The next morning broke with a dull, gray light. Meilin stood by the window again, her mind still replaying every word Rui had confessed the night before. The truth was heavy — too heavy — but it also cleared the fog that had haunted her since rebirth.
She turned as Xiaoya's laughter echoed down the hall. The little girl came running in, clutching a small wooden bird in her hand.
> "Mommy, look! Daddy fixed it!"
Meilin smiled, kneeling down to wipe a streak of paint off her daughter's cheek. "You like it?"
Xiaoya nodded eagerly. "It sings again!"
Meilin pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Then keep it safe. It's precious."
As Xiaoya skipped away, Rui entered quietly. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, his expression calm — but she could see the sleeplessness in his eyes.
> "You didn't rest," she said softly.
> "Couldn't," he replied, glancing at her. "The past doesn't stay buried, Meilin. I got a message last night."
She froze. "From who?"
> "An old contact from my father's company," he said, voice low. "They know you found the locket. They want it back."
The locket. Meilin instinctively reached for the chain hidden under her blouse. "What's inside it that's so important?"
Rui hesitated, then whispered, "It's the last piece of your father's formula. Hidden in the engraving."
Her heart skipped. "You mean the project that started the fire?"
He nodded grimly. "Yes. If they get it, they can replicate everything — and control it."
Before she could respond, a soft knock came from the front door. Both of them turned instantly. Rui motioned for her to stay back as he approached, but Meilin's instincts screamed danger.
The door opened to reveal a man in a dark coat, rain dripping from his sleeves. His smile was polite, but his eyes were cold.
> "Mr. Jiang," the man greeted smoothly. "It's been a long time."
Rui stiffened. "Chen Hao. I should have known you'd show up."
Meilin stepped forward, refusing to hide. "What do you want?"
Chen Hao's gaze flickered to her, lingering with recognition. "Ah… Mrs. Jiang. Alive after all. How interesting."
Rui moved protectively in front of her. "You're not getting anything from us."
Chen Hao chuckled. "You think you can stop me? The formula belongs to us. It always has."
He reached into his pocket — but before he could pull anything out, Rui slammed the door shut and grabbed Meilin's hand.
> "Upstairs. Now!"
They ran. Xiaoya cried out from her room, and Meilin scooped her up as Rui locked the bedroom door behind them.
> "Rui—what will he do?" Meilin gasped.
> "He won't hurt us yet. He needs proof the formula exists." Rui's voice was tight, controlled. "But now he knows you have it."
Xiaoya clung to Meilin's neck, trembling. "Mommy, I'm scared."
Meilin hugged her tighter. "It's okay, sweetheart. Mommy's here."
For the first time, she felt the fierce, unstoppable strength of a mother protecting her child — not with guilt, but with purpose.
She turned to Rui, her eyes steady. "We end this. Tonight."
Rui met her gaze, something like pride flickering there. "Then we start by finding the rest of the formula — before they do."
Outside, thunder rolled again. The storm hadn't ended; it had only changed shape.