And then,
"BRAAAK!" The balcony door burst open, shattering the fragile moment. Livia stepped out with a bright grin. "Whoa, the breeze out here feels amazing!" she chirped, completely unaware of the intimacy she had just interrupted.
Kaivan and Zinnia jerked apart at once, faces flushing as they straightened up, pretending nothing had happened. A few of their friends followed Livia out, and suddenly the balcony was filled with chatter and light laughter.
"Enjoying a secret smoke, Kai?" Ethan teased as he swiped Kaivan's cigarette pack, pulling the atmosphere back into its usual warmth.
But beneath the noise, the remnants of their earlier silence still lingered in Kaivan and Zinnia's chests.
Thivi settled beside Kaivan, moving with elegant ease as she took a cigarette of her own. Smoke curled softly around her as she lit it. In the quiet that returned briefly, her voice slipped out, light, yet steady. "So, where are we heading after this?"
Zinnia chimed in as well, her tone casual but carrying a hidden weight. "Yeah. Don't tell me we're digging through phones again?" A small laugh followed, though Kaivan alone understood the real message tucked behind it. Their eyes met for a brief moment, just long enough to acknowledge the unspoken, before they melted back into the group, hiding their secret in a shared smile.
Kaivan exhaled slowly before answering, keeping his tone relaxed. "We sell the gold first. After that, we check again with the Tome Omnicent." His reply eased Zinnia's shoulders. Whatever personal tension remained drifted off for now.
Raphael, who had been watching quietly, joined the conversation. "Oh, right. Livia, how are your parents? Think your dad could help us sell it?"
Livia shook her head, brows knitting. "I tried. Both of them aren't picking up. It's weird."
Radit, lounging nearby with his legs stretched out, added, "Try calling your sister. Maybe she knows something."
Livia nodded quickly and dialed. A faint, tired voice answered. "Sis, why isn't Dad answering? I can't reach him at all."
"No idea. Mom isn't picking up either. They might be busy."
Felicia cast a glance at Kaivan, whispering, "Kai… this is strange, right?"
Kaivan sat cross-legged on the rattan chair, his face washed in the soft blue glow of the Tome Omnicent floating before him like a breathing shard of crystal. He stared into it silently before murmuring, "They're attending a meeting at a hotel in Dago tonight."
A stillness fell over them. Even the insects outside seemed to quiet.
Isabel, sitting near the terrace railing, paused mid–leg swing. Her pastel-pink hair shimmered under the light as she asked softly, "So… it's not like the kidnapping back at the villa?"
Kaivan shook his head slowly. "Doesn't look like it. But… the fact that they can't be reached, that's the part that doesn't make sense."
Frans, leaning against a wooden pillar and casting a long, steady shadow, finally spoke. "This is suspicious. We should stay alert." His voice was low, calm, almost too composed.
Radit sat on the steps, hunched forward, fingers gripping his knees. Though his eyes looked distant, his body seemed ready, waiting for the next order.
The night grew quieter, as if holding its breath.
Kaivan lowered his gaze again. The Tome Omnicent pulsed softly, like a heart.
"What… should we do now?" he asked.
"Livia's parents are being threatened. They were forced to follow orders from a dark-network operative because they believe Livia has been kidnapped. But Livia is safe, she's with all of you. They simply don't know that yet."
The words wrapped around them like fog, cold, heavy.
Livia stiffened in her rocking chair, eyes widening with fear she couldn't hide.
Then,
A ringtone sliced through the silence. Sharp. Urgent.
Everyone turned.
Livia reached instinctively for her phone on the small table, but before she could touch it, Radit moved. His arm shot out, knocking her hand aside as he snatched the phone first.
"Radit! Why?! That's my parents calling!" Livia cried, panicked. She stumbled forward, reaching out with trembling hands.
Radit stared at the screen, unblinking. His cheerful demeanor vanished, replaced with something sharp and cold.
His voice was low, almost too calm. "What do we do now?"
Kaivan slowly closed the Tome Omnicent. The soft click echoed like the start of something inevitable. He rose to his feet, his coat swaying gently in the night breeze. His gaze was steady, unyielding.
"We're leaving. Now," he said.
Frans immediately headed for the car parked below the building. Radit handed Kaivan the phone. Isabel and Livia exchanged a glance, then followed without a word. Their footsteps were firm, unified.