Night had already settled by the time we got back.
Apparently when you visit a surprise billionaire father and discover a surprise stepbrother, time moves faster than normal.
Ethan's car stopped in front of my house.
He stayed inside, one arm resting on the steering wheel, looking like a very annoyed bodyguard who definitely didn't sign up for emotional family reunions.
Mark got out with me to walk me to the gate.
I didn't even notice how quiet the street was because I was still talking.
"And then when Luca said he'd seen me at school but I never saw him I was like—wait, have I been accidentally ignoring my own stepbrother this whole time?? That would be so embarrassing—"
Mark just walked beside me, listening patiently.
I only realized we'd reached my gate when I stopped talking.
Oops.
I turned to him.
"Mark… thank you," I said. "Really. Thank you so so so much for coming with me today."
He gave a small giggle.
"It's nothing."
He stood there with that soft calm smile of his.
His silky hair had fallen slightly over his eyes, and his hands were tucked casually into his pockets.
His glasses sat perfectly on his nose, catching the faint light from the streetlamp.
For a moment we just… looked at each other.
Then Mark bent slightly so his face was closer to my height.
My brain immediately panicked.
Oh.
Oh no.
Is he—
Is he going to kiss me??
My heart started doing something illegal in my chest.
But instead—
He gently pulled me into a hug.
A warm, quiet hug.
Then he kissed the top of my head.
I froze for a second.
My cheeks turned warm almost instantly.
"Mark—"
"You were brave today," he said softly.
His voice was calm but sincere.
"Not many people could face something like that so calmly."
I blinked a few times.
"Honestly," I admitted, "I think I was just too confused to panic."
He chuckled lightly.
Then he stepped back, adjusting his glasses again.
"You still handled it well."
I smiled a little.
"Thanks."
From the car, Ethan honked once.
Not a polite honk.
More like a hurry up before I abandon you here honk.
Mark glanced toward the car.
"I suppose our driver is losing patience."
I laughed.
"Yeah… he's been grumpy all day."
Mark gave me one last warm look.
"Get some rest."
"I will."
He turned and walked back to the car.
As he got inside, Ethan shot him a look that could probably start a small war.
I waved anyway.
And as the car drove off, I stood there for a moment, thinking about everything that had happened today.
My dad.
Luca.
The truth.
Tomorrow would be even bigger.
Now all I had to do was convince Mom…
and Jake.
Which, knowing them…
might be the most terrifying part of this entire adventure.
When I stepped inside the house, I immediately knew something was wrong.
The living room lights were on.
Mom was there.
Jake was there.
Nena was there.
And somehow… Nathan was there too.
I stopped walking.
Okay.
This felt like a surprise court trial.
Mom stood up the second she saw me and grabbed my arm.
"Where have you been all day?"
Her voice was tight.
I swallowed.
"I went out with Mark and Ethan."
Her eyes narrowed immediately.
"You're lying."
Before I could speak, Jake sighed calmly.
"I pressured Nena," he admitted. "She accidentally told me the truth."
I slowly looked at Nena.
She was staring at the floor.
Nathan spoke next.
"I also saw you," he said casually. "Going inside TechTech Innovations."
My eyes snapped to his.
And for a second we just stared at each other.
Great.
Witness number two.
Mom's grip on my arm tightened.
"I warned you not to go there," she said sharply.
"I went to know the truth," I said quietly.
That was when it happened.
For the first time in… I don't even remember how long—
Mom shouted.
"Go to your room!"
The entire room went silent.
"You're grounded!"
I looked at her for a moment.
My chest felt heavy, but I didn't argue.
I just turned around and walked upstairs.
Behind me, Mom spoke again.
"Thank you for telling me," she said to Nathan.
Nathan smiled lightly.
"No big deal."
Then he left.
The front door closed.
Silence followed.
Mom walked away toward the kitchen without another word.
Nena stayed where she was.
And then—
Nena's POV
The second Mrs. Ma left the room, I turned slowly toward Jake.
I crossed my arms.
"I can't believe you."
Jake blinked.
"What?"
"Why did you tell her everything I told you?" I snapped.
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"We were protecting Ayana."
"Protecting?" I repeated.
My eyes narrowed.
"Or spying? There's a difference."
He sighed.
"I know. I'm sorry."
He looked genuinely guilty.
"I'll make it up to you. And to Ayana."
I raised an eyebrow.
"You better."
I pointed at him.
"Or I will never talk to you again."
Jake winced dramatically.
"Oof," he said, holding his chest. "That would be the end of me."
I tried to stay angry.
Really.
But I couldn't help it.
A small giggle slipped out.
Then my face turned serious again.
"I would like to see the end of you," I muttered.
Jake groaned. "Wow. Brutal."
But honestly?
I was still worried.
Because upstairs right now…
Ayana was probably facing the worst night of her life.
Back in my room, I flopped onto my bed with a long sigh.
I was annoyed.
Very annoyed.
But… if I was being honest with myself, I also understood why Mom reacted that way.
From her point of view, I had gone straight to the one person she didn't want me to see.
Still.
Being grounded wasn't exactly my favorite life experience.
I grabbed my phone and stared at the screen for a moment before typing a quick message.
Me:Hey. How are you feeling? Is your health better?
I meant Liam, of course.
I barely had time to put the phone down before it started ringing.
Liam.
I blinked.
That was fast.
I answered.
"Hello?"
"Look out your window," he said immediately.
I sat up. "What?"
"Just do it."
His tone was annoyingly calm.
I frowned but stood up and walked over to the window.
I pulled the curtain aside.
And there he was.
Standing outside.
Waving.
I nearly dropped my phone.
"LIAM?!"
He grinned up at me.
"Hi."
I pushed the window open slightly. "What are you doing here?!"
He shrugged like climbing to people's windows at night was a totally normal hobby.
"You can either come down," he said, "or I can come up."
"You are not coming inside my house," I whispered loudly.
"So come out."
I looked behind me toward the door.
If Mom saw me leaving, I was dead.
Absolutely dead.
I looked back down at him.
"…come in."
His grin widened instantly.
A minute later I was helping him climb through the window.
He landed inside my room and brushed imaginary dust off his jacket.
"Nice room."
I crossed my arms.
"You're insane."
"Probably."
Then he looked at me more carefully.
His expression softened slightly.
"So," he said, "why do you look like someone just declared war on your life?"