The dining room buzzed with soft clinks of cutlery and quiet conversation. Everyone was seated—except Mandume and Olivia.
"Where is Mandume?" Christine asked, scanning the table.
"He must still be in his room," Maria shrugged. "Or maybe he's out with Olivia. I saw them together not long ago."
Moments later, the front door creaked open. Mandume walked in with Olivia beside him, both dusted with the scent of twilight air.
"You two are late," Maria said pointedly. "Where have you been?"
"We just went for a walk. Sorry," Olivia replied, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"To the park," Mandume added plainly.
"The park? Without me?" Star asked, her voice quiet but wounded.
"You must've been wrapped up in your little world, that's why he didn't bother," Olivia said coolly.
"Star specifically asked Mandume. Where's this grudge coming from?" Bonita snapped, eyes burning into Olivia.
Mandume raised a hand. "Star, I'm sorry. Olivia rushed me out—didn't give me a chance to ask you."
"Olivia," Bonita said suddenly, "let me see your phone."
"What? Why?" Olivia blinked, caught off guard.
"I just want to check something."
Reluctantly, Olivia handed over the phone.
"Nope," Bonita said, pushing it back. "Not this one. I want the one you stole from Mom's room."
Olivia stared. "What are you talking about?"
"Bonita," Mandume interjected. "What phone?"
"Brother, she—" Bonita began, but Maria cut in sharply.
"Bonita, enough. She gave you her phone, now drop this nonsense."
"Mom, listen—when you left me alone in your room—"
"Bonita!" Maria snapped. "Olivia is our guest. Show some dignity. Act like a Davids daughter and let us eat in peace."
"You won't even let me finish! Why are you always defending her?" Bonita rose from her chair, voice cracking with fury.
"Ma'am is right," Star said, keeping her tone calm. "If you have a personal issue with Olivia, it doesn't belong at the dinner table."
"Star... you too?" Bonita's voice broke as she stormed away from the table.
"Don't mind her," Maria muttered. "She did the same thing to Star when she first came here."
Star, now uneasy, narrowed her eyes at Olivia. Who are you really?
Later, the dishes clinked in the kitchen. Star cleaned up quietly, her back turned to Mandume, who stood behind her, restless.
"Star, I swear—I didn't mean to leave you out. I know how much the park means to you."
She said nothing.
"Are you mad I went with Olivia?"
Still silence.
"Won't you even look at me?"
As she moved, her foot slipped on the wet tile. Mandume caught her just in time, their faces inches apart. Hearts thundered.
Then—a throat cleared. Olivia stood at the door, cold fury flashing in her eyes.
Star quickly straightened up, pulling away. She disappeared down the hallway.
Mandume followed, but Olivia blocked him. "Let her go. She's pregnant, hormonal. You don't need that stress. You need me. I'll talk to her."
Mandume hesitated, then nodded. Olivia smiled faintly and went after Star.
In Star's room, Bonita sat at the desk, flipping through a notebook.
"You?!" Star gasped, startled.
"I liked your story," Bonita said without looking up.
"You weren't supposed to read that."
"Why did you defend Olivia?" Bonita asked quietly.
"For the same reason your mom did."
"She's protecting Olivia." Bonita's eyes darkened. "Star, remember when you asked me to dig into Mom about James? I couldn't find what you wanted... but I did find something."
Star sat beside her. "What did you find?"
"Dad's phone. I was about to switch it on when Olivia barged in and snatched it, claiming it was hers."
"Maybe it is hers."
"No, Star. I know that phone. It's unique. I used it myself for years. It's a 'Tech-Mobile'—dad only used it for special clients and family. When it calls, it shows David's Empire or Private Number. And it can send anonymous SMS."
Star froze. "It's the same phone that's been threatening me… always from 'Private Number'. When Olivia came, I thought I recognized the voice—but I dismissed it. Now you've confirmed it."
"I'll make her give it back," Bonita vowed. "I'll prove it's his."
"She's not just here for fun," Star said. "She told me to call her 'Bride'. She's here to marry Mandume."
"What?! No! I won't let that happen."
"It makes sense now."
"I lost Dad to Mom's lies—I won't lose my brother too," Bonita whispered.
