"I can't believe Ava would do something like this!" Daisy shouted the moment Michael pushed open the hotel room door and guided her inside.
Her anger hadn't faded since leaving the ballroom.
Michael closed the door quietly behind them and handed her a glass of water.
"What exactly are you angry about?" he asked calmly. "That your father's dirty secret came out in such a dramatic way… or that Ava supposedly exposed it?"
Daisy folded her arms, glaring.
"What do you think?"
Michael shrugged lightly and sat opposite her.
"I'm not in your head, Daisy. Say it."
Her jaw tightened.
"She knew," Daisy snapped. "She knew my father cheated and hid it from me!"
Michael watched her for a moment before speaking.
"I know how that feels," he said quietly. "Secrets being kept from you… even when people claim it's for your own good."
He leaned back lazily.
"In our friend group, who even does that? Prim would pretend he didn't hear anything. Daniel wouldn't care enough to react. Milo would help—but somehow you'd suffer in the process."
A faint smile tugged at his lips.
"I honestly didn't want to get involved."
He looked directly at her.
"But Ava? She's the last person who'd hide something just to hurt you or keep just a secret to herself she would tell you cause like her brother she doesn't want to fully get involved and Hate extra drama ."
Daisy hesitated.
"…What are you trying to say?"
Michael moved closer.
"I'm saying Mia set everything up," he said. "She wanted it to look like Ava investigated your father to blackmail the Hade family."
Understanding slowly replaced rage.
"If Ava truly knew for long," Michael added softly, "do you think the truth would explode like this?"
Silence filled the room.
Then suddenly—
Michael pulled her into a hug.
Daisy froze.
"Why are you hugging me?" she asked, startled, unsure where to place her hands.
"I'm sad," Michael replied seriously. "So I need one."
She scoffed weakly.
"I'm not a child. I won't cry."
Yet… she hugged him back.
"I know," Michael murmured. "But don't bottle everything up. I can pretend to be blind and deaf if you want."
His voice softened.
"Finding out you suddenly have a stepbrother… realizing your perfect family isn't perfect—it hits hard."
A pause.
"Unless you're made of sunshine and rainbows, it hurts."
That was enough.
Daisy broke down.
Tears spilled freely as she cried against him.
The door opened sometime later.
Daniel entered first, Prim behind him.
Daniel glanced once at the scene before speaking calmly.
"Daisy, your family called. There's a meeting at home."
Prim nodded.
"I'll drop you off."
Daniel grabbed Michael's wrist without explanation and pulled him out.
Michael didn't resist.
Hade Mansion
The atmosphere inside the mansion was suffocating.
Veronica sat on the couch, quietly sobbing.
Milo moved between the kitchen and living room, preparing drinks with practiced calm while Simon Hade handled nonstop phone calls, issuing cold instructions to contain the scandal.
When Daisy entered, silence followed her.
Milo returned carrying a tray—tea, coffee, and soft drinks—handing each family member a cup before taking his own seat.
He looked at his parents directly.
"Alright," Milo said evenly. "Someone explain."
Daisy turned sharply toward her mother.
"…You knew Dad cheated?"
Veronica shook her head weakly.
"Your father didn't cheat."
Everyone stilled.
"She was his wife," Veronica continued softly.
Shock spread across Daisy's face.
Simon closed his eyes.
Veronica's voice trembled as she spoke.
"Your father fell in love with a woman from an unknown background. She worked hard, planned to build her own company… until her family found her."
Her fingers tightened.
"They were powerful. Dangerous. They threatened to destroy your father if he didn't divorce her."
She swallowed.
"I was sent to separate them."
Silence deepened
.
"Your father argued constantly with her. She hid many things from him… dragged him into problems. Then she disappeared for years."
Veronica's eyes reddened.
"When she returned, they reconciled. I don't know what happened afterward. They fought again. Your father drank that night…"
Her voice broke.
"And I was there."
Daisy tightened her grip on her mother's hand.
"They divorced," Veronica whispered. "Then your father married me because I was pregnant."
She covered her face.
"I believed she died in that accident who knew she had a child and the child died along with her ."
The room fell completely silent.
Milo finally spoke.
"…Dad."
Simon looked up.
"Did you know?" Milo asked calmly. "That you had a son?"
Veronica and Daisy both turned toward Simon.
Simon exhaled heavily.
"She texted me once… saying she was pregnant," he admitted. "I didn't believe her."
His voice grew rough.
"Then the fire happened."
"I thought she died."
Veronica suddenly straightened.
