Daniels spotted Mandume at the bar, mid-laugh, chatting with Lazarus and other sharp-suited clients. Olivia sat beside him, the picture of poise and business acumen.
"Mandume? I didn't know you were this important." Daniels said with a raised brow, silencing the group.
Olivia rose swiftly, her eyes locking with Daniels.
"Daniels… come on," she said, leading him aside.
"This isn't a chatroom. This is business. And Mandume? He is the business."
Daniels raised his hands in mock surrender.
"Oh, I'm so sorry… I didn't know."
"I know you didn't." Olivia's tone softened. She offered him a glass.
"What kind of wine do you drink?"
"Any kind, as long as it isn't sober."
"Perfect. Here's a whole bottle, just for you."
Daniels blinked at the generous pour.
"All this going into my stomach today?"
"It's your girlfriend's day. Celebrate like a man who has nothing to hide." Olivia smiled and returned to Mandume.
Meanwhile, upstairs…
Maria was heading to her room when she noticed David's office door slightly ajar. Her gut clenched.
"How is this open?" she whispered, stepping inside.
The door slammed behind her.
She spun—and froze. Lufus leaned casually against the desk, twirling a keychain.
"You forget… I'm David's closest friend. Of course I have keys."
"What do you want, Lufus?" Maria demanded.
"I'm looking for a girl named Star. Heard she's been a pain in your royal ass."
"I don't know where she is—and if you think I'm involved, you're wrong."
Lufus pulled something from his coat and tossed it onto the desk: Star's phone.
Maria gasped.
"This little device says otherwise."
"Where is she, Maria? She's all Christine has left."
"I… I don't know…" Maria's voice shook.
"Alright. I'll give you time to remember."
"I'd hate for your daughter's birthday to get ruined."
He stepped out, locking the door behind him.
Panicked, Maria immediately called Olivia.
"Mom?"
"Listen. Don't let Lufus near Mandume. He has Star's phone."
"I thought you were handling him?"
"You don't know Lufus like I do. He could ruin us. He's locked me in David's office, but don't worry about me. Just… watch his every move."
Elsewhere…
Bonita was in her room, adjusting her dress when Tiffanie burst in and shut the door behind her.
"Tiffanie—look—I was wrong. So wrong. I didn't know what my mom was really doing—"
Tiffanie cut her off cold.
"Don't tell me you don't know where Star is."
"She went with Rudra last night. We were hunting—then she disappeared."
"Stop it, Bonita!" Tiffanie's eyes burned.
"Star called me yesterday. Told me you were innocent. Begged me to come to your birthday. And I did. Because I believed her."
"Tiffanie—what are you saying?"
"I'm saying she defended you while you betrayed her just to get me here."
Bonita's voice cracked.
"You're my friend… my sister. I didn't want you involved in this mess—"
"Then release Star!"
"I don't even know where she is—" Bonita paused, sighing deeply.
"Okay. I did want her gone. She was a threat—to me and to mom. But I didn't know the truth back then."
"The truth?"
Bonita's hands shook.
"My whole life I thought Mr. Davids was my father. Turns out—he's not."
"What?"
"My real father… is Kefas."
Tiffanie stumbled back in shock.
"What?! Which Kefas?"
"The same man I've called a family friend since I was a baby." Bonita's voice cracked under the weight.
"My mom told me Mr. Davids cut me out of his will. I thought Star was sabotaging my inheritance. That's when mom dropped the bomb—she'd known for years that Davids wasn't my real father."
"So… you tried to eliminate Star based on that?"
"Yes. And I regret every second. I was used. I was scared. And I dragged you into it, thinking I could hold onto you while everything else fell apart…"
Tiffanie looked at her with softened eyes.
"Boni… my father is Kefas too."
Bonita's knees buckled.
"Wait. What?"
"That makes us real sisters." Tiffanie's voice broke.
"I didn't just lose a friend. I lost a sister—and I'm here to take her back."
Bonita was silent. A tear slid down her cheek.
"All this time… all this pain… and you were my blood."