Unbeknownst to them, Olivia stood outside the door, listening.
Later that night…
"Mom," Olivia hissed as she entered Maria's room, "we've got a problem."
"What now?"
"Star tricked your daughter. Bonita's helping her. Star already knows who I am. She played us."
Maria's breath caught. "That witch—"
"She sent Bonita to bait you into talking about James."
"Damn it... Star always wins, even before the battle starts."
"She knows it was me!"
"I told you—she's not normal. Evil dies in her presence. Even Mandume is acting like her puppet!"
"Then he must be my puppet next. Tomorrow, we announce the engagement. We must lock down the inheritance."
"Before Star spills everything," Maria nodded grimly.
"You're overreacting. No one will believe Star. Who'd believe Mandume's precious mother is a monster?"
"You'd think that—but this is Star. She doesn't need proof. If she tells Mandume, he may not believe her—but if Christine hears it, he'll believe her."
"Why haven't you dealt with that witch of a grandmother yet?"
"I will. After the wedding. She'll leave for the UK once it's done."
"I'm ready to finally enjoy life—with the love of my life," Olivia smiled.
Meanwhile...
"By the way," Bonita asked, "what info were you hoping to find about James?"
"Listen to this," Star said, pressing play on a recorded clip from James' old recorder.
Bonita listened, her face paling.
"She's still after you?"
"Yes. Maria won't stop until I leave. But I won't. I'm staying to protect you and Mandume."
Bonita bowed her head. "I feel ashamed. My own mother…"
"You shouldn't. I don't want revenge—I want redemption."
"What do you mean?"
"We bring her back to motherhood. Only you can do it. Give her a second chance. Maybe she'll surrender."
"And if she doesn't?"
"Then I'll have no other choice."
The next morning, sunlight filtered into Star's room as she watered the flowers, her mind racing.
"Got it!" she exclaimed. "I know how to get my marks back."
She hurried to her laptop and began writing a dialogue, but Mandume's proposal still haunted her thoughts.
"Why does Olivia want to marry him?" she muttered. "And what happened to Mr. Davids' story? It vanished…"
In a separate room, Mandume awoke from a nightmare—sweating, breathless. Something dark weighed on his chest.
He rushed to his mother's room.
"Come on, Olly, what's taking you so long?" Maria muttered under her breath, gripping the syringe tightly. Her eyes darted toward the hallway.
Suddenly—slam!
The door flew open. Mandume stormed in.
Maria barely had time to shove the injection behind her back.
"Where is my father?" Mandume demanded, eyes blazing.
Maria froze. "What?"
"You heard me," he said, voice sharp. "It's been days since you promised to bring him back—from wherever only you seem to know. But you're doing nothing. Or at least nothing I can see."
"I am doing something!" Maria snapped. "I'm collecting the ransom. I'm trying, Mandume—I'm trying my son."
"Then why won't you let me help?" His voice cracked. "Why shut me out? Are you even sure he's alive? Or are you just feeding me hope so I don't lose it completely?"
Before Maria could respond, Olivia stepped in from the hallway.
"Mandume," she said, frowning, "why are you badgering Mom like this?"
"Olly," he turned to her, his voice tight with pain, "Dad is out there somewhere—somewhere she knows—and she won't let anyone else in. How am I supposed to sit still? I'm losing it."
"She's doing everything she can," Olivia countered. "She's a mother—not a machine. When she says Dad is safe, she means it."
Mandume stared at them both. His shoulders tensed, jaw clenched.
"No one gets it," he said. "Only Star understands what I'm going through."
He turned on his heel and left.
Maria and Olivia exchanged stunned glances.
"What just happened to Mandume?" Maria whispered.
"What was that?" Olivia echoed.
"Go after him," Maria urged.
Olivia hesitated, then dashed out. "Mandume, wait! I do understand—I've got your back!"
He didn't even slow down. "No, Olivia—you don't! And stop following me around like some lost puppy. I'm going to figure out how to bring Dad back. With or without you."
He disappeared down the hallway, headed straight for Star's room.
Olivia clenched her fists. Her blood boiled.
"Ugh! He's so annoying! Why is he always running to her?"
She stood frozen, fuming, as Maria slowly reached for the syringe again.