"Then bring him home."
Everyone stared at her.
Simon frowned. "I'll arrange for him to study abroad—"
She raised her hand sharply.
"No."
Her voice was calm but firm.
"That child deserves his family."
Even Milo looked surprised.
"I'm not doing this to appear kind," Veronica continued quietly. "He is your legitimate son. If he was born before our marriage was finalized… then he belongs here."
Guilt filled her expression.
"Bring him home."
Daisy helped her mother upstairs soon after.
Only Simon remained.
Later — Study Room
Simon dialed a number.
The call connected.
A sleepy voice answered.
"…You need to be more specific."
"Asher," Simon said coldly. "Did you participate in this?"
A pause.
"You woke me up at one in the morning to speak in riddles?" Asher muttered, irritation clear in his husky voice.
Everyone knows you're my son," Simon said abruptly.
A quiet laugh came through the phone.
"Oh. So the secret's out. How touching."
Simon's grip tightened.
"How did Mia know? Did you plan this? So everyone can know you are my son I send money to u and u are still greedy like your mom"
Asher's tone turned mocking.
"Stop flattering yourself. Who wants to be associated with you?"
Silence.
"You make me sick," Asher continued. "I never wanted a father."
His voice hardened.
"Do you even knew family knows why you divorced my mother? Why everyone believed she died when you took her from the hospital"
Simon froze.
"You hid her," Asher said coldly. "Locked her away force her to abort me when he did not work Sent her back to her family knowing exactly what they're capable of."
The line went dead.
Simon stared at the phone—
then hurled it against the wall.
"DAMN IT!"
The illusion of the Hade family had finally shattered.
Here is your cleaned, tightened, and emotionally stronger version while keeping your tone, character personality, and drama intact.
Asher tossed his phone aside and went back to sleep.
As if the previous night meant nothing.
The next morning—
Knocking sounded on his door.
Slow. Firm. Persistent.
Asher opened it lazily.
Outside stood his father's assistant… along with two bodyguards.
Of course.
"We're here to take you to the Hade mansion," the assistant said coldly.
Asher sighed, grabbed his jacket, and walked past them without argument.
In the Car
The assistant adjusted his glasses.
"When you arrive, refuse to stay. Cause a scene and leave," he instructed.
"Your father will sponsor you abroad."
A pause.
"But if you refuse… he will withdraw all support and destroy everything connected to your mother."
A threat.
Clear and deliberate.
Asher glanced at him calmly.
"Then he should do it."
The assistant frowned.
"And watch your mouth when speaking to me," Asher added casually.
The man sneered.
"You really don't understand your situation. Do you think this is a novel where returning to your rich father changes your status?"
Asher leaned back.
"I never wanted his status."
Hade Mansion
The doors opened.
Simon Hade sat in the living room beside Veronica.
Daisy glared openly.
Milo scrolled through his phone, uninterested.
Veronica stood immediately.
"My boy—"
"As if."
Asher rolled his eyes.
"First, don't call me that."
He walked in and sat comfortably, picking dessert from the table.
"Second, tell your husband to stop sending guards to threaten me."
He took a bite.
"I'm not the one who can't keep his sausage in his pants."
Silence dropped like a bomb.
"I don't care if you stop sending money," Asher continued calmly. "Shove it wherever you like."
Another bite.
"But send threats again?"
He smiled faintly.
"I might visit the media. I'm sure they'd enjoy the Hade family's dirty secrets."
No one spoke.
Daisy turned sharply toward her father.
"I thought you said you only found out yesterday!"
Simon rubbed his forehead.
"I did. I merely instructed someone to arrange overseas sponsorship."
Asher laughed softly.
"Damn… still lying effortlessly."
Simon slammed the table.
"What do you want?!" he demanded through gritted teeth. "To stay here as family?"
Veronica spoke gently.
"It must be overwhelming suddenly knowing you have a father—"
Asher smiled.
"Who told you he only found out yesterday?"
The room froze.
"He's known since I was eight."
Daisy's eyes widened.
"He was afraid," Asher continued calmly, eating. "Afraid I'd take everything from his precious new family."
Silence suffocated the room.
"So stop acting kind," he added. "It's hard to feel grateful when your own father wanted you erased."
Simon stood abruptly.
"Asher. My office. Now."
Asher winked at Veronica and followed—dessert plate still in hand.
Study Room
"The hell was that?!" Simon roared once the door shut.
Asher sat comfortably.
"Relax. I only revealed the tip of your secrets."
