Tonia didn't let go for a long while. The hug was tight, grounding. For a moment, it felt like the only thing keeping Vicky from dissolving into the blur of everything she didn't understand.
"Thank you," Vicky whispered, pulling back slightly.
"I kinda missed you at your lowest," Tonia said with a sad smile.
Vicky chuckled weakly. "I just feel… lost. Ever since yesterday, it's like someone else is living in me — someone whose memories don't belong to me. And the real me keeps trying to break through. It's complicated. You wouldn't get it."
"I get it," Tonia said softly. "Because I know you, Vicky. You don't watch or talk things through — you act."
"Yeah," Vicky said, smiling faintly. "You really do know me."
Tonia glanced around. "Where's Emily?"
The question hit like a slap of cold water. Vicky's eyes widened — she'd left Emily at school.
This time, Emily sat perched in her favorite tree on the school grounds, legs swinging, lunchbox half open. She was waiting — for Vicky, maybe Nate. The afternoon air was heavy, and she hummed to distract herself. Then a shadow stretched across her sandwich.
"Hey," said a man's voice — smooth, rehearsed. "What's that you're eating?"
Emily's eyes narrowed. The man was tall, dressed in a black suit and dark glasses. Behind him, a black SUV idled like a predator waiting for movement.
"Depends," Emily said simply.
"Depends?" He tilted his head. "Depends on what?"
She didn't answer. Instead, she calmly zipped her lunchbox into her bag and started walking toward the security post by the school gate. The man followed, just a bit too casually.
The security guard straightened. "Sir, can I help you?"
"I'm Ruben," the man said, showing a badge too quickly. "Mr. Nate's assistant. He sent me to pick up Emily. Her sister Vicky's been hospitalized at Shikongo's Hospital."
The guard turned to Emily. "Do you want to go?"
Emily frowned. "I don't trust him. Can you take off your glasses, sir?"
He hesitated, then removed them. Still, her instincts buzzed. "Nope," she said flatly. "You're not him."
The guard tried calling Vicky, but her phone lay forgotten at home — she was already speeding toward the school.
"I'm not going with you," Emily said. "My sister taught me that trick. You need to work harder next time."
The man blinked, caught off guard. "Damn, she's smart."
"Yeah," the guard said, stepping forward. "And you're leaving."
The man's smirk faltered. "Fine. I'll tell Mr. Nate that his little friend thinks I'm a kidnapper."
"Yeah," Emily said coolly. "Tell him that."
The SUV pulled away just as Vicky's taxi turned the corner. Emily saw her and ran into her arms.
"I'm so glad you came," Emily said, voice trembling. "I was scared."
Vicky hugged her tighter. "And I'm so proud of you. If he ever comes again, remember the other trick — but most of all, don't show fear."
"I love you," Emily said into her chest.
"I love you too," Vicky whispered. "Now come on, I made you a huge cake."
The guard, watching them go, shook his head in admiration. "I wish my daughter had her mind. The girl looked that man dead in the eye and told him off."
Vicky gave a tired smile. "Your daughter still has time to learn. My sister's been through so much, I barely need to teach her."
"Just be careful," the guard warned. "That man could still be watching."
"We will," Vicky said quietly, taking Emily's hand. "Thank you."
Auguste stood frozen in the hospital corridor, her world unraveling. "E…Evan?" she stammered.
Evan folded his arms. "Eee…e…Evan," he mocked softly, his voice dripping with restrained fury.
"I didn't know your mother was in a coma," Auguste said quickly, voice trembling. "I didn't even know she was sick."
"Let me guess," Evan said, stepping closer, his eyes like glass about to shatter. "You killed my father. Gave my mother a heart attack. Tried to kill her only son. Stole her company, her money — everything she worked for. And now she's lying here half-dead because of you. That's the sickness you didn't know?"
"Evan… your father named everything in my daughter's name. I didn't ask for that!" she pleaded.
"This is a hospital," Evan said coldly. "And this is my mother's room. So I'm going to need you to leave. Pretty sure this room isn't in your daughter's name."
"Evan, I'm just—"
"—giving you directions to the door," he finished. Then, with a slight grin, he snatched the cash she had handed the nurse earlier. "And I'm going to need this. Thanks."
He turned to the nurse. "If she tries to come back in here, call security."
Auguste stood there, her throat tight with things she couldn't say. For the first time, she looked like the one out of control.
Elsewhere, Catty burst into Cinthia's room, face blotched red and eyes swollen.
"Nate broke up with me," she said, collapsing onto the bed.
"What?" Cinthia sat up, shocked, and pulled her into a hug.
"I don't even know what I did," Catty said between sobs. "He looked… different. Like something inside him snapped. He just said it's over. I already told everyone — my friends, my family. What am I supposed to say now?"
Cinthia rubbed her back. "Okay, first — breathe. You embarrassed Nate in front of his whole family. That's not something he'll take lightly."
"But how? I was doing what's best for all of us — and that girl," Catty said, voice cracking.
"Yes, but you said you and Nate decided that — when he had no idea what was going on," Cinthia reminded her.
"It wasn't selfish!" Catty protested. "It was practical!"
Cinthia looked her in the eyes. "How do you love him?"
"What do you mean?"
"Do you truly love him and want him? Or do you just love the idea of him — the picture, the status, the name?"
"I just… I just want Nate back," Catty said. "I want my wedding back."
"Then do the right thing," Cinthia said softly. "Go to him. Apologize."
Catty blinked. "Apologize? Just like that?"
"Yeah. Look, I've been in a situationship — never in love. But I've seen enough movies to know: people fight for what they love. Start there."
Catty sniffed, nodding. "What does Nate even like?"
"These days?" Cinthia said, thinking. "Food. Especially koeksisters. Start with that, and mean what you say. Don't ruin what's left."
Catty wiped her face. "Thank you, Cinthia. I grew up alone — I never really learned how to act around people, especially… elders, or men like Nate. But I love him. And I'm going to win him back."
Cinthia smiled. "That's my girl."