Shadows and Secrets

At the resort, the atmosphere was quiet and heavy with the residue of chaos. Tonia locked the main doors and turned to Vicky, who was gently holding Nate—his hand in hers, his head resting on her lap, fast asleep.

"I called Sam. He's on his way," Tonia said softly.

"You should go. I'll take him home. Don't worry about me," Vicky replied, brushing Nate's hair from his forehead. "Take the food with you. I'll come get the rest in the morning."

Tonia hesitated, then nodded. "Okay…"

They hugged—tight, heavy, and meaningful.

Meanwhile, Ruben's phone rang.

"Madam," he answered respectfully.

"Ruben? Where are you?" Sofia's voice cut through the line.

"At the resort, ma'am."

"Ask about Nate," Kuku Veronica prompted in the background.

"Are you alright? Is Nathan okay?" Sofia pressed.

"He's fine. We're on our way now."

"Okay, thank you. Just get home safe," Sofia said, ending the call.

"Did you call home?" Ruben asked Cinthia.

"Yes, but I didn't tell them anything," she muttered.

"Damn. I don't want a repeat of last time," Ruben said, shaking his head.

Vicky looked confused. "Can we wait for my friend's husband to pick her up first?"

"We don't have time—" Cinthia began, but Sam's car pulled up just then, lights flashing.

Tony waved and left with him. The rest followed suit.

Elsewhere…

In a shadowed car parked at the edge of the city, a woman argued bitterly with a man in the driver's seat.

"You can't blame me for the mission failing," Karen hissed. "You didn't say his fiancée would be there. She knew exactly how to protect him from suffocation."

"I'm not blaming you," the man said coldly. "But you're not taking this seriously."

"Nathan was supposed to suffocate to death tonight. That was the plan. Only then are we safe."

"He has no AID—no bodyguard—so maybe we need to 'steal' his wife too," the man added grimly.

Karen scoffed. "Taking everything that gets in our way isn't always the solution. Earlier today, he was alone at a local school. I pulled the trigger, but the gun—" she shook her head—"it jammed, like it swallowed the bullet."

"That's the Danger Detector," the man replied. "An invisible device that senses threats within thirty meters and disrupts weapons."

"So Ruben wasn't with him after all… It was bait," Karen realized. "They're smarter than we thought."

"Finish him, Karen. If Nathan stays alive, our identities won't stay buried much longer."

At the Shikongo Residence…

"Thank God they're safe," Sofia sighed with relief.

"Aune, please bring food for the boys," Kuku Veronica added.

"No need, Mom. I'm full. It's probably just Adam sulking in his room again," Damien muttered.

"You don't want homemade food?" Kuku frowned.

"The night's been long. Let's just sleep," Sofia said, helping her mother to her room.

"Goodnight, Kuku. Goodnight, everyone," Betty called out as she and Adam headed to their room.

Inside, tension simmered.

"You know it's weird to feel jealous in someone else's house, right?" Betty said, arms crossed.

"This is my house," Adam snapped. "Mom always reserved her love for Nate. Ever since forever. He's not the only one with dead parents."

"You're acting like a child. Nate is your nephew, your family. Stop competing with him," Betty said sharply. "First his parents, now him?"

Adam's eyes burned with resentment. "This isn't just about inheritance. I want Nate to feel fear, pain… the kind I felt when his parents destroyed my mother."

"Adam, I support your fight for what's yours, but leave Nate out of it. He's just a boy."

"He's not just a boy. He's holding what belongs to me," Adam said with a cruel smirk and walked away.

Later, in Sofia's room…

"You visited the house. How is it?" she asked Damien.

"It's good. I'm heading back tomorrow. You and Cinthia can join after the wedding."

"I was thinking the same. We can't all stay here. Cinthia might stay longer, but it'd be tough for her with all the wedding vibes."

"Exactly," Damien said. "Once Nate secures this last investment, we finish the factory project. Then—vacation."

"Yes! I already applied for leave. After the wedding, we're gone!" Sofia smiled brightly.

"We'll try once more…" Damien said emotionally.

"Yes, baby. We will." Sofia embraced him, both hopeful and vulnerable.

Back at the car with Ruben and Cinthia…

"You're ugly… and making it worse," Ruben teased as Cinthia made faces.

"She's the same girl who humiliated Nathan in public," Cinthia whispered, eyeing Vicky.

"She just looks like her."

"No. It's her. I don't know why Nathan feels so calm in her arms… maybe she cares for him like Kuku does."

"Shh—she can hear," Ruben warned.

Cinthia turned, composed herself, and smiled. "So, what's your name?"

"Victoria. And you?"

"Cinthia. This is Ruben and—"

"I know him," Vicky interrupted softly.

Cinthia's eyes widened. She leaned in and whispered, "See? She knows him. It's really her."

"I know. But let's not tell Nate when he wakes up," Ruben said.

"Agreed."

In Sam's car…

"Where did Vicky go?" Sam asked.

"She's complicated," Tonia sighed. "Some man had a panic attack. Vicky touched him, and he instantly calmed down. When she left, he panicked again. So she took him home… might even sing him a lullaby."

Sam chuckled. "She's always had that magic touch. I still remember how she cleared up the mess between our families for us to get married."

"She's too selfless," Tonia said. "Always putting others before herself. Even her own self-respect gets trampled sometimes."

"I know you care about her. We all do. Maybe it's time we do something for her," Sam said, gently touching her baby bump.

Suddenly, Tonia gasped.

"What? What happened?" Sam panicked.

Tonia's eyes welled up. "Oh my gosh…"

"Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

Tonia grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly. "The baby… just moved. For the first time."

Silence fell—then joy erupted.

Sam pulled her into his arms, stunned and overjoyed.

They were having their first moment as a family.