CHAPTER 102 – The Unexpected Arrival
Date: 19th November — Morning
Sydney Mansion
The mansion was already chaos.
Not normal chaos.
Birthday-planning chaos.
The entire living room looked like a war headquarters.
Fabric samples everywhere.
Decoration sketches on the table.
Phones ringing.
Laptops open.
Coffee mugs abandoned everywhere.
Lyra stood on the sofa with a notebook.
"Okay listen—if anyone touches the gold drapes before I approve them, I will personally throw you into the swimming pool."
Alex raised his hand lazily from the armchair.
"Threat noted."
CN was checking a logistics spreadsheet on her tablet.
"We have exactly thirty-six hours."
Percy rubbed his forehead.
"Twenty-four. Care lands tonight."
Honey leaned over his shoulder.
"And we still don't have the final stage design."
Across the room, Nova was arguing with Ben.
"You ordered white roses?"
Ben looked offended.
"White roses are classy."
Nova pointed dramatically.
"Care hates white roses. She says they look like hospital decorations."
Ben froze.
"…oh."
Ash burst out laughing.
"You're going to die when she sees them."
Daisy sat cross-legged on the floor with Joong, wrapping fairy lights around cardboard pieces.
Joong groaned.
"Why do we need so many lights?"
Daisy grinned.
"Because Lyra said aesthetic."
Lyra yelled from the sofa.
"DON'T QUESTION MY ARTISTIC VISION."
Freya and Endrix were testing music playlists.
Freya tapped her phone.
"If the song transition isn't smooth, I swear I'll restart the entire playlist."
Endrix leaned back.
"You restarted it fourteen times already."
Freya nodded proudly.
"Exactly."
Rakhi sat beside CN.
"Models arriving for the video shoot?"
CN shook her head.
"No outside people. This is private."
Cole was sitting near the window silently.
Watching everyone.
Planning something.
Alex noticed.
"You look suspicious."
Cole shrugged.
"I'm always suspicious."
Before anyone could reply—
The front gate alarm beeped.
Everyone froze.
Percy frowned.
"Delivery?"
Alex stood up.
"No deliveries scheduled."
The sound of a car entering the driveway echoed through the house.
Everyone slowly turned toward the glass doors.
Another car followed.
Two black vehicles stopped outside.
Silence filled the room.
Nova whispered.
"…who the hell is that?"
The front door opened.
Footsteps echoed in the hallway.
Then—
A familiar deep voice spoke.
"Miss us?"
Everyone's heads snapped toward the entrance.
Standing there was Kiefer Watson.
Travel bag over his shoulder.
Looking calm as ever.
For one second—
Nobody moved.
Then chaos exploded.
JJ shot up from the sofa.
"KEIFER?!"
She ran straight toward him and almost tackled him into a hug.
"YOU SAID YOU WERE COMING BACK ALONE!"
Kiefer laughed softly, hugging her tightly.
"I did say that."
Aries walked forward next.
His eyes widened.
"…No way."
Because behind Kiefer—
Two more figures stepped into the mansion.
A tall man with sharp, calm eyes.
And a graceful woman beside him.
Aries breathed out slowly.
"…Kuya."
The man gave a small nod.
"Hello, little brother."
JJ's eyes widened instantly.
"ANGELO?!"
She ran forward and hugged him tightly.
"KUYA!"
The tall man chuckled quietly.
"Still loud."
The woman beside him laughed softly.
"Ate Ion missed you too."
JJ hugged her immediately.
"I MISSED YOU BOTH!"
Percy walked forward next.
"Well damn."
He extended his hand to Angelo.
"Long time."
Angelo shook it firmly.
"Percy."
Honey smiled warmly.
"Welcome to the chaos."
Angelo looked around the living room slowly.
The decorations.
The lights.
The mess.
Then he said calmly,
"…this looks like a battlefield."
Lyra raised her hand proudly.
"It is."
Alex crossed his arms.
"We're planning a surprise."
Angelo's gaze sharpened.
"For Carolyn Patel."
Everyone froze.
Nova whispered.
"…he knows."
Angelo nodded slightly.
"I recognize her."
Ben leaned toward Nova.
"Of course he does. Billionaires know each other."
Daisy walked forward shyly.
"Hi…"
Joong followed.
"Welcome."
Freya waved dramatically.
"More people means more party."
Endrix laughed.
"And more chaos."
Ash leaned against the wall.
"This house is officially full."
Rakhi smiled politely.
"Nice to meet you."
CN stepped forward professionally.
"CN Peralta."
Angelo smacked his head
"Don't act so professional. I know you since you were coming with JJ to my house "
That made everyone stare.
Percy chuckled.
Meanwhile—
JJ grabbed Kiefer's collar suddenly.
"YOU DIDN'T TELL ME THEY WERE COMING!"
Kiefer shrugged.
"I said I had a surprise."
JJ smacked his shoulder.
"This is not a surprise this is a heart attack."
Aries laughed.
"She's right."
Ion looked around the room with a smile.
"So these are the famous friends."
Nova grinned.
"You've heard about us?"
Ion nodded.
"Many stories."
Ben groaned.
"Oh no."
Lyra suddenly clapped loudly.
"WAIT."
Everyone turned.
Lyra pointed dramatically.
"We are forgetting something very important."
Everyone blinked.
She shouted—
"CARE IS COMING TONIGHT."
The room exploded again.
Alex checked his watch.
"11 PM landing."
CN looked at Angelo.
"You arrived exactly on the worst day."
Angelo replied calmly.
"I noticed."
Percy rubbed his temples.
"Great. Now we have two extra guests and zero time."
Honey laughed.
"This is going to be fun."
Cole finally stood up from the window.
His eyes moved to Angelo.
Then to Kiefer.
"So."
He said slowly.
"You brought reinforcements."
Kiefer smirked slightly.
"Something like that."
Cole walked closer.
"Good."
He looked around the room.
At all eighteen of them.
Then said quietly—
"Because tomorrow… we make sure Care never forgets her birthday."
Lyra raised her fist dramatically.
"OPERATION CARE BIRTHDAY CONTINUES!"
Everyone cheered.
Even Angelo smiled slightly.
But inside—
Kiefer's mind was still thinking about one thing.
The tablet.
The data still recovering.
The secret still hidden.
And whatever truth waited inside it…
Could change everything.
But for now—
The mansion was alive again.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Full of laughter.
And the countdown had begun.
Care's birthday.
20th November.
Only hours away.