His gaze turned cold.
"You knew my mother was pregnant… divorced her anyway… forced an abortion… drugged her into marrying another man."
Simon's expression darkened.
"When that man hated her," Asher continued, "you dumped her in a village and had her watched like a servant."
Another bite.
"…Name your price," Simon said.
Asher smiled slowly.
"Now you're talking properly."
He wrote something in a notebook, tore the page out, and placed it on the desk.
"At the end of the day," he said quietly, "both of you were wrong."
A pause.
"But she suffered the most."
He walked out.
Moments later—
A servant rushed in.
"Sir! Madam fainted!"
Hospital
Veronica lay pale on the bed.Daisy cried beside her.
Simon entered moments later.Milo stood silently watching them all.
Then—
"Enough."
Everyone turned.
"I don't care whether he's your son or when you knew about him," Milo said coldly.
"But Mom is collapsing and you're still fighting."
His jaw tightened.
"Mom wants Asher here. Dad doesn't."
He laughed bitterly.
"Figure it out yourselves."
His voice dropped.
"Do you even know how we feel?"
Without waiting for an answer—
Milo walked out.
Milo drove without thinking.
He only stopped when the city noise faded enough for his thoughts to quiet.
A café stood at the corner of the street — warm lights spilling through glass windows, soft jazz humming inside. Perfect place to disappear.
He entered and chose a seat beside the window.
Outside, traffic moved endlessly.
Inside, peace.
Milo loosened his collar and took a slow sip of his drink, staring blankly ahead, trying to untangle the chaos sitting heavily in his chest.
The chair across from him suddenly moved.
Someone sat down.
Milo lifted his eyes lazily
—
Then raised a brow.
"Kai?"
Across him sat a boy unfairly handsome, leaning comfortably as if he belonged there. Silver light from the window traced his features — soft yet dangerous.
Around them, conversations faltered.
Customers glanced again.
And again.
One looked like a fallen angel sculpted purely for temptation.
The other carried the cool warm saint like glow a siren type of beauty.
Phones quietly lifted.
Camera flashes reflected faintly on glass.
Neither of them cared.
"Who would've thought I'd run into you here," Milo said, amusement slipping into his voice.
Kai chuckled.
"In case you forgot, I'm a foreigner. I barely know this city."
He leaned closer across the table, lowering his voice conspiratorially.
"I got scammed by my guide, got lost… and somehow ended up here."
Milo laughed despite himself.
"So I decided," Kai continued smoothly, smiling, "since fate brought me here… I should steal some company."
His smile landed.
Somewhere behind them, a girl actually squealed.
"You don't mind, right?"
Milo chuckled.
"You're a magnet for girls."
Kai tilted his head.
"No. Their eyes were already on you before I arrived."
He shrugged lightly.
"They're just curious what two handsome men are discussing."
Milo shook his head, amused.Kai studied him quietly then.
"I'm not a genius," he said casually, fingers tapping the table, "but you look tense."
A pause.
"If you don't want to talk, that's fine."
He lifted his cup.
"I can still buy coffee."
Before Milo could answer—
His phone rang.
Milo glanced at the screen, expression shifting slightly.
"Maybe next time."
He stood.
"See you around."
And just like that, he left.
Kai watched him go.
Head tilted slightly.
Interested.
His gaze slowly dropped to the cup Milo left behind.
Still warm.
Kai smiled.
He reached forward… thumb brushing the rim Milo's lips had touched.
Then calmly lifted the cup and took a sip.
He pulled out his phone and called.
The line connected.
"So," Kai said lightly, still tracing the cup's handle, "was it as dramatic as promised?"
On the other end, Asher's tired voice answered.
"Why do you care? Same story. He lied to his family and tried bribing me to shut up."
A dry laugh followed.
"I'll probably have people sent to kill me soon."
Kai's eyes narrowed slightly—but his smile never faded.
"Oh?"
"I thought I'd get premium gossip," he sighed softly. "Seems I expected too much."
He ended the call.
Immediately texting his assistant.
Investigate the Hade family. Full background. Quietly.
Send.
Kai lifted the cup again and drank from it leisurely.
Across the café, a girl who had been gathering courage to approach froze mid-step.
Her friend grabbed her arm, whispering loudly—
"Wait… are they dating?!"
whispers exploded as girls watched the scene unfold.
Two impossibly attractive men.
One leaving.
One drinking from the other's cup.
Romantic conclusions formed instantly.
Kai only smiled faintly to himself.
Interesting.
Very interesting.