The air in the Harper estate was suffocating. The scent of burning candles and expensive cologne still lingered from the wake, but the warmth of their old life had vanished. Ayzel stood by the grand window of her father's office—no, her office now—staring at the empty driveway below. Just days ago, it had been filled with laughter, the six of them stepping out of the car, exhausted but buzzing from their Europe trip. Now, it was silent. The weight of their absence crushed her chest.

The door creaked open. Zaiden stepped inside without knocking, his usual effortless grace replaced with something heavier, colder. "The lawyers finalized everything," he said. "The businesses are officially ours."

Ayzel let out a humorless laugh. "Just like that?"

"Just like that."

She turned to face him. They had always understood each other without words, but now, there was something in his eyes she couldn't read—something dark, restrained.

Before she could respond, the sound of a chair scraping against the floor echoed through the house. Then a voice, raw and shaking.

"I'm not doing this."

Levi.

Ayzel and Zaiden exchanged glances before heading to the living room, where the rest of their group was gathered. Levi stood in the center, hands clenched into fists, his face twisted in grief and frustration. Kai sat on the couch, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. Haelyn stood off to the side, eyes wide, as if bracing for impact. Runa hovered near the doorway, fingers tightening around the fabric of her sleeve.

Zaiden's voice was eerily calm. "What do you mean, you're not doing this?"

Levi exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "I mean, I'm not staying. I can't—I won't be a part of this life. I have football. I have a shot at something different, and I refuse to throw it away for a world I was never meant to be in."

The room went silent. Ayzel's stomach twisted. She had expected Levi to struggle, but she hadn't expected this.

Zaiden, however, was unfazed. His jaw tensed, his posture rigid. "You're running."

Levi let out a bitter laugh. "I'm choosing my life. The one I actually want."

Zaiden took a step closer, voice sharp. "You think any of us wanted this? You think I wanted my father to die so I could take his place?" His voice cracked at the end, but he swallowed it down. "None of us asked for this, but we don't get to walk away."

Levi shook his head. "You do whatever you want, Zaiden. But I'm done." He turned to leave, only to pause when he saw Haelyn. She hadn't said a word, but the way her hands trembled at her sides told him everything.

"Haelyn," he started.

"Don't," she whispered.

Something broke in her voice, and it was like a knife to his chest. She had been his anchor, his safe place—but this time, he was choosing himself. And in doing so, he was leaving her behind.

Levi hesitated for only a second before walking away.

The door slammed shut.

Runa let out a shaky breath. "That could've gone worse, right?"

No one answered.
—————————————————————————————————————————————
Kai Harper was drowning.

Not in tears—he hadn't shed a single one since the funeral. Not in alcohol—he hadn't touched a drop. Instead, he drowned in textbooks, numbers, ledgers. Anything that kept his mind occupied.

He spent his mornings in classes, his afternoons in the Harper office, and his nights—well, that was his secret.

The attack wasn't random. He knew that much. The men who killed their families hadn't come for money or power; they had come with a purpose. And Kai intended to find out why.

He leaned back in his desk chair, staring at the documents spread before him. Security footage from that night was useless—whoever orchestrated this was careful. But Kai had connections, people who owed him favors. And if no one else was willing to dig deeper, he would.

"Studying hard, little genius?"

Kai snapped out of his thoughts as Ayzel leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed.

"Always," he said, flashing her a tired smirk.

She didn't smile back. Instead, she walked over and ruffled his hair. "You're not sleeping."

"Neither are you," he countered.

She sighed. "Touché."

For a moment, there was only silence between them. Then she spoke, voice softer. "Don't shut me out, Kai."

He wanted to promise he wouldn't. But secrets were easier to carry alone.

Runa knew grief came in waves, but she hadn't expected Zaiden to become an island.

Every time she reached out, he withdrew further. He kept himself buried in work, in meetings, in anything that kept him from feeling. She wanted to remind him that he didn't have to do this alone—that she was still here, still his—but every time she tried, he shut her out.

Like now.

"You haven't eaten today," she said, standing by his office desk.

Zaiden barely glanced up. "I'll eat later."

She sighed. "Zaiden—"

"I don't need you worrying about me, Runa."

The dismissal stung more than she wanted to admit.

"Someone has to," she shot back.

His hands curled into fists, but he didn't argue. That, more than anything, told her how exhausted he was.

She softened. "You don't have to do this alone."

His jaw clenched. "I do."

And just like that, the wall between them grew taller.

That night, Ayzel sat on the balcony, knees pulled to her chest. The city lights below were blurred through the haze of unshed tears.

"Can I sit?"

She looked up to find Haelyn standing there, hesitant.

Ayzel nodded.

Haelyn sat beside her, silent for a long moment. Then she reached out, fingers brushing against Ayzel's.

"I know it feels like you have to be strong for everyone," Haelyn said softly. "But I don't want you to carry this alone."

Ayzel swallowed hard. "I don't know how else to be."

Haelyn's grip tightened. "Then let me be strong for you sometimes."

That was all it took. The dam broke, and Ayzel let herself cry, for the first time since the funeral.

And Haelyn held her through it all.

Flashback: Venice, Two Months Ago

"Okay, hear me out—maybe we're just a little lost."

"Lost?" Zaiden repeated. "We're on a boat, Levi. There's literally only water!"

Levi held up his hands. "Okay, first of all, I blame the gondolier. Second of all, this is an adventure."

"We were supposed to be at dinner an hour ago," Ayzel groaned.

Kai smirked. "Hey, at least it's scenic."

Runa, taking pictures of everything, grinned. "I think it's kind of romantic."

Zaiden shot her a look. "Not helping."

Haelyn, who had been studying the map, finally sighed. "Okay, good news—we can take the next turn and get back on track."

Zaiden clapped a hand on Levi's shoulder. "See? There's our architect genius fixing your mistakes again."

Levi huffed. "Fine, but let it be known—I made this the best story of the trip."

Ayzel rolled her eyes. "You almost made us starve."

"Small price to pay," he said smugly.

And just like that, they burst into laughter—six friends, lost in Venice, without a care in the world.