The Shikongo kitchen was alive with chaos — pots clanging, oil sizzling, and the sharp scent of spice and sugar twirling in the air. Monica Shikongo commanded the space like a general, while Catherine stood at the counter, utterly defeated by a batch of failed koeksisters.
Her phone screen glowed uselessly; every online bakery seemed sold out.
Betty leaned against the doorway, arms crossed. "Everything okay?"
Catty forced a laugh that trembled halfway through. "Yeah. Totally fine. Just... trying to save my relationship when I don't even know what I did wrong."
Betty gave her a long, skeptical look. "You could've asked Aune to make them. Did you?"
"I wanted to do it myself," Catty muttered, wiping flour from her face like guilt.
"Alright. Um—there's a man and a woman outside. He said his name's Jonas."
"Oh no…" Catty's eyes widened. "I completely forgot about them."
Betty frowned. "Your parents?"
Catty sighed, tearing off her apron. "Yeah. Maybe they're right on time."
In the living room, Jonas and a well-dressed woman sat stiffly on the couch. Kuku entered, uncertain but polite.
"Good evening…?" she ventured.
"Mrs. Shikongo," Jonas said warmly, standing. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Catty rushed in from the kitchen, still wearing her apron. "Dad! You're finally here!"
Kuku blinked, confused — why would Catty invite her parents if there wasn't an engagement?
"Dad, and…" Catty's gaze flicked to the elegant stranger beside him. "Hey—dad, you didn't tell me you had a mistress?"
The room froze.
The woman smiled awkwardly. "I'm Sarafina Samuels. Nice to meet you."
"You're welcome," Kuku managed, her tone tight as piano wire.
From the hallway, Cinthia spotted the scene, her instincts pricking. She quietly called out, "Catty."
Catty slipped aside, lowering her voice.
"Why are your parents here?" Cinthia asked sharply.
"What do you mean?"
Cinthia showed her phone. On the Shikongo family group chat, Nathan's message glared in bold.
"He posted that?" Catty whispered, stunned.
"You didn't cancel dinner with your parents?"
Catty's lips trembled. "No. I just thought maybe I still had a chance with Nate. He's just angry—"
Cinthia sighed, her patience thinning. "You really don't know Nate."
Outside, Nathan stepped into his car. The night was quiet — deceptively so. Beneath the chassis, a timed bomb ticked its final seconds.
He slid into the seat, turned the key… then frowned. "My phone."
He stepped out just as the explosion tore through the driveway. The blast flung him backward, light and heat swallowing everything.
For a long second, all he could hear was ringing — a hollow, endless ringing.
In a taxi across town, Vicky sat with Emily, her eyes red but smiling faintly.
"Are you sad again?" Emily asked softly.
"No, no. I'm happy. You made me happy today," Vicky said, brushing away tears.
Emily opened her little sketchbook. "Then… will this make you happier?"
Vicky tilted her head. "What's this?"
"It's you and your Prince Charming."
Vicky stared — the childlike drawing showed two figures holding hands under a sun. Her chest tightened.
"You're so thoughtful, Emily…"
"Do you like it?"
"I love it."
"When you find him, give him this," Emily said brightly.
Vicky giggled through the ache. "I will."
The explosion blazed across every news channel. The Shikongo family sat frozen before the screen.
At the scene, emergency lights flashed red and blue. Ruben and his security team examined footage, John pacing nearby.
"Whoever planned this meant to kill Mr. Shikongo," John said grimly.
"Yet he's alive," Natasha noted. "Why can't we see it on surveillance? Maybe it was planted after he left the gym."
Nathan arrived, pale and trembling. "What are you doing just standing there? Did you find them? My father just died in that car!"
"Nate, calm down!" Ruben ordered.
"Calm? My dad just died in front of me!"
John exchanged a glance with Natasha. "He's in shock."
"Ndina, take Nathan out," Ruben said quietly.
Moments later, the security footage flickered — a masked figure in black coveralls moved with machine precision, placing the bomb.
"There," Ruben pointed.
"This doesn't look human," Natasha muttered. "Why is he so covered up?"
"Someone with a grudge — and patience," John replied.
Karen, Ndeshi, and Kyle stormed in.
"Find anything?" Karen demanded.
"Yes. Confirm this face," Natasha said.
Karen's eyes narrowed. "That's him. The Boss."
Kyle nodded. "He's closer than we think. Watching us."
"I swear, I'm done with this nonsense," Ndeshi muttered, backing away.
"Where's Robert?" Natasha asked.
"No sign," Karen said. "Ruben, get every frame. We need to find this man."
Ruben later found Nathan sitting blankly in the shower, water cascading over him. He brought him clean clothes and a quiet escape.
By nightfall, a new car rolled up to AID headquarters — the same ash-gray model as before, as the blown up one.
"This guy's rich, ugh," John murmured.
"Is he married?" Ndeshi asked absently.
"No," John replied. "But he's getting engaged this Friday."
At home, Kuku rushed to Nathan as he entered. "Oh, Nate — we saw the news! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," he said flatly. "Actually, I'm starving." He sat at the table like nothing happened.
Kuku turned to Ruben. "Is he really okay?"
Ruben's eyes darkened. "He just doesn't want to talk about it."
Kuku sighed. "Got it."
As laughter from the kitchen barely rose above whispers, the camera panned across their faces — all pretending, all broken in their own way.