolling through her phone while Endrix rested his head on her shoulder.
JJ was reviewing hospital schedules on her tablet while Kiefer sat beside her, half listening.
Honey was gently rocking baby Aarav in his small cradle near the couch while Percy sat beside her.
Rakhi had baby Anya asleep on her lap while CN kept checking if the baby was comfortable.
Nova and Ben were whispering about some upcoming project.
Ash was lazily lying across the armrest of a couch while Daisy and Joong were sharing popcorn.
And Lyra was typing something on her phone.
Then Cole walked in from the kitchen holding a coffee mug.
He looked around casually.
Then asked.
Almost too casually.
"Hey… are you guys free on 20th November?"
The question floated through the room.
Everyone answered randomly.
Aries didn't even look up from the TV.
"Nope. Board meeting."
JJ sighed.
"Hospital schedules are packed."
Lyra shrugged.
"Fashion launch prep."
Kiefer leaned back.
"Depends."
CN scratched his head.
"Hospital inspections."
Freya yawned.
"Photo shoot."
Percy waved lazily.
"Investor meeting."
Rakhi murmured softly.
"Baby schedule."
Endrix added.
"Production meeting."
Nova said,
"Conference."
Ben nodded.
"Same."
Ash stretched lazily.
"Training."
Daisy said,
"Dance rehearsals."
Joong added,
"Studio session."
Alex shrugged.
"Tech summit."
Honey whispered while adjusting Aarav's blanket.
"Probably busy."
Cole looked at everyone.
Then simply shrugged.
"Alright… never mind then."
He took a sip of coffee.
And walked away upstairs.
The moment he disappeared—
Lyra froze.
Her brows slowly narrowed.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
She slowly muttered,
"That man… never asks random questions."
Alex looked at her.
"What?"
Lyra quickly unlocked her phone.
She started scrolling through her calendar.
Then suddenly—
Her eyes widened.
Her mouth fell open.
"OH MY GOD."
Everyone looked at her immediately.
JJ frowned.
"What happened?"
Lyra slowly lifted her head.
Her voice dropped.
"Guys…"
The room went quiet.
Lyra swallowed.
"20th November…"
She looked at them.
"…is Care's birthday."
Dead silence.
Complete.
Absolute.
Silence.
For two seconds.
Then the room EXPLODED.
JJ jumped to her feet.
"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!"
Alex slapped his forehead.
"That idiot was planning something alone!"
Percy groaned loudly.
"OH COME ON!"
Honey covered her mouth.
"Oh no…"
Rakhi looked shocked.
"We almost forgot?"
CN looked horrified.
"She never even reminds anyone…"
Freya sat upright.
"Oh my god we're horrible friends."
Endrix sighed.
"She literally remembers everyone else's birthday."
Nova muttered.
"And we forgot hers…"
Ben rubbed his neck.
"She's going to kill us."
Ash threw a cushion in the air.
"THIS IS A DISASTER."
Daisy gasped dramatically.
"She left the mansion thinking nobody remembered!"
Joong whispered.
"This is bad…"
Kiefer leaned back slowly.
Eyes narrowed.
"That idiot Cole…"
JJ crossed her arms.
"He knew."
Aries nodded.
"He absolutely knew."
Lyra slammed her phone on the table.
"And he was going to celebrate it ALONE."
At that exact moment—
Cole walked back in with another cup of coffee.
He froze.
Because eighteen people were staring at him.
Directly.
Silently.
Menacingly.
Cole blinked.
"…why are you looking at me like I committed murder?"
Lyra stood up.
Grabbed a cushion.
And threw it directly at his chest.
"YOU WERE GOING TO CELEBRATE HER BIRTHDAY ALONE?!"
Cole froze.
The entire room stared.
Cole slowly rubbed his face.
"…you guys literally said you weren't free."
Aries stood up.
"We cancel things for family, idiot."
JJ walked closer with crossed arms.
"You seriously thought we'd skip her birthday?"
Percy pointed at him.
"You absolute moron."
Freya glared.
"You didn't even TRY to tell us."
Endrix sighed.
"You asked like it was a random meeting."
Nova shook her head.
"That was the worst strategy ever."
Ben laughed quietly.
"You deserved that cushion."
Ash smirked.
"You're lucky Lyra didn't throw a chair."
Daisy nodded dramatically.
"We would have helped you!"
Joong grinned.
"This could have been legendary."
Honey shook her head softly.
"Cole… we are family."
Rakhi added gently,
"Her birthday is our birthday too."
CN spoke seriously.
"She has done too much for all of us."
Kiefer crossed his arms.
"We do this properly."
Cole sighed heavily.
"You people literally said you're busy."
JJ smacked the table.
"We CANCEL things."
Aries nodded firmly.
"Everything."
Percy grinned.
"Meetings gone."
Freya smiled.
"Photoshoots cancelled."
Endrix nodded.
"Productions delayed."
Nova laughed.
"Conference postponed."
Ben added.
"Worth it."
Ash stretched.
"Training can wait."
Daisy clapped excitedly.
"I'm decorating."
Joong grinned.
"I'm handling music."
Honey smiled softly.
"Aarav will attend his first party."
Rakhi laughed quietly.
"And Anya too."
CN nodded proudly.
"Hospital can survive one day without me."
Lyra suddenly stood up on the couch.
Eyes blazing with excitement.
"Alright people."
Everyone looked at her.
She pointed dramatically.
"MISSION BEGINS."
Alex grinned.
"Oh this is going to be good."
JJ smirked.
"Very good."
Kiefer cracked his knuckles.
"We make this unforgettable."
Cole rubbed his face again.
"…you people are insane."
Aries laughed.
"We know."
Lyra raised her hand dramatically.
"Operation…"
Everyone leaned forward.
She smiled.
"Care's Birthday."
And just like that—
The entire mansion exploded into planning chaos.
Because when this family celebrated something—
They did it properly.